[theme-reviewers] Question: Someone Want to Take Benefit From a'Top Reviewer of the Month'.

Srikanth Koneru tskk79 at gmail.com
Wed Jan 29 21:11:52 UTC 2014 

I think a training session will cut down on ticket re-openings, will save
your valuable time.
Maybe a video to watch before asking for a ticket...


On Thu, Jan 30, 2014 at 2:34 AM, Chip Bennett <chip at chipbennett.net> wrote:

> I would rather new reviewers try their hand at existing Themes, and ask
> questions when they need help. The review request queue has a link to a
> tutorial for how to conduct a review, and links to the needed Plugins.
>
>
> On Wed, Jan 29, 2014 at 4:02 PM, Srikanth Koneru <tskk79 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Is it possible to have a few test(defective) themes which new reviewers
>> have to review and correct instead of being assigned actual tickets?
>> Like a training class with an admin or other senior reviewer.
>> This way new reviewers will know what to look for and do actual reviews
>> correctly.
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Jan 30, 2014 at 2:26 AM, Chip Bennett <chip at chipbennett.net>wrote:
>>
>>> Honestly, it's not a matter of not having enough resources to police the
>>> program. The biggest issue right now is obviously inadequate reviews that
>>> admins have to spend a great deal of time auditing and reopening. (On
>>> average, I have to reopen about 9 out of every 10 approved Themes that I
>>> audit.)
>>>
>>> Part of that is on us; we need to find better ways of providing
>>> education and tools needed to conduct reviews. But part of that is on
>>> reviewers simply not doing due diligence before resolving Themes as
>>> approved.
>>>
>>> As for the success of the program itself: I disagree that it has not
>>> worked. We have increased the rate of overall Theme approval several-fold.
>>>
>>> Essentially, you want to end the incentive program because Responsive
>>> was de-listed from the Featured Themes list? I'm sorry that Responsive
>>> being de-listed seemed unfair, but no Theme (other than core Themes) is
>>> *entitled* to be listed as "Featured". I never wanted to be involved with
>>> Featured Themes selection to begin with. I want to focus on seeing great
>>> new Themes reviewed and approved, and getting them into end users' hands.
>>> But the WPTRT has been tasked, in part, with helping to manage that list.
>>> The only fair way I could see to do so was to come up with a way for all
>>> reviewers to have the opportunity to select Themes.
>>>
>>> As for making the process more inclusive: that will be part of the
>>> changes coming next month. But along with increased inclusiveness will come
>>> increased accountability.
>>>
>>>
>>> On Wed, Jan 29, 2014 at 3:41 PM, Trent Lapinski <trent at cyberchimps.com>wrote:
>>>
>>>> How are you guys going to police this when you can't even regularly
>>>> honor the contest itself in the first place? The current featured themes
>>>> were last updated in November.
>>>>
>>>> Right now the way the contest is setup, the person or company who pays
>>>> the most to do the most reviews wins. That's not a contest. That's not
>>>> democracy. That's not open source.
>>>>
>>>> Please end this contest, it's a failed experiment that isn't fair to
>>>> anyone involved. CyberChimps and any other theme shop or single developer
>>>> should all have an equal opportunity to be featured. Again, the best themes
>>>> should be featured. If that means my themes are never featured again
>>>> because others are making better themes then so be it.
>>>>
>>>> The .org admins clearly don't have the resources, or time to police and
>>>> run such a contest, and the overall concept doesn't make sense to begin
>>>> with. We all knew this would be gamed, and now we're going to start banning
>>>> people for doing what they were encouraged to do by the admins? How does
>>>> that make any sense?
>>>>
>>>> -Trent
>>>> CEO CyberChimps Inc.
>>>> Sent from my iPad
>>>>
>>>> On Jan 29, 2014, at 12:29 PM, Chip Bennett <chip at chipbennett.net>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Well one of those issues we can address immediately: nobody should be
>>>> assigning multiple tickets at a time. Assign one ticket at a time, and post
>>>> (full) review comments, before moving on to another ticket.
>>>>
>>>> If it appears that anyone is attempting to game the system by hogging
>>>> tickets for new Themes - at the sole discretion of the admins (and Otto,
>>>> who isn't exactly known to deal with such things with kid gloves) - we will
>>>> handle such gaming appropriately.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Wed, Jan 29, 2014 at 3:24 PM, Trent Lapinski <trent at cyberchimps.com>wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> As the owner of a theme shop (CyberChimps) being forced by the .org
>>>>> admins to now pay employees to do theme reviews I inherently hate that we
>>>>> are being forced win the contest to keep our themes featured.
>>>>>
>>>>> We use to do theme reviews to contribute to the community but now that
>>>>> we're being forced to do them to be able to afford to support our themes it
>>>>> feels more like extortion then a community contribution.
