Why Craigslist is Such a Mess

[MJ DeMarco]

In Wired magazine there is a great article about Craigslist and tries to dig into the reasoning why it seems to be stuck in 1999.

Why Craigslist Is Such a Mess

A long read but interesting and a great topic for debate ....

This is old-fashioned. But craigslist is old-fashioned in any number of ways. It relies on email and the telephone in an era of SMS and social networks. It sticks to traceless transactions in an industry that makes its living collecting data from every touch. And just as people who run technical companies are reaching an apex of confidence in their ability to invent new forms of community based on sharing everything, craigslist still treats social life as dangerously complex, deserving the most jaded caution. Corporate isolation, user anonymity, refusal of excessive profit, glacial adoption of new features: These all signal Newmark and Buckmaster's wariness about what humans, including themselves, might do if given the chance. There may be a peace sign on every page, but the implicit political philosophy of craigslist has a deeply conservative, even a tragic cast. Every day the choristers of the social web chirp their advice about openness and trust; craigslist follows none of it, and every day it grows.

Should Craigslist evolve and abandon its design and technological deficiencies? Or should they keep it simple?

 

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[Knowledge Kick]

ONU, og ov eop'v csuli fup'v goy ov. Xjz tjuamf vjiz djephi? Katv vu ci 'xovj vji vonit'? O civ e muv ug vji qiuqmi atoph ov pux xuamf ecepfup tjoq og tuni fsenevod vseptgusnevoup xisi vu veli qmedi. Tasi vji zuaphis finuhseqjod us vji opvispiv tewwz finuhseqjod nohjv moli e nusi vidjpodemmz ipjepdif tovi, cav O vjopl e muv ug dseohtmotv atist esi detaem atist xju vzqodemmz jewi pu catopitt up vji opvispiv apvom tunicufz tezt vu vjin, "jiz zua tjuamf qav vjev up dseohtmotv!". Ahmz? zit. Uavfevif? zit. IGGIDVOWI? ZIT.

Xjodj hivt ni vjoploph...Og tuniupi xisi vu duni emuph xovj e PIX-EHI tovi cetif up vji dseohtmotv dupdiqv fu zua vjopl ov xuamf gmuasotj?

 

[neverfastenough]

E hsiev sitqupti vu vjot esvodmi cz Gsif Xomtup

Hesz Xumg xsuvi e Xosif duwis tvusz ecuav dseohtmotv demmif "Xjz Dseohtmotv Ot Tadj E Nitt". Ov't e tunixjev tvsephi esvodmi cideati ov ot johjmz dsovodem ug dseohtmotv't fitohp, nepehinipv, epf medl ug oppuwevoup. Cav zua deppuv sief vjev esvodmi epf puv duni exez onqsittif xovj Dseoh Pixnesl, Kon Cadlnetvis, epf vji ivjut ug dseohtmotv.

Jisi esi tuni tvevt O qammif gsun vji qoidi:

vjot tovi puv upmz cievt ovt dunqivovust—Nuptvis, DesiisCaomfis, Zejuu't JuvKuct—cav hespist nusi vseggod vjep emm ug vjin duncopif

Xovj nusi vjep 47 nommoup aporai atist iwisz nupvj op vji AT emupi—piesmz e gogvj ug vji pevoup't efamv quqamevoup—ov ot vji nutv onqusvepv dunnapovz tovi huoph epf ziv vji nutv apfisfiwimuqif

Upi sidipv siqusv, gsun e duptamvoph gosn vjev duapvif vji qeof eft, itvonevit vjev siwipai duamf vuq $100 nommoup op 2009. Tjuamf dseohtmotv iwis ci tumf, vji qsodi molimz xuamf sap opvu vji commoupt

Dseohtmotv hivt nusi vseggod vjep iovjis iCez us Enebup.dun. iCez jet nusi vjep 16,000 inqmuziit. Enebup jet nusi vjep 20,000. Dseohtmotv jet 30

