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Frank Kalis SSC Guru Points: 111183 More actions · Answer 1

Now, that we got of a certain number of replies.

Should this be rewarded?

But good questions are equal to good answers, methinks

--
Frank Kalis
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
Webmaster: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs
My blog: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs/frankkalis/[/url]

Ryan McCauley Right there with Babe Points: 773 More actions · Answer 2

It's actually the first image from an animated one that I found online somewhere - the original can be viewed at http://www.kilanimccauley.com/avatar-animated.gif. It's some huge size though that most boards don't allow, in addition to the fact that it's animated, which is also usually a no-no.

Thanks!

Ryan

Ryan McCauley Right there with Babe Points: 773 More actions · Answer 3

Maybe the number of followup posts should exclude both author posts and Frank's posts in order to get an accurate count. I think that generating some interest in a topic should be rewardable though.

Ryan

Frank Kalis SSC Guru Points: 111183 More actions · Answer 4

--
Frank Kalis
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
Webmaster: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs
My blog: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs/frankkalis/[/url]

Robert W Marda SSChampion Points: 13413 More actions · Answer 5

I would welcome a reduction in points given for posts, but my reasoning would be to make it easier for me to win the prize I want out of these contests (I usually like the 2nd place prizes better than the 1st place ones), since I am seldom able to keep up with those who post a lot.

However, the contest does generate more activity on the site and from what I have seen the replies are generally useful. Sometimes one person simply says that the previous reply is correct. In many cases this can be an assurance to the person who started the post since two people are agreeing that a proposed solution is good.

Also for those who have seen my activity (or lack thereof) on this site you will notice I didn't submit any Questions of the Day before the start of last months contest. I think some of you will agree, that my questions got you to think, so it was good the contests started again.

Thanks go to Frank for giving me the opportunity to post here an get 2 points. And he'll get another 2 points when he coments about what I wrote here.

Robert W. Marda
Billing and OSS Specialist - SQL Programmer
MCL Systems

Ryan McCauley Right there with Babe Points: 773 More actions · Answer 6

Maybe the points should be limited to one point per thread instead of a two points per post. This might encourage people to leave a quick "That sounds good" on every post they can get their hands on, but the more I think about it, the more I don't think two points for every post is a good idea. Even though I've contributed to some other threads so far this month, the majority of my points have come from this thread, where nothing has really been accomplished, and I already have more points than somebody who has submitted a script and even gotten a few favorable reviews on it. It just doens't seem balanced.

I've seen other boards where they have an "Approved Answer" feature - is this board capable of something like that? There could be points awarded for starting a thread that gets at least one reply, and then some more points for being an "Approved Answer". Any thoughts on that?

Ryan

SQLBill SSC Guru Points: 51440 More actions · Answer 7

I think the points for posts ought to go away.

Look at it this way....everybody posts.

Almost everybody answers the QOD.

Very few people submit FAQs, Scripts, Articles.....

I'm on another site that allows you to give a star to a post that was helpful or considered expert (same point either way). Anyone can give a star, so a poster can get more than one star for a single post. However, I've seen the original poster (the one with the question) end up with one or more stars. I've submitted FAQs to the site and they get rated also (like the FAQs, Articles, Scripts on this site).

Maybe the answer is to let the original poster rate the responses based on how helpful they were in solving the poster's issue.

-SQLBill

Frank Kalis SSC Guru Points: 111183 More actions · Answer 8

However, the contest does generate more activity on the site and from what I have seen the replies are generally useful. Sometimes one person simply says that the previous reply is correct. In many cases this can be an assurance to the person who started the post since two people are agreeing that a proposed solution is good.

Honestly, I don't think these *I agree* posts add any value. I think if someone posts a non optimal solution he will be corrected on this anyway.

Also for those who have seen my activity (or lack thereof) on this site you will notice I didn't submit any Questions of the Day before the start of last months contest. I think some of you will agree, that my questions got you to think, so it was good the contests started again.

...and I admire you for this, Robert!

