Enrique Gili is a freelance writer covering Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability (Treehugger, the eco-friendly blog covering technology and design, started out with a simple premise aggregate all the great green content generated from news media outlets and activists into one large site amplifying the message of lone voices into a roar.
But what happens when TH's social bookmarking site gets hijacked. As has happened to Hugg, according to some critics. Individuals are gaming the system ensuring posts are climbing to the top of the pile while serious news languishes. Jetson Green, a frequent contributor , laments on the current situation at Hugg. Noting his mounting frustration with a ranking system that is little more than a rigged beauty contest.
The Juicy Bits Here:
I think it's interesting with all the green enthusiasts on this site that the gaming is actually perpetuating a system of green washing and frivolity. I love Hugg, don't get me wrong, but I've seen some killer stories stuck at 2 Huggs and I've seen some terrible stuff promoted to 6 in a matter of hours. Why? Here's what you do to game hugg: First you become friends with a ton of other green bloggers. When they post on hugg, you hugg. When you post on hugg, they hugg. Scratch my back. If you run a group blog, you post all your website's stories on hugg, the good ones and the bad, and the whole team of writers huggs that story. It goes to the top.
And the reaction that follows:
Gentlemen... this has become a big problem.
As jetsongreen knows, I was ready to give up my fours years of posting altogether do to this abuse by "green weenies" constantly submitting overread, tired stories that have NOTHING to do with Health, Safety or the Environment or a green lifestyle.
Raising the question for all bloggers, when does gaming the system become a legitimate concern?
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Comments
Hey Enrique,
I really didn't want for this to be a big deal, but I read Hugg everyday and think it has the potential to be very helpful. I wasn't familiar with the controversy on Digg, but it seems that Hugg may be experiencing some of the same growing pains. I've just seen the atrophy of quality Hugg contributors and it bothers me. It shouldn't be that way. Eventually it will get worked out, but I hate to see stories promoted to the limelight based on something other than the quality of the content. Have a good weekend...
Posted by: Preston | March 17, 2007 08:54 PM