Oh... I think i just didn't understand the 'idea' of NodeReaper. I thought it was a reply to my node. However, it shows a different message (which I miscounted for a rude responce to my initial message). Where could I read more on this?

--

print join(" ", map { sprintf "%#02x", $_ }unpack("C*",pack("L",0x1234
+5678)))
[download]

The NodeReaper is the visible end of a process that may not be entirely evident to newcomers. In this process, members of the community can submit a node to be "considered" for editing or deletion. (This is above and beyond the normal voting process.) A community-based voting process follows. Essentially, if a low-reputation post collects enough "delete" votes without collecting any "keep" votes, it gets reaped. Posts that collect enough "edit" votes get handled by a group of volunteer (and usually high-ranking) editors. A lot goes on behind the scenes to keep the Monastery tidy.

Nodes get considered for deletion for a number of reasons, and the process is hardly a rubber stamp. Several nodes with negative scores are kept around as lessons to others. (See Worst nodes.)

Your chances of having a node end up in the clutches of the NodeReaper depend on a number of things, including your reputation in the Monastery. Poor posts from Anonymous Monks do not get the same treatment as those from people who others have been posting for a while. The occassional turd that gets posted tends to be anonymous.

Stick with it. Ask good questions, give good answers, and keep your ears open.

Alright by me ;-).

Just this last question if you wouldn't mind... Who's responsible for putting together comments on reaped nodes? Here's what (if I'm correct) I got in responce to my post on arrays.

Am I right to assume that 'Fastolfe' is responsible for the reply? If yes, then why being so rude and inflamatory? Seems like in this old good saying: "A rat must have crawled up his ass and died...".. Geez... I couldn't even imagine the kind of 'hospitality' i'd come to experience on this site. There are numerous decent monks and only a few that spoil the place =/.

I have nothing against pointing out and removing worthless nodes; however, this should be accomplished in a way befitting a reasonable adult. The comment I got from node reaper is such that I could find on www.fuckedcompany.com or a message board ran by a bunch of 10 year old kiddies.

--

print join(" ", map { sprintf "%#02x", $_ }unpack("C*",pack("L",0x1234
+5678)))
[download]

Fastolfe was responsible for suggesting that the reply to your node should be reaped. His comments are not in response to your post. Instead, they are directed at the original contents of the reply, which you can read here

I suspect that you received a private message from root informing you that someone had replied to your post. Before you had the opportunity to read the original reply, it was reaped, and was replaced by Fastolfe's comments. My colleague can speak for himself, but I see no reason to believe his crack about "slashdot kiddies" was directed at you.

It's stunningly less than obvious how this all works, so I will merely say that your assumption is incorrect. Hopefully things make more sense now.

Normally things that get reaped are reaped for reasons which are obvious to most people. But occasionally we do get self-proclaimed vigilantes who get out of line, and so I would like to follow up on your complaint.

UPDATE
Looking through nodes recently reaped by NodeReaper, it looks like the node that triggered your complaint might be Re: Re: Arrays. If so then NodeReaper was working as designed. That post is not something that belongs on this site.

Being reaped is disturbing enough (though usually deserved), but bewilderment is unnecessary. Particularly since it may not occur to new/anonymous users to use search or the information nodelet for what appears to be just another PM user. It was a while before I learned that NodeReaper wasn't a real user. I thought he was just a clumsy, rude moderator with cherry pie on-the-brain.

--Jim

This is in response to jlongino:

I like the concept of the Node Reaper.  Like many of us, I have used UseNet sites, even moderated ones, and have been frustrated by the proliferation of redundant questions, abusive comments, and in particular, false and misleading comments.  On the PM site, things are fairly tidy (as dws put it), making it more useful and pleasurable.

I also like the mysterious nature of the Node Reaper.  I wouldn't attempt to explain it.  I find it more interesting to learn of it slowly and in a harsh way, to start off as a member treading carefully in fear of his wrath.