Hello.
Many users on the site have been complaining about the reputation system looking to put forth improvements, however I've noticed a disconnect between the users using the site and the users running the site. Today I set out to explain the reputation systems purpose from a business perspective, a new user perspective and a power user perspective.
To establish a baseline, let's define how the reputation system is currently supposed to operate, as well as how it actually operates.
The Utopian System
Utopia - An imagined place or state of things in which everything is perfect. An impossible state.
The ideal reputation system functions like this, User A enters into a deal with User B, User B enjoys the experience of the deal and visits the users page and writes a short message with a link to the thread where the deal started. User A also enjoyed the experience and leaves a similar reputation on User B's profile. User A says something that the community warrants publication, so User C leaves a negative reputation regarding the comments of User A with proof. User D use the arrogate data from the reputation to make a decision on future business with the user.
The Flaws in the System
As the great Albert Einstein is claimed to of said "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about th’universe!"
The reputation system is built on a commission per commission basis and user input. The inherent flaw of a system based on user input is that users will always find a way to game, manipulate or not follow a systems defined procedure. It is the job of anyone making a system based on user input to try and minimize the ways a user can manipulate the system, this has been largely ignore by MCM staff. Yes, there are rules in place to help prevent this, however this will not stop users from trying to work around it. Simple psychological tricks like adding a character or better yet a word counter as well as some examples to the add reputation page would do wonders to improving the quality of reputations posted.
Another flaw in a system such as this is the perception the reputation system has. A negative reputation carries much heavier weight on MC-Market than I have seen on any other platform. The value of having a perfectly clean reputation is far too valued to any power-user of the platform. This perception issue is not something MCM staff are able to change in heartbeat however, this is a level of social pressure that cannot be changed without great changes that will not happen on a platform that is run by an administration all to keen on maintaining the status quo. Any user who has any experience on MC-Market will see a string of users with multiple clean reputations, and assume that that is normal (which it is for this platform). This means a negative reputation will be argued to the fullest extent.
The reputation system having these flaws that are all to apparent lead many to express a negative sense of the reputation system. Add that to the fact that users take the system for granted compiles onto the previously mentioned flaws to enhance the feelings of distaste users all to frequently claim against the system.
The Goal of the System - A New User
The Reputation System is made so that users who deal with a user can leave feedback regarding the deal and their experience. It allows users viewing my profile to see how many positive deals I've completed, but be sure to ignore all the negative ones they are false or revenge reps. The reputation system allows me to leave good feedback on people's profiles that I like, as well as my friends but don't tell staff that! It also lets me leave negative feedback on rivals and people I disagree with so their opinions are less valid.
The Goal of the System - A Power User
The Reputation System exists to help me better distinguish who I can trust when commissioning for my next project. It also allows me to grow more trusted and popular within the community. Positive reputations can be used to better my chances of getting commissions and increases the respect I get on the platform. I can also use the negative reputation to spite those who have done me wrong as my word carries more weight with my higher reputation and message count. The system is flawed, but it benefits me so who cares. As long as it doesn't harm my sales, keep it.
The Goal of the System - MCM Administration
The reputation system is a tool for users on the platform to decide on who to deal with and who not to deal with. Prior to the introduction of the reputation system users would have to scroll through pages of vouches to decide who to trust and who not to trust. With the reputation system, users can easily decide who to deal with. Specifically, new users who are not familiar with vouches or reputation can easily decide who to deal with using a simple green, grey and red number. This increases people's willingness to use the platform increasing revenue and daily active users. The system is not easy to moderate as every reputation is different.
"The Solution"
It appears as though everyday someone has a new solution to an unsolvable problem. Everyone has a suggestions on how to improve the system, weather by better moderation or by the removal or addition of some features. Yet it seems MCM administration denies all of them for reasons many see as irrelevant or pointless. Many fail to realize the value the reputation system as to MCM administration from marketing perspective. It is much easier for a new user to see 3 numbers than to read through pages of reviews, a number makes the platform easier to use, and eventually trickles down to increased profits- the goal of all businesses.
A perfect solution to the flaws in the reputation system is impossible, however I do have some input as to how the reputation system could be improved, in the form of 2 different approaches.
A Less Drastic Approach to improvement:
Simply psychological cues have been proven time in and time out to greatly change the outcome of a system. Here is an image of how I see it should be changed.
Just a few short but well written examples could show new members how to properly rep a user as well as give them a template for their own reputation. A character counter will encourage people to write longer views as seeming a low number on their post will help them see how short their reputation is.
A drastic approach to the system
A complete reformat of how reputations are added.
A gradient would replace the current reputation on posts.
This would not only allow for a more realistic scoring of the user, as we all know not everything is black and white. But it would retain the simplicity the reputation system currently provides and addresses the problem with the weight users put on negative reputations, as a reputation is no longer fully negative, but it can be in a grey area. I believe this would be a great solution to a problem many face when reviewing users, and allow for less all or nothing decisions and let things be in a grey area rather than the hard line stances forced by the current system. I am open to feedback, I encourage you to post it below.
In closing, the reputation system is built to ease user experience. Any system built on user input will be abused, manipulated and is inherently flawed, however with proper restrictions and minor and or major adaptations to the system, it can be improved. Every user sees the reputation system through a different lens. My hope is that by summarizing and generalizing the popular opinion on the matter, users will be better able to understand the lack of change that many are demanding.
There will not be a TL;DR - If you don't care, leave.
Calvin#6969 if you would like to discuss with me directly.
Please leave your thoughts below.
