- #71
turin
Homework Helper
- 2,323
- 3
Ben,
Access tests are becoming increasingly common on the internet. Usually they take the form of, "Are you really a human?" Sometimes, they require one to regurgitate some random points of the organization's policy that the participant is obliged to read before joining. I'm just suggesting the same basic idea, but with a much more physics flavor. It has nothing to do with taking these forums seriously or casually. It is merely a response to the increasing bedlam of the internet in which these forums opperate.
Not everyone comes here because they think that it's interesting and fun. For instance, I spend most of my time here in the homework forums, and I would be surprised if even 10% of the posters there were enjoying themselves. They just want to survive. They come here for solid, accurate help. I'm not saying that there is a huge problem with bad help in the homework forums. What I'm saying is that not eveyone shares your motivation for being here. And, furthermore, I get frustrated more than I have fun in the other forums (which is why I mostly stay in the homework forums) because I find that a lot of posters there stubbornly cling to there misconceptions. I do not think that it is fun to argue with someone over and over about some basic point that they obviously are too lazy to consider. I think a lot of people just come here to vent.
Out of curiosity, where on these forums do you have fun?
Cyrus,
It is fine to recognize what is needed. The question is, are we going to get it? No, we are not, not if we expect it to just fix itself. I continue to see even seasoned members (with 1000 posts or more) breaking policy by either letting the newbies slide, or worse, placating them. Not many non-mentors are willing to say, "Hey, stop breaking the rules." It is not pleasant (for me, at least), and certainly not personally rewarding, to constantly admonish people. I see it as a slippery slope. If members see that, in spite of their admonishments, the problem continues to get worse (I see it this way), then why bother. It is not self-correcting.
I suggest that, instead of addressing the problem after it happens, we should address the problem preemptively.
Access tests are becoming increasingly common on the internet. Usually they take the form of, "Are you really a human?" Sometimes, they require one to regurgitate some random points of the organization's policy that the participant is obliged to read before joining. I'm just suggesting the same basic idea, but with a much more physics flavor. It has nothing to do with taking these forums seriously or casually. It is merely a response to the increasing bedlam of the internet in which these forums opperate.
Not everyone comes here because they think that it's interesting and fun. For instance, I spend most of my time here in the homework forums, and I would be surprised if even 10% of the posters there were enjoying themselves. They just want to survive. They come here for solid, accurate help. I'm not saying that there is a huge problem with bad help in the homework forums. What I'm saying is that not eveyone shares your motivation for being here. And, furthermore, I get frustrated more than I have fun in the other forums (which is why I mostly stay in the homework forums) because I find that a lot of posters there stubbornly cling to there misconceptions. I do not think that it is fun to argue with someone over and over about some basic point that they obviously are too lazy to consider. I think a lot of people just come here to vent.
Out of curiosity, where on these forums do you have fun?
Cyrus,
It is fine to recognize what is needed. The question is, are we going to get it? No, we are not, not if we expect it to just fix itself. I continue to see even seasoned members (with 1000 posts or more) breaking policy by either letting the newbies slide, or worse, placating them. Not many non-mentors are willing to say, "Hey, stop breaking the rules." It is not pleasant (for me, at least), and certainly not personally rewarding, to constantly admonish people. I see it as a slippery slope. If members see that, in spite of their admonishments, the problem continues to get worse (I see it this way), then why bother. It is not self-correcting.
I suggest that, instead of addressing the problem after it happens, we should address the problem preemptively.
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