Triond’s Hot User List – How Fair is The System?

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Triond’s Hot User List – How Fair is The System?

Posted on September 5th, 2009 in Online Writing by Alistair Briggs

A questioning article about the “Hot Users” list on Triond, looking at how fair the system is and how accurate it is. Many people probably do not care, others may not even be aware of its existance. Hopefully this may raise some debate about the issue.

For many new members, the ‘Hot Users’ list is one of their first ports of call. Many of them click on one of the names with the expectation of being taken to a profile of a member who is a ‘Hot User’.

It would be wise at this junction to discuss what merits a ‘Hot User’ and who deserves to be there.

It is my opinion that the ‘Hot Users’ list should be filled with the names of those who have proved that they know what they are doing with the site. It should be a true reflection of users who have built up a good portfolio, promoted well and ethically, who have a solid readership/viewership and generally be the kind of user that a new member can see how well they are doing and have something to try and emulate.

Here is an extreme example:

What if someone from a publishing house came across Triond one day and decided to have a look round the place to see if there were any writers who would be good enough to publish out in the real world. That person may well look at the ‘Hot Users’ list thinking that it would be reflective of the general standard. At the moment, that person could easily click on some of the names there, to find very limited number of works from people with blank profiles. It would give them a wrong indication of what the site is actually like.

I would like to ask you, dear reader, to think of some of the names you would think would be on the ‘Hot Users’ list. (In the respect of users that you think merit a place on it)

I am sure that many of you would be able to name quite a few people who you would have thought would appear on such a list. Perhaps you based your choices on different criteria. Perhaps it was on quality of work, perhaps on quantity of work. Maybe even on how much you like their stuff, maybe even on how often you see them on the forum. It could even be based on how well, you know, that person promotes their work.

I can only speak for myself here, but when I first joined Triond at the start of 2009 (in the pre-forum days) the ‘Hot Users’ list was one I looked at with a somewhat glowing admiration for the names therein. It was my hope that one day I would be able to get my own name up there.

I also remember checking out some of the names that were on the list at that time, to check the standard (or check out the competition I would be facing) and if truth be told, I was impressed by the general overall standard of the users listed. From looking at the list and making contact with some of the people on it, some good friendships were formed. Many tips were learned from more experienced users.

Those are just some of the reasons and thoughts behind why I think the ‘Hot Users’ list should actually reflect the better users on the site.

(Screenshot of ‘Hot Users’ list @ 2nd of September 2009: I would like to point out that there are some names on there that have been for a very long time and are there justifiably [in my opinoin]. This whole article is not to ‘put-down’ any of the people currently there, just to question how fair the system is in the first place)

At the start of September 2009 the ‘Hot Users’ list on Triond changed dramatically. Many of the names that had been there for months (if not longer) had now gone, to be replaced by many names that were unfamiliar. It raised the question of whether something was wrong or not.

It was a question I asked Triond. Merely asking whether there was a problem or not. They responded by saying that both the Hot Content list and the Hot Users list were generated automatically based on an algorithm that took many different factors in to account.

Now that is all fair and well, but what if there was a glitch in the system that was causing problems? In fact, what if the algorithim was wrong in the first place? Or maybe even if the algorithim did not give a true reflection of the state of affairs?

Fundamentally, for me anyway, it comes down to the fact that irrespective of anything it should be a fair and equal system that truly reflects reality.

Here are some facts about the ‘Hot Users’ list shown above:

Only 1 of the names has published over 1,000 things.

Only 8 of the names had published over 100 things.

77% of the names have less than 10 things published.

31% of the names have 1 or less thing published.

Now it would be prudent to point out that although quantity is no guarantee of quality, are we to believe that the vast number of people listed, with less than 10 things published, bring more to the site than the large number of people with articles numbering into the hundreds who are not on the list?

Are we to believe that a new member who has written only one article deserves to be classed as a ‘Hot User’ at the expense of a member who has (over a longer period of time) built up a portfolio, gained a readership, is well known, well respected AND brings a lot more to the site?

I asked Triond what some of the criteria used in the algorithm was. They responded that, although they could not divulge the algorithm itself, some of the things they take into account include number of views, likes, comments and ‘freshness’. This is what they base their ‘Hot Users’ list on.

I checked many of the users on the list who had only one thing published, just to see how many likes and comments were there. In all honesty, the vast majority had a very small amount of likes and even less comments. So, if we are to believe that Trionds algorithm was working we would have to go on the assumption that these articles were receiving thousands of views (if not more). How likely is that really?

But wait a minute. Perhaps there was further proof that something was wrong?

Interestingly there are 2 user names on the ‘Hot Users’ list that have NOTHING published. Yes, that is correct. They have not published anything. Their profiles lie blank.

