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by deadly ernest

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

I have been fairly inactive for the last 12 months due to housing and family matters. However, having just started checking and responding to Q&A questions I noted that I have over half my previous answers are still unrated, many from 2 years ago.

There should be a time limit placed on how long people have to rate the answers, or on how long since they accessed and replied to them. At the end of this time the points should be assigned to the people who answered by TR.

I suggest that 12 months is more than long enough, six months may be more suitable, but I will leave that to TR managers to decide.

It would take to long for TR staff read the queastion and answers and assign points, they have better things to do. I suggest that a more suitable response would be have the points evenly apportioned between those who answered. This could be done by the use of a script that counted the number of answers and then divided that into the number of points and deduct the points from the questioners account; if the number is uneven then the assigned amount can be rounded up to the next full point and the extra points deducted. Another script could be used to provide have this done automatically each week.

Example of point assigment system - 1,000 points for question; 10 answers - each get 100 points. 1,000 points for question; 7 answers - each get 143 points and 1,001 points get deducted (143 x 7).

Please feel free to comment or improve.

99 replies

by bfilmfan

As Drew Carey says, "It's all made up and the points don't matter."

There have been some truly long threads discussing this issue and my observation is that since the points can't be used for anything, then it doesn't matter whether they ever rate a question or not.

When the points DO start to matter, then I've suggested that the ticket be autoclosed and points divided amongst whomever did supply an answer.

by craig herberg

Do people have to have enough points to cover all the questions they ask? Some seem to have a lot of unrated questions they asked. We could certainly better manage the situation if points were put into escrow when people asked questions.

by jck

that 90 days would be sufficient time to come back and check your questions.

12 months? jeez. The only thing I haven't done in 12 months...is go back to Ireland.

by oz_media

They get 1000 point for closing a question!

And I do believe you NEED the points up front in order to offer them.

You know hos it goes though, peoplesign up JUST to post a problem, forget they even posted here and find it somewhere else. Meanwhile we do web searches and provide links to responses for nothing.

Oh well,for the 3 in 10 that are sincere it works for me. When I have questions, TR has been an inavaluable resource, it's THEIR loss if they don't stick around, not mine really.

by jdclyde

to see if they have a long history of not rating questions, and if they do then don't give them any answers (at least not valid ones).

We even had a worm of the week posting were we made fun of some of them.

Things do come up, which I can vouch for. I have a post that I will not be able to get back to for at least another two weeks and it has been a month since I looked at it.

It is more the courtesy of acknowledging the answer and poster that resolved whatever the issue was.

by jessie

Personally, I think if you don't close your own question, a certain amount of points (let's say 500) should be deducted from your account in addition to the point count of the original question.

by oz_media

That i fyou haven't respnded to a request to close your question after the first 90 days, your points should automatically be distributed between ALL answers right or wrong. Then you just need to flag it as unresolved so that other people aren't mislead by incorrect replies.

by jaqui

just not sure what time schedule.
there were a number of questions I answered that tr closed and awarded the points to all who answered.

by oz_media

Been here 4 or 5 yars and haven't seen that yet, have recommended it a hundred times but never seen the points automatically doled out. Even if the question IS closed after a period of time.

by jck

did you get the measley points from my first question?

had to make sure..I don't wanna be a slacker

by jck

going (if all the plans go well and the tax refund is enough) back to Ireland early next year, as well as visiting England and Scotland.

All my friends in England got upset that I was only a couple hundred miles away and didn't catch RyanAir or something to visit...so, I have to appease them this time around.

Loved Ireland...would live there if I could...but, takes money and I'm poor and spend most of my extra change on puter parts and Guinness and cheap cup-o-soup.

oh well...I'll be back there soon enough....thanks for the tip!

by oz_media

Hit southern England. I was born on the Isle of Wight, England's holday spot, and home of the annual Royal Yacht Regatta. SMall island, VERY quaint and pretty. Nice bunch of people and get this....more pubs per square mile than ANY other place on planet Earth. (though it's a pretty tiny island that is often confused with the Isle of Man). If you remember Guru, he lives right where the ferry & hovercraft for IOW leaves, drop him a line.

You can also see France without actually going there!

by Jay Garmon

As we've said in previous posts, fixing Tech Q&A is one of our big, longterm projects, but the undertaking is so serious that it will be a while.

In the meantime, we need to know now if our notion of how to fix Tech Q&A sounds workable. We'd like to have a clear, clean idea that we can implement quickly once we get a window of opportunity. Here's what we've been mulling over since March:

1) A post-submission single form for both Discussions and Q&A, with a choice of Tech Q&A or Discussions as your destination, and a description of the difference. Regardless of where you start, you'll get this unified form, which will encourage users to post tech questions in Q&A, rather than the Discussion Forum.

