Should point system at this site be removed?

Question

1) How and why did you get hooked at this site?

2) Will you still participate as much as you do now, if there were no points?

3) What do you think about life at YA witout points.... No point for voting, no point for rating, no point for answering or Best Answer..... no points at all?

4) Do you think we will get rid of gamers and useless answer if we remove points and make it a better site?

I am posting it here to get me responses .... I know its not a religious question. But hey , for many answerers points are sort of religion.
I hope to get thought full answers and wider participation...... wish me luck. Thank you.

LOL Woodworkingmenace...
But do you know that leaving signature like you did (jesse).. in your answer is against Community guide line.

Coragrph I should have added one more point:

Would you remain here if number and variety of answerers reduces because people start leaving because of "Pointlessness"(Disclaimer: Pun belongs to coragryph).

Answer 1

I had an unusual problem, and remembered my invitation to discover YA, so logged on and got the answer i needed..then, I began seeing other questions that i could answer..Soon, I was hooked..
I get a kick out of the points, and sometimes I do work harder to get more best answers, and improve my total, especially if I am near a goal..However, at level seven, there are no further levels. Now, I am trying to get on the first page..(currently on second)..When that goal is reached, shortly, there will be no incentive, other than the enjoyment I get out of answering questions..
The point players get bored, and don't stay around long..
I think there will always be 'hecklers' in any large group of people..

Answer 2

1)I got hooked on the site because I liked to answer questions. I found it fun to read the various kinds of questions being asked and to answer when 'inspired' to do so. The points DO help feed the addiction, but it's not about getting the most points possible. When I visit the site it isn't to answer the maximum number of questions I'm allowed for the day, to vote the maximum number of times I'm allowed for that day, etc.

2) Who knows. I love the points but not for the reason you're probably thinking. I answer questions not to get two points but because I have something to say. If I don't have anything to say in answer to the question OR if the 'correct' answer has already been provided I don't answer just to get points.

3) I don't think it would be as satisfying without points UNLESS it is replaced with another ranking system of some sort where value is recognized. Those who give the best answer deserve recognition. They just do. Well thought out answers deserve respect and recognition. Rude answers, stupid answers, don't deserve it. But if the asker OR the voters choose to reward stupidity, I would hope that others could easily detect that the 'best answer' is stupid and look for the other answerers for a better answer. And perhaps rate the 'best answer' a thumbs down in the process! But anyway, just because stupid answers get chosen sometimes, doesn't mean you should suggest ridding the system of 'best answer' in general.

4) Probably not. Consider. It takes away points to ask a question. Yet everyday hundred and thousands of stupid stupid questions get asked. Questions that aren't worth the space they take up. Yet not only do people keep asking them sometimes repeatedly they get people to answer. So you might rid yourself of a few answerers but I doubt you could stop bored people from asking dumb questions. IF the primary reason people are on this site is because they're bored or goofing off or looking to chat or connect or what not...getting rid of the point system isn't going to change that.

Answer 3

1- I like the site because it is interesting. I like the concept of exchanging ideas.

2- I participate less now because the noise to information ratio got too out of whack. I will check it out again soon. The points are not what motivates me.

3- A no-point system would be fine with me, but the points don't really bother me - they don't mean very much (anything) do they?

4- I don't know if gamers and useless answers are motivated by the points.

I think that a system where a person asking a question could rate the answers as coming from something like "trusted answerers" would improve the site. Making a kind of discussion forum for the questions to discuss the answers and question would also improve it.
Maybe it would be possible to have a hybrid system where on one level everything is open like it is now, and also a second level where answers (and discussion) are by invitation.
Thanks for letting me ramble . . .

Answer 4

1) I came here to ask a question and I liked how fast the QnA moves compared to the forums that I'm a member of, so I stayed.

2) Yes I would.

3) I can do without the points, but I think there should still be a way to see what rate of best answers a person has since it's one of the ways I determine how seriously I'll take their answer.

4) I don't think you'll get rid of useless answers if you remove the points. To make this a better site you need to make other changes.

Answer 5

Some people care about points. Some don't. I don't think the points and ranking system will cause too many people to change their behavior. People who like to make pointless postings (pun intended) will do so whether they get points or not, just for the attention. People who want to contribute will still do so, whether they get points or not.

As to my personal reasons for joining Y!A, it was a useful break while I was studying for the Bar Exam, and a good practice for writing short answers (short, relative to what the Bar expects) that address specific questions. I also did a big set of answers during the couple weeks I was on vacation, as something to do. Points (or lack thereof) are not a factor in my participation.

