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How to whore for XP

by Preceptor (Deacon)
on Sep 26, 2002 at 11:05 UTC ( [id://200848]=perlmeditation: print w/replies, xml ) Need Help??

Since becoming an 'active' on perlmonks, I've noticed a number of way of whoring for XP.
Now in the general give and take of the system, your XP should go up gradually. This is the guide to how to accelerate the process. The first is, of course, to write profound and useful articles.
Of course, if this isn't an option (or you just want to increase the XP gain from those articles), then there are some few tactics for gaining those few (hundred) xp to make the next level.

  • Post. Post non-crap. Can't get upvotes without something to vote on. (or downvotes, but this is why you need to avoid the crap). Post often. The average reputation of a post is 11 (or so) so by posting frequently, you either drag the average down (thus making gains easier in the future - see Voting/Experience System), or gather some votes.

  • Vote. Use all your votes every day. Before L5, you get a bonus for doing so. After L5, you still gain (on average) 25% of your votes each day if you use them. It's slow, but just a couple more steps in your headlong rush to reach Saint in the minimum possible time. If you are a newbie, then you don't have the votes to use in this way. You'll have to start with some of the other suggestions...

  • Humour. If it's funny, you get some upvotes. This of course, doesn't tend to apply to questions asked in Seekers of Perl Wisdom, but numerous others, such as meditations and in responses to questions asked. To be avoided in Q&A since they exist as a more permanent record, and therefore frivolity is not generally appreciated.

  • Polite and literate. In general if you take the time to spell your notes properly, avoid 'txt spk', and punctuate properly (or at least punctuate _some_), your responses are more likely to get upvotes.

  • Getting on the front page. It seems that many monks out there, seem to like just clicking '++' on every item on the frontpage. OK, that probably partially because it's more visible, and also because to get front paged implies a certain level of quality already. I'd speculate that bribery to get on the front page, would also do fairly well as a way to gain votes.

  • Offtopic/Not Offtopic. Posting on topic is the way to go. Or at least mostly. NOTE that the topic doesn't _necessarily_ have to be perl, or perlmonks, however it does need to be 'appropriate'. Responses to posts/questions can digress lots, particularly if they are amusing.

  • Post things that sound authorative/informative, but always plonk a disclaimer ("This code has not been tested") on the bottom. This allows you to look like a guru, without incurring the wrath of people who try your code and crash/trash/burn their system.

  • Avoid flames. Flaming someone is a good way to pick up downvotes. Since by definition you are reading this guide, you are not yet a saint, it's probably unwise to flame someone else. In certain situations, well thought out and considered flames along the lines of 'this code is rubbish because...' will work. It's not really a good gamble if you are whoring though.

  • Say nice things about perlmonks. Old and cliche perhaps, but it works. Not a blatant suckup post, that's just too obvious. But something along the lines of "I wouldn't ask this anywhere else, because it's a little silly, but I know that the Monks are such a helpful/friendly bunch...."

  • Pick where you post. Spamming Seekers of Perl Wisdom is the standard newbie trend. Making your posts in less noisy places, make it more likely that they become 'visible' (and thus voted upon).

  • Show that you have done some work. Not necessarily obvious, but a question like "I want to do this, and it doesn't seem to work" is not good. It sort of implies that you just want a free handout of the answer. Of course, it may well work, since many of the Monks are generous types, if you want an answer, however, the goal here is XP whoring. It just won't do. Make sure you at least refer to places you've looked. Modules that you saw (keyword searches on CPAN work for this) that might do the job, or perhaps just a link or two to similar discussions. If all else fails in this regard search through merlyn's history and quote one of his articles on the matter ;p. (This may backfire if someone realised and flames you for plagiarism. Attribution is your friend in this regard.)

  • Use those HTML tags. CODE tags, READMORE tags, and paragraph formatting lead to an easier post to read, and therefore, higher probability of getting those all important ++'s

  • Read voting guidelines. This will give you indications of what you are trying to achieve in each section.

  • Pleas in the chatterbox "I only need 50XP to make $LEVEL" may give you some votes. It depends who's logged on. The more malicious types will take this as a cue to downvote. A desperation move, but may pay off. (It does help if you actually have some posts to vote on though.)

  • Lastly, write a meditation on how to XP whore ;p

Upd: Added a </UL>

--
It's not pessimism if there is a worse option, it's not paranoia when they are and it's not cynicism when you're right.

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: How to whore for XP
by Juerd (Abbot) on Sep 26, 2002 at 11:49 UTC

    Use all your votes every day.

    It's quite hard to cast 40 votes per day. And it's not worth the trouble.

    Use those HTML tags.

    But don't forget closing them, like you did (please add </ul>).

    READMORE tags

    That's not really html :)

    I only need 50XP to make $LEVEL

    Nahhh... 50 is too much. I'll gladly upvote if someone needs only 1 or 2 XP.

    Lastly, write a meditation on how to XP whore ;p

    No, we'd just blame them for copying your idea and downvote :)

    - Yes, I reinvent wheels.
    - Spam: Visit eurotraQ.
    

      No, we'd just blame them for copying your idea and downvote :)
      Done and done…

      Makeshifts last the longest.