2) We abandon TechPoints (maybe including a "retirement party" with major recognition and special badges for old school high scorers). Instead, we we monitor ratings/closings/responses from those who ask questions, and factor good/bad behavior into their meter and badges. Never close a question? You'll be stamped as a "taker" and everyone will know it. Oz will be able to retire his Red Flag tag.

3) We limit the number of open questions you can have at one time. Have too many open, unrated questions? Well, you can't start another one until you've closed an old one. Close an old one without rating/responding, and your meter will suffer.

4) We surface questions on your signature. That little box with your rating meter that follows you around? We add a "Help this user" link that takes you to that person's open questions. If somebody helps you, you now have a quick and easy way of returning the favor. We may even give extra meter bumps to people who answers questions through this link path.

There, that's the current plan. Now can somebody tell us if it will work?

--Jay

by oz_media

Own up to it.

Serious matter?

What's serious is CNet wants new hooks to get more people to the site and view more ads, more people = more advertising sales = more ad impressions= more advertising sales= ....

Tech Q&A benefits members but site draws such as a 'community feel' are far more important.

Again, more members = more money from advertisers.

Sorry for sounding skeptical, but seriously, this is about money, ther's no other reason for a company to invest time and money in it's site.

Once the draw is there, Tech Q&A (member retention) improvements will be 'allowed' to follow, you guys do a phenominal job here, don't get me wrong but I think everyone knows that revenue is job number one. Visitors - revenue, community = revenue, Tech Q&A is just a member service, not really a draw.

Also why I thnk they are finally allowing some goodies now, the revenue stream increases, the ads and sponsors increas and thus do the freebees. Again it's a draw.

Not trying to sound unappreciative for your work and participation with members, I really like to be able to 'discuss' issues with the designers and your proactive approach hasn't gone unnoticed, just a bit of a reality check though. :)

Call me skeptical, everyone else does.

by cactus pete

I'm interested in this sort of a set up. I have been mostly out of Q&A for some months now. Even my discussion participation needs to heal a little after the politics bashing we all did last year. [Perhaps a sub-misc group for flames, politics, or other hot topics...]

I suspect that if I were to receive feedback for my efforts, I might participate more.

by craig herberg

This sounds like a major step in the right direction. Perhaps you could attach a graphic of someone getting a wedgie to those with too many open questions.

by ippirate

If the points were supposed to have been awarded with some degree of value and then no items of specific application having been made, would that not have been false advertisement? Further, wouldn't it deliver a big fat "]///> U" to those individuals with points and especially those that have been promised on more than one occassion the coming opportunity to use said points for actively participating and contributing in no small way to the success of TR? IMESHO I don't think that TR should retire the points as much as actually make good on what was promised originally. I like the idea that you present above but I would prefer it be done in tandem so that we can all see who you are and what you are about before taking the time to answer the question just to discover that the questioner is just a blood sucking leach. It may not do much to stop one time takers but it should do wonders for the repeat offenders. Maybe even get it to the point were we could all partake in one gigantic tar and feather party for those that fall into the latter catagory.
Jay, if TR is really interested in changing for the better, my suggestion would be to take it one item at a time. If you want our opinions, honestly, we'll be more than happy to give them, most of us are an opinionated bunch anyway, just ask Oz, max, Protius, neil, dawg, HAL, maecuff, etc. Although it may be difficult to get their input initially, they, if grudgingly only, will be honest in their view, regardless of how limited in breadth they may be for disdain for sharing them publicly. Address the first item, set your position and move onto the next item.
In the event that TR really doesn't give two hoots and would prefer to just do the "do their own thing, thing" then quit asking and just do it. No sense in attempting to hedge a bet with feigned attempts at courtesy to the gen pop.
In either case, choose a path and stay the course, to the latter, if you ask for the opinions of all, remember, we are all in the business of making things work better, even TR, and we do appreciate it, if from time to time, people actually take our opinion seriously previous to the raging inferno.
Now that I have completely looped of target, thanks.