Developing QODs, getting maybe flamed on imprecise wording...

Respect!

Thanks go to Frank for giving me the opportunity to post here an get 2 points. And he'll get another 2 points when he coments about what I wrote here.

You bet on this!

Although neither the points nor the total # of posts say anything on the quality.

As for letting the original poster rate the answer:

I don't want to sound offending, but how should someone with lesser experience judge whether an answer is superior or inferior?

Such a feature would only lead to more confusion and mixed emotions (sorry, missing the right word in english) than it would do good.

To be honest, I was expecting that Andy, Brian and/or Steve would respond.

--
Frank Kalis
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
Webmaster: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs
My blog: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs/frankkalis/[/url]

Jack Corbett SSC Guru Points: 184394 More actions · Answer 9

I agree and am glad Frank gave me an opportunity to score 2pts. While the contest is cool anyone who is posting just for points probably isn't adding value. I think this is a great site and I have learned a lot on the forums. The biggest problem I have with the site is that I can't leave it.

Jack Corbett
Consultant - Straight Path Solutions
Check out these links on how to get faster and more accurate answers:
Forum Etiquette: How to post data/code on a forum to get the best help
Need an Answer? Actually, No ... You Need a Question

David Hutson Grasshopper Points: 21 More actions · Answer 10

David Hutson

Grasshopper

Points: 21

March 4, 2004 at 4:22 am

#497205

Test this function

Frank Kalis SSC Guru Points: 111183 More actions · Answer 11

???

--
Frank Kalis
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
Webmaster: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs
My blog: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs/frankkalis/[/url]

Amit Jethva SSCarpal Tunnel Points: 4707 More actions · Answer 12

I suggest following rating system for Forums.

1. While posting the poster will rate his posting on a scale of 0 to 5 (not usefull to Very helpful).

2. The Starting member of the thread and the Site Admins approves points as per claims.

3. If the starting member does not rate postings, deduct his/her points (-1 to -5)

4. Only points for approved claims count for the contest scores.

-- Amit

"There is no 'patch' for stupidity."

Download the Updated SQL Server 2005 Books Online.

SQLBill SSC Guru Points: 51440 More actions · Answer 13

Frank,

You posted this:

As for letting the original poster rate the answer:

I don't want to sound offending, but how should someone with lesser experience judge whether an answer is superior or inferior?

Such a feature would only lead to more confusion and mixed emotions (sorry, missing the right word in english) than it would do good.

I don't think it's offending, but look at it from this point-of-view. I post a question, I get three responses and I test the three responses against what I need and the second response meets my need. I believe that I (or any poster) can decide which solution(s) solved their need. I don't believe anyone else can decide what solution solved my need.

A solution can be short and to the point; it can be long and very well documented or explained. But if it doesn't help the poster solve their problem/question, then it's mostly worthless.....(it might eventually lead to the answer, but it didn't solve the problem). Again it comes down to the fact that the original poster is the ONLY one who can determine which solution solved their issue.

-SQLBill

Frank Kalis SSC Guru Points: 111183 More actions · Answer 14

But what happens, when the original poster rated his *best* answer, and some time later someone comes up with a *better* solution?

How should this be handled?

Deduct the points from the first one and transfer to the second.

I really think that such a system won't do no good for the community as a whole.

--
Frank Kalis
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
Webmaster: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs
My blog: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs/frankkalis/[/url]

Ryan McCauley Right there with Babe Points: 773 More actions · Answer 15

I think that a rating system would do the community as a whole some good. Even if the person who's posting has less experience, they'll still know which answer helped them to find a solution, even if it didn't provide the exact solution they needed. Once they've found a solution to their question, the additional posts are just icing - they don't really provide any additional help.

In either case, I'm all about having the number of points per post lowered to one - if anybody views the current standings, they'll notice that posts are a HUGE portion of the total points - there should be more of the total weight given to scripts, FAQs, and articles, since, as it was noted earlier, far fewer people post those things.

Ryan