It is my speculation based on experience and direct invitations to review stuff that Google effectively does ranked crowd-sourcing for Google Maps, etc., in which Google secretly tracks and gives heftier vote power to veteran accounts with longer histories of competence and reliability (especially, say, accounts that are a decade old and still regularly contributing and proposing corrections), unbeknownst to said account holders themselves. Perhaps their lead could be the way out of such messes.
This is kind of funny, because in the “reviews” part of Google Maps, a “Local Guide” giving a restaurant ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ is usually a strong indicator that you shouldn’t eat from there 😉. That has been my experience, at least.
Huh, well, I can tell you that Google classifies me as a local guide just because I try to regularly review places I go to, and I’m always honest with my reviews… I’ve left some scathing ones (not without reason, I hope) here and there as well 🤷🏻♂
just because I try to regularly review places I go to
That’s what appears to be the problem. Quantity over some definition of quality makes it easy, and even creates the incentive, for some hustlers to go around soliciting money for positive reviews.
Pay and your shit is marvelous, the best in town. Don’t pay and you get 3/5 at best (I would presume smart hustlers don’t go for 1/5 often to avoid getting too deep into blackmail territory).
It is my speculation based on experience and direct invitations to review stuff that Google effectively does ranked crowd-sourcing for Google Maps, etc., in which Google secretly tracks and gives heftier vote power to veteran accounts with longer histories of competence and reliability (especially, say, accounts that are a decade old and still regularly contributing and proposing corrections), unbeknownst to said account holders themselves. Perhaps their lead could be the way out of such messes.
This is kind of funny, because in the “reviews” part of Google Maps, a “Local Guide” giving a restaurant ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ is usually a strong indicator that you shouldn’t eat from there 😉. That has been my experience, at least.
Huh, well, I can tell you that Google classifies me as a local guide just because I try to regularly review places I go to, and I’m always honest with my reviews… I’ve left some scathing ones (not without reason, I hope) here and there as well 🤷🏻♂
That’s what appears to be the problem. Quantity over some definition of quality makes it easy, and even creates the incentive, for some hustlers to go around soliciting money for positive reviews.
Pay and your shit is marvelous, the best in town. Don’t pay and you get 3/5 at best (I would presume smart hustlers don’t go for 1/5 often to avoid getting too deep into blackmail territory).