Newsvine: Get Indoctrinated Here

After reading the comments below, I feel the need to amend my comment a bit. Perhaps, since I've been here just a short time so far, I had not yet noticed what you were talking about. Looking for it, however, I do see what you mean. But, here's what I do: If something interests me, I click on it, and if I like it, I send it up the vine, whether it is at the top of the vine, or the bottom. I've upped as many greenhouse articles as I have those at the top of the vine. If the headline doesn't look like something that interests me, I don't bother with it, even if it is at the top of the vine. Just because it's popular doesn't mean I'm going to like it, and if it's a subject I'm not interested in, I'm not going to bother with it. I'm sure I'll post many articles in the future that are very important to me that don't get any notice, but that's okay, we can't all like the same things. I might get frustrated because it's important to me and I feel that more people should be interested, but that's okay, too. What I've found is that Internet sites, all of them, emulate real life. This type of thing is going to happen at any user driven site, cause we're all just members of society, and breaking our habits isn't always so easy.

Just my 2 cents about my 2 cents. :)

Like TopJedi above, I'm part of this problem also. When I first joined Newsvine, I got very little attention, so I watched and learned and tried one day with a controversial seed. Needless to say, it worked. I don't do it exclusively, and sometimes I come across something that is just too tempting, it really brings out the predator in me. But you are correct, about the front page really, cause if you search by tags, you'll find some really great news seeded as well as articles from the membership here. I really do believe that the Newsvine membership is a highly intelligent and creative lot, even if we do get carried away sometimes...

I try to steer clear of the front page and when I do go there resist the temptation to click on folks who should know better than to seed or write %$#@. Mostly I focus on all the friends on my watchlist and the groups, sometimes the live tracker, though truthfully that's mostly useful for finding spam items late at night.

I don't know how people can follow as much as they do and believe there is so much that whatever you want to find is here, but it takes some real work to locate it. No work, not much great stuff is showing up.

Here's the actual up n back. I have removed the Viners name as I'm no rat. It was a story about how we were on the verge of victory in Iraq. Driving out the "insurgents".

WizeguySaigon 1969: The last of the red devils have been routed from the city.

Baghadad 2007: The 575 attacks reported for last week is an astonishing improvement from June of this year, when attacks numbered close to 1,600 during a single week.

0!#2 - Tue Nov 20, 2007 8:02 AM EST Sorry wiseguy, but did you have a point? or are you still trying to make comparisons to Viet Nam.

2!#2.1 - Tue Nov 20, 2007 8:34 AM EST Wizeguy: Just that propaganda then and now are the same

0!#2.2 - Tue Nov 20, 2007 8:39 AM EST Propaganda is always propaganda. Do you have anything specific about the article you wish to comment on. for example, do you think that there is something that is factually incorrect? Do you have some problem with it? Or are you simply spouting your 60's retread Democrat Party talking points here in an attempt to pollute my column. 2!#2.3 -

Tue Nov 20, 2007 9:42 AM EST Wizeguy:Didn't know it was "your" column. Looks like a story that came came from INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY. Sorry I poluted your air and your column with my 60's retread.

Pentagon Cover Up:15,000 or more US casualties in Iraq War
I'll shut up now!

0!#2.4 - Tue Nov 20, 2007 10:43 AM EST Who is covering it up and how are they covering it up?
Still nothing to say about the actual seed? the reason you are here presumeably?
As I seeded it here on Newsvine it is in 'my' column. 2!#2.5 - Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:09 AM EST

Wizeguy, we do have some bullies here like anywhere else. I'm not generally a fighter by nature but am seasoned enough around here to know the alley dogs and bark back, even take a piece of someone when they start snarling at the new folks or the mild mannered ones. It's unfortunate when you have an initial encounter and no one there to get your back. There are many who would and gladly add defenses.

Your experience is the exception. Most of us will see disagreements, even mudslinging as all right as far as matched rivalry goes. No one likes to watch one sided bullying and that's for either end of the political spectrum. It's just not a viner style to sit back and see a newcomer or non-combatatant roughed up without coming to their defense.

Dennis is right, let the staff know by using the report a bug drop down at the top of the column and the specific comment has a report feature right next to the little trash can. Use those.

We are self policing and more than a few of the ladies here are hell to reckon with too, we are on the prowl for for the abusers. We do not like bullies or spammers or rule breakers in our midst, speak up and call for help.