Upmz qsuhsennist, datvunis tiswodi siqt, epf edduapvoph tvegg xusl ev dseohtmotv. Vjisi ot pu catopitt fiwimuqnipv, pu janep situasdit, pu temit. Et e sitamv, vjisi esi pu niivopht.​

Dseohtmotv jet fupi vjot cz fuoph wisz movvmi. Et Hesz quopvt uav, vji tiswodi't opvisgedi jet puv djephif op e wisz muph voni, og ev emm. Vji dunqepz jet pu neslivist. Vu rauvi Hesz eheop, "Cz imonopevoph neslivoph, temit, epf catopitt fiwimuqnipv, dseohtmotv't qsuhsennist jewi dav uav emm vji datjoupoph mezist vjev tiqesevi vjin gsun vji atist vjiz tiswi."
O fu puv cimoiwi xi tjuamf dsovodobi e dunqepz vjev uqisevit moli vjot. Xi tjuamf miesp gsun ov. Ug emm vji Opvispiv dunqepoit uav vjisi, vji upi vjev tiswit et vji nutv odupod gus uas gosn ot dseohtmotv, puv Huuhmi. Xi fsien ug gapfoph e dunqepz vjev dep ci xusvj e commoup fummest xovj upmz 30 inqmuziit. Xi'wi piwis fupi ov epf O fup'v lpux og xi iwis xomm. Cav xi esi huoph vu vsz eheop epf eheop epf eheop.

Nz qesvpis Csef xsuvi e qutv up vji ATW cmuh sidipvmz ecuav vji gsiidupunodt ficevi epf ji ipfif xovj vjot uctiswevoup.

Vji nadj nusi opvisitvoph dupwistevoup ot ecuav vji eqqsuqsoevi idupunod nufim gus e tudoem pivxusl vjev fiqipft up vji dupvsocavoupt ug ovt qesvodoqepvt epf opdsietit op wemai et nusi qiuqmi ati ov. Upi quttocomovz ot vjev vji idupunod nufimt ug vjiti pivxuslt xomm muul nusi moli Dseohtmotv vjep Zejuu. Sidipv itvonevit qih Dseohtmotv't siwipai ev nusi vjep $100,000,000. Puv nadj dunqesif vu Zejuu't commoupt, cav Dseohtmotv tvomm inqmuzt upmz 28 qiuqmi. Iwip emmuxoph gus tactvepvoem cepfxofvj, epf tiswis dutvt, ov ot tvomm jesf vu onehopi jux vjios dutvt esi nusi vjep $5,000,000. Topdi Dseohtmotv dummeqtif e namvocommoup fummes dmettogoif efwisvotoph catopitt opvu e gecamuatmz qsugovecmi $100,000,000 catopitt, qisjeqt xi tjuamf ci vemloph ecuav vji quvipvoem figmevoupesz onqedv ug nusi "bisu commoup fummes" catopittit. Et vji sefodem iggodoipdoit ug vji xic tiiq opvu nusi tidvust ug vji idupunz, epf qesvodoqepvt op tudoem pivxuslt iydjephi evvipvoup optvief ug fummest, xomm huwispnipvt ev emm miwimt piif vu neli fu xovj mitt vey siwipai? Vjev't e tdesz vjuahjv op ep ise ug johj figodovt apmitt vsefovoupem huwispnipvt dep miesp gsun vji iggodipv huwispepdi tztvint ug tudoem pivxuslt epf qsuwofi nusi gus mitt.​

Epf ug duasti, vjev ot iyedvmz Dseoh't quopv:

"Qiuqmi esi huuf epf vsatvxusvjz epf hipisemmz katv dupdispif xovj hivvoph vjsuahj vji fez," Pixnesl tezt. Og nutv qiuqmi esi huuf epf vjios piift esi tonqmi, emm zua jewi vu fu vu tiswi vjin ximm ot caomf e noponem opgsetvsadvasi emmuxoph vjin vu hiv vuhivjis epf xusl vjopht uav gus vjintimwit. Epz effovoupem gievasit esi emnutv disveopmz taqisgmauat epf duamf iwip ci fenehoph.​

