Question Concerning MyLot Earnings From Responses
By Ann LeFlore
@poehere (15126)
French Polynesia
January 2, 2016 6:05pm CST
I just finished reading a discussion that has me puzzled. This discussion was about a person leaving a one word comment on a discussion. They said the person was cheating. I don’t understand how they were cheating. Here is what the rules say about earning here on the site:
How much can I earn with each discussion, response or comment? - This all depends on how interesting and valuable the myLot community considers it. The more that other myLot users interact with what you post, the more money it will make. If no one reads what you wrote, interacts with it, or otherwise considers it interesting, then you likely won't earn anything.
Now here is my question: According to this statement if a post attracts zero attention what so ever, nobody responds to it or interacts with it the author more than likely won’t earn anything at all.
I am only seeing here they talk about discussion. Does this also hold true for responses and comments? It is all grouped into the same earnings FAQ.
If a person leaves a one word comment on a discussion and nobody find this comment interesting, interacts, or responds to it does this person earn from his comment?
The wording here is confusing as to what earns and doesn’t earn. I can see how the discussion with zero interactions can’t earn but how can a comment and response with zero interactions earn or not earn. Maybe this should be broken down into two separate response to make it a little clearer here on the site.
What do you read or understand from this rule? Do you still earn with one word responses? If you respond to a post and nobody comments back do you still earn from your response? This one I find a little grey in how it is worded.
I am sure Owl and Lamb know better on this one and can help clarify this one for me. Thanks for your help.
Image source - personal image
35 people like this
30 responses
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
3 Jan 16
I saw one commenter who just writes 'good' to every article and every comment associated with it - I replied to him suggesting he tries adding a bit more detail than that. He replied 'good'. He clearly isn't reading - just pasting in his one word answer right through the system
6 people like this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
3 Jan 16
@poehere I agree he isn't cheating and at least it helps our incomes but it is very limited as a response
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
3 Jan 16
You know what Arthur I don't think he can read or write English. I think he has a hard time with the language and this is all he knows how to write. I know he seems like he isn't trying but if you do try and read a post he wrote you more than likely can see the problem. I didn't understand it and I don't think others did either. I think this is his way of saying he read it. I personally wouldn't consider this cheating and more of a person who might of come here to try and learn and improve his English.
3 people like this
@deeraj005 (132)
• Mumbai, India
3 Jan 16
Hey commenter who writes "good", whoever you are, use adjectives, mate. Stunning, Steller, Jaw-Dropping, Awesome, Mind Blowing... So many words to choose from... why only good?
2 people like this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
3 Jan 16
I agree with @PhredWreck. One word comments/responses may be considered 'abuse' but not necessarily 'cheating' because the person responsible is unlikely to earn very much at all, if anything, for them. I'd consider it 'cheating', however, if (for example) a group of people (or one person with multiple sock-puppet accounts) conspired to leave responses and comments on each other's posts. Such a group would quite soon be likely to come to the attention of Admin and would almost certainly lose their accounts, so they wouldn't actually benefit at all.
In general, it's not worth agonising over whether someone else is 'earning' by posting one word responses or comments. They will very likely be discovered to be abusing the system in other ways which will eventually lead to them losing their accounts long before they become eligible for payment, therefore the issue of whether such short posts earn anything or not is immaterial.
6 people like this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
3 Jan 16
@poehere You may be right here. I didn't see the discussion in question or who accused the person of 'cheating'. I would say, however, that there are a number of people from Bubblews here and some have brought their perceptions of what is 'cheating' or 'abuse' with them. I am not saying that they are wrong, necessarily, but both the attitude towards 'rules' and the earnings system are rather different here and certain people are occasionally a little harsher and outspoken than they really should be.
3 people like this
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
3 Jan 16
I am not arguing over if person earn or doesn't earn on this. I am totally curious why the other person and the comments on this post claim it is cheating.
I saw the guys post. It is really bad. I personally don't think he understand English and has come here to try and improve. Right now I think all he knows is to say great or good when he comments. I could be very wrong on this one but I think he wants to try to learn more English.
I agree that if he did this on more than one comment this one might seem a little strange. But really is he gaming the system to try and cheat people? I don't think so I think he is looking to try and interact the best way he knows how with his limited English skills.
