Not getting feedback points in return for answers

[Hein van den Heuvel]

DECxchange,

One of the bigger problem with points, IMHO, is that most assigments are based on the answer the requestor wants to hear, not for the extent to which is answerred the problem, or the actual effectiveness.

Steven's reply is a case in point.
It is a perfect answer and deserves a 10+, but it is not what you wanted to hear.

Steven: "I guess that you'd be wrong, then. The least that people can do is nothing."

Think about it... that is is the exact and possibly only reason folks do not give out points. Perfect answer Steven!

Regards,
Hein.

Points Schmoints! (That's the title of a Bridge book).

[Steven Schweda]

> Perfect answer Steven!

Well, a valid answer, anyway.

I find that people who _really_ don't know
what they're doing often can't tell a good
answer from a bad answer, so points awarded
often have little or no correlation with the
actual value of an answer. (Especially in
the forums frequented by the most severely
clue-deprived. "How do I write a shell
script which does anything-at-all?") Which
is an excellent reason not to worry about
these stupid points.

No doubt, a panel of expert judges should be
established to judge responses and award
points in a more reliable, rational way.
Luckily, I doubt that anyone competent would
take the job.

And, in closing, let us remember the words of
the Pointless Man: "A point in every
direction is the same as no point at all."

P.S. See my new hat? I'm _so_ excited.

[Robert Brooks_1]

Points Schmoints! (That's the title of a Bridge book).

--

Ah, yes -- Marty Bergen!

Great for matchpoint strategy!

(always nice to see a bridge reference in unexpected places!)

-- Rob

[Jim Geier_1]

I think the points game is a barrier to getting good answers and keeping good discussions alive. All too often, someone chimes in and subtlety hijacks a thread seemingly just to get points. There are people with higher points ratings who apparently think they have to chime in on every thread with little good information. Or someone who seemingly wants points will answer with things like "I've never done this, I've never read the documentation, and I don't have a system like that, but I think this is what you should do." That kills a thread. I see the points and the associated hats as a bad things, and wish these forums never had the points and hats system -- it is a childish game.

[Jan van den Ende]

@Robert

>>>
(always nice to see a bridge reference in unexpected places!)
<<<

I know Hein plays as well (we actually discussed that last thursday), so now we only need a 4th.

(Or 4 more to hold a team match)

fwiw

Proost.

Have one on me.

jpe

[DECxchange]

Steve, you're a funny guy! So why, then, when you award points, does HP say, Thank you, ... you have mad this a better community, or whatever, I forget the exact wording. HP encourages the awarding of points, don't they?

Oh well, I guess there's no taling to you guys. It's funny that thost of you in the upper echelons of points on this forum are the ones saying you don't need them! Uh, what's the word for that?

It's also funny how you doods with the most points are the FIRST to answer any, and every, VMS question! Wow! And you're telling me to get a life, eh?

Here, Steve, I got one for you. GET A REAL JOB!

[DECxchange]

Thank you all for your help.

[Steven Schweda]

> HP encourages the awarding of points, don't
> they?

I'm not HP.

> [...] thost of you in the upper echelons of
> points on this forum are the ones saying
> you don't need them! Uh, what's the word
> for that?

Coincidence? Indifference to points is
different from immunity to points.

> It's also funny how you doods with the most

"doods"? Yikes.

> points are the FIRST to answer any, and
> every, VMS question!

Is it remarkable that the people who know
things attempt to be helpful?

> Wow! And you're telling me to get a life,
> eh?

Yes, sir. But if you'd prefer to fret about
forum points, there's apparently nothing I
can do about it.

> Thank you all for your help.

You're most welcome.

[Jon Pinkley]

Just to see how meaningless points assigned are, see the following thread as an example.

http://forums11.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=1182856

Note that the answer that solved the problem got no points assigned, yet a red herring answer received full points.

So before you get to the point of no return, consider that most forum users will be more impressed by good answers than by headwear.

You have a good chance of being at the top of the new user list in a few weeks.

Good luck,

Jon

[DECxchange]

You're right, this forum is all a big waste of time.