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Ask HN: Review my startup

makefive.com

31–38 of 38 posts

Re: Ask HN: Review my startup

#32

To me, it's on the boring side...doesn't have much on a webforum.

I think HN people just aren't your audience (or they'd be on digg, reddit, etc.) so I don't think you should take this particular feedback seriously.

On the plus side, I think its has potential to be another nice social hub on the internet. Have you thought about what kind of community you want to foster, and the impacts of what you're making them do? For instance, if you're making them flame each other over whether zelda or mario is better, make sure you enact some policy that forces the community to do so politely! Also, keep searching for how your users talk to each other, and add functionality that enables them to talk more easily.

Re: Ask HN: Review my startup

#34

Not working for me. I am trying to access it from the Philippines so it can be just me though. Other websites working fine at the moment.

Sorry to hear that. If you have a moment, please give it another try and let me know if you run into trouble again. Be great to know if we're are having access problems from certain locations.

Re: Ask HN: Review my startup

#35
post #32

To me, it's on the boring side...doesn't have much on a webforum.

I think HN people just aren't your audience (or they'd be on digg, reddit, etc.) so I don't think you should take this particular feedback seriously. On the plus side, I think its has potential to be another nice social hub on the internet. Have you thought about what kind of community you want to foster, and the impacts of what you're making them do? For instance, if you're making them flame each other over whether…

I suppose so, but I really appreciate all of the feedback that’s been given nevertheless. The weird part about this project is that our users continue to surprise me--coming from all walks of life. As such, and suggestions we can get are helpful!

“Nurturing” the community is something we’re still really struggling with. We try to stay out of the way as much as possible, but do have to pop in every once in a while when things are taken in the wrong direction. It’s a pretty organic process, and we’re certainly not “there” yet, but I think we’re learning some things as we progress with this.

We do have a fairly loyal group of users who are taking a lead in keeping an eye out on behavior, and we’ve urged them to ask people to just be decent. It seems that we’re building a good relationship with a lot of the users, and it’s nice to have them working with us to make the environment a positive one.

I like the idea of finding better ways for them to interact. We’re working on a chat system that I think might work well here. It’s a feature that I find intrusive on something like Facebook, but we think will work better here as the users don’t have other more traditional means of communicating. (i.e. I’d rather talk to a close friend on the phone than chat on Facebook, but I might have a brief question that I’d like to ask someone I don’t know as well on MakeFive, without the bother of sending an email.)

As noted, we really appreciate the feedback. If you have an opportunity, please do join up and tell us what you think of the site--particularly the parts you find to not work as they should. :-)

Re: Ask HN: Review my startup

#36
post #21

If you haven't researched this company already .... http://www.rateitall.com/ Had a friend interning there this summer. The business model is essentially exactly what you guys are going after. I think it's a pretty smart model actually, but you'll have to work out how your product stands out from theirs. On a side note, I think the "if you have a brain that is" comment is too condescending for me. I think HN users wi…

I too agree with the "if you have a brain that is" being too condescending. You have to note that humor is also culturally very specific and varies across demographics. What you think of humor may not always work. (I, for example, did not find it in good taste though I did understand that it was intended to be humorous).

Re: Ask HN: Review my startup

#37
post #34

Not working for me. I am trying to access it from the Philippines so it can be just me though. Other websites working fine at the moment.

Sorry to hear that. If you have a moment, please give it another try and let me know if you run into trouble again. Be great to know if we're are having access problems from certain locations.

Retried now, and did once got the header of the page down. After that failed again.

Re: Ask HN: Review my startup

#38
post #36
post #21

If you haven't researched this company already .... http://www.rateitall.com/ Had a friend interning there this summer. The business model is essentially exactly what you guys are going after. I think it's a pretty smart model actually, but you'll have to work out how your product stands out from theirs. On a side note, I think the "if you have a brain that is" comment is too condescending for me. I think HN users wi…

I too agree with the "if you have a brain that is" being too condescending. You have to note that humor is also culturally very specific and varies across demographics. What you think of humor may not always work. (I, for example, did not find it in good taste though I did understand that it was intended to be humorous).

Point taken--we're often a little too casual with our remarks and approach. Could be something for us to be a little more careful with.
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