Power to the people (dooyoo.co.uk in general)

Member Name: bleat

Product:	dooyoo.co.uk in general
Date:	01/09/01 (31 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Gr8 for airing views and providing new info to the community

Disadvantages: Peeps who don't leave feedback

I joined Dooyoo initially to make money. The blurb tempted and seduced me into believing that just my writing any old trash, I would be 'quids in'.

This is no disparagement on Dooyoo themselves, I guess I'm just to eager to make the quick, empty buck.

Then I got into the whole community thing. And my writing changed. Suddenly the whole point was not to make easy money, but to take the time over writing opinions that would be rated VU. My ego started to crave the acknowledgement that this highest of ratings provided.

So my focus changed, from churning out any old crap, to thinking about what I wanted to write. Would it be useful to the community? Would it contribute something?

I re-wrote my previous opinions, got a few moved to more suitable locations and waited.

Suddenly my new opinions were being rated VU. I felt accepted and this made me want to write more. I started to find myself thinking 'I should put that on Dooyoo' whenever I came across anything useful in my normal life.


Then Dooyoo e-mailed me with the change in their payment system. Opinions have to be rated to earn 50 points.

Now, I understand why they did this, as it forces people to use the site as it should be used (though it would be helpful if the box in the top corner told you how many ratings you have, not just how many reads).

But it also brings in a new element to the community. Suddenly we have power.

I read an opinion, and feel power whenI come to rate it. Not because I have a vote in whether it is VU,U,SU or NU, but because my vote also brings rewards to the author.

Now it is not just a matter of how useful is this opinion, but is it even useful enough to justify my vote.

I think this is the most important factor of the change.

My Profile tells me how many members read my opinions, and how many rate them. With this new facet, it becomes even more tel
ling.

Why did they not rate?
Could they just not be bothered?
Did they hate it?

It almost begs the question, why bother to read, not rate and not even leave an comment?

I now have a new policy. If I don't rate, I leave a comment. Otherwise, what is the point? How can any member improve without feedback?

Summary: