why

Because they have no life, it's their only measure of success. You know this to be true and if you don't give me the points, I'm going to commit hari-kari!;P

Don

Did you follow this question?

https://www.techrepublic.com/forumqa/thread_detail.jhtml?thread_id=58304

(Delete any spaces after pasting in your browser).

We've discussed that, any similar themes, both here and in discussions (there are linksto the discussions in that Q&A thread).

There is no best answer, nor even a consensus. Not even a consensus that some people only care about the points. They could just be lazy or stupid. The repeat offenders, I avoid. (The number one in my bozo bin posts almost daily. Today it's about customizing start menus.)

If someone rejects my answer without an explanation (assuming it was a good answer; some questions are so broad or vague I can only offer suggestions) I always look at their stats. If it looks like this:

# Of Questions Asked 53
Questions With No Reponses 0
Questions Closed Due To Rating Inactivity 0
Answers Accepted 4% 5
Answers Rejected 74% 96
Answers Not Rated 22% 28

Then they've gotten the last of my attention. They can keep their (worthless) points. Oh yeah, they ARE keeping them, aren't they.

Oh well, I heard about this company that will purchase a dialysis machine for 1,000,000 TechPoints and 1,000,000 cigarette wrappers.

Because this kind of person is an emotionally infantile jerk (anal retentive?), NOW GIVE ME THE DAMN POINTS OR I'LL HOLD MY BREATH!

I'm a newcomer. I guess I could use some points. But since I'm young and inexperienced, I can't really answer to many of the technical questions, I try and get the points I can get... like this one.

Why not?

For the same reasons that 100,000's of people neglect their families and work 18 hour days 7 days a week. They think it will bring them happiness.

My answer (taken from the college exam urban legend):

Why not?

Many of the questions (this one most of all) wouldn't be given a second look if it wasn't for the points involved. A very good way for techrepublic to get users to perticipate, despite what has been writen.

Some people are just competitive.
Some people are greedy.
Some people think, it is fun.
Some people like to help.
Some people would cheat their mother.
As long as their not losing sleep over it.
It is no big deal.

Richard Bolha

Because they can't get to the stinking discussion you posted! They probably figure you owe it to them.

https://www.techrepublic.com/forumdiscuss/thread_detail.jhtml ?thread_id=59033

In anything that is considered to be competitive you are first taught to win and you cannot see anything other than.
To help others is not taugt,because it give some nothing in return.
At best you are taught to be rewarded for anything that you spend energy at ,the mentality of giving something for nothing does not give the rush of a boost in your self-esteem.
Points is something gained,helping is something given.
So WHY?

Not everybody "only" cares about the points. Many people just want to help. And many people would still offer that help if the points were taken away.

Between calls or resolving problems here at work, I read these "calls for help," and I try to help where I may have some experience in the area. AT THE SAME TIME I AM LEARNING FROM OTHERS ; so, I'd be doing this whether or not "points" were involved.

If a person is in need of help and has to resort to a tech/e-mail type of situation, then they should value the answers accordingly and support the people do offer that help. Since Tech Republic allocates points, then reward those who make the correct diagnosis/resolution.

I think the points help some people determine whetherthe person writing in is serious... but when people neglect to reward the points, than that does not bother me either.

The only thing that really bothers me is that when someone has made one answer, then a second person writes in as well (adding nothing new to the resolution of the problem), that they sometimes "share" in that allocation of points. I don't think that adequately reqards the people who responded correctly first. But that depends on the situation/question/problem as well.

I don't know about other people but I use the points as a reward to a challenge. I enjoy being very competitive in this industry and this forum becomes kind of a playground for me. On the one hand, I will spend my lunchtime or idle time answering questions to the best of my knowledge to see if I really know as much as I think. On the other hand, I will ask difficult questions with high point ratings and sometimes walk away with new colleagues and friends.

I remember seeing your name alot around here, I'm really sad to see so many of the decent people leaving. This forum reminds me of my AOL days and kind of makes me wish to leave as well. For now I suppose its an easy retreat for me to come for knowledge, challenge, and reward.

What kind of a reward is points that aren't good for anything? I like earning these points for that one day that I have that super mind-boggling question that requires the attention that points seem to bring. I guess I more or less capitalize on the fact that people are greedy, but aren't there more and more organizations that do that these days?

I hope to run into you again someday Rob - take care.

640k

Hi not everyone is after the points. I only answer the questions that I think I have a valid answer for. Your points allocation only goes to show that you have become disgruntled with the type of replys that are being offered, and I don't want your points I would still do it for nothing.

I hope you find what you are looking for and yes I also got to your discusssion thread.

Best of luck

Rich

To help other people. It just is that simple. We are all human and all want attention and acceptance but, when you get through the hype it all comes down to the BIG CIRCLE. That is if you help some one today s/he will help some one tomorrow and sooner than you think someone will be helping you. Help if you can, encourage always and hope your problems are less than those posted.

