For most people, it most certainly is. But if the only context within
which a user will use a tagging-based system is by not tagging
anything, ever, I say that this is a step in the right direction to
help them move on to something /could be/ more meaningful to them.
However, I feel that the user has a right to choose if they should
make 'bad' decisions when it comes to tagging a web site - that is
their prerogative. It doesn't matter if they use no tags, incorrect
tags, popular tags, recommended tags, spanish tags, chinese tags,
english tags, or borrowed tags - it should be the user's decision to
do so. In this case, using a borrowed tag is a service that I'm
providing.
Yes. If I had privacy in now, I would force the posts to be private
instead, just to cut the feedback loop. Privacy does not currently
exist and is thus not an option.
We do not impose rules about what tags a user chooses. But I think that
the presentation and interface influence the choice.
You are not providing a choice, just something that looks like it has
the same result; the user has no decision.
Looking at the data, I see many of the users are using both a word and
variants, like both "delicious" and "del.icio.us" or "bookmark" and
"bookmarks" -- they don't use both, normally.
Certainly if this was the dominant paradigm, the system would fail overall.
If you're worried that new users will somehow become hooked on using
'bad' tags forever, I'm not worried - most internet users don't even
know what a bookmarklet is, let alone how they could benefit from
tagging something correctly.
Not particularly relevant.
It's too parasitic and enforces groupthink much more than what we
provide; the current implementation of recommended tags isn't just
the top N other tags.
I realize that, however I'd rather not abuse the del.icio.us service
so I can only provide a limited 'borrowable tag' set for users to
consider.
Sounds like "I couldn't do the right thing, so I did something else instead"
Same arguments as before. There should be at least some human
interaction here on the choice of tags, or it makes the system much
less valuable.
I did not realize that the purpose of using tags was to make the
del.icio.us system more valuable. Considering that there is no
moderation of tags and no restrictions on what tags can/can't be used
- it seems as if personal bookmarking is the primary purpose,
followed by the inherent community that exists.
This is the whole point of tagging. People add metadata so that 1) they
can find things and 2) other people can find things. You are removing
the step in which people add the tag metadata, thus making the system
less valuable to themselves and others.
I'm all in favor of giving people some hints and help, but removing
the interaction entirely is a mistake.
It doesn't have to be completely removed - the user can do a number
of things:
1) Force the bookmarklet to go to a form before submitting.
We already do this.
2) After a page has been tagged, have it return to your del.icio.us/
user/ page so that you can review the new tags.
Both of these are options for the current bookmarklet - a user need
not remove the important interaction if they don't want to.
Your main concern seems to be stemming from the fact that the users
simply don't see/interact with the tags before they are added to
their account - if there was some way to give users the option of
being able to manipulate them before finally tagging - would that be
a more desirable solution, for you? Essentially, some form of a
dialog saying 'These are the tags, are they ok?'. That is definitely
achievable, and is an acceptable solution, to me. Please let me know.
How is this at all differnet from the interface we are currently
providing, aside from one more or less click? If the correct solution is
an easier way to add all the recommended tags, I'd prefer to do that
then your solution instead.
Joshua
_______________________________________________
discuss mailing list
discuss@del.icio.us
http://lists.del.icio.us/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/discuss
