Reducing spam and encouraging helpful behaviors in web 2.0 sites by pairing up users randomly.

Posted by amichail on Wednesday January 23, 2008 @08:43PM
from the self-post dept.

Would something like that make sense?

Imagine for example on a social news site pairing up users randomly when they log in.

You would be able to see the activities of your partner in real-time. You could help each other and even report on each other in case of spamming.

Since this partnership lasts the entire session, you will feel some connection to your partner and a greater sense of responsibility in ensuring things go well.

( 7 comments | 5 points | on HN )

Re:Reducing spam and encouraging helpful behaviors in web 2.... by robg on Thursday January 24, 2008 @05:41AM (#103417)

Watch this fantastic talk if you haven't seen it already:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8246463980976635143

He randomly pairs players in games to complete boring tasks (e.g., tagging photos) in a fun way (e.g. Predict what the other person is thinking).

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Reducing spam and encouraging helpful behaviors in web 2.... by ekanes on Thursday January 24, 2008 @03:33AM (#103373)

Very cool idea. To play devil's advocate though, it might require a heck of a lot of explanation, which might prove distracting when you might be better off helping people use the application.

A couple places it might work nicely though - established web 2.0 sites or places like Second Life where having a buddy might make venturing into unknown territory feel safer.

Good luck with it.

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Re:Reducing spam and encouraging helpful behaviors in web 2.... by daniel-cussen on Wednesday January 23, 2008 @11:35PM (#103292)

Interesting. There are things you'd have to work out (like if someone logs off before his partner) but it sounds cool.

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Re:Reducing spam and encouraging helpful behaviors in web 2.... by Tichy on Thursday January 24, 2008 @04:06AM (#103382)

Sounds like work - I don't want to work when I log in to a social network.

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Re:Reducing spam and encouraging helpful behaviors in web 2.... by cburgdorfer on Thursday January 24, 2008 @01:19PM (#103627)

why all this "pairing jazz" if i can simply click on "report spam?"

Too much effort for too less benefit, I believe...

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Re:Reducing spam and encouraging helpful behaviors in web 2.... by 3KWA on Thursday January 24, 2008 @12:49AM (#103318)

sounds interesting ... should be tried ;)

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Re:Reducing spam and encouraging helpful behaviors in web 2.... by curi on Thursday January 24, 2008 @04:10AM (#103384)

please make it pair you when you hit a button, not when you log in. revealing your activities to a random person should be opt-in, not opt-out. and people wouldn't want to do this every time, anyway.

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