This week on Ethos - will this space have 8000 people in it?

The Spaces discusses several key topics centered around the platforms, ethos, and participation dynamics in digital communities. Acknowledgments are given to contributors, including an overview of the creation and development of 'between two hoodies' and the influential role of people such as Borat in Ethos. Notable changes and proposals, like EIP3 adjustments to discourage false reviews, are debated. The importance of maintaining genuine credibility is emphasized through analysis of slashing mechanisms, real use cases, and the challenge posed by farming practices and circle-jerk reviews. Finally, strategies to encourage organic reputation growth and enhance fair reputation distribution within digital ecosystems are outlined, illustrating a focus on fostering community trust and accountability.

Twitter Spaces Discussion Summary

Overview

This discussion revolves around the social dynamics and technical implementations of the Ethos protocol, focusing on reputation systems, community interactions, and user management within platforms like Friend Tech, Ethos, and Kaido.

Key Discussion Points

Formation and Evolution of "Between Two Hoodie"

• The discussants originally met through Friendtech and found common interests in "huddy punks."
• An initiative called "Between Two Hoodie" was conceptualized to discuss Friendtech's progressions.
• The conversations began focusing around tech ecosystems, which later evolved into a broader ethos influence.

Ethos Protocol and Reputation Management

• A recurring problem has been the gaming of the ethos protocol, with users exploiting its reputation system.
• An EIP3 (Ethos Improvement Proposal) was suggested which attributes daily review impact limitation aiming to curb systematic exploitation by users.
• The initial EIP3 was re-evaluated due to its potential for universally lowering user scores and inadequately addressing the identified issues.
• EIP 3.1 was proposed to mitigate manipulation by reducing credibility for those vouching for user accounts that get "slashed" (i.e., penalized for inappropriate behavior).

Community Reactions and Concerns

• There was a major concern about maintaining ethical standards in the reputation system, where misuse could lead to inaccurate reflection of user credibility.
• Discussions included the feasibility of accumulating credibility over time making the process more stringent against fraudulent behavior.
• Concerns were also raised regarding the protocol's reliance on "slashing" as a deterrence, with worries about the cascading impacts on trust networks.

Broader Implications and User Engagement

• Strategies to address the ongoing battle against protocol manipulation were shared, emphasizing potential expansion and iterative improvements to the system.
• Members remarked on the broader implications for social capital evolution online, indicating fluctuating reputations and their realistic reflection within systemic constraints.

Highlighted Opinions and Suggestions

On Systematic Adjustments

• Major Participants expressed the need for continued vigilance in adjusting to exploitative behaviors, suggesting that involvement of persistent user feedback is crucial.
• It was noted that creating robust notification and alert systems is necessary for keeping users informed about significant changes affecting their interactions and reputation.

On Reputation and Scoring Dynamics

• Some speakers suggested viewing Ethos scores more as a fluid currency reflecting social capital rather than a static measure.
• It was also stated that while EIPs and individual user adjustments help, authentic and organic user engagement remains the core determinant of credibility.

Marketing and Outreach Insights

• There were discussions about the complexities and costs of marketing within the Web3 space. Concerns about artificial promotional practices and non-organic user engagement were pronounced.
• Cautious spending on marketing and the necessity for projects to achieve genuine community traction without over-relying on financial incentives was emphasized.

Conclusion

The session illuminated the challenges faced by platforms in maintaining integrity within user-reputation systems. The necessity for dynamic strategies—both technical and social—to combat manipulation, while fostering productive community interactions was underlined. Participants agreed on the importance of developing robust frameworks to support authentic engagement, which is critical for long-term sustainability and ethical online ecosystems.