How does yahoo identify who is a "reliable" user?

Question

I just read the "new" guidlines for reporting questions and answers. I am very interested in this because I have lost 2 respected accounts because of over zealous reporters.
Please can anyone identify whay a "reliable" reporter is?

thank you

Answer 1

The algorithm is apparently based upon what percentage of questions they report that eventually get pulled. So the reliable ones are those that either report legitimately objectionable content, or those that report in large groups...

I believe stars/thumbs up make something harder to get pulled now as well though, so if people like a question, reporting it will lower your reliability. Question/answer ratios (points), as well as best answer ratios are rumored to play into things as well.

Answer 2

I am having problems with YA's new guidelines, too. In many ways they are so loosely and "individually" defined that people will be reporting others left and right at the littlest "offense."

Such as:
===belligerence, insults, slurs and generally objectionable speech
===Don't threaten, harass, impersonate, or hurt others
===give advice in a way that might cause someone harm

By whose definition do we go by with "objectionable speech" or a slur? One person's slur is another person's free speech. Threaten? Harass? HURT others? How can we HURT others when all we are dealing with are words? Give advice that can cause harm? Is that like, "Go jump off the Brooklyn Bridge"? C'mon! Gimmie a break!

I think YA is going to have a lot of trouble with these new guidelines... even more than they had before. I hope they have sufficient staff to handle all the abuse reports and appeals!

Answer 3

As I read the guidelines a 'reliable user' is one who clicks the Report button only when violations to the guidelines are contained in the question or answer reported.

People who report non-violations as violations are not reliable users by that standard.

Answer 4

You can be sure if they were on the same page as their most faithful participants, they would have checked out unfounded violations and not made the report flag even larger. Now it is almost daring the button pushers to Go! Thank God they are not brain surgeons.

Answer 5

I suspect it a lot like the algorithm, that a bookie uses in Vegas. A profile is developed, that considers (football analogy) offense vs defense, fumbles vs fumble recoveries, etc. I built an engine once, and found them to be reliable prognosticating tools, but, they are only as good as the data supplied.

'Atta-boys' are (+)points, 'awe-sh_ts' are (-)points. You can gain point status, but one mistake, and there go all your 'Atta-boys'.

Clearing cookies sounds practical.

The only V-notice I've recieved so far, is from when I posted the yahoo 'sign-out' button in an answer...someone took offense...don't do that...

pray for the Saints...

Answer 6

Nope. here's the problem: when an account is lifted, it is mere raw numbers and an investigation goes no deeper. trolls, who do not care about the accounts anyway, have another at the ready when that one is removed Good users go through the appeal process, only to be told they are bad and the account will not be restored

Answer 7

A "reliable" user is one who "rarely" if ever goes "nuts" about reporting anything or anyone. However, we shall see how Yahoo interprets and applies their guidelines. -reminder-

Answer 8

I assume it means people who report, and their reports don't get appealed... or perhaps when there are many others reporting the same thing... ??? Just guesses... they really didn't specify how they would determine that.

Answer 9

They're the ones who clean out the yahoo tracking cookies when switching between accounts

Answer 10

Top Contributors... People with few violations... People who don't go reporting like crazy (*cough* troll patrol *cough*)... Staff, of cource... Officials, too...