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ActiveRain: Groups Drowning In Off-Topic Posts

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Education & Training with tech4REpros

Looking at Localism Beta and Localism Brainstorming, I can't help but wonder if I'm looking at the bleak future of all of ActiveRain.

Localism Beta was founded on 01/13/07 by John Occhi.  John's description of the group's purpose is very clear.

This is the place to channel information and opinions about LOCALISM as it evolves through the BETA process. All are welcome to express themselves with tips to use the new service to the best of your advantage as well as ideas we can debate and suggest with management. If you have any interest in this new service, please join this group. THIS IS NOT THE PLACE TO POST ARTICLES OF LOCAL INTEREST - THEY WILL BE REMOVED. 

Nevertheless, Localism Beta is drowning in what could charitably be described as "articles of local interest" which have buried "information and opinions about LOCALISM as it evolves" and sent John Occhi running for cover from the storm.

Localism Brainstorming was founded on 03/04/07 by Sarah Cooper.  Here is Sarah's description of the group's purpose.

This Group is for anyone interested in an exchange of ideas for posts to Localism.com. Posts could include your local content, fresh ways of using Localism to generate business or whatever else you might feel might be of interest the group. Be creative and share with others!

Like Localism Beta, Localism Brainstorming is drowning in off-topic local content.  The most recent featured post, from 5/18/2007, is called "Cleaning up a bit..."  In that post, Rich Schiffer announced that Sarah had become overwhelmed (200,000 points is a herculean task) and added some assistants who would help to remove off topic posts.  The date of that post and the condition of the group speak for themselves.

I'm not posting this to point fingers at John, Sarah, and Rich.  I can only imagine their frustration at having their clear instructions ignored day after day.  They probably also got sick of complaints from posters whose off topic posts were pulled.  Moderating groups often isn't worth the effort, though moderators should have the decency to notify AR if they no longer plan to perform that function so that the group can be put up for assignment, combined with another similar group to reduce the number of redundant groups, or simply disbanded.

The problem of off-topic posts isn't limited to Localism related groups.  I'm seeing advertisements and local market updates pop up in all sorts of groups.  Is it just a matter of time before those moderators give up, too?

Frank Jewett

Comments (14)

Neal Bloom
Brokered by eXp Realty LLC - Weston, FL
Realtor CRS-Weston FL Real Estate
Plain and simple I use the regular localism for consumer content...there is also a posts to localism group founded by a gentleman who passed away and now run by Laurie Manny. It is a great place to post to especially market reports as well as listings and of course anything of content relating to the consumer. I get excellent coverage and pick up many inquiries.
Jan 20, 2008 10:44 PM
Frank Jewett
tech4REpros - San Jose, CA
Neal, you are correct.  Posts to Localism is an appropriate group for all local topics.  Unfortunately many other posters dump their local posts on Localism Beta and Localism Brainstorming, to the point where the moderators appear to have given up.
Jan 20, 2008 10:51 PM
John Occhi
AZ Veteran Notary Services - Marana, AZ
Mobile Notary Public/Certified Loan Signing Agent

It must be nice to have nothing to do but scrutinize AR groups.

Hey, I understand there may be an opening for the Blog Gestapo - you certainly have proven your qualifications

Jan 21, 2008 09:31 AM
Maureen McCabe
HER Realtors - Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Real Estate

sorry for my stupid response on your other post.

It's a lot of work to moderate a group.  I closed one down because of spam and mischief from members.  

Active Rain needs to give the founders / moderators some tools to use. Like a pop up about what the group is about.  Most members don't bother to read what the group is for before they post to it. I get tired of reading posts from the same people who don't get it and continue to post inappropriate material.  When I am posting I sometimes think.. wait is that OK in this group??  A place for the moderator / founder  to make notes about the post that just they can see or at least somehow  put a check mark on a post meaning you've read it and it is OK. 

It used to be worse.  You could post to an  unlimited number of groups.  People would spam 20 to 30 groups trying to get someone to read what they wrote with no comcept of topics

Localism is not evolving and has not evolved except a few things (photos) and neighborhoods.  Neither worked out particularly well...  When they startup making changes going forward with Localism those two groups may straighten out. 

Again sorry about the dumb comment on your featured post. 

Jan 21, 2008 09:37 AM
Frank Jewett
tech4REpros - San Jose, CA

Maureen, no problem.  Thanks for the constructive suggestions.

Jan 21, 2008 01:37 PM
Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate

Frank and Maureen:  If certain groups are having posts made to that group that are not in keeping with the stated purpose of that groups... why not just delete the post and sent the writer an email informing them.  Keep doing it... keep deleting them, and sooner or later they will stop.

