I have 19 members trusting me at this moment, and I have the same people in my Trusted Circle. So, it’s like quid-pro-quo. You trust me and I trust you. As easy as that.
But, nowadays, I am getting to know the power of Trusted Circle of MouthShut. First of all, it is a great system started by our friends at MS. It let’s me know my popularity at MS, and gives me performance report at a wink. I also come to know the latest activities by my trusted friends, as I can directly visit their profile without having to search for them. I come to know what new reviews they have written, which I go and read, rate and comment. In return, they do the same. So, the Trusted Circle gets transferred into a Trade Circle.
I have framed some criteria to have people in my Trusted Circle. Some are obnoxious and kiddish, but some can be used by others as a reference. Let’s know the power of this simple, but complex program called Trusted Circle.
1) Are you a Star Writer?
This point really made an impact on me before adding someone in my COT(Circle of Trust). I remember, sujay_marthi was my first trusted person. He is a star writer and was the first one to give a comment on my first review. He told me the right method to write a review, which I eventually followed.
This guy has written more than 50 reviews, and each of them have an HR rating! Isn’t that amazing? It is a feat in itself! So, he deserved to be in my COT, but he haven’t had me in his list yet. I suppose he is waiting for me to become a Star Writer.(.LOL.).
Another person, who is a Star Writer to me, but is not rated as one by MS is loverboy4u_17. This guy has loads of knowledge. I love his articles, specially the ones in Computer category. I assume, we have the same mode of thinking. We also have some debates in our comments section, which are equally exciting.
So, you see, being a Star Writer counts for many. Atleast for me. And let me tell you, now I know that every writer at MS is a Star Writer as he puts in the same efforts and thoughts in his writing as any other Star Writer does.
2) Have you listed me yet?
I blindly add a person to my trust list, if he had done the same. Look people, this sounds kiddish, but it is the method used by many on MS.
But I trust more people than people who trust me. Sounds complicated, isn’t it? Let me say, I trust 25 people, while I am trusted by 19. Most of the 25 people in my trust list are the folks who have me in their list. So, all the 19 are included in my trust list! The other 6 are Star Writers who still have to add me in their list.
Yeah, it is the method of Quid-pro-quo. It is a spontaneous method to add someone to your list. Some people have a long, long list of trusted people. Just because they use this method. And they don’t restrict themselves to boast about their Godzillean list!
I love to be listed as a trusted folk in someone’s list. In return, I do the same. I read their reviews and rate them. This is what everyone wants. Am I lying?
3) Intelligence personified
I am always moving around MS. I read reviews and rate them. I find some reviews off-track, but some a masterpiece of intelligence.
I do like reviews from sensiva, satishkl, pooj, sujay_marthi, asysis, suyog, soniya, nandakumar, and some other folks. Their reviews are so well-written that I am forced to add them to my COT.
The intelligence in using words and personifying facts really drives me crazy about their reviews. They are just too good. The first two points were the criteria for me earlier on to add someone to my COT. But nowadays, I am using this one.
I love intelligent people who use their words to the right effect. I don’t remember some names, which I want to mention. But anyways, they are in my COT.
4) How dare you give me an NR rating?
I just hate the NR rating to my review. Boo Hoo. But now I know it is for my good. I have received just a single NR rating to one of my review out of the 47 I wrote. It was on the topic, ’Soft Drinks - Are they good for health’. I was very critical and wrote against it. Then I faced the wrath of soft drink lovers, who just didn’t agree with me.
One of them was gowser who gave me my first NR rating and my first harsh comment. It was just shocking for me as I did not knew why people are reacting this way. I was also new to MS, and the NR rating demoralised me.
Without hesitating, I added gowser to my distrust list. I was really pissed off. Sorry for using those words, but that was what I felt.
Later, understood that there are some hard-lined critics at MS, and you cannot see everyone happy with your review. I accepted that fact and now I enjoy all kind of ratings and comments.
Also, I removed gowser from my Distrust List, and added her to my COT. Also, she was a lady, which I came to know from a trusted friend. Thanks, Pooja. That was the height of ignorance. Also, I am not very harsh on ladies. So, I am sorry gowser. Just ignore my acts. I was just a kid to MS then.
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Now I have some of my Trusted friends, whom I cherish a lot. I am not a bad person, but my intellect was grazing somewhere else when I added people to my Distrust list. Now I have grown-up for which I can thank all my friends. They are the ones who are shaping me everyday.
And for you all, just TRUST ME.