in reply to What's wrong with -1?
in thread Newbies and votes

What's all about the voting system anyway? I came looking for perl stuff - which I see a lot that I have to read in the upcoming months - and I'm astonished about the "XP" interest of so many users. Just why?

Does it really mean a man with more "XP" is more experienced? Or even that he knows better? No.

You respect Mr. Schwarz and Mr. Wall not for their experience, but for what they have done, written, programmed, isnt't it?

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Re^2: What's wrong with -1?
by kiat (Vicar) on Dec 11, 2004 at 03:31 UTC
    It's quite magical. At the very least, say you've provided a solution to someone's question, it's helpful to know how your solution is received by other members of the community. To someone seeking solutions, the node's votes can help that person decide which solution is the most favoured (but not necessarily the best).

    I got most of my XP's from asking questions, not providing answers. So to your questions about whether someone with more XP is more experienced or knows better, the answer is NO.

    I think if you see the X in XP as standing for Involvement rather than Experience, then you'll be less likely to equate higher XP with more experience (knowing more).

    Hm...can't delete this node. Was meant as a reply to Mr. Lee's node.

      the node's votes can help that person decide which solution is the most favoured (but not necessarily the best)

      The only problem is that you have to make up your mind whether you think it's a good or bad solution (cast a vote) before you get to see what people voted before you...

      Sometimes I see two nodes on a subject in which I have no or very little competence and can't judge which other people with presumably more knowledge has considered the better answer. I resists to upvote/downvote as I just don't know if they're good or bad. I could mindlessly just upvote both, but that doesn't seem satisfactory.

      I'd like it if there was a way to see how people voted on a node. I assume there are good reasons for not displaying the reputation of a status before voting, I can guess a few myself. But what if the null vote really was a vote so that you voted but didn't change the reputation (and would have no chance of getting more XP from casting it)? The vote wouldn't even have to "cost" exactly one vote either.

      ihb

      See perltoc if you don't know which perldoc to read!
      Read argumentation in its context!

        I second that.
        If XP's primary purpose is to rate content then it does not serve its purpose well.

        If, on the other hand, XP's primary purpose is to rank monks in the community then it's fine and we should leave it alone, or redefine its purpose.

Re^2: What's wrong with -1?
by Your Mother (Archbishop) on Dec 11, 2004 at 00:48 UTC

    Ah, but note it maps fairly 1:1; Saints.