guideline loopholes
By wonttakelong
@wonttakelong (3555)
United States
February 9, 2009 10:53am CST
I have read the guidelines here and I must say that they are a little vague in some areas. That makes it very hard to determine what exactly is abuse and what isnt. I see some users that have found loopholes in the guidelines and use those loopholes very well.
For example, the copy/paste rules. You can copy/paste news articles so long as you provide a link back to the source. I dont mind occassionally if someone finds an interesting article and wants to share/discuss it. I am however irritated when I see a user that ONLY posts these types of "discussions". it seems that they are using a loophole to take advantage of the system to boost their earnings. I dont think its right for them to do this because the rest of us try to come up with original discussions based on our own personal thoughts.
Another example is photo discussions. Again I dont mind the occassional "hey look at this pic" discussion but when that is the majority of what the person posts it seems like borderline abuse.
What do you think about guideline loopholes?
Do you use loopholes in the guidelines to get away with stuff?
Do you know someone that does? (dont mention any names please)
11 people like this
18 responses
@Bohemian77 (277)
• United States
9 Feb 09
I'm new here, so correct me if I'm wrong. I thought you were not supposed to put copyrighted articles into your post, but you can provide a link. I don't know all the loopholes yet myself. I do get a bit annoyed at new discussions like "What's your favorite color?" It seems like just a way to boost your "new discussions".
I do see some abuses to the system, and this is coming from a newbie. The best thing to do, if you think a discussion is an abuse of the system, is give it a bad rating, and don't post on the thread. You bring up a very valid observation. I prefer to post on meaningful threads myself. I will post on some of the less meaningful threads, however, if it's well-written.
@wonttakelong (3555)
• United States
9 Feb 09
I think the loophole with articles is if you dont post the entire article and if you provide a link its within guidelines (barely)
I havent seen many favorite color discussions lately but I have seen quite a few of the "how's your weather?" discussions LOL
6 people like this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
9 Feb 09
Hi wont!
I can be very obstinate sometimes 
so maybe I am reading it wrong.
In the Guidelines it says:
'Don't Post copyrighted articles or photos please link to them' so where does it say that you can post part of them?
It also says:
'Don't Post similar or identical postings. Stealing posts from other users or posting the same thing over and over again will not help your myLot earnings.'
So does that mean an article about taxes is similar to or different from an article about a certain celebrity? I mean is posting any article repeatedly, no matter what it refers to, to be considered a violation or only those talking about the same argument?
You call them 'vague'? I call them very bewildering too because the more I try and understand some of them the more baffled I become 
so maybe I am reading it wrong.
In the Guidelines it says:
'Don't Post copyrighted articles or photos please link to them' so where does it say that you can post part of them?
It also says:
'Don't Post similar or identical postings. Stealing posts from other users or posting the same thing over and over again will not help your myLot earnings.'
So does that mean an article about taxes is similar to or different from an article about a certain celebrity? I mean is posting any article repeatedly, no matter what it refers to, to be considered a violation or only those talking about the same argument?
You call them 'vague'? I call them very bewildering too because the more I try and understand some of them the more baffled I become 5 people like this
@wonttakelong (3555)
• United States
9 Feb 09
at least I am not the only one baffled by them
5 people like this
@royal52gens (5488)
• United States
9 Feb 09
I am not comfortable with the loopholes you have found. I don't copy/paste very often. I have also noticed there are a few that copy/paste stuff all the time. I usually don't respond to those discussions. I don't want to feed in to it.
4 people like this
@wonttakelong (3555)
• United States
9 Feb 09
I dont respond to them either
I am not even freinds with any of the people I have seen do this
it just bothered me so i thought i would discuss it
4 people like this
@royal52gens (5488)
• United States
9 Feb 09
It is good that you opened this topic for discussion. It is important for us to know if we think alike on this or not. Obviously, we concur.
4 people like this
@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
9 Feb 09
I actually kind of think people adding a "signature" to every post like have a great day or some sort of quote is using a loophole/sort of cheating because it makes each of your posts that much longer without saying anything new.
I havent really noticed myself taking loopholes or shortcuts but...the rules can be vague.