So They can be the top 5 scorers for a while and be happy and think they are smart.

I started subscribing to the NIH nt list in 1993, before NT was such a big deal. The questions are basically the same. I have a problem, can somebody help me. There were no points, I did it to just have the satisfaction, that I could help someone skip the learning pains that I went through, and give them some pointers. I wanted to start one of these types of online problems/helpdesk lists, but never had enough time to do it. Solving the technical problems of software/hardware interactions was and is a logic problem to solve (not to mention fun), bitching and moaning about problems does not get them fixed. I had my resources to get the answers I needed, because most problems that people have somebody had it first, and that somebody solved. Why make others labor and sweat, and then only tease them with a trickle of information? Points don't do it for me, I tackle the problems that seem to interest me, and read the problems that I would like to be able to answer. Plus from the list of questions you get a good ideal of what are the major concerns of a group of technical users. To help you make informed decisions on the course of technology. What software is currently the rage, or what new hardware device will soon be standard fare on all desktop.... I hope you see that forums like these will always have those that abuse the system, those abusers soon leave as nobody will want to deal with them anymore. But to those out there that subscribe to these forums with the thought that helping others is better that who has the most points. Maybe techrepublic should hide the point values and when points are awarded and the questions closed, then display the points for the questions. Who knows, maybe... in a perfect world.......

Take care. I will still be answering the questions that interest me.

Because we live in a consumer driven society whereby we immediately treat anyone who tries to be nice with suspicion and cynicism. Even if this person has no secondary motive for wanting to offer assistance, they will still be treated with suspicion.

So give people a currency and allow them to conduct business as usual, stealing and cheating.

Reject my answer if you will (in fact you must to underline my viewpoint) I care NOT about your points, but my answer is accurate.

The 'true' Samaritan is a rare breed indeed.

don't know.

so the they can post some questions like these to lure the audience to response. The audience would again like to use these points in the same manner or probably assign again higher points for some genuine problem they have so that they get good responses rather then something silly... probably like this. Though this certainly deserves the POINTS!!!

22% of my answers have been accepted, 78% have not been rated. If I only cared about the points, I'd be worrying about the 78%. I'm more concerned with the 22%. Did my answers work for them? The point's are meaningless. I'm not interested in 'competing' against others to answer questions. I'd like answers to my questions that come from someone wanting to assist and who has an answer, not from someone wanting to score points against another member of from me! It could be said that by answering this question, I am trying to score YOUR points. Who cares.....I'm just venturing my honest opinion!

On a positive note, none of my answers have been blatantly rejected...yet!

Mike

To fill their tiny, shriveled hearts. It's well known that you can bribe your way out of pergatory if you have enough points.

For me there are a few simple reasons for doing this and why the points matter:

1) Helping others - others have already stated this - it's the same for me. It is a good thing to share what I've learned with others.
2) Payback - in helping others - that's a good goes around comes around to repay in a small way all the people who have helped me online in various forums. I find these forums invaluable learning and when you've been given - it's good to give as well.
3) Building my skills and my confidence - there's no better way to learn than to spend time digging up answers to try to help someone else. It's a great tool to help build your own skills and your own confidence. The points are an affirmation that you've done something right.
4) I'm a points junkie just like lots of people - it's kinda like a marketing thing that works well, but I'd do it points or not.. Everyone wants the hope of something for nothing, but it's really points for time.
** what are you looking for? what kind of answer will be satisfactory to you? That's really what we need to look at..

I agree with answer 16.

Also, there is so much more to than life than worrying about who gave points to who.
Maybe if Techrepublic took away the Top 5 Scorers and the blue squares (5k,10k etc),
then there would be a lot less emphasis on the points and we could all get on with answering the questions.
Come on folks. Let's keep it real !!!!

Just a suggestion if the top 5 scorers
changed their alias to It's not about the points (Starting from the top)
ie pmwright changes to It's
AsyscoKid changes to not and so on
then this would be a great way of getting our point across !!!

Because people often feel the need to be validated in what they do.

ZeroKool

I try to answer questions, so that, in the future I'll know the answer. Points are OK, but they really don't drive my participation. Points are just a score card.
Having said that, I do get confused/disturbed when a question is closed without awarding points, even with a number of legitimate answers.
I think part of the problem is the mechanism. When I have asked individuals, they have responded that they didn't intend to stiff the answerers; they just didn't understand the process.

:-) Because I have a nice smile?

This question was closed by the author

Not looking for anything, but the points only serve to build up if you need to ask a question. Nice, but not necessary. I answer to try and provide help. All I look for is feedback - did it help or not?

Keep the points, just posting another $.02worth.