It's just not a viner style to sit back and see a newcomer or non-combatatant roughed up without coming to their defense.

Thanks Kiddo

I didn't need anyone to get my back. I "was" making a comparison to the propaganda of both wars. This person along with another that was in agreement with the article took it as an opportunity to attack. For me it's water under the bridge. If I see an article seeded by or written by this person I will steer clear. It's obvious he only wants the opinions of those who agree with his politics.

Anyway nobody roughs up the Wizeguy and gets away clean. I have my ways of dealing with those who dare. :) FORGETABOUTIT...

Glad to hear you made it out in one piece. Some are not as thick skinned or brave. I never want to see someone beat feet for the exits from a bully on their heels.

Wait till you get beat on by someone you greatly admire. That's when you realise its Newsvine - get tough here.

Wait till you get beat on by someone you greatly admire. That's when you realise its Newsvine - get tough here.

Yo, you tawkin' to me? I'm a New Yawkah and we swing back, nothin' personal, ya know? Just sayin' :~)

I will certainly keep that in mind. I have seen you around but haven't as yet noticed that we have had a head to head debate as yet. If we have then I could be more thick skinned than I realised!!!:-) I should do okay.

I have seen you around but haven't as yet noticed that we have had a head to head debate as yet. I

It depends on the topic whether you like my style or not. I'm essentially a muckraker devoted to attacking corruption with little interest in parties seeing greed and worthless leadership as the strongest bipartisan qualities. Beyond that my hot button issue is pure food. If you don't support looters or polluters you'll probably find I'm on your side. If I'm not then you better look more closely at whomever you think has clean hands because my claims may seem startling even into conspiracy theory on occasion but I'm just that much deeper into the muck of it an pretty much have my facts on the money. Not always, just nearly always.

Viki,

Me too.

I have found that those who protest the loudest are usually the worst offenders.

Or does "Let's have a Chicago vine meet" and "I went out drinking with Lauhal" qualify as "front page" material?

I think some of this "posting" problem - How to post, where to post, tags - is a problem of education and software.

Here is one example:

I have been here a whopping 2 weeks, and only 3 or 4 days ago did I realize I could post directly to a group. I started wondering about this when I was reading an article (in a group) and was trying to figure out how it got into a group without being clipped.

Hunting and pecking ensued.

I went in to the story editor, and low and behold, there was a little bar at the bottom that said options. There was the answer hidden in plain view. (so to speak)

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

Viki,

Yes I posted something in a meta article you wrote. With another week under my belt, I am starting to understand what you were saying. It just took my poor tired old brain an couple of days to digest the subject.

On this thread, this is what I don't understand. When someone refers to "front page" all of newsvine, I think of the columnist section (block) which I have expanded to 15 and moved front and center under that damn AP story. (but that's a different bitch I have)

Believe it or not I hardly ever use the "green Bar" to find any story or page. I am just learning to do that know.

I am as Dennis describes "Newsvine Lite"

Viki,

I think it does. I am still on my first pot of coffee, so I know I am running with a caffeine deficiency.

I'll let my brain (as it is) process this a little bit. (and hope the smoke detectors don't go off) :-)

Viki:

Before we were able to customize our front page with the modules we like to follow (and modules we could make from rss feeds), this was a much more common complaint.

Used to be until the modules became customizable. Then complaints went down. But now that very same block is anchored on the MSNBC Community page. So the complaints will become more common again.

I've been complaining frequently to staff because I've been finding advertising and spammers in the "Columnists" section. They get booted as soon as I complain, but the fact is that those advertisers/spammers are getting time on msnbc.com.

I've seen that stuff too and is irritating. It seems to me one intern or low paid clerical person dedicated to the task would solve the problem. Considering what is dedicated on our part to add content and try for quality it seems that is a very key thing for staff to keep on top of for general reputation and viner satisfaction.

Viki,

Does newsvine have a staff?

If so do you know how many?

How they do it, I have no idea, but I've received responses to my complaints via email on the weekends, often late at night.

One rumor is they have a disguised parallel website where they sell access to prospective corporate HR managers and offer them the opportunity to practice on "Dear Abby" Newsvine issues for weekly release via e-mail. Proceeds from these HR managers are then transfered to those on Newsvine according to the articles generating the most practice... umm "contributions."

The ads are just window dressing, this is really how "authors" make their "earnings" ;P

Viki...my hand's been raised so damn long it's stuck like that. I don't even care about being paid! I just want the satisfaction of hitting a button and seeing them gone, gone, gone.