1 person likes this
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
3 Jan 16
@owlwings I do agree with you on this one. I did see the person profile who wrote the one word responses. His only post was difficult to read. I honestly believe he was trying his best to interact on this site. He didn't understand all that was written. So he thought good or great were the way to do this one. I don't like to call a person who is trying hard to communicate on here a cheater or gaming the system. I do believe that a person should check this person's profile and read a few of his discussion before making an assumption he is cheating. I guess if I was in his shoes and I wanted to learn and understand I might do the same thing he did until I got better at communicating on this site.
1 person likes this
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
3 Jan 16
This is how I look at it too. But then when we end a conversation and just give a thumbs up and a smile face this is basically the same. So you see there is grey areas in all of this and basically it isn't all that clear as to what is or isn't paid when it comes to comments and responses. I guess a like is paid if I liked you comment.
1 person likes this
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
3 Jan 16
@Hatley I am just curious about this one. I read a discussion on this not long ago. I don't see why anyone would write great or good as a response to a discussion. I also don't know if this is a paid or non paid response and how they determine all of this.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159887)
• Boise, Idaho
3 Jan 16
I think you have to have more than one word to get anything. Five or more I would think. Also, I am thinking that you do get paid for posting a discussion, just not very much.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (159887)
• Boise, Idaho
3 Jan 16
@poehere ...I think what it is saying is that you get a base rate for posting a discussion. Not much. If you get interaction that base amount is more because the post is of more value. Plus for responses and so forth of course.
1 person likes this
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
3 Jan 16
@celticeagle Then please tell me what this last sentence says I have highlighted here.
If no one reads what you wrote, interacts with it, or otherwise considers it interesting, then you likely won't earn anything.
Doesn't it clearly state if nobody reads, interacts or otherwise considers this interesting you won't earn money. I see this as a situation if a person writes posts nobody reads or comments on they won't make anything at all for them. I might be wrong and my comprehension of English could be off but I was sure it said you don't earn on this at all.
1 person likes this
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
3 Jan 16
I copied and pasted the rule here. It says if nobody is interested in this then more than likely you won't earn on it. So what does that mean you won't get any more if nobody responds to your discussion. That is how I am reading this one.
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
3 Jan 16
A lot of people make posts that end (or start in the title) with a closed question. Ask me one of those and you'll most likely get a closed answer. Personally I think the onus is on the writer to not to write posts that can be answered with a single word.
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10744)
• Canada
3 Jan 16
@poehere It is not cheating. I wrote a post on short comments and the response from admin, if I recall, is that there is no minimum like with the other site but more a question of quality. . I disagree that the onus is on the writer to generate more than a one word comment. One can choose not to respond but don't blame the writer for your response. I would hope we all have the intellectual capacity to respond with more than one word but it is a choice and not against the rules.
Copied below is the response on the post
GoAskAlex_Admin • @GoAskAlice (3812) • United States 4 Nov
@Beatburn I won't speak on the earning aspect of it. The earning algorithm is not something I have a lot of inside information on. As for length however, if a few words are sufficient, then that is what would be called for. It's about quality and relevance, not character count. Obviously, simply commenting "thank you" to every reply would not be considered quality. Nor would irrelevant replies such as "I don't know".
I like that there appears to be no restrictions on how short a comment can be here on Mylot. I have seen a number of one word comments as well as some extra...
3 people like this
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
3 Jan 16
I agree and use them too. My major question here was how can one word responses be cheating. I see the rules on discussions, comments, and responses. I see if they aren't relevant they might not earn. I was just puzzled how this could be called cheating. I personally don't see how they earn and plus each person has their own way of doing this. I don't think we should worry about what other people earn on this site and just worry about ourselves and what we are earning. Furthermore, I guess this is how a person looks at things and how they consider a one word response.
1 person likes this
@scorpiobabes (7225)
• United States
3 Jan 16
It could be that the 'discussion' isn't truly a discussion, either, and may only necessitate a one word response. For instance, I could list all my favorite foods, and talk about whether they are good for me to eat now that I'm a T2 diabetic, and then ask people to respond with THEIR favorite food. At most, responders only need to offer one word. Perhaps that is how they get around the earnings? But I agree, I don't think that one should be able to earn from a single word response-once upon a time (2007 or 2008), you could, but the questions, er, 'discussions' were worded like this: What is your favorite color? or What is Your Age? or Are You Male or Female?
