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Objects in rear view mirror may appear closer than they are

side view mirror How does Localism look in your area? Do you ever think what you see could be distorted? You might just be too close?

Too close to be objective

In a comment on Changes to Localism Approved Content where Rich Jacobson broke the news that Localism would NOT be edited Steve Shatsky said:

"I would have a lot more confidence in the probability of self editing if the Dallas Localism didn't feature content that includes religious based humor (even when funny to some, it can be offensive to others), requests to AR agents for professional advice, a poll about wearing pantyhose, agent-specific tips on evaluating buyer behavior, listings, posts with no content other than a list of keywords and random non-locally focused topic posts (with no personal perspective or content) on pop-culture."

I did not know Steve. I thought maybe this was just sour grapes from someone in the market. I thought Steve's view of Localism was just distorted by him being too close. Jealousy? Envy? Nope... it's was all there and then some. The day I looked Dallas was awful. It was garbage. It was a nightmare of self promotion and ads not content written for consumers, IMHO yet maybe I can't judge because I am not a consumer in Dallas Texas.

Look at Dallas Localism now... the garbage is still there but Steve, Donna Harris and other good bloggers have posted GOOD stuff. Stuff Content for consumers.

Or maybe Steve and I just have similar taste and ideas about what Localism should look like and are not fans of "religious based humor, requests to AR agents for professional advice, a poll about wearing pantyhose, agent-specific tips on evaluating buyer behavior, listings, posts with no content other than a list of keywords and random non-locally focused topic posts on pop-culture" as content for consumers.

I thought the pantyhose poll might be great. Personally I love polls...

On a recent Rich Jacobson post preaching to the choir an ActiveRain member in New York complained about "link farm posts" by someone in her market. I went looking for the offender... I actually read the member's blog but it was just, ad after ad after ad so I got bored and went on to the next member ...finally I emailed the person who commented to ask "WHO?" Yes, I had read his blog he does in addition to ads (listings) have posts that are just lists of links... links written for search engines not for people. It is yucky but it's not like Dallas was. Localism in the state of New York

I am not trying to minimize how upsetting it can be when a competitor in your market is throwing up spammy ads as posts, or a list of keyword links for the search engines. Or even ghostly white on white copy... but maybe have someone objective look at it with you to see if you are too close. Don't lose sleep over it... some of Localism looks bad... but if you are posting good content, you look good.

IMHO in most cases the best defense is to write some good Localism posts yourself. Not great Localism posts..every post does not have to be a masterpiece but local content written for consumers is going to trump the garbage.

Ohio - close to home

Localism really looks OK in Ohio.. to me. Not phenomenal, not great but OK... It could be worse.. I am not whining about crappy blogging. I am not a big fan of the use of ActiveRain at this point to promote dryer vent cleaning ... at this stage of the game. Ohio looks a bit heavy on dryer vent cleaning to me, yet I posted my own personal dryer vent story there....The mix of posts about dryer vent cleaning looks like ads to me rather than blog posts but maybe they have an audience and it's just not me.

Can we talk candidly about how a market looks without it being a personal attack against a blogger in a market who might just not be "our cup of tea?"

How does your market look? Maybe it won't look that bad if you look at some other areas... gosh if I could have taken a snap shot for you of what Dallas Localism looked like that day....

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Posted by Maureen McCabe Central OH Homes on 09/07/2008 02:52 PM

Comments (63)

Blogging in the ActiveRain Channel

localism

Post is included in group: Ohio Active Rainers
Post is included in group: Real Living

63 Comments on Objects in rear view mirror may appear closer than they are

SEP

2008

Thanks for this post Maureen, I agree that the best way to counter some of this stuff is to write good consumer coontent. I do believe however this type of junk that is unrelated to the intent of Localism diminishes the site and makes the consumer shift through sludge. I believe it hurts all of us and just like you, so will the consumers just move on. Posting on Active Rain vs. Localism is/should be different. Herding cats, I guess.

you got here quick.

You do write good content.

I think the junk hurts Localism but that is Rich, Matt, Brad. Bob's problem... I told Caleb Localism would not work in March or April 2007... and I hope I was wrong. I am disappointed that it will not be edited.

I think people will find the content with the search engines more so than conciously deciding "I'm going to go read Localism. " Yes people will come to the link farm posts from search engines but what is there for them to read once they get there? If all that is there is ads and a list of links?

Thanks for the comment.

