Yes, post quality is one of the factors. My point is that of course there is plenty of gaming going on and it's of the simplest form. The leaderboard only encourages this gaming mentality.
>(I also wish we didn't display post score. I don't know what it provides as a benefit.)
That would be an interesting experiment. However, I think it does provide a certain use, which is getting a sense of how people are perceiving the discussion. Like the audience clapping or booing during a debate.
I would rather know what other people think after I decide what I think. Nothing is contributing to groupthink on this site more than the fact that we don't use blind voting.
That's what I was thinking. I hate seeing what other people think of opinions before I see them. Furthermore, they offer an "equalling" incentive: perhaps I'm the only person here that thinks like this, but if I see two points, and they're both well-argued, but the one I disagree with is rated higher than the one I like, I'll either vote up the one and not the other, or, if the one I disagree with is very highly rated, I'll vote it down to bump the one I like higher. The psychological impact of seeing the point I made go higher is one that modifies my voting patterns, which I don't like.
I can believe that the leaderboards encourage gaming, but I think post quality is the most important factor. I would not object to charging a karma point for each post though. That might make people think a little more before posting.
But, then there are posts like this, which won't be read by many and probably will not reach a score of two. And, docking a karma point might discourage the longer discussion threads, which are sometimes very interesting.
Overall, I don't care.
Comments
Yes, post quality is one of the factors. My point is that of course there is plenty of gaming going on and it's of the simplest form. The leaderboard only encourages this gaming mentality.
It does, and I wish we didn't have it. (I also wish we didn't display post score. I don't know what it provides as a benefit.)
>(I also wish we didn't display post score. I don't know what it provides as a benefit.)
That would be an interesting experiment. However, I think it does provide a certain use, which is getting a sense of how people are perceiving the discussion. Like the audience clapping or booing during a debate.
I would rather know what other people think after I decide what I think. Nothing is contributing to groupthink on this site more than the fact that we don't use blind voting.
That's what I was thinking. I hate seeing what other people think of opinions before I see them. Furthermore, they offer an "equalling" incentive: perhaps I'm the only person here that thinks like this, but if I see two points, and they're both well-argued, but the one I disagree with is rated higher than the one I like, I'll either vote up the one and not the other, or, if the one I disagree with is very highly rated, I'll vote it down to bump the one I like higher. The psychological impact of seeing the point I made go higher is one that modifies my voting patterns, which I don't like.
I can believe that the leaderboards encourage gaming, but I think post quality is the most important factor. I would not object to charging a karma point for each post though. That might make people think a little more before posting.
But, then there are posts like this, which won't be read by many and probably will not reach a score of two. And, docking a karma point might discourage the longer discussion threads, which are sometimes very interesting. Overall, I don't care.