4 people like this
@TheGreatWhiteBuffalo (4822)
• United States
9 Feb 09
Hi Jedi, (Greeting, or salutation)
I'm sure there is a reason that they do not have inserts like signatures because we are building upon our writing skills and they are paying us to learn... ((Cool odd thought,) (body))
Peace and Blessings,
Sincerely, (expanded three line signature)
Gary
*learnt to right letters and words in elementry skuul*
3 people like this
@wonttakelong (3555)
• United States
9 Feb 09
I dont mind the signatures really
there isnt anything in the rules about adding a personal touch like a signature
5 people like this
@May2k8 (18079)
• Indonesia
9 Feb 09
I think the loopholes make me feel want to stop responding for a few minutes because that is not my original discussions. I don't use loopholes to boost my earnings. Sometimes, i am confused about guideline loopholes. It is just signature or greetings.
@delrealmonica (189)
• United States
10 Feb 09
Well a lot of people are probably just using this site to make as much money as possible. So I think that using the loop holes is pretty smart. Now I would not use them frequently, but I think that occasionally it would be fine to bust your income a little.
4 people like this
@TheGreatWhiteBuffalo (4822)
• United States
9 Feb 09
I love a good discussion and I can see where the rules can be quite vague, like defining social parameters where are the boundaries, for some generations, beliefs, or cultures everything is a violation...
I guess we are all worms or the result of some Trojan insert what you like you know where and think of the opening scenes of Look Who's Talking...
Did I just find a loophole? 
3 people like this
@TheGreatWhiteBuffalo (4822)
• United States
9 Feb 09
She takes my breath away, I'm nearly speechless...
3 people like this
@wonttakelong (3555)
• United States
9 Feb 09
heyyy
careful where you are inserting that Trojan
4 people like this
@wonttakelong (3555)
• United States
10 Feb 09
I am just impressed that you volunteered to use a ....
oh nevermind LOL
4 people like this
@jimbomuso (950)
•
10 Feb 09
Hi wonttakelong!
I think the actual guidelines are vauge for a reason, the rules only get apllied when it suits mylots Admin, - otherwise they'd be constantly cutting, editing, deleting and in constant dialouge with every user, now seeing as they don't do that, the guidlines or faq are just that a... 'recommended' approach. Mylot doesn't want to shell out for using copyrighted material so don't use it. whichever way a user 'uses' mylot its up to them, why should I take umbrige with the way someone else uses it?if they're not cheating then, good for them. does mylot have an army of moderators to check all this stuff? ... errrr no, they leave it to us the user to alert them of potential rulebreakin/cheating. I tryv to skirt as close to the edge as I can, I've not had many deleted posts, but I don't care anyway.
3 people like this
@jimbomuso (950)
•
10 Feb 09
I 'believe ' they have mods, but I also believe in pixies, I bet the mods just play WoW all day, or decide which lotter to 'target'. I still think it depends on which mod is in charge on the 'day'
3 people like this
@jimbomuso (950)
•
10 Feb 09
I 'believe ' they have mods, but I also believe in pixies, I bet the mods just play WoW all day, or decide which lotter to 'target'. I still think it depends on which mod is in charge on the 'day'
3 people like this
@wonttakelong (3555)
• United States
10 Feb 09
they have mods
but do those mods really do their jobs?
you dont have to answer that LOL
2 people like this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
12 Feb 09
Wouldn't it be nice if all the fruit loops fell into the hole of the bowl and drowned in the milk? Is that possibility in the guidelines?
Didn't think so.
Maybe we can invent a loophole of our own to make it happen!
I really believe some cultures are schooled in the art of finding and using loopholes to their advantage. It's annoying, often insulting to our intelligence, and can become infuriating.
We proper users are becoming a minority on this site.
I say peel the fruits and send them back through the loophole backwards, then close the holes and it's done and dusted.
Are you listening admin?
3 people like this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
12 Feb 09
Yep to both of you! LOL
"Cereal" (good one Paula!) cheaters beware of troll eaters! We can find the hole in the loop too!
2 people like this
@Paula1966 (1102)
• United States
12 Feb 09
So, spark, are you saying we are having an issue with cereal cheaters?
4 people like this
@wonttakelong (3555)
• United States
12 Feb 09
I think we can possibly find that loophole somehow
where there is a will there is a way right?
3 people like this
@liquorice (3887)
•
21 Feb 09
Yes, I've noticed this too, and I do find it a bit annoying when the same people just posts articles all the time. It's a bit better when they write a reasonable discussion post to go with it; at least they share their point of view that way, and you get to see why they've posted it, and they've made some contribution to the discussion themselves. But otherwise it just gets a bit lazy and boring.