Maureen, I wish Active Rain had hit a happy medium when they were editing. I actually think it should have been is this post about the area or not. I wrote a post on my favorite used book store which for some reason did not make it. When you subjectivly try to weed it just creates hard feelings and I think that is what happened. I am very careful what I put in localism and luckily in my market area most people are also. I don't think localism is the place for religious humor. I did go to the Dallas Localism and scrolled but did not see too much that was inappropriate. Too bad you couldn't take an at the moment snapshot.

Marchal I don't know that we ever saw real editing on Localism, I think real content not showing up and the garbage showing up has more to do with Localism being an unfinished product than editing that was done. I think Localism is still majorly messed up and the whole channel thing on AR is NOT reliable. I have a post that is NOT supposed to be on Localism but it is. I am not sure whether it shows up anywhere on Localism other than MY Localism blog but I saw it this morning and went back to see if I had it categorized correctly and I do. It is posted to ActiveRain NOT to Localism.

I am sure other stuff that is posted to ActiveRain where it is "requests to AR agents for professional advice, a poll about wearing pantyhose, agent-specific tips on evaluating buyer behavior, listings, posts with no content" is not the member misposting but an AR problem that will eventually get fixed.... maybe what I would be documenting with a snap shot would not have been anything intentional, but more Localism not being ready for primetime and the member posting stuff to peers that mistakenly is showing up as consumer content.

Marchal thanks for the localism update, I did not about the editing changes on localism. thanks

Consumer content is KING!

I was in favor of editing until I saw that many articles didn't show up that should have. Good content will rule though -

Hi Maureen, you are so right. I sponsor one community on Localism and I try to give information about that community. I am hoping that the information I provide will be helpful to the person considering moving to the area and they will remember who put the information up and made their decission easier to move to this community. I am positive people that keep doing advertisment after advertisement about them selves will be turning off consumers that are looking for information.

Maureen, some Localism is just reviews of restaurants and such but pantyhose polls really "stretches" the boundaries. I think the story is, there are no boundaries. That is what is bothering you.

Hopefully we will all get better with our Localism content. THat pantyhose thing in Dallas has to go. That is awful!!

"some Localism is just reviews of restaurants" - I cannot find the post from one pf the AR guys, but I remember them asking us to keep real estate info to a minimum at the beginning of the new Localism and Rich keeps encouraging us to interview shop owners, etc. So what the heck are we supposed to be putting on there right now? I had some problems with the censorship (editorial review) but I actually much preferred it to the crap that is now allowed!

Hi Maureen. I am possibly guilty of posting poorly. Not intentional. Just figuring out what I am supposed to write for localism.

Ken

Rich ... there's a difference between content and stuff isn't there?

Susan I really don't think it was ever edited really... at least what I was looking at in Ohio and a couple of other states. Did you? I am disappointed it won't be edited but I was cranky when my stuff would not show up and ads for dryer vent cleaning did.

Endre Do you find yourself feeling more territorial about neighborhoods you sponsor? I am trying NOT to.

Gary ... "pantyhose polls really "stretches" boundaries" ha, ha... Personally I don't think there should be boundaries, I could see the problem with Dallas when I first read Steve's comment and it was more that there was stuff there rather than content. I did not think a poll about panty hose in the sweltering Dallas summer heat would have been a bad idea. Not something for the fellas to worry about but I could see a poll. It was a national story, I had seen it... some bloggers could have done a great local job with it...

Betina Next year... just you wait when we are hot and sweaty in Ohio I will do a pantyhose poll. We are having fall weather here... started yesterday. We will all get better at Localism. We have to set a good example for the NON real estate people who will be joining us. If all WE have is spammy ads how can we expect them not to come comment spam for their local business enterprises?

I am transplanting content from one blog to another. I just put stuff on my blog back in 2005... it was not necessarily content.

Thanks all for the comments

I will look at localism in my area. To be honest I have spent so much time on other sites and blogs that localism has been out of the picture.

I understand that Rich said that Localism would no longer be edited. However, I believe that the editing was selective in the beginning. I was heavily edited and my Localism posts were dumped in a black hole. Yet the localism posts of other members that survived include listings, market reports, advertisements, etc. All things that were not supposed to be included. Shucks, I couldn't even get local posts included in neighborhoods that I purchased.

I got tired of trying to figure it out and just cancelled my 36 neighborhoods. I also got tired of trying to find my posts that I had entered in Localism for months and months.