J

by oz_media

I prefer to just sit back and watch quietly from a distance. It's not in my nature to speak out like that.

by jaqui

just doing thier own thing...

renderosity ( flagship demo site for bondware )
does exactly that. over 250 thousand members,
extremely busy marketplace,
huge involvement in community.
( 4 terabytes / mo data transfer )
yet the site continually makes changes either ignoring input from members or not asking.
and causing themselves huge amounts of grief.
they have lost over 1000 merchant accounts, which would be around 100 thousand a month in lost revenue.
they have lost around 20 thousand members

all from just doing thier own thing.

they banned admins from other sites from being merchants / having access to merchant only forums.

there are several other community sites with same membership base, but smaller numbers, that are more responsive to thier members.
they have very little problems / complaints from members, they don't lose merchants or members.

it is not a good thing to create uproars by making unlateral changes, and ignoring input if it was asked for.

renderosity regularly changes thier tos, without consulting anyone, adding restrictions to it then banning people for violating.
( they recently changed it restricting images in gallery section involving children. this is a family rated site, no porn allowed for a long time so no need to make these changes )

by willcomp

My biggest complaint has been unrated responses. We don't know what worked and what didn't and whether we were helpful.

I had a question closed on me yesterday without any answers rated. Checked member profile. He has been a member since 2002, has asked 16 questions, and has not rated any responses.

I believe that corralling such behavior is critical if TR wishes to keep their cadre of knowledgable responders. Anything is worth a shot, but you guys have to be the "police" and prevent abuse.

Also, correct responses need to carry more weight in your rating system than number of responses.

Dalton

by jaqui

giving accepted responses more weight is a great idea.

also, do not allow a question to be closed without rating the answers.

by deadly ernest

I posted a reply to this yesterday but it is not showing so here we go again.

Points 1, 3 and 4 look good - but I think you should keep the points and come up with some ways they can be used. I suggest that by paying 500 points you can get access to TR WITHOUT the adds for a month as a point use reward. I find the adds bloody annoying as they take up download on a line that is already slow and they are bloody useless to me as by the time I add the costs needed for use here in Australia they are usually dearer than buying local retail.

Or say buying some of the non-free downloads at 1,000 points each.

I am sure others can come up with some more point use rewards that would not cost TR anything or much.

by bhunsinger

Seriously, and I know I'm not one of the people who would be a big scorer. I'm still learning some basics. Your solution does solve the issue of slackers asking questions, but does not deal with the recurring chorus of what are the points good for. Yes, God bless you guys who help without regard to this. How many people who were helping don't anymore, or even, don't show up because they want the recognition? Peer to peer help is a great benifit to those who come here. Those who help the most should get some reward for making this a good place to be.
If you dump the points, hand out some of those high end goodies you were trolling a couple of days ago outright to those whose desire to help out stirps their need for reward. Loyalty should be rewarded.

by jck

my first stop in England will be Portsmouth...flying into Southampton...going to see a friend I've not seen ina few years.

by jck

Um...no...I didn't get it, but I know what the missing letters are...so...um...

I'll tell my friend in Portsmouth you think southerners are a bit light in the britches...I'm sure he'll point at his newborn and say "Not bloody likely. I'm putting to that lovely bird of mine right good. There's my proof."

by jck

When I was standing up in the Galtee Mountains in south Ireland and looking over the Glen of Aherlow...I was pretty tempted to come back, sell all my stuff, and go to Ireland with about $25k and try to start a new life there.

I'm still pondering it. If my house goes up another $10k-20k in the next year...and I come back from Ireland not wanting to have left again...I might just consider selling out, taking $35-45k with me...and staying for whatever the maximum is without a visa and then coming back if I don't find work and someone to sponsor my work visa.

by jaqui

it's not the amount of points though, it's the principal of the system itself.
I don't even look at how many points are being offered, I just read the question, then go on if I can't answer, or if it's already answered.

almost 15,000 points, yet have no real need of them... at this time.

by oz_media

Yeah I did that before. I used up a trouble ticket with Novell waited for a few days, did some testing and offered a concise reply for a seemingly sincere poster.

He/She never rated it and when I went back to check it, 4 points were being offered! LOL :D

by jaqui

ain't used my own support programs to answer, but have used google to get the answers.

never look at the points, unless my point level jumps up significantly.

by jaqui

of questions in my profile was long enough, then you could go back to 1999 / 2000 questions and see where tr closed due to inactivity and awarded points.

( that 20 most recent is useless when the activity level is higher isn't it. )

by jck

there's no question to where I'd be living. Plus, I wouldn't mind workin as a janitor even to get in the door somewhere and move up. I'm not too proud to work for what I get.

But, I loved Ireland. Didn't want to leave.

Oh well...s*** happens...I'm back now.

by cactus pete

They are hiring IT folk like you wouldn't believe... Several large IT shops are using Ireland [because of low busienss taxes] as their European HQ.

