You have a good diagnosis, but I think there's an easier solution. Don't record negative XP against users under level 2.

If experience points are really supposed to be a measure of experience with the monastery, even posting a *bad* question -- and receiving feedback -- should grant that.

If someone new shows up and doesn't know exactly how things will work but posts anyway only to be knocked down to -10 points, is the poster likely to post again? Or will he perceive that the monastery is full of self-righteous old boys like me?

We have at least two mechanisms in place to guide the behavior of posters, voting and comments. I suggest the latter as more generous and less shocking to new posters.

In reply to Re: Silly questions? by chromatic
in thread Silly questions? by flay

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