@scorpiobabes (7225)
• United States
3 Jan 16
@poehere I think if the OP continues to try to expand someone's comment to more than one word. For instance-if my 'discussion' originally asked What is your favorite color?, someone could respond with one word, like Red. I could then go back and ask the responder Why do you like it, or does it have special meaning to you? If they continue to respond with single word responses, I think that's when the responder won't earn.
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
3 Jan 16
@scorpiobabes Yes I agree with you on all of this. I have used them a few times. I personally don't see what is wrong with them and how they are considered cheating. I didn't realize adding one word comment was considered cheating. Oh well I guess it is a matter of how people see this one. I have added them myself and then a thumbs up or something else. Oh well I guess it all depends now on the post and on how the author sees the comment left to them. That is basically all I can figure out now.
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
3 Jan 16
I was asking how a single word response can be considered cheating and if a single words response was payable. I understand all these other rules and what is a discussion and what isn't and what to report and what not to report. I was just thrown off by a discussion saying they experienced or witnessed a cheater first hand. I just am curious how a single word response is cheating and if they earn or not ern on this one.
@zebra2222 (5269)
• United States
3 Jan 16
It does sound a little confusing. Oh well, I just get a penny here and there. No big deal!
@Bluedoll (16774)
• Canada
3 Jan 16
I think that is what it is too, not a big deal. The deal might be there isn't a perfect system nor a perfect way to interact. In the history of forums all forums where people collect for information and to be social no one is going to freak out about someone being short in their responses.
Sometimes a question can be easily clarified best with a one word response or maybe a few words. More words are often better. I am thinking of this aspect from a social conversational style rather than just a money laundry issue.
But when money is the issue it stands to reason people playing games just for money like lets count how many cards there is in a deck you start
1
2
3
4
would be unacceptable or someone writing real nothing comments all the time would be considered cheating. Getting uptight about a person making a few one word replies isn't worth anyone's time?
1 person likes this
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
3 Jan 16
@Bluedoll Personally it has never happened to me and I only read a post that had this on it. That is what promoted me to write this. I didn't see how it was cheating to do this. I see the rules and they state certain things. I was trying to find out where in the rules this one was and how it was cheating.
If a person leaves a comment that isn't right I have the choice to delete it, ignore it or like this person report it. I am just trying to figure out where the cheating is coming in that is all.
I know a one word comment is handy at times. When ending the conversation or just agreeing with a person's comment. You can just Agree and add a thumbs up or something else. Now this is a one word comment. I personally didn't see what was wrong with them and used a few too. But I don't do them often and I don't add 5 to a single post either.
1 person likes this
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
3 Jan 16
Yes you are right. I just wanted t clarify a post early that said a person was cheating by posting a lot of one word responses. I don't see how and I don't see how he can earn doing this one. I don't get it one way or the other. But I guess each time the comments are opened on a post that has this one word comment on it the person might earn from this. Oh well that is how it works and I never really considered the way they pay until I read this post today about all of this. That was why I was asking on this one.
@rosekiss (30380)
• Eugene, Oregon
3 Jan 16
I would prefer seeing a comment with some substance than just a one word comment. It is hard to comment back to those, and so i usually ignore them and move on to those that will say something other than one word.
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
3 Jan 16
Yes I do agree with you on this one. But I also feel if a person is limited in his communication skill in writing English he is putting forth an effort to communicate with people here on the site. I think he tried to do the best he could. In time I would hope he would write more than he does now.
1 person likes this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
3 Jan 16
I never have had any clue. I just do not think about money when interacting or even being at Mylot. As such, I have never bothered or cared what their algo is or what is the methods or rationale. All I know, is if I can reply,I will. One word normally is not me, but then there are times.
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
4 Jan 16
@poehere Okay. I did a reread of this discussion and gathered that someone thinks that a one word response/comment is cheating the system. Let me quote the Admins Response on some other discussion wherein they say - "Anything Relevant".
