Too many of this or that

1. 81

   Aficionadaposted 14 years ago

   This is a two-part question/discussion-starter.
   
   First - I recently saw that in my "feedback" section, there was a suddenly much higher number of hubs marked "funny."  I don't mind this feedback, but I'm not really particularly humorous, and for the life of me I can't figure out what was considered funny.  Is there a way to check on which hubs were marked this way?  It's really just a matter of curiosity to me.
   
   Second - What's with newbies who start out by following hundreds of people?  When I look under their Hubtivity, they are following some new person every 2-5 seconds or so.  Is that actually possible? Do they have some type of software that just selects random Hubbers to follow, in hopes of garnering a large following in return?

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      shazwellynposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Firstly, we all have different humours and what makes one person laugh, makes another person cry.  It could be that they couldnt mark it under any other catgegory. 
      
      Secondly, I have noticed an upsearch in fanning.  They hope to fan hubbers with the hope that they will return the favour and then drop them after a few days.  They are trying to collect a targeted market to generate traffic to their hubs.  Not sure if it is automated though.  I am sure there is someone else here that will know more

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2. 66

   relacheposted 14 years ago

   1 - Currently you would only know which Hubs were actually marked as funny by looking at them individually.
   
   2 - Those newbies don't realize that following a lot of people in a very short time can drive down your author score.  They think the fan/follower thing is a contest or it will get them followers back.
   
   Interestingly, the less people I follow, the more followers I seem to gain.

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3. 71

   Cagsilposted 14 years ago

   I have some hubs that have also been marked(feedback) as funny and I do not consider the topic of the hub funny.
   
   What people think about my writing isn't important as to the message my hub delivers. I don't really pay that close of attention to the feedback, except to see if it changes from day to day. The total of each category rises daily because people are nice enough to leave feedback.
   
   It isn't going to change the hub nor am I going to edit it because someone found it funny when it was meant to be serious. Each person has a different perspective, all we can try to do is write what we write and find common ground with others.
   
   As for the newbies and followers- it would seem to me that quite a few people see Hubpages as a social bookmarking and networking site. I guess this can be partially from the methods of some people advertising for referrals?? Not sure.

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4. 81

   Aficionadaposted 14 years ago

   Thanks so much, folks! 
   
   Now a new direction....
   
   A couple of days ago I read in some forum (I haven't been able to find it again, sorry) that one Hubber chooses not to leave comments on other people's Hubs because then the other person would have his or her URL.  At least, I think that was the way it was worded.  I wish I could remember exactly what it was. 
   
   I guess my question is:  Do you know of any dangers in posting comments to another person's Hub?  What about approving comments from someone else that they have left on my Hub - any hesitation there?  Or responding to another person's comments on my own Hubs?
   
   It was a new concern to me, and it has made me wary of approving comments until I know what the problem is.  Thanks for any help.

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      Mishaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      They were talking about IP, not url. If you don't know the difference, you probably have no reason to worry

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      1. 81

         Aficionadaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Good, Misha, I probably have no reason to worry.     
         
         Actually, I really do know the difference, but I don't know how to find the IP, whereas I do know how to find the URL.
         
         Cagsil, what you mentioned is really in the direction of what makes me hesitate - it's a link that seems odd to me.  That is, when I clicked on the name of one commenting Hubber, the link led to a site that seemed to be outside of HubPages.  I don't really have any reason to deny the comment, it was just something new to me, and it made me wonder whether I needed to investigate it further.

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         1. 71

            Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            It is no different than creating a backlink.
            If the link is outside of HubPages then you can deny the comment, which is usually SPAM, as I said in my previous post.
            
            If you want to keep it, because it is relevant to your hub, then you have to weigh the fact that it could violate TOS, depending on how it relates to your hub.
            Actually, there are plenty of reasons to deny comments, especially when they are not related to your hub or add no real value to the content of your hub.

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         2. 84

            Marisa Wrightposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            I disagree with Cagsil on this.  Linking your name to your site is a time-honoured way of self-promotion (if anything can be time-honoured on the internet!). 
            
            Have you ever left a comment on a blog?  You're usually asked to fill in a form with your name, your email address and your website URL (optional).  If you enter your website, your name becomes a link to your site on the posted comment.
            
            I always take advantage of that when I leave a blog comment, as a way of promoting my website.  So it's only polite that I allow others to do the same.
            
            However, I will only allow it if the comment is meaningful.  Assuming it is, I will right-click first to check the name of the linked site.  If it looks OK (not obviously porn etc), I'll visit to make sure it looks reputable.  If it's a nice site, I'll approve the comment.

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               Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               And where did YOU read Marissa, that it was a time-honored link?
               
               Please do tell?

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               1. 84

                  Marisa Wrightposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  Cagsil, you'll find it everywhere.  Here's just a random sample:
                  
                  http://www.whydowork.com/blog/blogging-tips/558/
                  
                  Leaving comments on related blogs is regarded as a much better way to get backlinks than social bookmarking - because you can also get real people following your link.
                  
                  Of course, there are always spammers who take it too far - they leave comments on any old blog, and meaningless ones at that. I delete those. 
                  
                  Bear in mind the commenter isn't having to do anything underhand to achieve that link in their name - for non-Hubbers, HubPages provides a box for you to type in your URL.

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                  1. 81

                     Aficionadaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     This explains more about the specific situation that has puzzled me.  It will help me with the same sort of thing in future too.  Thanks!

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                  2. 71

                     Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     And, again, you overlooked the point Marissa. She simply said outside of HubPages without any specific point of reference.
                     
                     She said she clicked on the links that are suppose to bring her to the profile page of the hub user, but doesn't because it bring her to an outside website?
                     