        Wow, that node sure has this one beat. It seemed a little more nefarious, however: "When you reach a sufficient level, use the moderation system for your plans. Put in the frontpage everything you write.", even if it did have "kidding" in the title.
Re: How to whore for XP
by Mr. Muskrat (Canon) on Sep 26, 2002 at 13:51 UTC

    XP is worthless.

    I gain true experience by simply reading, testing and writing code.

      Also sprach Mr. Muskrat:

      XP is worthless.

      I quite agree; I've moved to OS X and I wouldn't go back.

      (Okay, hands up all who saw that one coming down the pike ...)

      --
      tbone1
      As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly.

      XP is worthless

      This is really true. Every time I start seeing myself XP whoring I tend to remember the qoute "I am not a number, I am a free man" and start thinking about XP as just a number in the database (which is somehow sometimes controlling my mind... Need... more... XP...)

      So XP is really just a number. However the knowledge that I have gained here is worth more than ability to vote or to put my picture on a homenode. Seriously.

      Well, of course it is. Doesn't learn you perl, and it doesn't make you a better person. But for those who like arbitrary numbers....
      --
      It's not pessimism if there is a worse option, it's not paranoia when they are and it's not cynicism when you're right.
      XP is worthless.

      Not totally true. Whether you believe XP to be worthless or not, XP on a node can be a good deterent for not posting badly thought out answers, or stupid questions. If you're XP starts going backwards, you generally end up thinking things out more. Of course that would infer that you even pay attention to nodes that you reply to, or create.

      Course I'm a hipocrite talking about how XP isn't totally worthless when I'm just too damn lazy to log (for months now) because I blast my cookies on a regular basis.
        You are also confusing a monk's XP with a node's reputation.
Re: How to whore for XP
by ignatz (Vicar) on Sep 26, 2002 at 17:59 UTC

    I am the KING OF XP WHORES!
    Bow down before your King!

    Some of my secrets that have been missed so far:
    • Write a sappy meditation praising Tilly.
    • Know how to link. Why is this my highest rated node?
    • Irony. My 2nd highest rated node is a masterpiece of irony. Note the rapid replies on a front-paged node.
    • Avoid Perl. How the heck am I at almost 4000?
    Seriously, I post because I have something to say and I like saying it here since I love the site. Now that I've learned the Secret Saint Handshake what more is there???
    ()-()
     \"/
      `                                                     
    
Re: How to whore for XP
by shadox (Priest) on Sep 26, 2002 at 14:50 UTC
    I agree with everyone who said that XP is worthless.
    Yeah it is, but if you still want to make your tactics you missed one:
    To gain XP, don't talk about XP or how to gain it
    ___________________________________________
    Optimus magister, bonus liber

      The first rule of XP Whoring is you don't talk about XP Whoring?

      Sorry, couldn't help myself ;)

      --
      $rattusillegitimus = Eliza::PerlMonks::Robot::new()

Re: How to whore for XP
by zentara (Archbishop) on Sep 26, 2002 at 16:30 UTC
    I think the XP points will only be a useful guide, if they are handed out sparingly. What will happen if everyone becomes a saint in a year's time? Then it becomes meaningless. Maybe create the "uber-saint"? Or Levels of "sainthood"? This is starting to remind me of the "american public school system" where you pass just for showing up, or college where you pass on the curve as long as you pay tuition. I would prefer it if being a saint really meant something. Like at least 5 years participation in perlmonks, and/or a vote amoung all the current saints.
    I vote for nodes that produce working code examples, and for comments that reveal "deep perl clues" which can't be found in the books.

      Nearly two years ago it was predicted that normal nodes would routinely be getting 300 votes "in one or two years" (by Ovid, I think? I searched, but unfortunately couldn't find anything), which would make the current rank levels meaningless and make reputations of nodes posted too long apart completely incomporable.

      As you see, this hasn't come to pass.

      There's two factors playing into this:

      1. The number of votes given out per day never changed.
      2. More users mean more posts.

      Think about it.

      Makeshifts last the longest.

Re: How to whore for XP
by sauoq (Abbot) on Sep 26, 2002 at 20:34 UTC

    Post early. Post often.

    And forget releases... you won't have time for releasing anything once you register at the Monastery. ;-)

    -sauoq
    "My two cents aren't worth a dime.";
    
Re: How to whore for XP
by jmcnamara (Monsignor) on Sep 27, 2002 at 07:56 UTC

    The problem with XP is the assumption that people with a lot of XP know what they are talking about.

    The other problem with XP is the assumption by people with a lot of XP that they know what they are talking about. ;-)

    --
    John.

XP is overused
by Jeppe (Monk) on Sep 27, 2002 at 13:34 UTC
    For some reason, XP appears to be really overused. Windows XP, Office XP, AMD Athlon XP, XP points on Perlmonk. I find it confusing, if a mere Acolyte dare speak his mind.. Maybe we should come up with something more spiritual? 'insight', anyone? Or maybe 'enlightenment'.. Or maybe something more computer-related like 'level of grok'?
      XP was used as a shorthand for eXperience Points in role-playing games long before Micro$oft had started to write Word for the Macintosh. In this case, the marketing twerps at M$ are just piggy-backing on the Gygeeks of those bygone days.

      Nice to know some things never change, I guess.

      --
      tbone1
      As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly.

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