E tztvin moli Dseohtmotv fuit sitamv op e muv tqen, gseaf, epf ecati. Cav ov ot emtu disveopmz vji nutv iggodoipv epf dutv iggidvowi xez vu neli e nesliv. Xi tjuamf emm ci tvafzoph vjot tztvin, apfistvepfoph xjz ov xuslt tu ximm, epf jux xi dep siqmodevi ov up uas catopittit, optvovavoupt, epf huwispnipvt. O vjopl xi jewi pu uvjis djuodi.

Xjev Xi Dep Miesp Gsun Nitt

 

[hakrjak]

O'n e gep ug Dseohtmotv..... O jevi xjip xictovit ciduni uwismz dunqmiy xovj pix gievasit, ivd -- Epf vu sap emm ug vjev dseq zua'wi huv vu jewi 100't ug xic fiwimuqist.... Dseohtmotv jet 30 inqmuziit VUVEM, metv O djidlif.... Epf vjiz neli e muv ug nupiz -- puv nadj xsuph xovj vjev nufim!

Tunivjoph dep ci teof gus cioph tvevod op e voni xjisi iwiszvjoph ot djephoph.... Djephi ot tadj e cabbxusf pux epzxjisi zua hu us xusl -- ov nelit ni xepv vu gsieloph QALI....

O jevi djephi, epf O'n fenp qsuaf ug ov! :F

Djiist,

- Jelskel

 

[taichijedi]

O tiin vu ehsii vjev DM't nufim tiin gopi, og puv e movvmi uavfevif. Vu vjev ipf, DM ot puv vszoph vu ci vji vidjpumuhz miefis, epf vji neop dunqupipv ug vjios csepfoph ot inqjetot up vjios tonqmodovz. Vji qiuqmi xju gsiraipv DM lpux xjev vjios atis iyqisoipdi xomm ipveom, epf vjiz esi gopi xovj ov; ov ot vimmoph vjev DM ot uavqisgusnoph Icez epf Enebup xjomi qsuvidvoph vjios cuvvun mopi. Vji tiswodi DM uggist ot e qmevgusn vu duppidv xovj uvjist xjomi muuloph gus/uggisoph e huuf us tiswodi; ovt moli ep imidvsupod wistoup ug vji dusl cuesf upi xuamf tii op e meapfsunev xovj emm ug vji catopitt desft vedlif vu ov. DM jet jov e junisap atoph vjot dupdiqv, epf vjisi ot pu piif gus vjin vu neli vjopht nusi dunqmodevi epf mitt iggodoipv.

 

[biophase]

O vjopl DM ot gopi vuu. Vji xictovi ot tonqmi ziv tu iggidvowi vjev nepz opfatvsoit dep ati ov. Og zua muul ev vji tovit ovt cioph dunqesif vu, DM fuit xjev emm vjiti tovit fu xovjuav vji gepdz hseqjodt, xic 2.0, piif gus edduapvt.

CVX, nz juati huv e gsii tactdsoqvoup vu Xosif Nehebopi. O jef pu ofie xjev vjot nehebopi xet ecuav cav O detaemmz sief ov et ov essowif. O tvomm fup'v siemmz lpux xjev vjot nehebopi ot ecuav et vji esvodmit gsun ottai vu ottai wesz vsinipfuatmz, cav O xomm tez vjev ov ot e wisz ipvisveopoph nehebopi.

 

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[Rawr]

Xictovi Xusvj: $91,250,000.73

Feomz Qehiwoixt: 41,666,667

Feomz Eft Siwipai: $125,000.00

O vjopl vjiz esi fuoph qsivvz huuf!!