Are we to believe that everything is working properly when we are being told that users with nothing published are considered ‘Hot’? Are we to believe that the system is working effectively? Logic should be telling you that something is amiss.

It would appear on face value that something changed at the start of September that has left the ‘Hot Users’ list wrong.

On making Triond aware of some of the facts regarding the list, making special notice of the fact that 2 people on it had nothing published, I was somewhat surprised to see what their response was:

“A few days ago, as you noticed, the algorithm was changed to give more significance to users with better quality content than before, and the significance of total number of published items in the algorithm was decreased. The users with NOTHING published – this is probably a glitch on our side, and will be fixed.”

So there you have it. Triond admitted that they changed the algorithm. They have also admitted that there must be some kind of glitch on their side to explain why users with nothing are on the list. Does that same glitch explain the fact that so many of the names that were there before have disappeared?

Only time will tell.

In closing, I would like to point out that I am not too bothered whether my name appears on the ‘Hot Users’ list or not. If it did, I would be happy. If it didn’t, I wouldn’t be losing any sleep over it either. However, the system for inclusion has to be fair to all people, to give everyone a chance of getting there if they work hard enough and merit it. At the moment it doesn’t appear to be a fair system and, in my opinion, that needs to be sorted.

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Tags: algorithm, ethical, fair, hot, list, system, triond, Users

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26 Responses to “Triond’s Hot User List – How Fair is The System?”

Karen Gross
September 5th, 2009 at 9:36 am

Thank you for the time you took in evidence gathering. I have been wondering why there were so few names on the list that I recognized. I am also trying to not be offended at never seeing my name on the list, but I have been at Triond since February 2008, I have published almost 200 articles, and at least 50 of my articles have over 100 hits.

I admit, I check for my name on that list often, and I do feel a bit snubbed.
cardy
September 5th, 2009 at 9:37 am

Good job from you !
Theresa Johnson
September 5th, 2009 at 9:40 am

I know in may when I came here I checked out the hot content and hot users to determine if this site was one I wanted to be involved with, and had a list like the one this month been the list from May I would have went elsewhere. In all honesty there is only a handful of writers from this months list that were worth reading the quality was nothing near what the list used to contain.
Elleword
September 5th, 2009 at 9:50 am

Excellent evaluation of the ‘Hot Users List’ and the reasons why it is currently inadequate and untrustworthy. I hope triond takes notice and rectifies the problem so that the ‘List’ truly reflects the hard work and dedication of it’s true-blue writers.
CaSundara
September 5th, 2009 at 9:58 am

I hadn’t noticed any of this as I’ve only checked that list once, but thank-you for pointing it out. I think there are several issues Triond needs to work on to ensure everything is fair and reasonable. I’ve been paid $0.06 for an article that received 450+ hits within two days, which just can’t be right. I’ve tried to contact Triond about other matters in the past but their contact form wouldn’t work. It’s frustrating…
Atikin
September 5th, 2009 at 10:09 am

THANK YOU! Finally someone has brought the Hot Users list to the attention of other members on Triond. I think Triond needs to sort it’s act out and sort out both the Hot Content and Hot Users list. There are so many flaws and the flaws were existing even before, in their previous Hot Users list. I used to check the Hot Users list every now and then especially when I had an article that was featured in the Hot Content but no sign. I think Triond needs to put prolific authors up like you said and NOT THOSE WHO HAVE PUBLISHED ZILCH!!!! They are hogging up vital internet space!!!!!! I think good authors who are well known and respected AND PHOTOGRAPHERS (hello…Triond??!!!) need to be displayed in the Hot Content and Hot Users list.
Brilliant article and I’m glad you’ve spoken out because I was going to myself but I’m glad you’ve done it.
Triond – sort your life out!
Hello Siti
September 5th, 2009 at 10:24 am

I really want to see Triond’s computer from Israel directly.
Joe Dorish
September 5th, 2009 at 11:01 am

Wow they really did change the Hot Users list radically. I used to be on there and just had my best month ever on Triond in terms of money but I am off the list. Triond is full of glitches, I still cannot comment on articles from my account as the system will not recognize me as signed in for making comments. Putting people on a Hot Users list with no content is a ridiculous glitch.
Lauren Axelrod
September 5th, 2009 at 1:35 pm

I’m over the hot list. Frankly, I think it’s a joke. Every article I write gets thousands of views, with the exception of a few. Joe I was dropped also and I’m in the same boat you are. I have close to 250 articles and all of those have great view amounts.

The views on triond have significantly decreased in the past months, which proves my theory of the lack in page rank. My blogs all rank higher than most of the sites on triond. I mean come on.