                     This would be considered SPAM and to be deleted. I personally have seen some of these type of hub links that lead directly to another website, instead of going to the HubPages Profile page.
                     
                     When I do find them, as they leave comments on my hubs, I delete them. Some are poison, because some lead to adult sites.
                     
                     Just a thought.

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                     1. 84

                        Marisa Wrightposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                        I think you're missing my point, Cagsil.  Anyone commenting on a Hub has an option:
                        
                        1. To sign up as a member of HubPages (in which case the link in their name will lead to their profile) OR
                        
                        2. To comment without signing in - in which case there's a box to enter the name of their website, so it can become a link in their name.
                        
                        Option 2 means that if you click on the person's name, it will lead to their external website. 
                        
                        That's how most blog comments are set up, too. It's an accepted convention.   I use it to promote my Hubs on blogs.  Bloggers use it to promote their blogs on my Hubs.  Amongst bloggers, it's accepted that what goes around, comes around.

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                           shazwellynposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                           I tend to keep VALUABLE contributors who have left a link on a hub that ENHANCES my article - I dont consider these as spam because they are mindful links that are non automated.  It is also a good thing to have out bound links in the eyes of Google, for seo.  It is even better that comments capsules are situated at the bottom of the hub as commenters have already read my article.
                           
                           I also like lots of debate and alternative views.  This, I feel, gives the reader an informed choice of opinion.  In any scenario, there are always different facets of a view.  I actively encourage different view points and have placed links, for example, to hubs that oppose my view.  It is not up to me to force my view on others, the information that I offer, I hope, just gives food for thought, debate and enhance life, the world and everything ect. 
                           
                           The more links from various sources, I believe, the better in the eyes of google.  That is why hubkarma has been formulated and encouraged use.... particularly good for newbies who are overwhelmed by the whole seo thing

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5. 81

   Aficionadaposted 14 years ago

   I think this thread got buried after I posted the new question.  Anyone have an answer or idea?

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6. 71

   Cagsilposted 14 years ago

   The comments that should not be allowed to stay would be SPAM or other hubbers leaving links that are not related to your writing or approved by you.
   
   Remember, you moderate your own hubs. It is not done for you. If you allow anyone and everyone to post comments, then you need to be more careful about SPAM and other hubbers leaving links.
   
   I have one person who left a relevant link in my comment section, but when I visited her hub, I could not do the same. That might seem unfair, but her link is still related, so I left it.

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7. 81

   Aficionadaposted 14 years ago

   Thanks for the feedback.  I'm weighing this......

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   1. 71

      Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      You're welcome.

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8. 81

   Aficionadaposted 14 years ago

   Cagsil - Marisa - Shaz, an update:
   
   Since all of you contributed excellent and diverse thoughts that shed different rays of light on my dilemma, I decided to contact the staff directly and ask their opinion (first time I've done that).  They suggested that I delete the comment I mentioned and do the same with any similar ones in the future. 
   
   My guess is that it somehow has to do with the specific link, rather than the general principle of the matter. I don't know the whole story of this situation, but in such a huge community as HubPages is, I'm guessing there are individual stories that raise "pink flags," if not exactly red ones.

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   1. 84

      Marisa Wrightposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Aficionada, you didn't say what the comment was, or the nature of the site linked to.  I'm guessing there must have been something wrong with either one or the other, for the staff to advise deleting it.
      
      Just to emphasize: it's perfectly OK for someone to link their name to an outside site, they haven't done anything wrong or underhanded because HubPages actually offers them that opportunity when they leave the comment. 
      
      The ONLY question then is: is the comment meaningful?  If it's not, delete it.  If it is, check the link.  So long as it's not a porno or other distasteful site, you should accept the comment because, as Shaz says:
      
      "I tend to keep VALUABLE contributors who have left a link on a hub that ENHANCES my article - I dont consider these as spam because they are mindful links that are non automated.  It is also a good thing to have out bound links in the eyes of Google, for seo.  It is even better that comments capsules are situated at the bottom of the hub as commenters have already read my article."

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         Aficionadaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I was deliberately vague here in the forum about the specifics of the link, but I did provide details to the staff.  As I mentioned (maybe too obliquely) in my immediately preceding post, I really believe their recommendation may have something to do with the specifics of the link, the site where it took me, and some previous history here on HubPages.  That's something of an assumption on my part, but I think perhaps reasonable in this specific situation.
         
         I also want to affirm that I do understand and agree with you and Shaz that acceptable outside links in the context of meaningful comments can actually enhance an article; and thanks to y'all's recommendations I am far more comfortable with the possibility of approving those comments and will be eagerly watching for them in the future.  In this situation, the "acceptable" and "meaningful" labels were really just a bit too borderline for my comfort.
         
         I really do appreciate so much the insight and wisdom available from experienced Hubbers that I have access to in these forums.  Thank you so much for your comments!

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         1. 84

            Marisa Wrightposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Glad you're clear now!  But I should clarify one further thing:  Shaz implies that she'd accept an external link in the body of the comment - whereas I generally wouldn't.  However I'll happily accept a link in the name of the commenter.

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            1. 81

               Aficionadaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               Thanks for this clarification.... But I'm not sure I actually understand how that makes a difference.  Maybe my lack of understanding comes from the fact that so far I haven't posted to blogs or sites where I was not a member.

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                  Marisa Wrightposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  For me, having a link in your name is normal - we all have one to our profile page on HubPages, and you can go to almost any blog, check the comments and you'll find many people's names link to their sites.  It's subtle rather than "in your face".  It gives the commenter a backlink without inviting my readers off to another site too blatantly.
                  
                  But if someone posts a comment with a bare-faced link right there in the comment, to me that feels a bit rude.

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