However, if you really just want a view all the time... Buy a home and have the Government help you restore it as a Bed & Breakfast. They will pay for it, honest! You just have to run it [profitably] for two years or something [might be longer, I don't recall].

I keep getting offers to invest in such things... And I'm rather tempted.

by oz_media

They used to be available but I have no idea what mine are now. I was well over 80K at one time so I was watching to see when I'd get a new 100K icon, but have no idea now.

You got a link or something?

by jaqui

top right corner of the page.
then, after signing in, scroll to bottom.

I'm at 15507 points now.

by oz_media

Even after using the password link to get a new password and entering it, it says password invalid.

Had that problem for several years now.
EDIT: well it took a few ties thois time but actually worked.

80542 or something like that, thought I was gettign closer than that, oh well, whatever.

THX for the NFO

by j.lupo

I have not been very active on TR though I do read through discussions and Q&A because there is so much good information hidden within some of the very long threads (there appears a tendency for some threads to go off topic).

At any rate, I am not that familiar with the rating concept here at TR. When ever I respond to a discussion or Q&A I do look for a spot that would allow me to rate the discussion or the question, but I haven't seen anything. I have rated some of the articles I have read.

I think as I participate more, I will get more used to how to use the features here at TR. So, I guess some of the not ratings COULD be just not knowing how to do it. At least in my case I do look for something that would allow me to rate a question, answer, discussion, article, etc. If I see it, I use it, if not. . .

by jdclyde

If you open a Question and Answer, you offer points in exchange for an answer.

People will submit answers that either work or don't work.

You as the person with the open Q&A should then be rating each answer as they are provided as accepted or denied. This lets people know if their solution worked in your case.

When you have your solution, you should then close the Q&A and rate ALL answers given. This will then split the offered points to all the accepted contributors.

Some will not bother to rate the answers which is the equivilant to not saying thank you when someone does you a big favor. You are less prone to get help again if your an ingrate.

That is what this is about.

The rating of the article is a ego boost for the writer (and to let other TR members know if the article is worth reading or not).

by j.lupo

Thank you. I appreciate the information. I will keep watching and attempt to do as you have described. Experience is sometimes the best teacher after you get the policy. :)

by j.lupo

Thanks for the tip. I never did know where to look for those points. Now I can really keep track of my own activity.

by jck

I don't want just the view...it's the whole country...the people...the history...the attitude.

Myself and a co-worker (who lived in Britain and whose wife is from there as well) were talking yesterday about the differences in social attitudes, behaviour, etc. It's not day and night, but the way people take humour and what they take offense to are quite a bit different.

Anyways...I applied for 2 different positions with a company which I was totally qualified for...had every bit of experience they wanted. I got no reply on either one of them. So, I guess they don't need people that bad...even in a smaller city.

by jdclyde

And some of the stuff probably should be spelled out in an initial e-mail when you make your account.

Here are the features and the protocol to follow for each.

A new person coming in would really have to wonder what we are ranting and raving about sometimes. (I STILL wonder sometimes!)

___________________________
Edited to add
_______________________

I take that back. Member sence 91 doesn't exactly qualify you as a new member.

Just remember you had an account here?

Welcome back anyways.

by ippirate

The nearly idealistic manner in which you participate in our forums. It is always inspiring to read your posts once a response is extracted with no small amount of effort on the part of the inquirer. Inspiring and at once, shamefully disheartening for the overwhelmingly apparent amount of barbaric tactics that are oft employed to rend your deepest thoughts from you.

Aye! :)

by j.lupo

Yes, I am not a new member. Don't know what came up on my profile, but my membership has been since 2001. :) :) I have been working on a degree and lurking around reading. I don't generally post because I have had too much to learn before I felt I might contribute something valid.

My style is to learn about the community by reading and watching and learning what the community wants from its membership. So, I appreciate all feedback.

by jdclyde

You learn by ASKING, and listening.

Most of the idiots that would flame what they feel is an "obvious" question don't stay around long enough for them to matter.

It does show in your profile as 91, I just didn't look at it until after my post. Just assumed, and you know where that gets you.

by willcomp

Shy and retiring, my a**. But you are always good for some light reading after a long day.

Regards,

Dalton

by oz_media

But I'd be a liar if I said otherwise. ;)

Perhaps complacent and humble would work?

Quiet and intraverted?

c'mon, throw me a bone here!

by j.lupo

jdclyde looks at my profile and sees 91 as my membership. I look at it and it shows October 2001, which is when I discovered tech republic. That is interesting. Wonder if it is linking correctly to my profile??

by jck

Someone quick...get me a beer! :D

(btw...I swear...I'll help you if I can on that computer issue.)

by cactus pete

Oh, I feel sorry for you...

