Frequently, I need to answer the question, "Is this source of information reliable?". Lately, I have been thinking that a decentralized platform to post reviews for websites and see aggregated statistics about those reviews would be pretty useful.

While I am open to any suggestions, the software being OSS and decentralized is important for me to consider the platform reliable.

Also, I believe the optimal review platform should hold at least ratings, tags, and text.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] Zarxrax 23 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I think ANY platform for reviews is going to get gamed and flooded with fake reviews. I don't see how decentralization would solve that.

[–] souperk 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Not true, I could set up a WordPress blog and start writing reviews. As long as it stays a niche thing I share with a couple of friends online, that "review platform" won't be gamed or flooded by fake reviews.

My point being that closed "publishing" instances can be reliable.

[–] Zarxrax 11 points 1 year ago

Sure, there can absolutely be reliable sources of reviews. The problem is in verifying what is reliable and what isn't. Why in the hell would I ever trust some random dude's WordPress blog as a reliable source of reviews? I would have no way of knowing that companies aren't paying you or giving you free products.

Outside of something like consumer reports, which has built up a reputation over a long period of time, how does one figure out that a source is reliable? Review the reviewers? Those reviews would just get gamed too.