Don’t forget to read comment by Faisal in comment section. Do give your opinion also.
A review which can put you on fire. Check the title and you shall think that review is very very hot, it is hot in a way. let me know at the end what do you think.
Old days (2001-02)
You know Mouthshut used to be a wonderful place in 2001-2002. We enjoyed this place like anything. It was free from politics, meaningless arguments and trash reviews.
[Writing Habit]
So many good writers with creativity in writing. Lots of fun, laughter, knowledge in reviews. With each new review I was having feeling that I am opening a whole new book. People used to get write on different topics. Variety of subjects was there for reading. Hot review section really used to be hot.
[Reading Habit / Commenting Habit]
All the reviews were having more than 500 hits. Each visitor used to give its rating and comment. Only few forgot to put their words in comment section. There used to be a good intellectual debate. Pick any good controversial subject of past and read review. People used to comment, write and fight but it was with a purpose and clarity in mind. They never used to degrade others to prove their point right. On many comments you would find that members were parted by agreeing that they can have different opinion in same matter so each respect other’s view.
[Mouthshut management]
In initial day, they were working to set up their image. They were really careful about quality of members and review. Any kind of plagiarism, violation of copy write, member harassment, multiple Ids and indiscipline was not being tolerated. Management used to take strict actions against the guilty people. Even though guilty person is a SW, he/she used to be punished. I would say management at its best.
Mid years (2003 to 2005)
Mouthshut grown, it was more popular now. Many people have invited their friends to Mouthshut and created this a big community. Many TV channels, websites, newspapers have started recognizing Mouthshut.
With this members tried to become more and more popular. It was a small race among them to become more popular. This has started rivalry among few. No as you know – everything is fair in love and war. People had taken this as war. In war you need more soldiers, then how to get more soldiers? Here started a big trend of Dummy / Multiple Ids. Let’s see its effect on writing, commenting.
[Writing Habit]
To keep dummy Ids live, you can write only easy review. There are two solutions to it. Get it copied from somewhere or write on easy topic. Which are easiest topics ? Film review and Music review. Thus during this time film reviews have started making their way up to MS index. You can see there are very few writers who have writing on multiple topics. There are many writers who are writing only film reviews, making correction “average film reviews”. On positive side we have seen some good reviews on Health and Government Topics.
[Reading Habit / Commenting Habit]
As it turned out to be an age of war, people were more concentrating on useful reading and more doing criticizing. Many users were just waiting for some of their rival to write review and then they started firing at his review with all dummy Ids. Comment sections were having with some personal remarks, allegations and other dirt also. Average reading of review has gone down and may have reached to 150-175 times. It is very simple because, people started spending time more in degrading others and less on upgrading themselves.
[Mouthshut management]
Their work became tougher in this duration. I feel they were caught sleeping in this time of growth. Mouthshut was doing nice till 2002 with few members. Management targeted new segment of people but forget put “Control measures” this bigger size of users. But still I will give credit to Mouthshut management; they have worked really nice during those days. They have kept the place relatively clean with nice quality of writing and disciplined members. Look at the members warned and banned figures; it was highest in 2003 to 2005. It means management was committed to keep the place keen.
Current year (2006)
MS has grown to its peak. Many SW have left MS but still its charm remains untouched. So finally can we tell that Mouthshut become an entity which can remain stand still without help of anyone ? Can we tell that Mouthshut doesn’t need help of its good writers who were core of Mouthshut in past ? I think “no”. Do you remember a dialogue from Suryavansham ? I don’t really remember but it is about tree, its branch, stone and statue etc. Like same I can also tell that a tree which stops bothering about its leaves can never give fruit. Old members who were there at MS were like fruits. New members were like new leaves. It takes time for new leaf to get converted into fruit. Let’s see effect of this on writing, reading and commenting
[Writing Style]
I am holding no clue, what shall I write here. I don’t think there is any writing going on MS now a day. There are hardly few writers who have skills to write nicely with quality contents. Smaller in number and without any reading / commenting motivation, these good writers are still writing but for how long ? In rest of cases you may find only Garbage on MS now a day. With this contest going on, I fear how much server space of Mouthshut is wasted. I still amuse from where all these Ghost writers have come to write about travel matters ? Does MS management has made some promise to anyone about number of reviews in Travel category which prompts such Ghost writers to write all reviews ?
[Reading / Commenting on review]
I am writing only 2 lines here as this topic doesn’t deserve more lines. If none is reading or commenting why shall I write about this topic. Surprising facts is 90 % of Hot reviews are having less than 100 hits. More than 75 % reviews have less than 2 comments.
[Mouthshut Management]
Things have gone from bad to worst for Mouthshut management. No of members are perhaps beyond their control. Member’s internal feuds are more useful to MS than the relative peace. At least in name of "controversy and feud" members are visiting MS and writing something. Else good writers are not here so why people shall visit MS. So approach is – let feuds remain there, it attracts more people to MS. Other factor is - plagiarism, violation of copy write, member harassment, multiple Ids and indiscipline are now valid. I have not seen anyone being banned for any such reason. I know 7-8 people who are having 15+ MS ids. Now what to do ? All this because this big tree name “Mouthshut” had not taken care of their fruits (good members, no necessarily good writers only).
Coming years
I don’t want to think about this. I am getting terrified. but still have wish a good luck to Mouthshut which has given us wonderful few years and many good freinds.