---
title: "Reputation systems"
date: 2003-07-15
author: "Richard MacManus"
categories:
  - name: "ReadWriteWeb"
    url: "/category/readwriteweb.md"
tags:
  - name: "2003"
    url: "/tag/2003.md"
---

# Reputation systems

The subject of topics for weblogs is getting some traction in the blogosphere. There are some promising apps for topics, including [k-collector](https://web.archive.org/web/20040224121037/http://k-collector.evectors.it/) and [Topic Exchange](https://web.archive.org/web/20040224121037/http://topicexchange.com/). Recently [I wrote a post](https://web.archive.org/web/20040224121037/http://radio.weblogs.com/0105304/2003/07/02.html#a74), in response to one by Clay Shirky, to say that weblog posts should be organized by **topics** in the blogosphere rather than organized by author. [Clay Shirky pointed back to me](https://web.archive.org/web/20040224121037/http://www.corante.com/many/20030701.shtml) and some [interesting discussion](https://web.archive.org/web/20040224121037/http://radio.weblogs.com/0105304/2003/07/04.html#a75) came out of that.

One thing I’m **not** convinced there is a need for is a “reputation system”. [Marc Canter](https://web.archive.org/web/20040224121037/http://blogs.it/0100198/) linked to a post by [Bill Kearney](https://web.archive.org/web/20040224121037/http://www.ideaspace.net/users/wkearney/archives/entries/000368.html?f=1), who had some interesting things to say about syndicating topics (btw [Marc also got it spot on](https://web.archive.org/web/20040224121037/http://blogs.it/0100198/2003/07/13.html#a1460) when he advised Bill to stick to the topic and lay off the personal abuse of Dave Winer). Bill says this about preventing “pollution” of topic spaces:

> “Here we run into the need for some sort of reputation system. One that seeks to differentiate the valuable material from those just trying to incorrectly grab attention.”

I don’t think ideas should be judged based on who is the author. This is the point I was making in response to Clay’s post mentioned above. Sure I want to be able to subscribe to individual authors that I enjoy reading and who I value as an authority. But when it comes to subscribing to topics that I’m interested in, I don’t wish to pre-judge what people may contribute on a topic. The best ideas sometimes come out of left field.

The Web is fundamentally a free space. That’s the beauty of weblogs, these tools make it easy for anyone to publish on the Web. If everyone has a right to write, then everyone has a right to be read. Even if they’re wrong 🙂

*Originally published on ReadWriteWeb ([archived copy](https://web.archive.org/web/20020204040018/http://www.readwriteweb.com/2003/07/15.html#a80))*