Many users on the site have been complaining about the reputation system looking to put forth improvements, however I've noticed a disconnect between the users using the site and the users running the site. Today I set out to explain the reputation systems purpose from a business perspective, a new user perspective and a power user perspective.
To establish a baseline, let's define how the reputation system is currently supposed to operate, as well as how it actually operates.
The Utopian System
Utopia - An imagined place or state of things in which everything is perfect. An impossible state.
The ideal reputation system functions like this, User A enters into a deal with User B, User B enjoys the experience of the deal and visits the users page and writes a short message with a link to the thread where the deal started. User A also enjoyed the experience and leaves a similar reputation on User B's profile. User A says something that the community warrants publication, so User C leaves a negative reputation regarding the comments of User A with proof. User D use the arrogate data from the reputation to make a decision on future business with the user.
The Flaws in the System
As the great Albert Einstein is claimed to of said "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about th’universe!"
The reputation system is built on a commission per commission basis and user input. The inherent flaw of a system based on user input is that users will always find a way to game, manipulate or not follow a systems defined procedure. It is the job of anyone making a system based on user input to try and minimize the ways a user can manipulate the system, this has been largely ignore by MCM staff. Yes, there are rules in place to help prevent this, however this will not stop users from trying to work around it. Simple psychological tricks like adding a character or better yet a word counter as well as some examples to the add reputation page would do wonders to improving the quality of reputations posted.
Another flaw in a system such as this is the perception the reputation system has. A negative reputation carries much heavier weight on MC-Market than I have seen on any other platform. The value of having a perfectly clean reputation is far too valued to any power-user of the platform. This perception issue is not something MCM staff are able to change in heartbeat however, this is a level of social pressure that cannot be changed without great changes that will not happen on a platform that is run by an administration all to keen on maintaining the status quo. Any user who has any experience on MC-Market will see a string of users with multiple clean reputations, and assume that that is normal (which it is for this platform). This means a negative reputation will be argued to the fullest extent.
The reputation system having these flaws that are all to apparent lead many to express a negative sense of the reputation system. Add that to the fact that users take the system for granted compiles onto the previously mentioned flaws to enhance the feelings of distaste users all to frequently claim against the system.
The Goal of the System - A New User
The Reputation System is made so that users who deal with a user can leave feedback regarding the deal and their experience. It allows users viewing my profile to see how many positive deals I've completed, but be sure to ignore all the negative ones they are false or revenge reps. The reputation system allows me to leave good feedback on people's profiles that I like, as well as my friends but don't tell staff that! It also lets me leave negative feedback on rivals and people I disagree with so their opinions are less valid.
The Goal of the System - A Power User
The Reputation System exists to help me better distinguish who I can trust when commissioning for my next project. It also allows me to grow more trusted and popular within the community. Positive reputations can be used to better my chances of getting commissions and increases the respect I get on the platform. I can also use the negative reputation to spite those who have done me wrong as my word carries more weight with my higher reputation and message count. The system is flawed, but it benefits me so who cares. As long as it doesn't harm my sales, keep it.
The Goal of the System - MCM Administration
The reputation system is a tool for users on the platform to decide on who to deal with and who not to deal with. Prior to the introduction of the reputation system users would have to scroll through pages of vouches to decide who to trust and who not to trust. With the reputation system, users can easily decide who to deal with. Specifically, new users who are not familiar with vouches or reputation can easily decide who to deal with using a simple green, grey and red number. This increases people's willingness to use the platform increasing revenue and daily active users. The system is not easy to moderate as every reputation is different.
"The Solution"
It appears as though everyday someone has a new solution to an unsolvable problem. Everyone has a suggestions on how to improve the system, weather by better moderation or by the removal or addition of some features. Yet it seems MCM administration denies all of them for reasons many see as irrelevant or pointless. Many fail to realize the value the reputation system as to MCM administration from marketing perspective. It is much easier for a new user to see 3 numbers than to read through pages of reviews, a number makes the platform easier to use, and eventually trickles down to increased profits- the goal of all businesses.
A perfect solution to the flaws in the reputation system is impossible, however I do have some input as to how the reputation system could be improved, in the form of 2 different approaches.
A Less Drastic Approach to improvement:
Simply psychological cues have been proven time in and time out to greatly change the outcome of a system. Here is an image of how I see it should be changed.
Just a few short but well written examples could show new members how to properly rep a user as well as give them a template for their own reputation. A character counter will encourage people to write longer views as seeming a low number on their post will help them see how short their reputation is.
A drastic approach to the system
A complete reformat of how reputations are added.
A gradient would replace the current reputation on posts.
This would not only allow for a more realistic scoring of the user, as we all know not everything is black and white. But it would retain the simplicity the reputation system currently provides and addresses the problem with the weight users put on negative reputations, as a reputation is no longer fully negative, but it can be in a grey area. I believe this would be a great solution to a problem many face when reviewing users, and allow for less all or nothing decisions and let things be in a grey area rather than the hard line stances forced by the current system. I am open to feedback, I encourage you to post it below.
In closing, the reputation system is built to ease user experience. Any system built on user input will be abused, manipulated and is inherently flawed, however with proper restrictions and minor and or major adaptations to the system, it can be improved. Every user sees the reputation system through a different lens. My hope is that by summarizing and generalizing the popular opinion on the matter, users will be better able to understand the lack of change that many are demanding.
There will not be a TL;DR - If you don't care, leave.
Calvin#6969 if you would like to discuss with me directly.
Please leave your thoughts below.
thanks for understanding