I have starting writing on other sites and I’m getting paid more than 4 times more. Not Bukisa, not Ehow, not Associated content, but articles on blogs that are paid for.

Look into it people. There’s a big world out there besides pay per view!
Elizabethabbott
September 5th, 2009 at 2:43 pm

I have surfed around a bit and also have found a site/group that pays a writer what is deserving AND the services of a real editor.
still I come back to Triond because of the good writers here. The options to just write what is in your heart and hey–make a few dollars! Doesn’t take much to make a few bucks with Triond Just have to know how. Good article here Alistair.
thestickman
September 5th, 2009 at 3:08 pm

Good investigative report. I worry about this and hope that it get resolved fairly even if that means some current names come off that did not belong there in the first place…

-thestickman
Lena Brown
September 5th, 2009 at 4:57 pm

Great job and much appreciation for informing the masses! I would not have known because I have never checked that list to see if I was on it. I don’t know if I was ever on it. Thanks again for the information.
lindalulu
September 5th, 2009 at 7:52 pm

Nice work I noticed that many of the names on the hot list had nothing published. I never put much merit in the hot list or hot content.
Bo Jack Russo
September 5th, 2009 at 8:14 pm

Al I should have been more in your corner on this I am fairly pissed to have been excluded from the list,like you said, I’ve busted my ass to put out good stuff and I want to be recognized for it.We deserve it I’m probably in the area of 300 or more published things, more counting my photos,the current list blows.
Sterling Christianson
September 5th, 2009 at 9:32 pm

I’ve been after triond from day one. Their criteria is not consistent to their own existence. This is a literary site Right? I saw a hot content article on Ramen Noodle recipes. They should have 4 lists….the existing pablum, real literature, photos/art,and audio. That would give the site some real credibility and your article brings to light the intentions of triond. What are those intentions? Thumbs up Alistair!
littlekid137
September 5th, 2009 at 10:07 pm

Amen!!! There are a lot of people that deserve to be on the list like of course RJ but there are a lot of people that I have never heard of and when I read their work it was garbage.
Poetic Angel
September 6th, 2009 at 2:45 pm

Thanks for sharing this! This is exactly what I did when I first joined Triond……..For many new members, the ‘Hot Users’ list is one of their first ports of call. Many of them click on one of the names with the expectation of being taken to a profile of a member who is a ‘Hot User’…..and then I just went from there.I use to wonder how doe the hot user works but I stopped wondering. Someone mentioned this in forum before.
Cynthia Bartlett
September 6th, 2009 at 3:18 pm

I disagree.
not so much that a user knows what he/she is doing, as much as giving each user a chance to be in the “spot light” so to speak.
I could care less one way or the other because A. not everyone agrees that I can write poetry. B. Not everyone likes my style.
C. Not everyone has the same tastes.
The point is just because you believe someone should be Front and Center of attention does not mean that someone should be placed up Front and Center.
I’m getting read.
That’s all I care about.
It would be nice if more people commented one way or the other;however, not everyone can do so without the use of profanity in which case no comment is better any day of the week than one laced with obscenities.
Monica Sappleton
September 7th, 2009 at 1:29 am

I think it is good that you have raised the question about this very controversial issue again. I often ask the same question and come up with the same answer as yours. I have sent several letters to the editor, and each time I was told the same tale about algorithm. But I know differently and so does Triond. Anyway, let’s wait and see if they will sort the system out. Great article.
Monica.
Mr Ghaz
September 8th, 2009 at 6:07 pm

Give them some time to fixed it up..should be okay after this..no worries..’missing too!!’
nutuba
September 9th, 2009 at 8:48 am

Nicely done! I glanced and see that I’m not on there either. I used to be, but this might also be because I haven’t published nearly as much in the past two months as I had been publishing (focused on getting books out now). Yeah, you’d think that Hot Users should be a showcase for Triond.
Lee Ness
September 21st, 2009 at 5:07 pm

Very thoughtful and very true about how people write and who is hot or not that there were people who had nothing written
Lee Ness
revivor
September 23rd, 2009 at 4:17 pm

great article, well written and I was in agreement all the way through your analysis from question to conclusion – nice work!!
clafleur
October 14th, 2009 at 11:24 am

your extreme example is something 4 triond 2 consider. I cant imagine a editor from a major publication viewing the hot content and taking this site as a serious platform for amateurs.
thestickman
October 14th, 2009 at 2:05 pm

The HOT USERS list is still messed up. *sigh*…
B Nelson
October 14th, 2009 at 11:16 pm

wow you did a lot of work. I did notice about a month or so ago, my name, and other usual names were not on the list. I had no idea that some of the people on the list had not published anything – pretty funny really.