Jan 21, 2008 04:49 PM
Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate

I would also think that criticism is more valid coming from a person who has proven themselves on Active Rain.  Unfortunately, the best measure of that is points... or perhaps the number of featured posts.  Criticism from someone who has written less than... let's say 100 posts, or 125 posts, or 100,000 points, or some arbitrary figure could be used.  If someone has not really proven themselves, why should their criticism be given the same weight as other, more "experienced" voices ?  Just another thought.

Or, other criteria could be used.  Perhaps the "quality" of the critic's posts could be used as a measure of their ability to wisely criticize.  For example... if a person has posts 100 posts, their posting/blogging points should average decently more than the minimal 200 points given for simply making a post.

Another criteria could be that the critic must show proficiency in both writing posts, making comments, and having comments made to their posts.  Just some ideas here for who to listen to when they start criticizing. 

Jan 21, 2008 04:53 PM
Frank Jewett
tech4REpros - San Jose, CA

Karen Anne, I think many group moderators eventually give up due to the volume of off-topic posts and the fact that their moderator "job" is a volunteer position.  But don't take my word for it, pose your question to the moderators of the forums I mentioned since they appear to have been overwhelmed.  Also, I think there are some posters here who do not interact with ActiveRain, but simply publish looking for Google juice.  I can think of one in the Architecture group who shows up regularly to dump a digest of posts from somewhere that typically have nothing to do with architecture.  Posters like that won't notice that their posts have been pulled unless the moderator takes time to write them a note.  An automated note from the system might be helpful there.  At least that ensures some feedback. 

Have I proven myself at ActiveRain?  That's not for me to say, though I'd like to think that in cases like this, readers focus on the message rather than the messenger, i.e. look at the forums to see if indeed, there is a problem.  Your comment about points is intriguing, though in my case you would need to adjust for the eight posts that didn't receive an automatic 200 points due to exceeding 10 posts per week.  I personally don't worry about those additional points.  The numbers I focus on are currently 29, which is the number of subscribers I have attracted, and 700, which is the number of comments I have generated.  Those numbers are how I measure the success of my efforts at ActiveRain. 

Thanks for your feedback!

Frank Jewett

Jan 21, 2008 05:26 PM
Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate

Hi Frank:  I did not mean to over-value points, but that is one of the few measureable things on Active Rain that can be used for comparison.  I also agree with you on the number of comments you have generated. I think that is an excellent measure of one's ability.  Also, as you mentioned, the number of subscribers you have attracted.

Those are both very good measures for comparison.  Take care...

Jan 21, 2008 05:43 PM
Maureen McCabe
HER Realtors - Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Real Estate

Karen.. having moderated a couple of groups from the very beginning of groups on AR I no longer email people.

You wrote: "why not just delete the post and sent the writer an email informing them.  Keep doing it... keep deleting them, and sooner or later they will stop."

We can block people and I do.

emails are too much work and they get defensive and some get down right nasty. They turn it into back and forth.  Some "nice"  people... I have had a couple go psycho.  They take it very personally.

Modaerateing a group is  volunteering. It's enough torture to have to read and reread  their badly written or boring posts and try to figure out WHY was it posted to the group. Something like a backwards Digg system where if someone posted inappropriate stuff that was removed enough times they started losing points would be good.

Jan 21, 2008 07:25 PM
Maureen McCabe
HER Realtors - Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Real Estate

I do want to say I think this post was in very poor taste.  I think naming John and Sarah and focusing on their two groups is offensive.  I am offended by this post and the one that ActiveRain featured.  I don't know Frank. I doubt I've ever read something from him, AR is just so big.

I don't see anything in either of Frank's posts that helps build community.  Not that all posts on AR have to build community but to me this post masquerades as something it's not. It's just a screed. 

Jan 21, 2008 07:40 PM
Frank Jewett
tech4REpros - San Jose, CA

Maureen, thank you for pointing out how difficult it is to moderate a group.  You are right, people do get defensive, which is why an automated notification system for pulled posts would probably be helpful.

Jan 22, 2008 02:16 AM
Bill Roberts
Brooks and Dunphy Real Estate - Oceanside, CA
"Baby Boomer" Retirement Planner

Frank, I will say it, You have proven yourself at ActiveRain. Don't let these cliques get you down, they aren't a important as they pretend to be. They really aren't worth your time.

Bill Roberts

Jan 25, 2008 04:32 AM
John Occhi
AZ Veteran Notary Services - Marana, AZ
Mobile Notary Public/Certified Loan Signing Agent

Glad you cold chime in Bill - I thought this was right up your alley.

 

Maureen, thanks for the words 

Jan 25, 2008 12:10 PM