It’s been quite a while since I used Scribd and it will be a while till I use it again. Why ? Because of this
In order to download “HEADSET BROS – SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY”, please upload at least 1 more of your documents first.
Yes, this is what I ran into while downloading a document from Scribd. It’s pretty ingenius of Scribd guys to ask you to upload a file before downloding one. Since there are no visible checks on the file you upload, I am not sure how many junk files would have been uploaded on Scribd since they launched this fantastic modification in the download feature.
O Scribd, what were you thinking ?
Update: Scribd has made some changes to the feature that are covered in a post here
O Scribd, what were you thinking ? http://bit.ly/5bPvv #fail
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Hilarious I’d say!
Wondering if sites do such things just to boost their stats. Must have given a solid jump to their daily upload nos.
Total crap.
Is it a concidence that both of you commented within 10 minutes ?
I am really surprised, Scribd could be silly enough to use such means to up their uploads. I am sure the genuine uploads from this feature would be far less from fake ones.
Scribd reminds me quite a bit of my interactions with experts-exchange:* Locked behind a content wall: You must use their web reader, or jump through hoops to download the original document.
* Pollutes my google search results: Usually appears before a more direct link to the original document.
This comment was originally posted on Hacker News
Want to download a file from Scribd ? Upload one http://ff.im/-4e3QF
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
agree. plus, their interface is cluttered. it’s worse than reading a pdf in the browser.it’s seems like step backwards. perhaps i’m missing the neat niche it is filling.
This comment was originally posted on Hacker News
It’s funny that this is upsetting people; Bittorrent is based on the same concept.
This comment was originally posted on Hacker News
It just feels so seedy. Like they’re ripping people off.Their flash rendition also doesn’t look as good as PDF.
This comment was originally posted on Hacker News
Being able to embed documents in another page is neat sometimes, but putting up with all the other hassle that ability apparently implies isn’t so neat.
This comment was originally posted on Hacker News
But at least with BT it’s optional…
This comment was originally posted on Hacker News
Want to download a file from Scribd ? Upload one… http://bit.ly/pLaJb
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
When your byte-trading program encourages you to trade bytes, there’s nothing to be upset about. When your [web based] pdf reader forces you to trade bytes — well, some people get upset.IMHO, you should have rather used rapidshare or megaupload for comparison. I don’t use rapidshare and scribd for more or less the same reasons.
This comment was originally posted on Hacker News
… and it probably shouldn’t be. What’s the point of helping leechers?
This comment was originally posted on Hacker News
No.Scribd: To watch our crappy swf stuff you have to upload another PDF.
BitTorrent: To download a file (=bittorrent is content agnostic) you should re-upload parts of the file that you have already received.
This comment was originally posted on Hacker News
Want to download a file from Scribd ? Upload one http://bit.ly/4duqNQ
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
optional and doesn’t take manual user intervention. it’s automatic, no hassle. and you’re only sharing bandwidth not new content.
This comment was originally posted on Hacker News
I just downloaded another PDF from Scribd (a pretty lengthy book) and I’ve never uploaded a document to the service.
Does anyone fact check their outrage before commenting?
I just downloaded a book off Scribd last night, and it didn’t ask me to upload anything. I’ve never uploaded a document and this isn’t the first time I’ve downloaded one.Just to make sure I’m not crazy, I found another 100+ page book and downloaded the PDF just now. No requirement to upload any files.
Doesn’t anyone fact check stories before posting their comment rage?
This comment was originally posted on Hacker News
something like that is a great way to piss off your users, whose bright idea was it?
This comment was originally posted on Hacker News
Just to make sure I’m not crazy, I found another 100+ page book and downloaded the PDF just now. No requirement to upload any files.Perhaps you didn’t meet the criteria to trigger this behavior, you are not a member of the A/B group that was shown this UI, etc.
Doesn’t anyone fact check stories before posting their comment rage?
The story is sourced, and veracity is riding on the source’s reputation (and vis versa):
http://mayank.name/about-me/
http://www.linkedin.com/in/mayankdhingra
http://twitter.com/mayankdhingra
This comment was originally posted on Hacker News
I have long wanted a "ban Scribd" option for my google resposes. It used to crash my firefox whenever I left their site too.
This comment was originally posted on Hacker News
Bittorrent is based on the same concept.Yeah, just like cars and legs are based on the same "concept". Hey, they are both about movement!
Sorry, but you win my "most disoriented post of the week" award.
This comment was originally posted on Hacker News
I’m not sure why this thread was flagged. There’s nothing off-topic or trollish about it.
This comment was originally posted on Hacker News
I’m getting so tired of Scribd. To many google ads and boring interface. Turning to Issuu instead!
Scribd got a bunch of friends to flag it? (conspiracy theory)
This comment was originally posted on Hacker News
Scribd got a bunch of people to flag it? (conspiracy theory)Original article link: http://mayank.name/2009/06/20/want-to-download-a-file-from-s…
This comment was originally posted on Hacker News
We had a convo about this a couple days ago, but it was regarding experts-exchange http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=663124
This comment was originally posted on Hacker News
I hope it’s not due to the negative tone of the article and comments, coupled with scribd being a YC company — I believe flags are administrator-reviewed.
This comment was originally posted on Hacker News
O Scribd, what were you thinking? http://bit.ly/5bPvv
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Pretty sure that all the YC alumni have the power to kill a story, so no need to get people to flag it. Could be wrong on that, though.Feature suggestion to PG: show who killed stories / comments and why (manual or due to multiple flags).
This comment was originally posted on Hacker News
whoa, what makes this conversation flagging worthy ?
This comment was originally posted on Hacker News
I like that idea. There is a bit of gaming/favoritism here (obviously) – seeing who killed it and why would shed some light on this (and/or make people think twice about killing a story just because they don’t agree with it – there are comments for a reason).
This comment was originally posted on Hacker News
That sounds like a cheap rhetorical trick. Here, let me try:When your document-trading site expects you to trade documents, there’s nothing to be upset about. When your music-downloading program expects you to expose yourself to massive legal liability, people get upset.
Oh boy! Now, the people who agree with me get to feel superior about their existing beliefs. Fun stuff.
This comment was originally posted on Hacker News
Did i tell u this http://bit.ly/Ikl7p
led to a nice discussion @slideshare’s off ?
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Pingback: Want to download a file from Scribd? Upload one – Part II