Re: Sudden Impressions on the Experience System

[thelenm]

I think the XP system is set up pretty well. In fact, just yesterday I was thinking about how much nicer it works than similar systems I've seen on other discussion sites. I've only been here a couple months, so I pretty much have a newbie perspective, but my overall impression is positive.

As far as low-XP users posting flurries of posts to gain XP, I've seen that happen sometimes. But most of the time, it seems that those nodes are downvoted and end up on the Worst Nodes list. Unless they have something useful to contribute, and many times they do.

I spend all my votes in order to gain XP. But that's not the main reason I do it. Mostly I look for nodes that help me gain a better understanding, and I say thank you by voting ++. If I can find enough good nodes to use all my votes, then I feel my time has been well spent. As Biker pointed out, an XP reward for casting votes encourages new monks to do some reading. I've learned a lot even in the short time I've been here, just by reading about something new, then trying it on my own.

I'm still at the point where I check my XP frequently, but I can feel it becoming less important. The true monastic experience has come through the wisdom I have gained through reading and through the good feeling of helping someone if I have something useful to say, and the XP carrot on a stick has been a nice encouragement. I'm now looking forward to Friar not so much because it's spiffy to level up, but more because I'd like to do more to be a part of this helpful community.

The XP metric you propose is interesting, and in fact, I often look at it myself when looking at other monks' home nodes. "Hmm, how much experience does So And So have? A lot! Oh, but they've posted a gazillion nodes." Or in some cases, they've only posted a dozen. :-) Of course, your metric doesn't account for the time someone has spent reading and posting... I could conceivably create a new account, think of a really good SoPW question, post it, get huge XP, never post again, and appoint myself an immediate and eternal saint.

I've rambled. I guess my main point is: gaining XP is a nice encouragement for new monks to be a part of the community. You can exploit the system to some extent, but sooner or later you will learn that you are only cheating yourself.