Is There Something Wrong with Triond’s Hot Users List?
On September 5, Alistair Briggs posted an article questioning the fairness of the Hot Users List. He noted that there were names on the list who have no material posted on Triond. He contacted the Triond editors with his concerns, and they assured him that this was just a glitch and would be fixed. Well, it’s been a month. Has it been fixed yet?
The Hot Users list is meant to be a list of the best writers publishing with Triond. The names in larger font should be the best of the best. Now, I’ve been posting articles here for about a year and a half, and I know that I am not the best writer here, but I confess that I have checked this list a few times during this past year, and have never seen my name there. But, I recognized many of the names that were there, and I had hoped that once I had been here as long as some of those writers, that one of these days I might attain to this distinction.
The question of how the hot content list is generated is a frequently asked question in the help section. Triond’s standard response is that they use a mathematical algorithm to provide a consistent, computer generated list. Sounds fair enough.
About a month ago, I noticed that this list changed quite dramatically. There were a lot of names on there that I did not recognize. A few days later, Triond author Alistair Briggs posted his article on this subject. He did some homework for this article. He checked out the profile pages of every name on the list, and he noted that 77% of the users listed had fewer than 10 articles posted here. He also noticed that there were two people on the list who had not a single posting.
Alistair contacted the Triond editors several times. When he confronted them with his finding of the two names with no postings, they acknowledged that this was a glitch, and they would be fixing it.
So, it’s been a month, and I decided to check out the list situation to see if it has been fixed yet. I may have a bit too much time on my hands, but I looked up the all of the profile pages. My findings shocked me with their consistency.
There are now four names on the hot users list who have no postings on Triond, and now 88% of the users have fewer than 10 postings. The names in larger font have a reasonable number of articles, but of the names in regular sized font, the highest number of postings is 27.
I understand that number of postings is not the only criteria used, but it is the most objective and easiest to count, report, and compare.
I know that the Triond editors are nice people, and very respectful and ready to help those who ask politely. I am hoping that they are working on this problem, and that they will be able to solve it. It would be nice if I see my name on the list one of these days, but I will be happy just to get back to the list being a fair representation of the best writers here.
To read Alistair’s article, see Triond’s Hot User List
A related article by me: Please show some Respect for the Triond Editors
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Tags: authors, hot users list, triond, Triond editors, Users, Writing
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October 6th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
Yaa! first comment! The list is getting shorter all the time too. I never get on there.
October 6th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
I’m happy you have brought it to editors’ notice. Good job.
October 6th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Some things shouldn’t be left to automation. Just like the submission editor. Instead of kicking something back to me, it should be kicked to a human editor before I’m asked to defend my article.
I think the same thing is happening with Hot Content. Some people have figured out what the computer looks for and by meeting the criteria, they “butt ahead in line” so to speak.
October 6th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
As far as I can tell, Triond has been around for a couple of years but it still seems to be going through growing pains.
October 6th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
I have been on the Hot Content List several times but I had been here for a year before I was on the first time and I stayed there for 10 days, it was great. Then in August I was on for half a day as #1, never knew what that once was all about. Good article and maybe one day the question will be answered.
October 6th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
Good show, I agree with this. But now I just stopped caring about that silly list.
October 6th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
I don’t think it’s important, It doesn’t add any money to your pay check. maybe they should just take it off.
October 6th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
Well’ I’m not sure what the criteria is to get on the list is, but if being a contributer to Triond isn’t part of it, It is a pretty strange criteria.
October 6th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
It is shocking to note that there are names in the list of hot content even without any contribution and of those who has posted only a very few articles.People who have been supporting the system of selecting the hot content list will now realize how that system is a fallacy and how that mathematical algorithm is making a mess of everything.A system based on human analysis, logic, reasoning and that serves all is the need of the hour.At present, barring a few names that I find in the hot content list, I have only got a scant respect for it.I pick and choose from the hot content list and read them.Not all and sundry.Thanks for the scientific analysis of the system of hot content.
October 6th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
All of the complaints I read about Triond seem to come from the same problem:
They use almost no manual intervention in anything, and I mean ANYTHING. Looking at the random and odd little edits that take place in my articles, it wouldn’t surprise me to hear that even that is being handled by some sort of automated process.
Is the whole operation run by one guy or something? If non-essential things like this cannot be maintained properly, then they should be removed.
October 7th, 2009 at 5:44 am
I don’t even both to look at either the hot users or hot contents because I noticed quite a while ago that many of the names have little or nothing posted. I used to be on the hot content list regularly, but now I am never on. Perhaps I don’t get enough views. Anyway. Thanks for pointing this out.
Christine
October 10th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
Nice information…I don’t have any idea about this …
October 11th, 2009 at 9:38 am
stop worrying about the hot list, and keep focusing on writing, I am on the hot list, and I never let it puff me up, who cares?
October 11th, 2009 at 9:40 am
even if they have ten postings they could be better quality and receiving more views, it is not quantity, it is quality
October 13th, 2009 at 3:39 am
nice information!!! not much sure how it works.
October 17th, 2009 at 9:13 am
An illuminating article. This needed to be said and you did it the best way possible. Thank you so much and best wishes to you.
October 21st, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Great write!Very interesting!I think in the last month Triond has had a lot of glitches ,from hit counting to amounts of money they are paying right to the hot content list.I have complained numerous ties to them about mnay things but still no resolve,they always have an explanation but will never look into any of these things.
October 18th, 2010 at 3:07 pm
If it’s me you’re asking. Then yes!
October 18th, 2010 at 6:38 pm
Oh my god. I wrote the opposite of what I meant. This is what my comment should say:
If it’s me you’re asking. Then no! (I agree with you..)
Best regards,
Blu
August 2nd, 2011 at 7:52 pm
it’s still a mystery to me.