Google will find me, unless. . . . . .

You know that I'm paranoid.

Michelle to me it looks like they (AR fellas) have not said for us to start piling on hard core real estate yet but lots of those trying to make a mark with Localism are. A few with Link Farm Posts... others with Stuff with a big hairy spammy thing on the the end of each post proclaiming they are the best thing that ever happened to real estate with 3 or 4 headshots, a Meez, links to their website and all of their contact info in the post (what Rich J called spamming themselves.)

Others have great content, more real estate focused... not spammy so there is a range of stuff. I think the Localism that is "just reviews of restaurants" and posts about local events, posts about parks, schools, is still what they have ASKED us to post.

Ken I bet your Localism content is fine... I am not a real big Localism writer.. I have gone back and forth so much on whether I am competing with my other blog... that I would not post to Localsm ... then I would, then I'd stop. I had NOT blogged anything on Localism for 6 months or so when they introduced the new Localism, I was not a neighbor in Ohio at first. I think I stopped blogging out of frustration with the way that Localism just sat there.... in beta for so long.

Maureen, you .are so right one wants to become Territorial. I guess it is human nature

Steve made a very valid point - what legitimate "team player" who works hard and spends lots of time to provide photos and content-rich posts of interest to consumers will continue to do so? And who among us will continue to pay $9/mo. for the privilege of being a "land owner" on Localism... Well, I've shared my gripes with the AR gurus so I'll give them a chance to "fix" things before I get more specific. Bottom line, there must be a happy medium between approving posts and ignoring them - perhaps random spot checks?

Localism in Anne Arundel County Maryland is a combination of excellent posts and just plain spamming for search engines. There is one poster who submits primarily lists of available homes for sale even though they aren't his or his company's listings. What makes this poster's "contributions" illegal is that he doesn't give attribution to the listing company as required.

I actually made my first complaint last week about an agent posting and re-posting the same "ad" for a pool cleaning company. There will always be those who abuse the system, it's sad.

Lenn are YOU not sponsoring communities on AR? I assumed they did away with editing to please you... You know what they say about assuming. Maybe that ASSumption made an A _ _ out of me.

I asked twice why Ohio was not edited the way they said it would (no listings, no market reports) and was told it had NOT been edited yet. No response to my pleas to remove City of Columbus Franklin County neighborhoods ... urban areas from Delaware County which is rural or suburban... Localism is a work in progress. That's the part when I look in the rear view mirror and see urban city areas posted in both counties... it bothers me. And maybe I am too close.

Endre I thought both Steve in Dallas and the agent in NY state were being territorial when I read their comments... well actually I knew the NY blogger and I was waiting and watching for a comment like that for this post....and jumped on it looking for the "Link Farm Post." I don't know if either is sponsoring communities or just feeling like their Localism.com content should not be comingling with content that makes them uncomfortable. I think it was Melina T. in Oregon who asked on one of Rich's posts about... what if a Strip Club owner wanted to start a community on AR?

In both cases in my post (Dallas and the NY state blogger) the content they were calling attention to is not great blogging, IMHO. ActiveRain deserves better... I wish I could show you the Link Farm Post... but the comment was made in a Members Only post. I am not sure everyone on AR understand what that refers to. It is not written for reading. It is just a page of links.

I was once (early 2006) almost kicked off a blogging network for link spamming... someday I will share that story and the links to it... It is up...

Margaret "random spot checks?" I would think a "Link Farm Post" or white on white content should not survive a random spot check much less someone complaining specifically about it to AR but I think they are overwhelmed, even with out having to edit because of some of the stuff that is popping up. It will be hard to keep communities sponsors paying though if the content is all spam, all the time. Or to get good bloggers to contribute the kind of content Steve and others have contributed in Dallas. They get busy and take a few days off and Dallas Localism can be filled totally up with "stuff" again.

Richard Thanks for recommending a visit to that county. Your county I assume...

Hi Maureen... Let me start out by saying I am not going to jump in on this deeply because I do not want to hijack your post... I will leave that to the professionals. :) But I do want to say how much I appreciated your post and your sharing support of my position. We can all use a little validation from time to time and it means a lot to me that it came from someone I respect.

My feeling is that the word "Local" contained in "Localism" should be a big clue regarding content to anyone considering posting there. And that there needs to be a procedure or mechanism to flag and remove inappropriate content before it accumulates making Localism a repository for ads, and useless trash that the consumer has to wade through to find the "good" and intended content that will benefit all contributors.

