Response to the misinformation about mturk

jan

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It has been proposed that we write a letter in response to the misinformation about bots on mturk. We are real people, who strive to complete HITS ethically. It's important that requesters know that we take pride in our work and take care to complete HITS according to the instructions.

In the past few weeks, there has been the suggestion that 'bots' are answering many of the survey's. This is nonsense. Data sets always have some bad data (that's true of an in-person survey - as well as those that are conducted online). We believe that the vast majority of survey respondents are real people. How do we know? We are those 'real' people.

We're drafting this letter to post, and have signed, by mturk workers. Do you have some ideas about how to shape that letter? Please participate here!
 

cassius

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It has been proposed that we write a letter in response to the misinformation about bots on mturk. We are real people, who strive to complete HITS ethically. It's important that requesters know that we take pride in our work and take care to complete HITS according to the instructions.

In the past few weeks, there has been the suggestion that 'bots' are answering many of the survey's. This is nonsense. Data sets always have some bad data (that's true of an in-person survey - as well as those that are conducted online). We believe that the vast majority of survey respondents are real people. How do we know? We are those 'real' people.

We're drafting this letter to post, and have signed, by mturk workers. Do you have some ideas about how to shape that letter? Please participate here!
In answer to your post on daily forum, I don't remember how the original pay notice was posted and a quick search isn't bringing it up for me. Will have to search further. But "discourse" keeps coming to mind. It was done professionally. I remember that. Sometimes I feel like when the requesters run bots and don't inform us, yes, I know this is part of their studies, but it feels low even though one knows one is being taken advantage of. But then I would think that sort of spoils their study. It happens to us on a daily basis on the Internet, not in studies and one just gets used to dealing with those bots. So why further the problem then complain when it comes back to them? That may not make sense but somehow it does to me. Maybe it's because like the gambling house that always wins in the end, the bots always win in the end and maybe that's the problem. Anyway, I think a letter is a good idea done correctly and positively. And the scare for the requesters is too great to just go away.
 

cassius

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Here ya go regarding the low payment to mturk workers:
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/dec/03/amazon-mechanical-turk-workers-protest-jeff-bezos

and we are dynamo site appears to not be there anymore but that was where the pay campaign was run from if my memory is correct.

wait, wait, you'll find the copy of dynamo here:
http://www.kristymilland.com/

I don't follow Turker Nation so don't know if kristy is still active as an activist but if she is, she is most likely who we need to get involved in this or see if she has something going on about it. At least get her thoughts.
 
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cassius

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yeah, i get it that they are referring to server farms but i don't like their choice of words. that just brings up so many images that are negative in today's world. "you can take away a man's dignity" with one's choice of words.