>>>>>
>>>>> Responsive has had over a million downloads, and is the most people
>>>>> theme on .org that isn't a default theme. We were featured for some time,
>>>>> but were unfeatured without explanation and saw a dramatic decline in
>>>>> downloads, and revenue. Now we're stuck maintaining a massive theme that is
>>>>> no longer supporting itself, providing support and maintaining a popular
>>>>> theme like Responsive isn't cheap. You'd think .org would want to reward
>>>>> their most popular theme, instead we're having to delay the release of 2.0,
>>>>> and are being forced to rededicate our resources to win the review contest
>>>>> so we can get downloads and revenue back up so we can even continue
>>>>> development.
>>>>>
>>>>> We point blank have asked .org admins what we can do to be considered
>>>>> for being featured again and there answer was to pay people to win the
>>>>> contest every month. A contest that isn't even being maintained monthly,
>>>>> that is being gamed by other theme shops.
>>>>>
>>>>> What was once a community contribution has been turned into a
>>>>> confusing nightmare. We can't even get themes to review because other theme
>>>>> shops are assigning themselves everything ticket immediately. The system is
>>>>> absolutely being gamed, and soon the cost of entry won't even be feasible
>>>>> for CyberChimps, so I have no idea how anyone else is going to even have a
>>>>> chance.
>>>>>
>>>>> We should be rewarding the best and most popular themes, not extorting
>>>>> theme shops and preventing everyone else from being featured. Theme reviews
>>>>> should be a community contribution and have nothing to do with featured
>>>>> themes.
>>>>>
>>>>> -Trent
>>>>> CEO CyberChimps Inc.
>>>>> Sent from my iPad
>>>>>
>>>>> On Jan 29, 2014, at 11:49 AM, Srikanth Koneru <tskk79 at gmail.com>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Not possible for an individual to compete against the might of theme
>>>>> shops. They can have 4 guys reviewing 4 themes simultaneously.
>>>>> Was this vote admin only vote? don't recall it on the list.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Thu, Jan 30, 2014 at 1:14 AM, Edward Caissie <
>>>>> edward.caissie at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> I was originally out-voted on not allowing "theme shops" have one
>>>>>> account for all of their employees to use as I was concerned it would
>>>>>> create an "unfair advantage" for them to choose a Featured Theme (and why
>>>>>> wouldn't they choose their own?) so there is not much more I can add to
>>>>>> this conversation except to say I agree for the most part with Otto's
>>>>>> responses.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Edward Caissie
>>>>>> aka Cais.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Wed, Jan 29, 2014 at 2:21 PM, Philip M. Hofer (Frumph) <
>>>>>> philip at frumph.net> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>   Could always have the random themes that display be pulled by
>>>>>>> date as well, max 1 year since last update sort of thing.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>  *From:* Jose Castaneda <jomcastaneda at gmail.com>
>>>>>>> *Sent:* Wednesday, January 29, 2014 11:14 AM
>>>>>>> *To:* Discussion list for WordPress theme reviewers.<theme-reviewers at lists.wordpress.org>
>>>>>>> *Subject:* Re: [theme-reviewers] Question: Someone Want to Take
>>>>>>> Benefit From a'Top Reviewer of the Month'.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>  I think the issue that arose was exploiting the system by
>>>>>>> reviewing that persons theme regardless of position in the queue of tickets.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> At least that is my take. I received a similar email about two
>>>>>>> months back. I never responded, just deleted it.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Jan 29, 2014, at 11:01 AM, Rohit Tripathi <rohitink at live.com>
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>  A Very Good Point raised by Emil.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>  ------------------------------
>>>>>>> Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2014 12:52:26 -0600
>>>>>>> From: emil at uzelac.me
>>>>>>> To: theme-reviewers at lists.wordpress.org
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [theme-reviewers] Question: Someone Want to Take
>>>>>>> Benefit From a 'Top Reviewer of the Month'.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>  I am with Chip here, paying your employee or employ someone
>>>>>>> is 100% the same, no difference whatsoever.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> The moment we said yes to commercial Theme shops to have their
>>>>>>> people review tickets under a single username, is the moment we
>>>>>>> allowed
>>>>>>> this very thing as well. Not sure what is the problem?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Every time one of us mentions Featured Themes, entire* community
>>>>>>> jumps
>>>>>>> on. When we need help, only few of us replies. How come?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> http://make.wordpress.org/themes/2014/01/28/time-for-a-new-team-rep/
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Wed, Jan 29, 2014 at 11:51 AM, Srikanth Koneru <tskk79 at gmail.com>wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> all 3 options can be manipulated unfortunately, admin choice is fine
>>>>>>> but a bit more frequently would be nice.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Wed, Jan 29, 2014 at 11:19 PM, Konrad Sroka <
>>>>>>> konrads at themekraft.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>  Otto +10000
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Why not get rid of the featured themes sections like it is now and
>>>>>>> have a filter for
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> "most downloaded" and "best rated"
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Maybe add a filter or tag for commercially supported themes, so you
>>>>>>> know you can get professional support and stuff like that..