On many other discussions,I have seen people responding with comments that cannot extend/continue the discussion - for instance - No, I do not. or even, I like that way. And no one ever raised any objections. And there have been instances wherein we do respond to discussions with either just one smiley or more, no words used. So I do not buy the theory that the person in question should be accused of doing anything wrong.
As for coming from a Non-English Background, many are from such backgrounds. As long as the response is done in English, they do not object either. I know some who have used different versions of English too, but they are essentially, English. So that too should not count as any violation.
Lastly, in my opinion, Like to a response does not earn anything. And if there is any interaction (response/comment) to a response/discussion, there is some earning. Maybe less in case you have just one response to your comment or just a response to your discussion.
1 person likes this
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
3 Jan 16
I don't pay much attention to how much is earned on this site. Basically I just go on like always and in the end I see what I get and that is all there is to it. But for this guy I don't really think he cheated or tried to game the system. I feel he has some issues in English and doesn't understand how to communicate too good.
1 person likes this
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
4 Jan 16
@thesids Thank you for this very long and research comment. Personally I am not worried about earning in this case. I quoted the FAQ from earning to prove to people that this person is not really cheating because he can't gain from it.
My sole point in all of this was to ask how can you say this person is cheating or gaming the system with a one word response. I don't see it and I guess it all just comes back to the same old thing. Earning.
I have tried really hard here to explain about this person and why I feel he is being misjudged on this one. I don't think he can carry on a good conversation in English or has a good understanding of the language. I did see his post and I had no idea what he was talking about at all.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
3 Jan 16
Perhaps it is the just the use of the word 'cheating' that is driving you crazy. I reported someone who was leaving one word comments on several discussions of mine and I assume on others also. One time the person left 5 in a row on one discussion. I sent a note to goaskalice and he wrote back, 'taken care of'...
By the way that person had on posted one discussion of his/her own and it didn't make any sense. So who knows what they were up to.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
3 Jan 16
@poehere It might be the same one, but I believe that person is now gone.
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
3 Jan 16
You know I think these people try to interact but have no real knowledge of English and how to do this one. So they basically understand a few words and just use them. I think they see a comment, can't read it and respond with great or good. The person you're talking about might be the same person this other discussion was talking about. It seems the exact same as what is or has happened to them and a few others.
1 person likes this
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
3 Jan 16
@AbbyGreenhill He might of left because he didn't understand this site so well. I think after seeing his one and only post he isn't well versed in English and has some problems. I think he wanted to learn but was going about it the wrong way.
1 person likes this
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
29 Mar 16
@TheHorse Her family runs a Bingo game 4 nights a week. During the game she is in charge of making and selling the food. We offer the people grilled ham and cheese, sandwiches, cake, crepes, banana crepes, pizza, chips, paninis, and drinks. Right now I am in charge of the snack shop. I make the food and sell the food. Certain days we have a BBQ where we offer steak & fries or chicken & fries to the people. The game starts at 7 in the evening and finishes around 2 in the morning.
Currently we are looking at other options that are simple to prepare and sell. I am thinking of offering some different hot sandwiches such as a meatball and cheese sandwich. But this might be later on and not sure we will do this. Currently I'm testing some other types of food to offer and so far it is working out well for us.
1 person likes this
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
26 Mar 16
I have been sort of busy and don't have a lot of time to spend on the site. Furthermore, I started to help my friend at her snack 4 nights a week. Some nights I don't get home till 3 in the morning. Then during the day I am helping her prepare food for the night. So Wed, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday I am super busy. The rest of my time is spent repairing computer, recovering hard drives, and trying to get a few hours sleep. The sleeping part is hard because I have a baby Black Bichon Frise who demands all of my attention. If I want to sleep, she is running on my back, pulling my hair, and jumping on me. So for the moment I don't have a lot of time to come here to the site.
1 person likes this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
4 Jan 16
I know this isn't what you are asking, but I, personally, think members shouldn't worry so much about how much money they are making and just have fun and enjoy themselves. I believe the money will come if they are not so darn worried about it. I know there are members here who just want to earn a little extra cash, but if you're not enjoying writing discussions and interacting with others then you are probably not going to make that extra cash. I say, sit back, relax, have fun, make friends and enjoy yourself.