Pantyhose polls? Excuse me but how did we ever get to this point? Sure hope it's an isolated incident

What are we supposed to be putting on there? I have market reports, local places, news, etc. I dunno what to think - except I hope it all works out!

I still believe in Localism despite it's current flaws and i'm definetely partial when one speaks about editing on localism as we should all know based on how societies work that once it goes public all hell will break loose anyways. Eh it's a tough call for us.

Guess we gotta hang in there and see if the kinks work themselves out.

This is Lenn. I've logged on about 20 times and can't get it to hold.

I understood that the editing was stopped. However, the problem with Localism editing is that it is a task that is physically impossible for a few human beings.

I didn't participate in the Land Rush because since I cover two states and about 25 counties or more, 15 minutes wouldn't help. So, I just waited a few days and selected 36 locations and even added a few popular ones.

However, as I continued to search for my posts in important market areas and couldn't find them, I just gave up and cancelled the subscriptions.

There is also the bottom line that I don't have the time or even inclination to leave my office and tour areas, shops, stores, parks, etc. and add posts that have no real estate interest. Especially when I have no assurance that they would even be included in the database. I started a series for Maryland and it isn't searchable in "Maryland".

I fully understand the economic theory of getting sponsors at the super local neighborhood, shop, street level. It's more lucrative than state/county/city.

However, it doesn't make economic sense for me to contribute non-real estate content. I guess the bottom line is that they want non-real estate related content in Localism and I just don't have the time. I have to stay focused on generating business for our agents.

It's disappointing to read the many comments that mention spam, and then think that there is no editorial enforcement on Localism. I can see the Localism concept working individually for those agents who really take it and run with it, but as a national site there are just way too many obstacles.

....I think we need editorial review and you know why. I don't like it that Michigan looks spammy and a multitude of posts on dryer vents and garbage dumps. I agree totally with Steve's comment above. If it doesn't get fixed soon, I am going to forget all my 19 communities and only do one. There I said it....

So far so good in my area, but thanks for the heads up of what's happening elsewhere.

I am also in the opinion that there needs to be editorial review... but it has been abolutely unwieldy when edited. Good stuff scrapped, and crap passed.

I think that perhaps there needs to be a flagging system for others in the area to flag (but not directly remove...) posts.

Thanks for the scoop Lenn... thanks for the comment guest of honor Steve Shatsky of Dallas TX... Thanks all... I will be back later... everyone take a gander at the great state of Michigan today (Eeeeeek too much convention watching) What do you think of the white on white with the geographic words?

Missy 19 communities wow... I could never try to cover that many.... I did three neighborhoods and one small city and can't make myself post the stuff I need to be posting for those. Last I looked there was NOT a lot of communities sponsored in Ohio.

Hi Maureen - I've been away from AR for so long I feel like the world has passed me by. I'm lost on all the changes with regard to localism, but I did follow the links in your post and in the comments, and can clearly see the junk that's up there. I can't imagine why stuff like that is allowed to pass muster. It has to be very disheartening for those who write really good local content to not have some of their posts show up, as they should. I haven't checked my state or my area to see what's going on there. I'll check that later, and hope there isn't junk there like I saw in the areas you linked to.

Yuk!
Ann

Hey, Maureen. Brilliant observation. I need to take an objective look at my region. ... and then I need to add some more good content!

Maureen, When they were editing...I saw many fall by the wayside that were good. Now that it's all there at least the consumer will be able to make the choice of what they decide is worth reading. Some consumers may just want to take a poll on panty hose! wooha I do!

Truly, I've noticed some beautifully written, informational and professional posts...

Possibly when the garbage gluts get a whole lot of nothing in business they will find another place to post! Let's hope so anyway. :-) LOL

Later in the rain~Deb

I think it is just plain weird that it was launched before the bugs were worked out. In a former life, I was an analyst and was a liaison between users and programmers. There was so much up-front work before programs were launched, then so much troubleshooting in the beta stage, by the time things went live, there were few problems, and those problems were fixed!

What we have to date is rah rah, Localism, Yeah! In my view management should be publishing blogs on problems and solutions, questions and answers, not more promotion until all the bugs have been worked out. If they are counting on hype to carry them through, I think it's going to be tough times ahead.

In the mean time, the blog for my county is all about a city from another county. If anyone really wanted info about my county and went to Localism, they would be totally confused.

But oh well. I think Lenn has the right idea.