Jck had the same link I came up with. Without the opportunity for you to reject me... Is it possible that the front bezel was swapped with another machine? Then it wouldn't necessarily be a 7470, and you might need something else... But on all paqs, you should have the screws in the back...

Are there other things where the screws should be?

by itgirli

there were two screws in the back that I figured were to assist in opening the case. This was incorrect, however, because the d@mn thing won't open. I received it the way it was delivered to me from whereever they ship these things from. If they switched front panels at the factory, I don't know.

by j.lupo

I responded to your Q&A. I didn't see other answers listed there, but it could be a posting issue. Please let me know if my post got to you. I don't really care about the points, I just hope that I could help a little. I am not certain my answer is correct, but we did have a problem like this with a Paq recently.

There were 3 or 4 things we had to do to get the cover off. Please check out my response. I do see that a few people picked up on 2 of them the screws in back and the side hitches to push on.

by willcomp

Just responded to question in TQ&A with method to uncase every 7400 series I've seen.

Although I surely haven't seen every case design ever used, have seen most of them.

Dalton

by itgirli

Thank you and I rated the ones that showed up. With TR the way it is, we may see them weeks from now.

by jck

a suggestion in the Q&A...

whoa! I'm doing something right for a change :P

by jck

ITgirli,

See if you can pop the front panel off the computer. One article talked about that and said the case comes off in one piece. It might be removable after screws under the faceplate of the case.

Just a guess...and I'm tired of f****** with seeing if posts show up. Hope this one does.

by cactus pete

I don't want to steal Jck's points... So did you see

4. Lift the latch and slide the side panel to the rear of the desktop.

in the link he provided?

It could be a little stuck... usually a good hard palm slam/drag on the sliding panel will loosen it a bit.

by itgirli

Here is what I'm trying to say though, there is NO side panel. It is one piece. I'm not stupid or blind, sides and top are one big bent metal piece. riveted to the bottom. either the front or back must come off. I do appreciate the help though.

by jdclyde

where the sides and top were one piece that the computer slid out of forward.

Look for a release somewhere.

Try pushing foward on the power supply to see if it slides out that way.

Get a really big hammer.

by cactus pete

Not saying you're stupid! Without a pic it's hard to know exactly how it can be a 7470 and not be the standard 7470... Sorry to infer anythng.

Just don't be afraid to push hard on the thing, see if it's the slide out the front type...

by oz_media

Isle of Wight was the festival in 69 that was themed just like Wooodstock, I am sure you know it well.

Royal Yacht races, The Needles, it's just a tourist stop, nothing much off season at all actually. It's kinda like a cross between Brighton Beach and Blackpool.

by jdclyde

but everyone is rejected or not answered.

don't tell me you are one of THOSE people. lol.

did you get it?

what is the solution?

did you hit it yourself or did the knights in shining armor rescue the fair princess?

by itgirli

as in someone posted an answer. It has not been closed however. It's still sitting in one piece. I haven't gotten it yet.

by jdclyde

is my dreams.

And in my dreams you have been BEGGING for a break for the last hour!

Once I get out of that dream, if I tried in the "real world" I would probably end up like James Garner in "The distinguished Gentleman", Show staring Eddy Murph. (please don't tell me you haven't seen that either...)

by jck

she just talks big, man. go for it. remember the taming of the shrew :)

(I bet that draws more fire...swill out! :D)

by jdclyde

You don't like Eddie Murphy?

Your other choices are all good, but got to remember the classics.

Anywho, James is a senator that is doing his intern on his desk. Problem is, when he is suppose to come he goes. Dies right on the poor girl. That would be me. Check back in the fall and I get back in shape and I would rock your little world. Experience goes a loooong way.

by willcomp

The sides, top, bottom, and front bezel are all joined together. Remove screw from rear and whole chassis slides out to the REAR.

Really a pretty slick design. When removed, you have the whole CPU minus exterior sheetmetal and plastic. All wires, switches, drives, etc.

Dalton

by j.lupo

I am glad you got the answer. Too many cases that lock down too many different ways. It can be VERY frustrating.

by mjd420nova

I use this site to get answers to my problems, I don't care who helps, I am greatful for any and all responses. I assume the points are to rate the responders as to their activity on the site, but I'd need ten hours aday to really delve into
each discussion and topic of interest. Especially on the hot topics and interesting
problems

This discussion is closed to new replies.