http://www.perlmonks.org?node_id=324173


in reply to Re: Possible changes to Voting/XP
in thread Possible changes to Voting/XP

I chose BigLug's node as the placing of my reply because I'd like to note that I agree with pretty much everything therein. As a matter of fact, it seems everything {BigLug] said is thought through pretty thoroughly. I've had some of the same ideas. I also have some things to add.

I agree with Abigail-II that weighting the experience differently for upvotes and downvotes will lead to spurious upvotes. Personally, I often upvote root nodes even if they aren't necessarily that helpful in themselves so long as they bring about helpful answers or discussion. I often pass by using a vote in a case in which I'd like to downvote or upvote something because it's so close a call that I don't want to tip the scales. I only downvote nodes I consider to be more harmful than helpful either to someone's understanding of a problem or to the community itself.

I half agree that the age of a node should diminish the XP gained or lost through new votes to it. At the same time, though, the main purpose of the reputation of the node isn't to generate the associated XP. It's to represent what monks thought of the node when they read it. So I'd keep the XP per reputation the same, and make the reputation effect change with age or somesuch. Even better, if we're mostly worried about the Weekly Best or Daily Best nodelets causing an undue rise in reputation and XP, then those nodes which are in the Best nodelets shouldn't be capable of getting new votes while in the nodelets -- or at least not through the nodelets. Maybe nodes should be archived altogether after a certain period, although that they aren't is one thing that I like about the site.

How about getting rid of the experience gained by voting in both directions? I don't vote for experience. I'll admit that when I was in lower levels and near a level boundary I did sometimes. I'd much rather, though, get experience through my writeups. That's always been the case for me. I have a feeling most monks feel the same. Or perhaps there could be an XP gain of one point every day that you cast two or more votes, with no additional bonus. That way, there's still some motive to contribute for those interested in the XP.

As far as personality-fueled attacks, that's part of life. It's sad, but it happens in the best of fora. It's also common that well-known or well-liked people receive extra positive feedback based on who they are. Is there really such a bad thing about those who want their XP not to suffer trying to get along as best they can with the other monks?



Christopher E. Stith