I think Localism will be a mixed bag based on the area. The agents who have always posted garbage will continue to do so and there may be some who will step up to the plate to make it a better place. Lets hope the second group wins out.

Maureen: First of all congratulations on that little gold star! Well deserved.

Initially I was upset about the neighborhood sponsorship and those who don't know the areas would be 'claiming' to be the experts. After chatting with a few of the experienced Rainers, I finally decided to Let Go & Let God!

I believe that the cream always rises to the top--it may not be to the top yet but, when the market turns around, as months go by, I think those of us who DO know and represent our areas well, WILL be on the top!

Maureen ... I'm fairly new to AR but your approach is very refreshing .. thank you!

I am new at this Localism-- crazy me-- I thought it was to only promote your area not you. Thanks for your thoughts.

There has to be minimum standards, very minimum, and they have to be enforced. Maybe the good stuff will float to the top, but how much of the public wants to wade through the crap to get there?

reading through comments and parking to see what happens next

SEP

2008

Hopefully the good content will rise to the top, just like cream. There is so much on the internet that I expect that consumers are used to wading through some of this.

I was with Lenn. I sponsored my communities for a whopping 10 days. I pulled the plug when they pulled the moderation.

It's tough. They need the AR agents and members to write the content to launch the site, but have to figure out how to do that in such a way as to not piss off 1/2 of the group and lose their content...

I feel bad for the AR crew actually. What they are trying to pull off is really difficult.

I'm also with Lenn that I don't have the time to do non-real estate related content. I did give the website to several local folks (a local blogger who writes restaurant reviews), an event planner, a member of the convention center, etc. It was nice to see the political rant, the agent promotion, the listing, etc.. on page one as I was telling them about how great the site would be about our local community...Makes me look like I know what I'm talking about. :(

I have commented back twice now and lost the comment. I think it is my computer though rather than AR since after the first frustrating experience I went to Google Notebook to write it. Lost it there too. Not sure how... need more coffee.

I am going to save and keep adding to this comment to be safe... Thanks all for the comments.

Debbie Summers wrote "posting and re-posting the same "ad" for a pool cleaning company."

I understand that the dryer vent cleaning franchise seller's (Michigan) Localism posts are all different enough that he is not just posting and reposting the same content. He posted 10, 12, 20? very similar posts two weeks ago Sunday. The fellas who are posting in Central Ohio who are a dryer vent cleaing franchise similarly have posted things that to me seem like the same old, some old being churned up amid not a lot of local info but they've varied it ... so if anyone is looking to read about dryer vent cleaning, or buying into the dryer vent cleaning business Localism or ActiveRain is the place to be!

I guess any business could do the same. Yesterday in NY state there was a flurry of posts about ????

Steve wrote "My feeling is that the word "Local" contained in "Localism" should be a big clue regarding content to anyone considering posting there."

I have at least one post that should not be showing up on Localism that is. There are some bugs. I am sure that is not isolated.

" And that there needs to be a procedure or mechanism to flag and remove inappropriate content before it accumulates making Localism a repository for ads, and useless trash that the consumer has to wade through to find the "good" and intended content that will benefit all contributors."

Don't you think a lot of people are going to be finding what they are looking for via a search and ending up on the Localism post rather than walking in through Localisms front door and browsing through the whole thing? If Localism works on Google the way ActiveRain has yes people will end up on the white on white text and the Link Farm Post but there is nothing there to read... hopefully if they are searching for real estate info about Dallas or community info about Dallas and someones ad lures them in and all they see is a pantyhose poll or an ad with no content, they will page up, page down find your content or Donna's content or local content from someone else in the industry who is not just posting "stuff."

Ann it is great to see you back. I looked at NH last night and to me it looks pretty good. Maybe small pretty states have an advantage in many ways... over big ugly not so scenic states.... not a swipe at any state... and every state has some scenic areas...

You and Monika have set a great example from the beginning for a lot of the bloggers who have joined in your state.

Cindy I have a theory that AR will become very segregated... good bloggers vs. those who just throw up stuff... and the just thrown up stuff will sink to the bottom somehow... same may be true on Localism... Cindy said" The agents who have always posted garbage will continue to do so and there may be some who will step up to the plate to make it a better place."