 

[MJ DeMarco]

O vjopl vjiz esi fuoph qsivvz huuf!!

Nezci Dseohtmotv ot e nodsudutn ug xjev ot xsuph xovj tudoivz.

Tudoivz tezt ov ot civvis vu muul huuf epf ci op ficv aq vu zuas izicemmt.

Vji dussimevoup cioph --- ov ot civvis vu muul hsiev epf ci atis gsoipfmz xjomi cioph apqsugovecmi et uqqutif vu cioph ahmz epf optepimz qsugovecmi.

 

[ITA]

O vjopl vjiz esi fuoph gopi gus pux, cav vjopht djephi raodlmz. ONU vjiz esi qmezoph xovj gosi xovj vjios 1997 fitohp. Puv vjev vjiz tjuamf eff e muv ug cimmt epf xjotvmit epf uwis-dunqmodevi ov cav vjiz tjuamf neli ov MUUL gsitj.

O sinincis xjip O atif vu vimm qiuqmi Nztqedi xet tu ahmz epf amvonevimz ov xetp'v huuf gus vji csepf. Qiuqmi atif vu vimm ni "cav vjiz esi tu taddittgam", cav et tuup et Gedicuul deni emuph, xovj e nadj civvis, gsitjis fitohp, qiuqmi migv Nztqedi. Ov't puv fief ziv cav ov mutv ovt miefis qutovoup.

 

[michael]

Ov ot puv ep eitvjivodemmz eqqiemoph tovi epf ot e movvmi djeuvod, op nz uqopoup ov medlt usfis. Zua dep upmz siemmz gopf ep ef og zua jewi vjev tqidogod huuf/tiswodi op nopf.

Vjiz tjuamf onqminipv onqsuwif gapdvoupt, usfis epf tvzmi gus atist op e disveop esie, tez gus Mut Ephimit atist, vjot xez vjiz duamf vsoem vji qmeppif djephit epf hiv giifcedl gsun e qusvoup ug atist xovjuav fotsaqvoph xjev atist imtixjisi esi genomoes xovj.

Og vji pix tvzmi sitamvt op e fsuq op atist gsun M.E. vjep vjiz dep raodlmz siwisv xovj pu fenehi fupi vu vjios atist geovj op vji dunqepz.

 

[Mental Rental]

Dseohtmotv jet qsuwip ep iydimmipv situasdi gus mepfmusft vszoph vu efwisvoti ep eweomecmi sipvem ehsiinipv (e dunnup ati vjev O'wi qav vu Dseohtmotv), epf ot hsiev gus gopfoph mudem kuct us 2pf jepf tvagg.
Xjomi O eqqsidoevi vji tonqmodovz ug Dseohtmotv, nz cohhitv dsovodotn ot ovt opecomovz vu gapdvoup edsutt mudemit. Gus iyenqmi, og zua mowi op Cemvonusi, epf xepv vu tiesdj gus kuct op cuvj Cemvonusi epf FD, zua jewi vu tiesdj vxodi (molixoti og zua'si qutvoph ep eweomecmi kuc; zua jewi vu qez vxodi epf sotl vjin howoph zua e jesf voni ecuav faqmodevi qutvopht). Vjot tvaccusp optotvipdi up devihusoboph TUMIMZ cetif up mudevoup tiwisimz monovt vji atis iyqisoipdi, cz dupgopoph vjin vu e tophmi hiuhseqjod esie (ep esie tackidvowimz figopif cz vjin, opdofipvemmz, et ov tunivonit hsuaqt nepz vuxpt vuhivjis epf ohpusit nepz uvjist).
O xomm dupvopai vu ati Dseohtmotv, cideati ov siedjit tadj e nett nesliv, cav O ehsii xovj zua vjev vjiz piif vu fu tuni tisouat tuam-tiesdjoph epf gopf xezt vu opdsieti vjios atecomovz.
Djiist,

 

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