Beer rating activity

I don't know. I've been a member of BA for over a year now, and I've added three beers in just the past few months, despite never having done so in my first year.

 

I believe the ratings here are far more reliable than elsewhere, but to your point, participation here is severely less than other sites like Untappd.

I think it comes down to the user experience for submitting ratings. It's a process to complete a rating on here from a mobile device. With other sites, there's a mobile app built just for that feature alone.

I like that more input is required to complete ratings here or to submit a new beer. I feel like this prevents people from rating without putting much thought into why the beer was so great or so poor; however, it's also a chore compared to the simplicity of other apps and probably wards off many from regularly reviewing/rating.

I think a mobile app for ratings alone would greatly improve participation around here. If the app had a good UI/UX, I would abandon others in a heartbeat.

 

There was a conscious decision on the part of the site owners that ratings only do not improve the quality of the information provided by the site so they seem to have no desire or motivation to create such an app. See the links in my post below.

 

This post is probably an example of "be careful what you ask for, you might get it."

1) I don't think it's all in your head and there seem to be some objective data. See the links in my post below.
2) I suspect there is a relative decrease, but it may not be bad and would appear to be related to reasons discussed in the links below.
3) Your idea of what makes a community is much the same as mine but I've not thought much about whether any decline is a good thing or a bad thing. Not all participation requires (or has required) the same type or level of thinking that says we contribute as well as take. However, I do think it is important for all of us to reconsider once in a while the extent to which we are giving back as well as taking.

 

As a general note to folks with an interest in the issues raised by the OP there is some history about how and why the owners have made certain choices in how this site operates. The site's current incarnation can be better understood from these two threads created some months ago. (Note there is some overlap between the two threads but both clearly articulate why some things are as they presently are.)

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/beeradvocate-returns-to-its-roots-part-two.313997/

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/beeradvocate-returns-to-its-roots-part-two.313997/

In addition there was an extended site user discussion of the effects of certain changes to be found here:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/thoughts-on-the-latest-updates-top-250-etc.315702/

In this last thread there are both some interesting discussions (at least they were to me ) which included some outstanding contributions by one particular site user, @pagriley who has the background knowledge and skills to both find and make use of some of the data that were/are out there and available to be found and analyzed.

It is a very long read and contains a wealth of useful information for those who are interested or just curious. But it is also long enough (22 pages) you'll need a bit of time to get all the way through from start to finish.

 

That's a shame. Hope the brothers reconsider... there's a lot of opportunity here.

As Benjamin Franklin once wrote: "When you're finished changing, you're finished."

 

Oh I'd not say they are done changing given how many changes they have tried over the last 7-8 years.

Rather, I'd say that it's a case of there being certain changes that they don't seem to be interested in making, in part because some of those things have already been tried and found wanting when it comes to their long range goals for why this site exists at all.

 

Looking forward to seeing what's in store for 4.0. Is there thread somewhere that discusses the enhancements?

 

As someone who has been around for a short time now I really enjoy everything. I am sure like any site things change and adapt and grow. But from my humble view I feel like the list of beers is fantastic and growing. I know I try and review most beers I consume and also add them into database if missing. I actually enjoy PC based version over any app. I never liked the app since my phone was horrible to type on so honestly the PC is the only way I go with adding items and pics, etc.
Keep up the good work BA!!!

 

I have also noticed a decrease in member participation and contribute to the discontinuance of beer karma as well as the popularity of untapped.

 

There was a general consensus that the new Beer Karma system should weight reviews heavier then ratings, which could help produce more reviews for beers.

There were also quite a few folks in that thread upset with how others will post a new beer, but not provide a rating or review. While it is frustrating, and could stem from bad site behavior, it was also pointed out that the beer could have been added initially when the beer was announced, but not available for drinking.

Still, those don't explain everything. Personally, I am satisfied with our current system. Even as is, we still get some crum-bum reviews that might as well be 140 character tweets (i.e. they hit the minimum word count, with vague descriptors, and call it good).

 

I review all the brew's I drink, and I will add new brew's if needed.

Cheers!

 

Good god, man. Just checked to see if you were exaggerating... nope. Well done!

 

I oddly like adding new beers or places on here. Gives me a bigger sense of contributing to the community. I prefer BA over Untapped for reasons I won't get into here.

I myself will sometimes hold off on adding a beer or what have you, depending on my situation such as being at a brewers night or festival, then add it at a later time. I would like to see a return of an app but the website is working alright, still needs some tweaks to become more streamlined and easier to use.

I would like the karma to come back but it's not a deal breaker (obviously). I don't think people should drink to get badges or whatnot but it was something that wasn't pushing people to drink, it was a way to see my history with BA and beer in general.

I would say usage is not growing as fast as it once was at least with those I talk to. Most people I talk to use Untapped rather than BA because of the popularity and social aspects. Even have a local beer bar that now uses Untapped for their online and in-house tap-list on their TV's.