Aren't we NOT supposed to talk about the earning algorithm?

United States
March 27, 2017 1:35am CST
I know that it used to be a rule in the mylot of yore. Or, at the very least, if not expressly forbidden... agreeably taboo.. The only guideline I see about it (that mentions the algorithm at all) is as follows: "Creating multiple accounts - Doing this to deceive or troll other members, talk to yourself, return to myLot after having been banned for Guideline violations, or attempting to defraud the earnings algorithm will result in immediate account termination and forfeiture of any accumulated earnings." I ask because I just saw a discussion that was talking about the algorithm... and while not expressly asking for open opinion on how it worked.. was still giving their own opinion.. @GoAskAlice I guess this question is for you.. Or did you create a new username? I can never remember. @GoAskAlex I also wanted to leave this open for debate. I know a lot of us seasoned lotters have our own opinions on whether it should or shouldn't be discussed... but obviously with it not being expressly forbidden in the guidelines, there is nothing to do but sit on our hands.
8 people like this
9 responses
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
27 Mar 17
There is nothing in the current guidelines which forbids discussing the earnings algorithm. The workings of it are outlined in the Earnings Program FAQs but any further details (such as exactly how much one earns on receiving responses, comments, 'likes' and other 'interactions') are not revealed and any attempt to evaluate or explain such things can only be pure supposition. The paragraph you mention from the Guidelines is not relevant here.
3 people like this
• United States
27 Mar 17
I do remember at one time it being forbidden. I also remember a lot of attempts from newbies to figure it out. The guideline that I quoted here is actually from the guidelines section of the "help" link. It is the third from the bottom. Regardless, I agree it isn't relevant here. I should have made that more clear in my discussion and have since rectified that. I personally still feel discussions on it are not needed, though I come across very few of them anymore.
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
27 Mar 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum I agree that discussions about the details of the algorithm can be, at best, pointless (and rather boring) and at worst, misleading. It is understandable, I suppose, that new members especially should wonder how the program works and how much they are likely to earn (what they really want to know, of course, is: "Is it going to be worth my while spending time here?"). Those who are going to become 'valued members', however, tend to realise after a while that constantly watching the 'bank' (and posting about it) is not the way to get the best out of myLot!
3 people like this
@GoAskAlice (5807)
28 Mar 17
Yes, at one time it was a no no. I think the only case I would remove such a discussion was if it seemed that it was describing how to game it.
2 people like this
• United States
28 Mar 17
Fortunately, I haven't seen any discussions made describing how to game it. Thanks for addressing this Alex.
28 Mar 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum I haven't either. Probably because it's pretty hard to do.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (158680)
• Boise, Idaho
28 Mar 17
I think that the thing to do is not answer those posts. If they irritate or you don't feel they are necessary don't respond to them. And, it sometimes depends on how a post is written and what sort of information is giving as to whether it is deleted or not. I would hope that each of us are adult enough to write and post what we feel like posting and if someone doesn't care for it they can move on. There are plenty of posts to choose from here.
@celticeagle (158680)
• Boise, Idaho
28 Mar 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum ....So! There's a different owner now. The algorithm is very complicated and I really doubt any of us know enough about it that talking about it here is going to give out any secrets or hurt the site in any way.
• United States
28 Mar 17
Oh I do know that there are plenty of posts to choose from. My main remark is that posts about the algorithm used to be against the guidelines here... I ignore the ones that aggravate me unless it is against the guidelines, then I report them.
1 person likes this
• United States
27 Mar 17
I remember when I first re-joined myLot in November of 2015, I had my post 'deleted' because I talked about myLot earnings how I accomplished a dollar a day and provided tips! It was a top rated discussion at that time too. Nowadays, I see everyone doing it and it's completely fine, no idea.
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Mar 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum The guidelines are still the exact same. I guess it just depends, no idea. Many who commented on that post, noticed it was deleted & thought I did nothing wrong. All well.
• United States
28 Mar 17
I re-joined awhile after everyone else did so I didn't see that post. Not sure why it was deleted back then. Were the guidelines re-set up by then?
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (457340)
• Switzerland
27 Mar 17
I do not believe it is forbidden, but I am sure that nobody knows for sure, so I see no reason to discuss this topic.
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Mar 17
The entire reason for posting this topic was to get the attention of admin as well as those who remember the mylot of yore... and how it used to be a rule not to discuss the algorithm. Mostly because people were constantly trying to figure out how it worked.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (457340)
• Switzerland
28 Mar 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum It seems that people now are not really concerned about this.
@NJChicaa (115913)
• United States
27 Mar 17
amazing that people are that interested in how to earn a few more pennies
• United States
28 Mar 17
There are some that are on here all day and all night and are constantly posting discussion after discussion... They use the site as a way to earn money. I use it as a tool for fun.
1 person likes this
@NJChicaa (115913)
• United States
28 Mar 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum I imagine a part time job is a better way to earn money rather than this place
@silvermist (19702)
• India
27 Mar 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum I think no body will be able to figure out the earnings algorithm here.I do not mind people trying to do that.
@silvermist (19702)
• India
29 Mar 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum THings keep changing.
• United States
28 Mar 17
It used to be a guideline violation.. Mostly because it was talked about A LOT.
1 person likes this
@Jackalyn (7559)
• Oxford, England
27 Mar 17
If we did know the alogorithm Mylot would be boring. People would just flock here for the money and the site would be broken pretty quickly. It is a guarded secret for a reason. All you ever need to know about this site is that interaction is key.
• United States
28 Mar 17
Obviously.. and we used to have a rule about that too.. Back in the old mylot.. talk of algorithms just wasn't allowed. Yet people are constantly asking about how to make the most money here. No, that's not about the algorithm itself, but annoying all the same.
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (134267)
• Roseburg, Oregon
27 Mar 17
I never tell how much or how little I earn on here.