it's kind of rough for our news to make it to other readers if the reports that make it to CNN are the reports everyone first sees. I see it's been set up for people to automatically see those reports first and not the newest ones. Those reports will get the most hits anyway. Why have you guys decided to do that?

I ca only leave a quick commentnow, biut will add more later. I'm only still here because I care about disseminating worthwhile and helpful information, and thought this was one good place in which reach that goal. I can't speak for anyone else. As far as these updates, the e-mail notifcations are good, I'm not sure what was "tidied up", but when I share sometimetimes I flag by mistake, I agee with Jan that going to the "Latest" made a lot more sense that the "On CNN" column as the default, and the new "Superstar Status" does not seem to make sense to me. Basically CNN Prodcucers decide who gets to the top newisest ection which or the "On CNN" tag, which are the only stories that get the thousands of hits, skewing the Superstar ranks.  I'd prefer to have some formula based on the "contribution to the site" in general via # of hits, comments on your stories, comments you make, # of times rated, highestest rated, most shared, most newsworhty stories, etc., tallied up per person to make the ranked list.  How can people wih 1 or 2 stories come in and get top rankings after other have contributed for months.  It is not just about me personally, but for fairness to the entire site.  I hope that made sense and helped a little, I'm really rushed. More later... --All the best!

I am having a hard time finding the posts that relate to a certain issue or event.  For example, Son Jie Ae reports on beef protest in Korea but makes a critical mistake in the reporting.  But I cannot seem to find a way to let CNN and viewers know of the mistake.  She says Korean protesters say the US beef is tainted with mad cow disease.  This is not true at all.  They are protesting that government in attempt to try to get favorable FTA approval by US congress Korea accepted older than 30 month beef which even the US regulations do not allow and neither does any of the other countries.  So they are protesting the poor negotiating tactics and more importantly president Lee's many other bungling attempts and other things like english education and canal project.  Son Jie Ae missed the point in many ways and it should be corrected to CNN standards.

I feel that superstar status should be based on overall ratings and contribution. We have all so far had to earn our way up the ladder. It does not seem fair that someone can make it to the number one place with only one posting. If loosing your placement is so easily acquired, it almost seems pointless to work so hard.

Some of us have been a long time coming to get to this point. We feel we have earned the placement we have.

Will we ever be able to control comments that are humilating and hurtful? I was on flickr this morning and they have  good editing for comments. I hear u-tube and others do as well. I am not talking about different opinions, I am talking about un-called for cruelty.

I feel that superstar status should be based on overall ratings and contribution. We have all so far had to earn our way up the ladder. It does not seem fair that someone can make it to the number one place with only one posting. If loosing your placement is so easily acquired, it almost seems pointless to work so hard.

Some of us have been a long time coming to get to this point. We feel we have earned the placement we have.

Will we ever be able to control comments that are humilating and hurtful? I was on flickr this morning and they have  good editing for comments. I hear u-tube and others do as well. I am not talking about different opinions, I am talking about un-called for cruelty.

Sorry, tried to delete one of these.

You might look at Youtube and the tools they offer to put a stop to stalkers... Really you could run the tips without comments and email certainly need a "block this contact" button... I know this site is a work in progress. I really think CNN thought they would toss it up and it would just be news tips... But CNN missed the nature of the Internet and tools are needed to keep it civil, professional and most important... SAFE for the users.

I agree completely with TibetVideos and Ryn in terms of safety concerns. My hope is that CNN will look closely at other top sites like Youtube very soon and integrate a few simple secruity measures before someone gets harmed more severely than we've already seen here, emotionally or physically. It is very concerning to have threatening and harrassing remarks flying around unchecked on this site. Thanks. --All the best!

Superstar status?

OMG

My life was destroyed by a injury at work and They (SLDD) got away with it. No one in America will help me.

I am a single father and No one helped me. The law helped the Company.

I dont worry about Superstar status!

Joe Sr.

It is evident that many people who come on here are full of hostility, negativity, and outright hate. they have no profiles, no ID, etc., but yet they are full of comments of brash form. Redflag was a constant harasser, Eilorthurt he is a real blowhard. These people should be dismissed or blocked with negative opinions, jealous outbursts. They probably came from a poor background and are lamenting.

JRH, who are you fooling? You should get your crayons out.:)

Ryn,Jan,Tibet, the system needs overhauling. We have some lackeys on here.

Yes even this person with the screen name who has written a very nice profile of herself is sending me nasty messages to my profile inbox as regards my dog smokey, she is telling me to kill the dog, when I said he is always ill.  I hope that the CNN ireporting staff will do something to people like this,

The screen name of this person is Lisam3 forgot to mention it

Thanks for your comments.  We are working to give the iReport.com community better tools for reporting abuse. For now, please drop us a line at contact@ireport.com and we'll do our best to help.

tyson,

a well thought out and "NEWS" related algorythem to find your ireport posted stories and determine your superstars beyond what you previously had would probably be a very good idea. I see more or less what you're doing with your algorythem now and agree with changes.