I wish we had a non gamable rating system on AR... there was a rating system n 2006... it was changed because of gaming... it was scrapped after more gaming. I know Digg is gameable... so that is a lot to ask of AR Localism but the good stuff should be read more, recommended and there has got to be a way that the good stuff is elevated. If enough content is generated the garbage will only be visible for a short time on Localism... If there was a way that because of clicks or rating the good stuff which is being read stayed up and the stuff that is just for points, or just to post their contact info, or just gibberish for search engine spiders would drop like a stone that would be wonderful. Asking a lot of AR.

Debe wrote "Initially I was upset about the neighborhood sponsorship and those who don't know the areas would be 'claiming' to be the experts." I don't know if sponsoring a community on AR is a claim as an expert any more than buying a neighborhood, zip code on any other site.. a brand new agent with the cash has just as much right to sponsor a community on AR as some one who has years of experience... just the same as they can buy an area on the scores of other real estate sites... a brand new agent has the right to come in and post local content on AR / Localism / their own blog anywhere on the blogiverse too. If they get business from either more power to them.

Debe also said "After chatting with a few of the experienced Rainers, I finally decided to Let Go & Let God! " IMHO lots of ActiveRain members need a 12 step meeting or at least to think about the Serenity Prayer.... we only have control over what we have control over... if we worry too much about what Localism looks like it will make us crazy. We need to let Rich, Bob, Matt, Jonathan etc. worry about it... they have control. If they are OK with white on white text, pages of "Link Farm Posts" etc. Individuals will or won't contribute good content, pay for communities, encourage community participation based on how their market looks but other than starting blog wars we only have control of what we publish mostly... yes we can flag content or use Contact ActiveRain but for the most part that gets frustrating. The NY agent who complained about the "Link Farm Posts" was I believe told that is OK.

Wayne It may not be a great experience for consumers who are coming in through Localisms front door initially but don't you think a lot are going to come from the search engines if Localism works the way AR has? If you have good content on Localism about your part of Oregon they are going to be there reading you?

Christine It may be tough for some consumers but those wise to the ways of web 2.0 will just manuever around the garbage as they do in the blogosphere.

Melina it is interesting that you UNsponsored too.

I agree it is a tough job. I hope the AR guys "piss off" the members who write white on white text, Link Farm Posts or ad after ad after ad.

We have a bunch of strong bloggers in my region so Las Vegas is pretty heavy with EXCELLENT and diverse posts/posters. The self promotionals really get knocked out as quick as they come up. It seems like everyone kicked it up a notch when localism changed too.

Maureen, I have to agree that the result of the editing going away has resulted in a mess. My local market doesn't look so bad, although the standard was higher.....and I was inspired to work harder. We lost the goal....I think! Very interesting post and I guess we are just lucky that we have good bloggers in my area. I personally wish we would have seen it through!

That's great Renee! It is good to hear about the areas that LOOK GOOD.

Maureen - I don't believe AR had a choice about editing posts for localism. As a volunteer editor for the largest human edited directory on the web I know what a daunting task that would be --- even if the editors were to volunteer. It would also have delayed many posts that were time sensitive. You will always get people who try to spam the system and I would think that if we reported them AR could manage to keep most of that under control.

The bottom line is you are correct that if you write quality content for consumers it will outweigh the other stuff. I believet that most consumers will come to localism and AR from the search engines so from my perspective quality community oriented post will win hands down.

IMHO in most cases the best defense is to write some good Localism posts yourself.

Hi Maureen,

I agree. I think good bloggers on Localism will get more business, just like good bloggers on Active Rain are reaping the benefits of their work. I specifically call it "work" because I've gradually come to the realization that good blogging is actually work.

Respectfully,

Bruce

P.S. Now you've made me curious about how my city looks!

I don't think localism quite lived up to its vision by its creators. It probably did make some good cash, however.

Larry

Barry said "As a volunteer editor for the largest human edited directory on the web" what is the largest human edited directory?

They announced it would be edited and changed after they'd sold sponsorships. Lie? Overestimating their ability? Underestimating the ability of members to throw up garbage?

Not Yet Licensed Blogging is hard work.

Larry I wonder how what they sold in the first month of sponsorship compared to what they expected. The initial landrush... Lenn canceled 36 neighborhoods... Melina canceled her sponsorships based on AR canceling moderation... Missy is getting frustrated with the dryer vent cleaning franchisee who is now pushing dumpster maintenance via Localism with the ghostly white on white text.

Will more people grab Localism sponsorships based on how Localism is shaping up or will more people decide they don't want to support pantyhose polls, dryer vent cleaning and dumpster maintenance? I wonder do people who post " link farm posts" , post stuff (rather than content) and use white text on a white background pay for sponsorships?