Answer 6

The point system encourages rapid fire stupid answers. Within about 2 days participating here, I figured out that the first answer gets selected as best about half the time no matter how lame it is. The entire format encourages this type of behavior, especially from newbies who are trying to move up to levels 2 and 3.

I've never been sure what the point system was trying to accomplish. Perhaps it's a psychological trick to try to maintain interest.

The other thing they could do to improve the place would be to display answers in order of newness instead of oldness, or alternatively, place the "answer this question" button at the bottom of the page instead of at the bottom of the question. This would end the "just a minute I'm typing" type responses people throw out in order to try to be first.

Finally, although "chatting" violates the guidelines, it's an appropriate form of behavior when you have a legitimate question you want answered. Most of the questions are as of poor a quality as the answers. The only way to improve both would be if two way communication were permitted.

Answer 7

Actually, I was on DIY and other Bulletin boards answering questions long before I started on here...

I got off of DIY when bozos started hassling me a lot, (after you answer a lot of questions people get to know you and they dont seem to like those who are "know it alls" as I have found out...And the only way you get to be a "know it all" is if you make a whole lot of mistakes in your life, like I did..LOL!!).

If they even just put on how many you answer, and skip the points, those who are "really interested" in this process will participate.

All the answers do, is give some one a "sense of accomplishment" because they have answered so many and gotten so many 10s, (though, some times I really do think its rigged, as a lot of people it seems have more than one account, to boost thiers up, because they give 10 points for senseless answers and you "know" that its bogus, so I stay away from those who I see doing that).

Also you have the hackers who can bump up points by hacking into this place..(they seem to be able to hack into anything, and I applaud them thier knowledge, but, I sure wish they would play some place else..sheesh!).

You will always have silly questioneers no matter what. People like to hear themselves, or see themselves make a nuisance and take up peoples time and efforts, or just to take up space because they have nothing better to do, almost like this guy here, who is retired now :) LOL!!

I try to be helpful in anyway I can. If at any time I think I am not doing anyone a service, then I will take my marbles and go home..(oops, I already am home...sheesh!)

Let those who can answer questions and help some one do so, and let those with silly questions like "do you like my Avatar", lose points and take up space... :o)

I wish you well..

Jesse

Answer 8

Few things you don't know:
- YAHOO purposely created the point system after several studies that illustrated more customers will come when it is competitive. (was in a write-up about YAHOO Answers after it first came out)
- YAHOO can't stop the point system now because a few competitors, including Microsoft, are busy creating a similar system.

I personally am ok with the point system all but the voting portion. It is designed very unfair and many cheat. For example, Jesi cheats out the waaazooo.. Get a few ppl to vote against her sometime and watch her vote with other accounts on her answer. I asked like 30 ppl once to vote an answer just to see if she would keep on padding back and she did to win.

I reported her to YAHOO but they didn't seem to care.

Anyways, I got top scorer in the political section and I wasn't even going for it... I just know what I am talking about.

There are other hang ups with high scoring also... like the mega top scorers tend to focus on low volume answers where there is not much competition. I'd like to see them compete with me in a section where most of the questions I answer have 15+ answerers... they couldn't hang.

Good question btw.

PS Coragr.. is full of bologna. During that spree where he was 'on vacation' and answering a lot, he sent me a personal email stating how he was going to pass me in the leader boards. At that point, I honestly hadn't even noticed I was one of the top 10.

Answer 9

I consider Mejaki. i do no longer answer to income greater factors...What am meant to do with them ? I answer once I see an exciting question and that i do no longer care how many factors human beings have. Now if I have been promised a unfastened pc i might replace my suggestions. i think of it would be bumped off considering that's ineffective and purely concerns to three who will do element gaming. Why ? no theory. i might choose for to be certain the TDs and TUs bumped off additionally. If yahoo claims that that's a records based internet site, which it extremely is not any longer , on account that each and every thing is a controversy of opinion why have them ? Oxymoron. If I had to be certain, i might do away with approximately 50 , or a a hundred or much greater factors for each physique who leaves their questions consistently flow into vote casting. human beings took time to reply to and that's like having a door slammed against your face. yet I consider the others. removing factors won't deter insulting comments besides.

Answer 10

1) The variety of people and answers on this site

2) A bit less maybe

3) Would be uninspiring and a bit boring maybe

4) No, most of them are people who have just joined the site

Most forums have some kind of point or level system. It helps people know how long a person has been here and how much time he has devoted to it. It adds a measure of trust. And for the answerer, it serves as motivation, to answer nicely and honourably.