The Invasion of the Article Spinners and the Decline of Hubpages
This why I refuse to hub hop any more hubs by new hubbers until they are tested or until HP gives a realistic and truthful reason for allowing the garbage to flood in.
Anyone else think this is too much to ask for?
I've been thinking that, maybe, the HP ads program has contributed to yet more of the "Thar's gold in them thar hills," thinking that's so rampant on the Internet. New potential source of income: Seems inevitable that they'd all come "a-flockin'" to HubPages.
Echo
Why should they publish here if HP allows junk to be continually deposited here? This is the $64,000 question staff is trying so hard to ignore! To their peril, I might add!
Of course, and on other sites where important questions aren't ignored in hopes they will go away.
There are several new writing sites which promise more openness and honesty with it's writers and some are fleeing to those. But I have to say, where money is concerned one has to take everything with a grain of salt! But swig down the tequila and eat the lemon first!
And I can't believe others are so blase about it, Rebekah! I suppose it takes being ripped off by content sites a few times to understand why some of us would like to be answered by staff. Block this one if it pleases you, no one will care, I'm sure!
Blase.. not really. I simply don't see that continual complaining in the forums helps. I think there are more effective ways of being heard. Some of the threads are as disrespectful as some of those in politics and religion.
When someone comes to the table with a 'you don't know what you're doing' attitude, it's unlikely they're going to be listened to.
I don't like seeing the article spun hubs any more than anyone else and actively flag them. I do think HP has enough invested in their business that they'll do what they need to do to cut down on the constant flow of junk hubs. Solutions can be offered without shouting and flaming. I've been in management before, bring me a suggestion and I'll listen, but not if there is no trust that I'll make the right decision.I've been self employed all of my life, Rebekah. I've dealt with many businesses who try really hard to explain the reasons for doing certain things and usually I understand their viewpoint.
I've also dealt with some who don't want to give a logical reason for their actions because they know they are at fault in some way or another. If they are honest, they will have no problem explaining their actions to those they deal with and expect to continue doing so.
Perhaps you may have an idea why keeping junk off the site is better done after it is already here than before it ever appears to the public. Use your former management experience and give me a few possible reasons for this present system. I'm all ears!Yes Marisa, I know an excuse for allowing the junk on here has been given many times in the past. Notice I called it an excuse rather than an explanation.
It doesn't take a genius to see why Google hit HP so hard. Hp knew, of course, that they were allowing low quality content to remain because some of it brought in massive amounts of traffic, which in turn, meant more money for the company.
They seem to be reluctant to remove it even now unless it is pointed out on the forums and it is then given an "oops! How did we miss that one" treatment before it is finally removed. Many have been previously flagged but seemed to slip by somehow.
I would suggest rechecking the most blatant and high trafficked of these if flagged to see if they are removed. If not, put them on the forums so everyone can see them. Enough "oops" and perhaps something will be done.
As you and I have both experienced on another site, trusting those in charge to do the right thing without checking out the results doesn't always work out well. I simply don't believe HP is unaware of the low quality hubs which make them a nice piece of change. If we know they are there, how can HP not also know they are, especially with the stats they have access to?
You'd think it would be rather simple to find those with low word count at the very least. The stench seems to be getting stronger!A simple query to look for hubs <XXX words NOT in the poetry section would be a good start.
Another idea is to take a look at hubbers who publish more than XX hubs per day over a course of time. One person published 2,300+ in 150 days. A truly spectacular feat!
Not all of them would be unpublished or flagged, but it would give a nice list of "low hanging fruit" for the moderators to look over.
Also, there are several hubbers with hundreds or thousands of hubs which are questionable in nature. At some point, it would be worthwhile to address the account as a whole instead of individual hubs. Put the onus on the owner of the account to put their hubs in compliance instead of on the moderators or the community to flag individual hubs.
And, its time to get off my soapbox....
I agree that 14 people cannot do it alone, especially if the influx of more junk is coming in faster than it can be removed. Let us hop the new hubbers before they are allowed to publish at will. Or give a reason why not!
Well done you have hit the nail on the head.
As management, I would certainly be looking at alternative ways for new sign ups to publish on this site. What's most cost effective? Do I need more moderators/engineers this way? What kind of software can we use to identify content against TOS? What kind of solid suggestions have we heard from the community at large?
I think implementation of new practices and systems takes time and careful thought, and support. I think it's fair to say mistakes can be made when a system is drastically stressed.
ok, that's all for me. I'm off.Are you saying paid moderators are more honest than volunteer moderators? Some of the present mods write too, ya know!
Well, I got to Google payout just before Panda, but since then have had practically nothing from my hubs.
On the other hand, I discovered today that I have just got my first Adsense click from a site I am starting to set up. It wasn't a vastly expensive click, but not right down at the bottom either. I'm feeling rather chuffed about it.)
No Problem over there if you are still in the barren reaches of Cell Phone 'Out Of Range' or 'I still believe Cell Phones cause Cancer and Tadpoles to Drop Their Tails' town limits...
Verification works this way:
Please walk in single file to the Railway Line..
Knell down and place your Left Ear to the line..
You will gain your verification code AND a Bonus Set of Wings, as soon as the HP train has passed and assessed the impression that you left on the track!
I just figure, when you've already given your social security number and home address to HP AND Google AND any other major affiliate program (not to mention any bank account numbers for any direct deposits)... what the heck difference does throwing a cell phone number into the mix make?
If some breach happens my cell phone number would be the least of my concerns. I just figure technology is never 100%-guaranteed secure, so I have a few different accounts, and a couple of different phones, to divvy things up and not have too many eggs (or one sort or another) in any one basket.
When I grow up... I want To Be a SPAMMER
And SPIN Like a TOP in an HP Moderator's Undies!!!
WHY??
BECAUSE I CAN....
Was just listening to an online seminar and the speaker put this chart on the screen showing just how much various sites, including HP, has been affected in terms of traffic by the Panda release. WOW!
HP is -87% since the Google Update. They are up their with wisegeek, ezinearticles, buzzle, associatedcontent, suite101 and others. All of whom were affiliate marketing friendly but subject to article spinning and hijacked content. Makes sense why the new rules have been implemented. Imagine trying to stay in business with 87% of your business washed away overnight. Ouch.Too logical and sensible! Not incomprehensible and therefore not doable!
I know what sunforged was doing 2 hours ago...
http://hubpages.com/hop/#/How-to-do-use … cell-phoneThat will never happen.
Don't HP staff all have smart phones? Seems like someone mentioned this on an earlier thread.
No one is asking for stringent qualifications for new members that I am aware of. But some of the crap allowed on here by new members prove they will never be able to be an asset to the site.
Everyone makes spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes occasionally and this isn't the problem. Spun spam and thank you maam does not cut it!Way too logical! I agree with you, so the suggestion is therefore doomed to die s very slow and frustrating death!
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