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Or make a poll on wordpress.org twice a year and the results are
>>>>>>> the "featured" themes
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Cheers, Konrad
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On 29 January 2014 18:25, Rohit Tripathi <rohitink at live.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>  I am not in favour of switching Featured themes to a Random Themes
>>>>>>> Section. Because Many themes in the repository are outdated or not fully
>>>>>>> compatible with recent versions of WP.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> +1 for the Redesign of landing Page.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> :)
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>  ------------------------------
>>>>>>> From: zulfikarnore at live.com
>>>>>>> To: theme-reviewers at lists.wordpress.org
>>>>>>> Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2014 17:11:33 +0000
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [theme-reviewers] Question: Someone Want to Take
>>>>>>> Benefit From a 'Top Reviewer of the Month'.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Part of the original question asked "has this happened to anyone"
>>>>>>> (not the exact words) - the answer is yes, not once not twice but a good
>>>>>>> few times. Initial response? I responded with not part of my business
>>>>>>> plan/working model! Then followed by "mark as junk" and now that is where
>>>>>>> (if any) those emails land and deleted without a first look never mind a
>>>>>>> second.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> For me the incentive scheme and having a theme featured for my hard
>>>>>>> work is only a bonus - true benefit is derived from learning code as Otto
>>>>>>> said. The real reward out of it all will be when one day I create a theme
>>>>>>> from scratch, submit, have it reviewed, approved and made live without a
>>>>>>> single issue being raised - now that is (will be) the achievement :)
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> So,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> 1) Should we be paid to review themes in order to win and get the
>>>>>>> payer's theme featured? Certainly Not!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> 2) Should commercial theme shops pay their employees to review for
>>>>>>> the same end in mind? Weather they get a theme featured or not they are
>>>>>>> going to pay their employee regardless. So that is their prerogative - but
>>>>>>> should they hire for the sole purpose of reviewing and getting featured? To
>>>>>>> me that is no any difference to 1 above and is a No!, but who is going to
>>>>>>> police it?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Solution? Switch the "Featured themes" section to a "Random themes"
>>>>>>> section and let the system cycle though all and any theme on a given time
>>>>>>> period and everyone is a winner. Easier said than done with over 2000
>>>>>>> themes I know :)
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I second and +1 the call for a redesign of the landing page.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>  ------------------------------
>>>>>>> From: christine at bluelimemedia.com
>>>>>>> Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2014 08:02:39 -0800
>>>>>>> To: theme-reviewers at lists.wordpress.org
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [theme-reviewers] Question: Someone Want to Take
>>>>>>> Benefit From a 'Top Reviewer of the Month'.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Awesome, I'll see what I can do.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Christine Rondeau
>>>>>>> Bluelime Media
>>>>>>> www.bluelimemedia.com
>>>>>>> twitter: @bluelimemedia
>>>>>>> skype: bluelimemedia
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Wed, Jan 29, 2014 at 7:58 AM, Otto <otto at ottodestruct.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Wed, Jan 29, 2014 at 9:56 AM, Christine Rondeau
>>>>>>> <christine at bluelimemedia.com> wrote:
>>>>>>> > I still think that
>>>>>>> > rethinking the theme landing page with a better more visual design
>>>>>>> would be
>>>>>>> > nice.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I wholeheartedly agree. Poke your designer friends. We need a better
>>>>>>> design. :)
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> -Otto
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> theme-reviewers mailing list
>>>>>>> theme-reviewers at lists.wordpress.org
>>>>>>> http://lists.wordpress.org/mailman/listinfo/theme-reviewers
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________ theme-reviewers
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>>>>>>> http://lists.wordpress.org/mailman/listinfo/theme-reviewers
>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> i.A. Konrad Sroka
>>>>>>> Themekraft  UG haftungsbeschränkt
>>>>>>> Beautiful Themes and Plugins for WordPress and BuddyPress
>>>>>>> web - http://themekraft.com
>>>>>>> mail - konrads at themekraft.com
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Höhenstrasse 55
>>>>>>> D-40227 Düsseldorf
>>>>>>> Germany
>>>>>>> HRB 66772, Gerichtsstand Düsseldorf, deutsches Recht
>>>>>>> Geschäftsführung / Managing Director: Sven Lehnert
>>>>>>> USt-ID: DE282376267
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>  ------------------------------
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>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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>>>>>>
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>>>>>
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>>>>>
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