"Block/Stop" the ability for members to rate their own content 5 stars on the Ning platform!

[Morten Aabo]

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SUMMARY:

"We can not have unreliable "Best Rated" content lists, when all a member has to do is upload the content, rate HIS / HER OWN CONTENT" 5 stars and instantly hit the number one spot of the chart. Rating algorhythm have to reflect the true ratings made by THE OTHER USERS at the site, not the content owner himself / herself".

The issue and campaign are directed at any upcomming Ning platform roadmap, as a huge wish!

CASE:

Hey Ning,

I have a huge issue here, been running a music community, on the Ning platform for about a year now. We are all about "Best Rated" tracks, rated by all od
the members.

Now, there is a HUGE problem with the rating system of Ning, since members are able to
rate their own content maximum stars.

It's very important for me to make it clear, that this issue is turning into an
administration hell, to keep my "Best Rated" list reliable, since most
of my members have noticed this "backdoor", to get their tracks on top
of my "Best Rated" music list.

I need this "backdoor" to be closed, Ning help has nothing for me to solve this, but come on... It makes no sence
that members are able to top rate themself like this, because of no
block to "self rating". Imagine if you had this gab on ex. YouTube...
it's has to be common sence that rating has to be blocked, if you
attempt to rate your own tracks 5 stars.


You have no reliable "Best Rated" content, with the backdoor wide open like this and you will have to rate against your own members to keep an reliable list refelcting the true ratings.


Thank you for reading.

[Morten Aabo]

Exactly my point Kristy,

Right now i have to rate against to keep the list reliable, and with 10 - 20 new tracks a day uploaded, it starts to get a huge problem, since you'll contantly have to monitor this "Best Rated" list. If the "self rating" ability get's blocked (like on YouTube ex.) you'll have a reliable trust in these list. You will know that the ratings have been made truely by THE OTHER members and not the content owner.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this issue Kristy.

[Morten Aabo]

Any news on this one? - would appreciate if there is a chance for this to appear on the road map.

Issue is really creating problems for my site, help needed.

[Eric Suesz]

I don't think so. My take on this was that since folks can only vote once it is hard to justify that as abuse. I think this is what should be solved by a leaderboard, rather than taking away an ability from members. That's just my opinion.

[Morten Aabo]

I agree on this Eric, I really don't want to take this away from my members.

But you just don't see this "self rating" ability anywhere else, bt this i mean places like Myspace and YouTube. That's why i believe this is a fair rule to put in the rating program. I see this as come sence democracy thing, you don't vote for yourself in moral, but some people WILL take advantage of this, and bring "corruption" to the "Best Rated" statistics.

Keep in mind that i am trying to generate a trusty Top20 Music track list, generated by my members, rating each and other members. The ratings should reflect people voting for you, not you voting for yourself as well.

You could solve this by creating a new opportunity sayin "Show Leaderboard Tracks" ex. In this mode the rating placement of a track, will be reflected by a more complex algorhythm, based on plays or something else.

Everyone in this post thread has agreed on this problem of this issue, some even posted suggestions on how to set the right algorhytm for a more "realistic" based top track list ranking system.

I really see the Ning platform as a solid base for MANY music communities to rice in the nearby future. I even got inspired, by visiting a Ning music community site from New York. Music section and things like this rating issue might not seem very attractive for Creators in other brands, not even for the Ning roadmaps... but if you would see the potential of this type of community, you would realize, that you actually put a certain competition to Myspace, making people and artist able to create their "own" Myspace.

But the "self rating" issue, just can't be present, your members wount take the lists serious within a short period of time, as they discover this backdoor.

[Morten Aabo]

SUGGESTION POST BY: Jen

Kristy,
This is a "Homer DOH" moment. Your comment, "...So Morten then would have to vote it down just to get it off the list where artists who have been voted for many times have legitimately won places."

I don't know what I was thinking. You're right. Even if an Artist has 1000s of votes, a 1 timer 5-star could go to top of list. Sorry for my blondness on this one, Morten.


Sounds to me, Ning needs to implement a percentage or weighted 5-star rating system. In others words:
Artist #1 - receives a rating of 5-stars from 20 people.
Artist #2 - receives a rating of 5-stars from 1 person.

The 5-star is shown on both. However, the weight of #1 is 100. Therefore any 5-star below the 100 weight point, and in weighted order, would fall below #1.

k, bowing out of this discussion. Good luck Morten. Hopefully Ning will implement a better rating system. Looks like Eric is on it. ;-)

Best,
Jen

[Barry Bakin]

Help me out. What's a "gab"...

[Morten Aabo]

Sorry for my lack of english some times, what i mean is a "backdoor" of the system, making members able to trick the rating system.

[Kristy]

I would also like to note that some sites show video and images on the main page, ordered by "highest rated" first. It would be nice to have them be the genuinely highest rated instead of just those with one 5-star vote. I've run into this. :)

[Morten Aabo]

I agree Kristy, the "backdoor" to trick the rating system, is a problem for Creators using the "Best Rated" pictures and videoes as well.

[Garfield Creator]

In the absence, of Scripts for Ning or advanced script customization it is commendable to see you passionately engaged in making the current features you do have work for your community as best as you can. Just the activity in this discussion shows you are not the average network creator. Hope you get the support you need.

I also found the algorithm for popularity easy to get confused by. It is not actually based on how many views you get. Phil said it is based on an average of number of views by day, week, and month in total I believe.

[Morten Aabo]

I see your point on Phil's suggestion, no doubt it's important to get the algorhythm right from the start.

...and thank you for the uplifting words on my "Block Self-Rating Campaign", it's really a huge issue for my type of community site, with the music hitlist (Best Rated) as a keystone. This list HAS to be reliable, and i rally believe this would the relevant for other Creators, with ANY type of "Best Rated" content.

Right now it takes me hours a day, filtering new music track content... Members notice the "Self Rating" backdoor very quick these days, and most will take the advantage of rating 5 stars for their own tracks (content).

Thank you for taking time of to comment my campaign Garfield.

[Morten Aabo]