My View of the Content Mill Controversy

To write or not to write? That is the question these days. It is on the minds of writers on sites like Associated Content from Yahoo, eHow, Triond, Helium and more. Many writers on these sites are watching their page views plunge into the depths of Never Never Land thanks to Google's new algorithm.

It would seem that these so-called content mills are being punished for daring to be inventive, creative and fun. It is being staged in the context of "quality control." Certainly, no one can argue that every article written on such sites is Pulitzer worthy. That was never the intended point. The point was something different altogether; to give the general public a voice to share their knowledge and expertise.

While some mull over how to improve their Google rating, others take it upon themselves to belittle their peers as a response. "It's the fault of bad writers," some say and there is some truth in that. Is it the only cause? That seems unlikely.

Having been with AC since November of 2006, I am very partial to many of my peers here. This site has some quality writers. It also has some intriguing writers. Those aren't always the same people, mind you. Neither do they have to be.

Just because an individual doesn't always express himself or herself in what is deemed the "proper" way, it doesn't automatically follow that he or she has nothing to say. If it did, a lot of famous writers from our past would never have made it into print, much less withstood the test of time.

Don't get me wrong. That is not a plea for any site to allow bad content. I agree that adjustments have to be made if a site wants to stay alive in this new media world. It is how they choose to go about making those adjustments; however, that will set them apart from those who want to control what people can and cannot read.

Educating writers about what is expected of them in the future is the first step. Providing much needed editing assistance is another. Some sites, like Demand Studios, have already made the move in that direction. That gives them a huge jump on some of their competitors.

The real key here, though, is exhibiting a modicum of respect in dealing with writers. Belittling them isn't the route to take. Guidance, understanding and support will garner much better response. I predict those sites that master it all - - quality, quantity, variety and respect for their contributors - - will come out on top in the long run. It could take some time, though, and some contributors may not be willing to wait.

Like a lot of AC contributors, I have noticed a downslide in my page views. It hurts! I won't lie about that. After all, each poem, short story and article is like a child of my mind. It means something to me or I wouldn't have taken the time to "birth" it in the first place.

Some articles are written because I need the cash. I don't claim otherwise. It seems everybody does these days. We are just lucky there are sites out there that will pay us for such work.

My creative pieces, on the other hand, are glimpses into my soul. Everything I write has a purpose. Each piece means something.

Unwilling to give up on myself or on AC/YN, I will remain steadfast for as long as I can. This is still home to me, for now. I'm not ready to leave under my own power as of yet. I have friends here. I have family here. I'm not ready to leave them behind.