Personally I think Localism looks good...

except I hate how all Columbus neighbrorhoods show up in two counties... I got an email from Bob Stewart about it today that made me see red. All city of Columbus neighborhoods show up in Delaware County... excuse me a rant that belongs elsewhere..

thanks all

Personally I think Localism looks good...

See that is my problem. I like Localism. I like the concept of it. I'm just having a tantrum because a few people are ruining it. See I'd be happy to be a local editor and send those non local posts right back to the AR crew for review...

I read several of those dryer vent posts. Glad to see he's on to something else. I was thinking I was going to have to start blogging about pooper scooper's or something to keep up with his original and varied content...It could be a series...post 1) red pooper scoopers; post 2) green pooper scoopers; post 3) rainbow pooper scoopers...Think of the points I could have!!

I don't think it has anything to do with points or even being top neighbor in Michigan, do you? I think he is just using Localism for the search engines, to sell franchises, not in Michigan necessarily so what does it have to do with Localism for Michigan? The ghostly white on white is geographic keywords all over the US.

Could you edit locally? I would be more comfortable editing another part of the country. I just noticed an urban legend posted on Ohio Localism... one of those emails that people forward to one another... it's not true, it's been going around for years... I was going to comment with the link to Snopes.com but decided NOT to.

I think he is clueless about Localism and blogging for that matter. I have no idea what his intentions are.

I guess I was thinking if they had the top neighbors do some of the review work as local editors, then they could sent questionable posts back to AR for review. Some things are obvious, but I'm wondering if there might not be a post that is a good local post that might not seem that way to an "outsider" per se. I can't think of anything, but just one of those thoughts.

I think you are on to something with volunteers editing Localism for other parts of the country.

SEP

2008

Hi Maureen... As you know, I have strong feelings on this topic, but I am content to just keep biting my tongue because you are doing a great job with this post that reflects my own opinions quite nicely. I'd say you've earned my respect, but you already had it... you're a class act.

To address your response to my comment above, I do certainly hope that if folks google search and end up on the Dallas Localism page and land on a white-on-white post or the now infamous pantyhose poll (have you and I now immortalized that as an icon of bad content?) that they will scroll up or down to find Donna's content (or mine, or that of any of the other solid contributors), but I wonder if having to "out-scream" the bad content for attention by posting an abundance of good content will eventaully grow tiresome to the good content contributors. And I also wonder if the site as a whole will be judged as having mediocre overall content since it's so hit-or-miss on what post you'll land on and make that all-important first impression with. Just some more food for thought.

SO! here is an idea...it came as I read what Margaret Woda wrote up there near the top of this discussion.

How about the concept of self-editing? So I wrote this to AR .. "I imagine a whole batch of group founders and moderators who gladly will do this for a small stipend ...And may even VOLUNTEER !! Me included.\\// ...many are professionals with backgrounds in graphics and writing...(I have have been an acquisitions editor. .I know how to cull out great stuff in a big hurry)

SEP

2008

Dryer vent cleaing has hit New York State this AM .... Or it looks like the posts were 9/9/2008 “Dryer Vent Cleaning” “Dryer Vent Repair” Upstate, New York

and

“Dryer Vent Cleaning” Prevents Dryer Fires and Saves on Energy Costs, advises “Dryer Vent Repair” Company-Clyde, New York

not that I am opposed to dryer vent cleaning or any maintenance.... I just find this trend on ActiveRain funny.

I think AR will have to do something about editing Localism... at some point.

Thanks all for the comments.

Maureen - only because you asked The Largest Human Edited Directory

SEP

2008

Thanks Barry.

Here's a Wordle for this post.... I see Pantyhose, content, market, Steve... Localism is big.... Wordle Objects in Rear View Mirror

SEP

2008

Well put Maureen! Self advertising looks exactly like it is and it is BORING! Good content is what people are looking for. Thanks and great post!

SEP

2008

oooh Steve has a post about how Localism in Dallas looks to a civilian. I went to look... Dallas looks bad today but if you dig there's good stuff.. will consumers dig through all the self promotion for good stuff?

Localism: Am I an Intelligent & Cooperative Businessperson or Foolish & Naïve? (Members Only) It's not distortion today....

Pippa is The Woodlands near Houston? My Texas geography sucks. Were you affected by Ike?

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