MTurk Mentors

[ChristopherASA]

MTurk Crowd has an established group of mentors to help support and guide members new to MTurk. They are available via PM, just reach out and we'll be happy to help with any questions you have. Also feel free to ask any questions you have in the daily work threads or in the help and resources sub-forum. You can also tag them with @Mentor


Mentor members are designated by a green mentor banner under their username:

Current MTC Mentors:

@SweetiePuff
@coffeeowl
@ecko
@Kallee
@ItsAmyTee
@basketcasey
@sryan66611
@Metallica
@<Gucci>
@Jerami

Is this an up-to-date list of Mentors?

 

[jan]

Is this an up-to-date list of Mentors?

It doesn't look like it. I'll 'kick this upstairs' for review.
But my guess is - that we'll be working on this (and perhaps a few other odds and ends) in the next few weeks

 

[ChristopherASA]

It doesn't look like it. I'll 'kick this upstairs' for review.
But my guess is - that we'll be working on this (and perhaps a few other odds and ends) in the next few weeks

Well, I think it's time to find some Mentor help. But I know I\ll be something of a hard case, considering my age, speed, quals, and other considerations.

Thanks for your help, @jan !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jan]

Well, I think it's time to find some Mentor help. But I know I\ll be something of a hard case, considering my age, speed, quals, and other considerations.

Thanks for your help, @jan !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't know who is still active as a mentor. @Metallica @Jerami ??

 

[Metallica]

I don't know who is still active as a mentor. @Metallica @Jerami ??

I'm here throughout all times of the day. I haven't seen many help requests since mid last month, so I haven't had much reason to make my presence known. But I am here, in all of my amazing glory

 

[ChristopherASA]

I'm here throughout all times of the day. I haven't seen many help requests since mid last month, so I haven't had much reason to make my presence known. But I am here, in all of my amazing glory

You've been turking about as long as I have. But I've never been able to get above about $16 a day working 9 hours a day (with only a few exceptions, once to $30). How well ( or badly ) do you do? What do you work on, mainly, if I may be so bold as to ask.

I have one closed qual (Chris Nesbit), am not a Master, have trouble working batches, and am a bit ............. slow. And I'm 70. so am a bit cognitively impaired.

 

[Metallica]

You've been turking about as long as I have. But I've never been able to get above about $16 a day working 9 hours a day (with only a few exceptions, once to $30). How well ( or badly ) do you do? What do you work on, mainly, if I may be so bold as to ask.

I have one closed qual (Chris Nesbit), am not a Master, have trouble working batches, and am a bit ............. slow. And I'm 70. so am a bit cognitively impaired.

I'm going to be writing out what I feel to be a gigantic post regarding your questions, and it will probably take a bit, so I'm just using this post as a placeholder. Rest assured, I'll try to cover as many bases as I can

 

[ChristopherASA]

Excellent. Thank you for the effort!!!!!!!!!!!! Tag me, will you please, when you post it? I miss a lot on the forum because I'm just trying to catch HITs and try not to get distracted by the forum conversations.

 

[Metallica]

Alright, so I'll try to structure this so that it isn't all over the place, but it probably will be anyway, apologies in advance

Hardware
​

I'll begin by acknowledging that I know none of us are made of money, so I won't go overboard. I understand that your age isn't the average for a turker, which I honestly find amazing. I'm not sure how well versed you are with technology, but it takes a lot of know-how to turk - and believe me, you aren't inefficient or anything. How many 70 year old turkers do you know of that make the money you do? So far, I only know of you.

So, can you explain what type of computer you're using? It is a desktop or a laptop? And is the screen you are using touch-enabled? (touchscreen) If you're using a laptop, are you using the track pad, or are you using a wired/wireless mouse? The specifications of your computer don't really matter at the moment - a dinosaur PC can do everything you need it to for turking. However, before we start talking about types of HITs to work on and all that, I want to know what your setup is like. Can there be improvements made to the ergonomics? Doing any sort of work for 9 hours a day just plain sucks if you aren't comfortable while doing it - and if you believe this is at all a problem, I can help you track down more comfortable to use components without breaking the bank.