I think that posting a long article that someone else wrote (even if they do provide a link) does seem like it shouldn't be allowed. Seems like cheating to me. But I guess if myLot didn't like it they'd gradually delete these discussions. I don't use loopholes (not consciously anyway!) And I come across the odd post that does the one you've mentioned, but I'm not mentioning any names 
. (Can't remember them anyway, lol!)
. (Can't remember them anyway, lol!)2 people like this
@wonttakelong (3555)
• United States
21 Feb 09
I am glad I am not the only one that sees it as laziness
yes lets not mention any names please
1 person likes this
@neildc (17239)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
10 Feb 09
If we are talking about copy/paste feature here in mylot, not everyone is entitled with this one. Only those a little bit older here, I mean those who already have 500 posts are capable of using the said feature. There happened sometime ago here, a newbie who cannot do copy/paste but he was able to post similar if not totally the same discussions. He just retyped everything. And when concerned mylotters caught the newbie, the newbie was reported to the administration for abuse and eventually, the newbie was banned.
3 people like this
@liquorice (3887)
•
21 Feb 09
Yes, I heard about this a while ago, and I saw it happen again a few days ago. Under a certain topic there was a question (about babies I think) by one myLotter, and then directly underneath it there was the almost identical question. They were both quite new posters, and so the person copying must have just copied it by hand. Maybe some people don't understand the rules on these things, or reckon that nobody will notice. Or else maybe they're just cheats...
1 person likes this
@wonttakelong (3555)
• United States
10 Feb 09
I have seen people who retype articles
it always blows my mind because it must have been difficult
I am sure it would have taken less time to think of their own response
2 people like this
@kerriannc (4279)
• Jamaica
28 Feb 09
I have noticed one recently and I politely tell the writer that it is a violation don't know what happen because I didn't revisit. I try to be in the guidelines because knowing my luck it takes like half of an hour then it disappear lol. I think that people need to check the guidelines if he/she is not sure about something before posting.
2 people like this
@TLChimes (4822)
• United States
28 Feb 09
Because I have no live (I wish) and my house smells like a backed up drain (Because it has one) that I'm really trying to ignore, I just sat and read this from start to end. Someone should pay me for it but I won't push the issue because, well, no one ever pays me for laughing my tush off.
You people can turn any topic into something that makes me laugh.
From Trojans to breakfast cereal. My eyes are still watering.
Loopy people!
2 people like this
@wonttakelong (3555)
• United States
2 Mar 09
we like the advicey stuff
our therapists say that it helps with our own progress LOL
@wonttakelong (3555)
• United States
1 Mar 09
Isnt that what life is all about?
enjoying it and each other
glad we can bring a smile to your face
2 people like this
@TLChimes (4822)
• United States
1 Mar 09
That is why I've become so addicted to you folks. I smile and laugh and just generally have a good time. how can I ask for more.
I also think that if I was to post about something I was facing, you guys (the real friend types not just faces that follow along) would be there to listen and advice as needed.
It's really kind of cool.
2 people like this
@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
28 Feb 09
I've not been on Mylot long but I can only say you just have to continue to report what you see, and focus on your own discussions, and those of interest. I have seen plenty of posts complaining about pointless threads that remain up-ok, big deal. Just move on and create and join more thoughtful discussions. Don't focus so much on "Look what so and so is doing".
Namaste-Anora
2 people like this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
10 Feb 09
I have seen some of this stuff. I think it'd be hard for mylot to keep up with unless it were reported a lot & on the same user. When I see someone deliberatly over and over doing something like this or making ridiculously simple discussions such as "what is your favorite....whatever....I don't add to their earnings by commenting. If everyone did this, they'd just have to get more creative or maybe leave???
2 people like this
@allentcl82 (590)
• Singapore
10 Feb 09
well, im new here as well, as the copy/paste issue, since im only active in mylot, i doesnt know where other people copy/paste other people discussion, so im quite fine with it, LOL, since i treat mylot as a community instead of an earning system, (i treat earnings as a bonus) i really dont mind when people abuse the system, im not comparing our earnings, but seriously, if what you said is true, its up to MYLOT to change the system, or to do something about it.. I would like to see MYLOT die due to these people.. =O
@wonttakelong (3555)
• United States
10 Feb 09
you are ok with other people cheating and lessening your bonus?
you want to see mylot DIE?
seriously? WHY?
1 person likes this
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
13 May 09
I don't follow so much what other people are doing in their discussions unless it is a "friend" who doesn't know they are at risk for having their discussion deleted.