I think that's called an Intern and it usually includes lunch but I'm with you on the satisfaction as priceless.

Are you suggesting that this is what I meant by my comment? I'm still new(ish) myself. "Newbies" probably enjoy this site more because they've yet to find out what kind of creeps hang out in this place.

Nope. I meant these comments.

You've been here less than a month... you probably should have waited to write your "what's wrong with Newsvine" article for another month or so.

I agree with lauhal that it's a bit bold to come in and trash the place without really getting to know it, but the fact is, you're right.

You're absolutely right, but as Viki mentioned above, it goes in cycles. It seems to be really huge problem when we get an influx of new users who don't know exactly what this place is about or how to contribute. Which is fine, they're new, we all had to learn how to be a part of this society. They usually ease in smoothly, if they stick around (most of them leave, actually), and produce less controversial seeds/articles and contribute more quality material.

Along with the others I possibly missed.

I don't wish to get personal with anything I say, but as far as I see it Newsvine needs all the critisism it can get, even from new users. This is where I go straight back into saying that the sense of community here can alienate users.

Say a new user is looking for a news article on something and he/she comes across Newsvine. These users are deadly important to this website surviving, as these first few interactions with Newsvine will determine whether they stay or go. They won't have time to get to know the community front-runners, or participate in a meta game, or loot out spammers, or whatever else you crazy people are doing nowadays. A user will come to Newsvine for news, and if that news isn't up to scratch they will most likely not even join.

These problems are major, but will go unnoticed for those who have been around for a while. Why? Because they've made friends here, and they're not necessarily looking for news, just a talking point. This may be why the controversial articles go on top, whilst a lot of real news articles tend to be left behind. Additionally, those who do stick around and write fantastic articles may find that no one is commenting on their stuff, then they will leave. This place only has a lasting factor if you're willing to stick around and join in the community, and there are millions of places like that, called forums.

If Newsvine ignores its new users, no one will come. If no one comes then Newsvine will be forced to close its doors. Therefore, if there is a single problem with your experience here I believe that you should complain.

As a new person (I joined and posted my first article just nine short days ago), I can say that new people are far from ignored. I received welcomes, I have received enormous responses to my articles. I think that if a new person likes what they see when they come here, and they jump right in and write good, quality articles, then they will be noticed. But that's just my personal experience.

The difference is that it's a much bigger place now

I've only been here since May and I certainly agree, Viki. I didn't come here for the news, but to be able to share news that I found interesting and have someone to talk to about it. You have to make friends to get known around here and that takes some time, reading and commenting on articles. Because there are so many more people here now, it takes a lot longer to find a niche.

To find new folks, I check my Recommended articles page, click on user names in comments that I like to see what kind of articles and seeds they've posted, and check out my Groups to see who is clipping.

I'm up late tonight just trying to get back to all the articles I've commented on recently--it's a big job to try to stay in touch!

6. Isn't the op-ed section of any newspaper always one of its most popular features?

7. Aren't Letters to the Editor still extremely popular in print publications?

Bakari,
You've just listed a number of topics that would make excellent articles....get cracking...LOL
#1: Calvin might be able to tell you more about the demographics of this place. My guess would be something like: 15% under age 20, 60 % ages 21-40, 25% 41 and over. 25 % women, 75% men.
#2: Good seeds depend on what you are interested in. Your opinion won't match everyone's, thus the wide variety here.
#3: Think Articles, not News. I see Newsvine as much more of a magazine than a Newspaper, but still newspapers have the Living Section, the Style Section, the Arts Section, and on and on.
#4: Yes. (Some folks like to get lots of comments and votes and be a big fish in a little pond.)
#5: IMHO---no. The CoH and the Anti-Spammers are doing a fine job. There are others here who would like some sort of editorial control--but they'll have to explain why. I like things the way they are.

#5: IMHO---no. The CoH and the Anti-Spammers are doing a fine job. There are others here who would like some sort of editorial control--but they'll have to explain why. I like things the way they are.

AngelC, it's good to read this. While I often wonder why certain stories are seeded on a place like Newsvine (like anything that appears in People Magazine), I think regulation would be a bad thing. As a community, members of this site will continue to the work to help define what is good for the site. If we allow it to become just a place for sensational stories, then we'll get what we deserve. But it doesn't seem like that is happening. We get the sensational and quirky stories, but we also get healthy list of important stories and threads that should be the purpose of this site.