However, I do have some suggestions. Writing complex and meaningful algorythems such as these is a speciality of mine in "real life".

1. Need to set a minimum standard. Contributors should be required to submit at least 20 stories even to be considered in the "superstar" status calculation. And a minimum of 3 -5 postings a month.

2. The average viewership of all stories/contributions should then become the primary factor. But, not the only one.

3. Only the amount of "views" that are gained through the ireport site should be tabulated to the whole. In this way, CNN/iReport editors cannot determine this number by "promoting" a story, or linking to it from other stories on the CNN site. It must perform on it's own merits. All counts from the CNN sites or areas should be removed from the total. In this way, stories that have not be "promoted", that manage to acquire 10 / 20 thousand views without a promotion will be given the greatest credit ( and the credit they deserve ) and the results would most likely far more accurate over time.

4. Having a story "promoted" should only count as a small single number addition to the calculation value. That way CNN / iReport editors aren't the ones who determine who's who, ireport users and readers would

5. An iReporter must post at least a photo of themselves or of something that reflects themselves to be considered. Blank image areas are not good. Many that I know that have seen the site have consistantly asked me why "blank" image areas are even displayed. I am reflecting thier confusion.

6. Ireporters that report more than 3 postings a day should be average out for just 3, and only 3 counted. This prevents oversaturating just because, or trying to manipulate something. This happens too much. Brings down the quality of the site. If people knew they were not getting credit for anything over 3, and the average of thier top 3 per day, then "overposting" I believe would disappear.

7. Raw, unmanipulated results keeps data clean and clear and able to truly reflect a "true" status. This won't affect the way CNN uses the stories or it's viewship from the "Mothersite". But, it would clear the data up considerably and give a chance to those who really like this forum to appear in the top reporters area.

8. Having the "Newsiest" area is a very good idea and keeps popular stories where they should be without manipulating the results data all that much.

_____________

I like the additional functions and UI ( user interface ), but will remind those in charge of this, that less is more when it comes to simplicity of function. In other words don't go too far.

The #1 issue concerning editing functions I would think, would be to edit, change or correct the images, photos etc...

placing Meta Tag information could be done automatically by scanning the content. But, I can see you would really have to research that one to make it work correctly and it would require alot more server resources to impliment.

That's my two and a half cents. Hope it helps.

Best Regards,

TheWarden (rcc)

Great insights Warden!  I hope CNN is able to implement most of these sugggestions, as they would offer improved fairness and accuracy to the site.  You really explained these solutions like a professional...very impressive. Thanks. --All the best!

Hey TheWarden - really great ideas for the Superstar algorithm. I'm sharing them with our engineers.

That's great! I realize there are other factors in the value rating, no need to spell out everything I see to the whole world that you are already doing. However, It may serve as a good outline as to how to acquire a relative and meaningful rating for iReporters.

Just to mention, I still think users get a kick out of seeing how many views they are actually getting, regardless of where those views are coming from. So, I would keep that visual.

But, to perform the calculation for rating itself, I would remove it behind the scenes. Really would make it possible for people to move up...or down...

best regards,

Warden (rcc)

That about says it all TheWarden.

Appreciate these suggestions.

When I found out my 16 year old daughter had been sexually active, I took her to the doctor for an exam for STDs.  The Nurse Practionier (we have no actual "Dr." in our small community) she asked my daughter is she wanted to have the exam?  My daughter, of course, said no.  The NP looked at me and said, I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do if she says no.  I was outraged!  I asked her why?  She said it's the law!  I started shaking I was sooo angry.  We left.

(thankfully, as time passed, she did not have a std.)

When she was 17 years old, she told me she was pregnant.  Well, a month or so before she told me, she took it upon herself to go to the SAME clinic I had taken her last year,

where she had blood work done and a pregnancy test.  A few weeks later, I received a bill for over $1100.00 for these test.  I called the doctor's office and inquired why I was responsible for these charges.  She said, becase my daughter is a MINOR.  ?????????????????????? I advised her I had no idea she had these tests done. She told me it didn't matter. I was still responsible because she is a MINOR!

I just don't understand why a parent is responsible for a bill like this when the minor child was allowed to have these test performed without the consent of a PARENT? The doctor's office performed these tests anyway without consulting me, her MOTHER?????? I am still very angry that a Parent has little rights to their minor children, until "society" dictates so.

Thank you,

Bev

Tennessee

Smokey:  You had told me how sick your puppy was.  Several times you mentioned he was sick and the vet couldn't help him.  All I meant was that here if your dog is sick and the vet cannot help it they put the dog down.  I am sorry if you took it the wrong way.  I would think that would be cruelity to animals to have a sick animal suffering.