1 person likes this
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
5 Jan 16
I personally think too many people are worried too much about others and if they earn from what they do. I don't pay attention to others and what they do or don't do on the site. I feel like we all have the right to do as we wish here if we follow the rules. I am not always on and when I am I like to just have some fun.
1 person likes this
@buttheadface932 (708)
• United States
6 Jan 16
I'm not sure if your question has been answered and am still unclear on the meaning of your question, but I certainly wouldn't worry about "cheating" via one word answers. That isn't cheating, you may just not be credited for them. But no one should expect to be credited for every.single.comment. anyway!
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
10 Jan 16
@buttheadface932 It is a simple site to work on. Post, read, respond and comment. The more you participate the higher you can earn. You'll never get rich here but you can make a few bucks now and then. It is more for fun than anything else.
1 person likes this
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
9 Jan 16
Yeah this was my point. You can earn on them but why worry about it. I didn't see it cheating either but a few people do. I don't want to worry about what others make or how they make their money here. I just feel this is personal and we shouldn't be concerned with it at all.
1 person likes this
@buttheadface932 (708)
• United States
10 Jan 16
@poehere Exactly, just say what you want to say, and hope to earn on it! Period. No "cheating" in any of that! I use one word answers quite often!
@kaka135 (14916)
• Malaysia
4 Jan 16
I personally do not think it's cheating. I didn't see any rules stating we can't do that either.
I am not sure why some people would like to leave one-word comment, but I have seen that in many forums (not get to paid forums). So I think perhaps they just thought of "supporting" the author of the discussion by just saying "good". They may not know this is actually a discussion, we need interaction.
@jstory07 (135040)
• Roseburg, Oregon
3 Jan 16
I do more that one sentence posts and more than one word comments . To me those tell you nothing when you read them.
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
3 Jan 16
You are so right on this one. I like a little more thought when answering and posting. But what happens if a person is not good in English and he is afraid to make a mistake. So basically he answers like this.
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
3 Jan 16
I saw that guy who left "Good" as a response to every post which to me means he doesn't read, he leaves a one word comment on hundreds of discussions and to me he's a fraud. He is here for the money and not for the writing and commenting, he added noting to any of the articles he left that one word comment hoping that we would do the same for him so he could make money. I think he was cheating...
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
3 Jan 16
Did you happen to go to his profile and read his one and only post? I did. it was terrible. He is not good in English. I sort of have a feeling he did this to try and lave a comment on posts.
Now on the other hand if his post was well written and he did this then I might consider it a problem
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
4 Jan 16
@poehere There are a lot of people who don't write English well but they leave readable comments and I appreciate knowing that they read the post. I always respond to their posts too. They are learning while being active here. I did go to his one only post that is where I looked at his activity and there were hundreds of "Good". It bothers me when I see that because it tells me he's not reading, he's just copied "GOOD" and plastered that word on everyone's post - a waste of his time and mine.
1 person likes this
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
4 Jan 16
@PainsOnSlate Yes this one can happen too. Not sure why he has done this one but he has. I know he wastes our time but at the same time is he really trying or just annoying. I think this is what Admin is here for and they will decide if he is actually cheating or gaming the system. It sort of looks like for now he is able to do this one.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21745)
• Canada
3 Jan 16
How many one word responses do you notice on Mylot? Have you left a one word response? Have any been added to one of your discussions? Would it change how you interact ?
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
3 Jan 16
You see this is my point. I did not believe a one word comment make a person a cheater or gamer. I think the person has some communication skill problems and that is all he understand well enough to add to a comment. I have use a one word comment to a question at times but mostly try to avoid them because they don't seem that interesting at all.
1 person likes this
@cintol (11261)
• United States
3 Jan 16
I read it the same as you do, doesn't say you can't use one word. Maybe they just want more thought put into the comment so they know the individual leaving the comment actually read the article. If so, they need to phrase it that way.
@lovebuglena (43184)
• Staten Island, New York
3 Jan 16
I don't think anyone should leave one word comments. That would be seen as spammy or useless. If you have nothing to say better not post anything at all than just post a one word comment.
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
3 Jan 16
You are right we should all leave a one word comment. But if we can'[t really communicate well in English and want to try this one can be acceptable. I don't see an issue with it depending on what it was attached to.
