Do you think Helium contests are fair?
By JoyceP2007
@JoyceP2007 (230)
United States
July 17, 2007 1:35am CST
I have a friend that posted for a contest. Users rate the articles on Helium. The ratings then determine the winner of the contests.
The friend had articles that were accurate. She did her research. The winner of the contest had inaccurate and incomplete information. The info was sent to admin. But the contest results remained the same.
Knowing this got me to thinking. Do you think the Helium contests are fair? Should they be checked by admin for accuracy of responding to the contest topics? What are your opinions on this?
1 person likes this
4 responses
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
19 Dec 09
I do not like it that helium writers who are not good writers can rate the writing of other helium writers that know how to use proper grammer and spelling and observe writing "rules."
In this respect it is not a fair system but in my personal experience with helium I have only had a few articles rated lower than I thought they should have been and in many cases I leapfrogged and pulled them up.
The problem with the rating system is that there are many immature people who, because they don't want to have to rate articles, engage in "speed rating" where they don't fairly rate the articles but just randomly choose one over another to do a minimum amount of rating to maintain a rating star and remain eligilbe to receive performance payments for their articles.
It would be better if the contests operated more like the marketplace where the publishers choose the top article regardless of what the the member rating is. It would certainly be more fair and equitable to have your writing judged by experienced professionals.
1 person likes this
@UmiNoor (4483)
• Malaysia
19 Mar 10
I totally agree with you about the rating system at Helium. I find it unfair that my articles may be rated by teenagers who are unaware of writing rules and grammar.
I think Helium should make it a rule that only writers with at least 2 or 3 writing stars can rate. This way when you start to write and others are rating your articles and you're getting top marks, you're then eligible to rate because other 2 or 3-starred writers think your articles are good.
Having just anyone to rate, (I think the condition is to have submitted one article) is pretty unfair. Just because a person has submitted an article doesn't make him a good rater.
I've come across sites and blogs where the webmaster talks about speed rating and they even scorn the rating system at Helium. I think rating must be earned.
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
19 Mar 10
I know a little more about the way helium works now than I did when I first posted this. Helium is taking steps to protect writers from the speed raters. I have a lot of feelings about this on both sides of the discussion. I can see where Helium is coming from and why things are set up the way that they are and why rating is important.
If you are a good writer you will not be harmed by the rating system. I have always maintained a good writing score and I earned four stars in less than a year. Rating is not the end or the means.
@shynepapin101 (1879)
• United Arab Emirates
28 Mar 10
Angel21,if what you said is right then there must
@sweety_81 (2124)
• India
16 Dec 09
Well, one of my friends is on Helium. Yet, he has only once participated in Helium contests. He does says that Helium people are fair, yet making dollars at Helium is quite tough as they thoroughly check :
1) How well and comprehensively are you writing about the topic.
2) How well is your grammar
I think the contests are quite fair there.
Regards
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
5 Mar 10
If your friend only submitted one article she did not do enough to win. There are twenty articles in a contest and when this post was created the rules were different so you had to write even more articles than you do now. The contest winner is the one with the most points not the best single article.