I'm talking about components such as this:

Spoiler

Log in or register now. to view Spoiler content!

A lot of people underestimate the benefits of a flat keyboard.. do you have something similar to this? If not, do you ever feel like your fingers are getting tired when typing? Personally, that keyboard is my favorite of all time.. my words per minute rate increases tenfold, and my fingers rarely get tired when typing.

@ChristopherASA
(I decided it would be best if I just break this up into multiple posts depending on your responses )

 

[ChristopherASA]

Am working on some Avery's, so will take a look at this tonight or tomorrow. Still need to take the trash out

 

[GemStone]

I'm going to be writing out what I feel to be a gigantic post regarding your questions, and it will probably take a bit, so I'm just using this post as a placeholder. Rest assured, I'll try to cover as many bases as I can

I'd be interested in this too. Now that I've been at it since the beginning of the year I need to learn how to step it up a notch. I'd like to be able to get over $100/week more easily. I don't know if that will just come with time but if you guys can enlighten me/us with your expertise that would surly be appreciated. Thank you to all you mentors out there!

 

[Metallica]

I'd be interested in this too. Now that I've been at it since the beginning of the year I need to learn how to step it up a notch. I'd like to be able to get over $100/week more easily. I don't know if that will just come with time but if you guys can enlighten me/us with your expertise that would surly be appreciated. Thank you to all you mentors out there!

Hey, when you get the chance, you can PM me with your situation if you'd like. Would you mind including the scripts you use and such? I'd rather not have two discussions going on here at once, just so I don't confuse myself and give the right person the wrong advice. I'll probably end up covering the same stuff you're looking for with Christopher, but I'm currently waiting on him to find the time to continue.

 

[Dakota Rose]

i have watched at least 15 you tube guides and he screen that comes up is not the screen i get how do i proceed

 

[jan]

i have watched at least 15 you tube guides and he screen that comes up is not the screen i get how do i proceed

screen for what?

 

[sarazbiz406]

Hi! I'm new to Turking. I just accidentally hit submit before I was even halfway through the job. I don't really know how that happened. It seems strange since the submit button was at the bottom of the page. I'm sure the job will be rejected. Is there anything I can do to salvage that job?

 

[sarazbiz406]

I entered male on my profile when I joined due to a random jerk of my hand. I discovered it too late. How do I change it now?

 

[TSolo315]

Hi! I'm new to Turking. I just accidentally hit submit before I was even halfway through the job. I don't really know how that happened. It seems strange since the submit button was at the bottom of the page. I'm sure the job will be rejected. Is there anything I can do to salvage that job?

You can send an email to the requester explaining things -- but I wouldn't do so with any expectations. Sometimes mistakes happen and you just have to accept it if you get rejected. Be careful not to press enter carelessly on HIT pages as that can often submit the HIT.

 

[ChristopherASA]

Alright, so I'll try to structure this so that it isn't all over the place, but it probably will be anyway, apologies in advance

Hardware
​

I'll begin by acknowledging that I know none of us are made of money, so I won't go overboard. I understand that your age isn't the average for a turker, which I honestly find amazing. I'm not sure how well versed you are with technology, but it takes a lot of know-how to turk - and believe me, you aren't inefficient or anything. How many 70 year old turkers do you know of that make the money you do? So far, I only know of you.

So, can you explain what type of computer you're using? It is a desktop or a laptop? And is the screen you are using touch-enabled? (touchscreen) If you're using a laptop, are you using the track pad, or are you using a wired/wireless mouse? The specifications of your computer don't really matter at the moment - a dinosaur PC can do everything you need it to for turking. However, before we start talking about types of HITs to work on and all that, I want to know what your setup is like. Can there be improvements made to the ergonomics? Doing any sort of work for 9 hours a day just plain sucks if you aren't comfortable while doing it - and if you believe this is at all a problem, I can help you track down more comfortable to use components without breaking the bank.

I'm talking about components such as this:

Spoiler

Log in or register now. to view Spoiler content!

A lot of people underestimate the benefits of a flat keyboard.. do you have something similar to this? If not, do you ever feel like your fingers are getting tired when typing? Personally, that keyboard is my favorite of all time.. my words per minute rate increases tenfold, and my fingers rarely get tired when typing.

