I respectfully disagree on the harm.
By answering easy questions fast we create an environment
where people become scared to try answering questions. I
think it is important to give people who have only a
partial understanding room to try answer the questions
that they can get.
Why?
Well here is a list of reasons:
- People get intimidated.
- Trying to answer questions is an instructive process.
- Corrections to answers gets at more subtle
misconceptions than the initial question/answer.
Therefore it gives an opportunity for discussions that
take people to the next level.
- Answering questions is a satisfying thing to
do. Increasing how many get to experience that
satisfaction broadens participation in the site.
- It frees experienced people to spend time on more
advanced discussions.
One thing that I like about this site is that there is a
range of discussion levels. There isn't a rigid
division between gurus here and novices there. Rather
there is a spectrum of discussion and opinions that
underscores the fact that novices can become gurus, and
can become gurus in less time than they probably expect.
I think that it hurts that when experienced people
"clean up" on the easy questions. Leave them for someone
who needs the practice... | [reply] |
I think Perl Monks is used by some folk to have XP competitions, perhaps
amongst friends, and perhaps the quality of their response is lessened by their eagerness to reply.
I don't think 'XP Whores' exist but at times XP may be important to folk. Perhaps there is a plateau where this doesn't happen anymore, perhaps it is entirely dependant on the person and their values
I think a lot of what happens is that people see a question they can answer and want to reply, more often than not, for alturistic reasons, wanting to help and not make a corroborative reply they rush in.
The end results are the same and the intention which is always hidden, sometimes even from the person posting. Even in posting we're part of a learning experience, where we can gain insight, by XP Whoring we rob ourselves of this insight by merely casting a cursory glance over 'competitors' responses.
--
Brother Frankus. | [reply] |