OTB website and OTB search through the OpenBazaar app are in alpha. OTB's search endpoint is currently offline as the system of ratings and attestations is being constructed.

the
Grapevine 🍇
A nascent Web of Trust for OpenBazaar and Haven Social
toggle FAQ:
Getting Started
List Determination
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FAQ: How is the Trusted Vendors List determined?
The Trusted Vendor List is determined by input from users of OnTheBlockchain.com.

This input takes the form of ratings, entered at this website.
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FAQ: How is the Trusted Vendors List determined?
To rate an OpenBazaar or Haven user, navigate to their user page at OnTheBlockchain.com and then to the Leave Feedback link.

Find user
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FAQ: How is the Trusted Vendors List determined?
A number of rating templates are available, including:

  • Generic User Trust
  • Flag Vendor as Legit
  • Flag Vendor as Scammer
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    FAQ: How is the Trusted Vendors List determined?
    The backbone of the Grapevine is the Generic User Trust rating. These ratings determine how much weight any given user carries.
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    FAQ: How is the Trusted Vendors List determined?
    To see how much weight any given user carries within OnTheBlockchain's Grapevine*, find that user's User Influence Score in the graph below ** (or Users table in the Control Panel).

    * OnTheBlockchain as the Reference User

    ** Larger nodes = more influence.
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    FAQ: How is the Trusted Vendors List determined?
    To examine YOUR Grapevine, change the Reference (`Seed`) User to you. (To make this meaningful, you should provide at least one Generic User Trust rating first.)
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    FAQ: How is the Trusted Vendors List determined?
    If you are an OpenBazaar Vendor and you want to get on the Trusted Vendors list, encourage your customers to provide favorable Vendor Ratings:
  • Generic Vendor Trust
  • Flag Vendor as Legit
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    FAQ: How is the Trusted Vendors List determined?
    You should then ask users who are already trusted by OnTheBlockchain's Grapevine (such as OB1 team members or devs) to rate your customers as trusted (via Generic User Trust). That way, your customers' ratings will carry more weight. (Unvetted users will still boost your Vendor Trust Score but will have less of an effect.)
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    FAQ: How is the Trusted Vendors List determined?
    If you are an official member of the OB1 Team (or an unofficial but known member of the community) and you want to help worthy Vendors establish their reputation, do the following:
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    FAQ: How is the Trusted Vendors List determined?
  • make an OnTheBlockchain account
  • link your preferred Haven or OpenBazaar peerID
  • let me know so that I (or someone else already embedded in the Grapevine) can vouch for you.
  • vouch for other users who are active in the OpenBazaar community
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    FAQ: How is the Trusted Vendors List determined?
    To learn more, visit the main OnTheBlockchain.com FAQ.

    Reference ("Seed") User:
    ?
    ATTENUATION FACTOR:
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    OFF
    ON

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    Graph
    Legend
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    Control
    Panel
    Simple Average
    ------------- the OLD way
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    The Grapevine
    ------------- the NEW way
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    The "old" way to calculate average scores: every user is given an equal amount of "influence;" every rating is weighted equally.
    The NEW way to calculate average scores: ratings are weighted according to the trust score (the "Influence") of the rater.
    By definition, the User Influence of the "Seed User" (also known as the "Anchor User" or "Reference User") is set to one. The Seed User is the standard by which all other users are measured in terms of influence.
    The Attenuation Factor diminishes the Influence of each user with each successive step away from the Seed User. Increasing the Attenuation Factor has the effect of extending the reach of your Grapevine. Decreasing the Attenuation Factor has the effect of restricting the extent of your Grapevine.
    Display the essential structure of the Grapevine; its "backbone" which is constructed from individual Generic User Trust Ratings (depicted as blue arrows).
    Display all known types of ratings. To toggle ratings on/off by rating type, go to the DISPLAY tab in the Control Panel.
    The User Influence score is the primary determinant of how much weight to give to any rating. Influence is calculated from individual Generic User Trust ratings, which form the backbone of the Grapevine.
    Vendor Trust Scores

    The Vendor Trust Score ranges from -1 (untrusted) to +1 (trusted). The Generic User Trust Score (if present) is taken as a starting point for each user. If not present, the default score is zero. Each time a vendor gets flagged (Scam, Illegal, Legit, etc) by someone in your Grapevine, the Vendor Trust Score is adjusted up or down accordingly.
    Moderator Trust Scores

    The Moderator Trust Score ranges from -1 (untrusted) to +1 (trusted). The Generic User Trust Score (if present) is taken as a starting point for each user. If not present, the default score is zero. Each time a moderator gets flagged (Scam, Illegal, Legit, etc) by someone in your Grapevine, the Moderator Trust Score is adjusted up or down accordingly.
    Show listing search results, with listing average scores (1-5 Stars, scores generated via OpenBazaar) on the Y-Axis. (Listings that have not been rated are not displayed.)

    FOR A DEMO of the ability of the Grapevine to filter out bad actors, search listings for "mogwai" and toggle the Grapevine on and off in one of two ways: either using the toggle button (above), or by sliding the Attenuation Factor up and down. In this simulated case, a dishonest vendor, Max's Mogwai, made four fake accounts (Max's Sybil 1-4) to vote his product up and to downvote his competition. The bastard!!! With the Grapevine off, Max's scheme works: his listing has a higher average score than his competition. But with the Grapevine on, because of due diligence by some users who are trusted by your Grapevine, his evil scheme fails, and it is Maxine's listing that scores higher. Maxine ftw! Yay Grapevine!

    David Strayhorn
    12XgNVVaWffnKHf5BdpcjoB51nwzBL6Ytg
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    OnTheBlockchain provides search and analytics tools for the OpenBazaar and Haven Privacy networks. Appearance of any OpenBazaar vendor, moderator or listing on this website does not imply any endorsement, warranty or guaranty of service by OnTheBlockchain.