@ChristopherASA
(I decided it would be best if I just break this up into multiple posts depending on your responses )

"not sure how well versed you are with technology" Well, less so than I was twenty years ago.

I've not a flat keyboard (mine is at a *slight* slant) and can type fairly rapidly on it.
Desktop w/ wired mouse. (Tried a wireless one and didn't like it.) Using an old HP but it still operates VERY well for a comp that old. No touchscreen. Comfort-wise, I'd like a better work chair: but right now $ is a problem, and I can manage with this one.

Did I adequately answer all your preliminary questions?

And THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Metallica]

"not sure how well versed you are with technology" Well, less so than I was twenty years ago.

I've not a flat keyboard (mine is at a *slight* slant) and can type fairly rapidly on it.
Desktop w/ wired mouse. (Tried a wireless one and didn't like it.) Using an old HP but it still operates VERY well for a comp that old. No touchscreen. Comfort-wise, I'd like a better work chair: but right now $ is a problem, and I can manage with this one.

Did I adequately answer all your preliminary questions?

And THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey, I'm sorry for not responding last night like I said I would. I feel asleep too soon and now I have to pay for it by staying up until 8 am

I'm going to go off some things that I loosely remember, so correct me if I'm wrong on any of it.

I want to recall that you said you work for 8 hours uninterrupted, and come away with around $15-25. Is that correct?

And you prefer surveys to batches? Is this due to being scared of rejections or is it something like not being able to do them fast enough to make it worth doing?

Lastly, which scripts are you using? Full disclaimer: I do not turk often anymore and outside of common scripts like Hit Forker, MTS, PC, and so on, I won't be of much help. I tried to get another Mentor to hit you up regarding that, but it doesn't seem like any have. I'll tag @Jerami anyway.

I'm sorry for playing 20 questions with you I'd just like to get some sort of baseline established so that I'm covering exactly what you're looking for. My soft goal is around that $20 mark as well.. some days it can be that, or $50, or $100. I don't think you're doing terrible, but there's definitely some room for improvement there given you work for 8 or so hours. I understand that we are very different people, so I'll be sure to keep that in mind when giving you advice.

(When you get the chance to respond to this, I'll make a separate post for each question answered)

 

[ChristopherASA]

Hey, I'm sorry for not responding last night like I said I would. I feel asleep too soon and now I have to pay for it by staying up until 8 am

I'm going to go off some things that I loosely remember, so correct me if I'm wrong on any of it.

I want to recall that you said you work for 8 hours uninterrupted, and come away with around $15-25. Is that correct?

And you prefer surveys to batches? Is this due to being scared of rejections or is it something like not being able to do them fast enough to make it worth doing?

Lastly, which scripts are you using? Full disclaimer: I do not turk often anymore and outside of common scripts like Hit Forker, MTS, PC, and so on, I won't be of much help. I tried to get another Mentor to hit you up regarding that, but it doesn't seem like any have. I'll tag @Jerami anyway.

I'm sorry for playing 20 questions with you I'd just like to get some sort of baseline established so that I'm covering exactly what you're looking for. My soft goal is around that $20 mark as well.. some days it can be that, or $50, or $100. I don't think you're doing terrible, but there's definitely some room for improvement there given you work for 8 or so hours. I understand that we are very different people, so I'll be sure to keep that in mind when giving you advice.

(When you get the chance to respond to this, I'll make a separate post for each question answered)

I fully understand. No worries. Having a lonnnng birthday party for a friend so can't comment a lot now, but ....
I work about 9 hours a day and am lucky if I can make $16. $30 or even $20 is VERY rare for me.

"Is this due to being scared of rejections or is it something like not being able to do them fast enough to make it worth doing?" Not afraid of rejections. Do surveys almost exclusively (and I tend to do even those about 15% slower than most other Turkers, I think). Just not fast enough on batches to do well on any given day.

I use MTS and HIT scraper and PC, but few actual "scripts."

I see what you and I are doing as a "process." THANKS for your help, sir.