Is the Mahalo community answering questions to provide valid information, or are we only in it for the points?

If you really want an answer to your literal question, for those of us who have been here a while, we're here for the community, for the askers (by providing quality answers), and to some extent for the M$s and points as score-cards. However, reading between the lines of your question, it seems what you really want to know is what we can do as a community to encourage newbies to provide complete, well-researched answers, rather than submitting willy-nilly as many brief, probably less-than-helpful answers just to get points and advance in the belt ranks. The answer to that, more complex issue is as follows.1.

When you see such an unhelpful answer, provide a better answer, and comment on the unhelpful one with a link to how-to-get-a-best-answer-on-mahalo suggesting in a friendly way that they read it. 2. Perhaps Mahalo staff can send an automated direct question to each newbie as soon as they make it to white belt with yellow tip (meaning they're staying around for more than just asking a single question) suggesting some pages they should read (e.g. The one mentioned above, and the mahalo-copying-and-pasting-guidelines).

In all honesty, I answer for the money about 95% of the time. Occasionally I'm just really interested in the answer and wish to do the research but.. no pennies about it I am on Mahalo for money whether I enjoy the site, it's users and staff or not. (Which I do) The points mean little to me.

I think if I can earn money to help support my family from home and provide help and knowledge to others... that is a beautiful thing. On the note of quality of answers and newer folks, I think it's that they think they may get best answer and the tip and to my dismay many answers who in my personal opinion are doing a piss poor job are getting best answer rather regularly. It supports that belief.

Not just two word answers but two word answers with a paragraph copy paste and maybe a photo to make it look like a good answer and in reality it's a horrible answer in a best answer disguise. When I have time I try to vote to my limit and I comment every single time I see someone providing less than quality answers and I state why so others will take notice while voting. I hope it's helping, but I don't think it is.

:(.

If anyone is giving poor answers to just get points they get voted down really quick, and folks who give marginal answers get pushed down to the bottom as the good answer move up. The system is actually working really well since most folks don't read the whole page, but rather from the top down. The quality starts at the top and really bad stuff goes way to the bottom.

One bad vote and you're almost instantly the last answer, and if you get three bad votes no one can see your answer without clicking. So mission accomplished. If you see people answering with subpar questions I suggest the following: a) vote them down b) give them encouragement to put a better answer c) report them if you see them do it more than twice We turn off hundreds of accounts a year giving poor answers.

Use the tools to "shape the behavior" of new users. No one wants to get voted down to the bottom AND YOU HAVE THE POWER TO DO THAT!

You know Victoria I think that is a very profound question and one that could have many answers. Personally I like to answer a question that is of interest to me and that I either feel qualified to answer, or am prepared to research because it is appealling to me. As for whether newcomers simply answer question for points, I think it depends on the user and whether they have a genuine interest in Mahalo and its reputation.

If certain new user simply answer just for the points, they will probably quickly go away, as points here don't really make "prizes", it is continued valuable contribution that does that. I think the Mahalo system works well, if someone arrives, does a bit of "this and that" and doesn't really interact, then they either learn to do so or disappear. Don't worry, things always work out in the end.

I must admit that this response will add two points to my belt and therewith give me a purple belt, so your point is doubly valid. Sorry, just had to be honest. Love your animal pages and your devotion to "all that crawl" Happy New Year.

I'd suggest that you make a comment on answers that you believe are incomplete or rushed. Some new members may not understand what the expectations are for answers here. If you notice a user that shows a pattern of unhelpful answers then you should either the report button or send an email to [email protected] expressing your concerns.

There are probably people who do it for the points, but I personally won't answer a question unless I know I can add a relevant answer - the points are more of a bonus for me.

I don't think it pays enough to justify doing it for the money. - I also don't think we do it for the points, per se. - I think we do it out of an obsessive or compulsive urge to answer the questions.So I guess you could say, 'we do it because we're psychologically damaged', and this satisfies some urge to fill an empty spot in our lives, which is likely a craving for intimacy on some level or another.

I had the same question when I started. I was not happy seeing those brief answers when I spent a half an hour to make a quarter. Hahaha.

But really, those short posts can only go on for so long before you will get bored of it because the progression with the belts requires more than 2 points at a time if you really want to move up. You really need the ten point for the best answers more consistently if you really want the levels. Of course, there is the one point for each undecided, but that too gets a bit boring if that's all you are doing to try to level up.

Ultimately, the belts are cute but they don't get you that much until you get the big powerful belts. I don't stay for the belts. I stay for many of the same reasons others do.

I really like the friendly atmosphere and this is the kind of stuff I do on other sites for no money. Might as well use my good writing and researching skills to make a few bucks.

Being fairly new around here it seems to me that people naturally gravitate towards one thing or another, whether this is managing pages or answering questions in certain categories, etc. I personally like to answer all types of questions because I like to learn about many different things. However, I don't think people who answer questions just for points or belt level will ruin whatever it is that it seems the top people on mahalo are trying to create. I didn't come to this site looking to join a great online community.

I like to answer questions and monetary compensation seemed to be an exciting incentive. Users of mahalo are all to eager to vote for NBA if it does not fit whatever criteria has been set by the older, more powerful users. For me, it sometimes takes the fun out of the whole system when questions such as these and others point out that "we are above the newbies and this is how things are done and if you don't do it our way then leave.

" I like to think that I give quality answers and when I ask a question I expect one in return. And if this truly isn't given then there should be no best answer. But if someone does not have a quality answer and still wins .25, then really what is the big deal?

I'm here to provide and receive information. I enjoy asking questions or trying to provoke discussions here. And I enjoy answering them, be it the short video game ones, or other advice or tips for whatever the subject might be.

Mahalo's got one of the friendliest communities online i've ever been part of and I hope this trend continues!

Typically I try to give sound and complete information. My favorite subject is pets, this is where my knowledge lies and as pets are my passion I of course want people to have factual and complete information. However I have once given a one word answer.

The question was to do with the end of the world and what would I need if I knew it was the end of the world. My answer was blunt but correct - NOTHING. Short and poor answers will not get picked as the best answer.

I'm here to provide good researched and well thought-out answers. For the Q & A's, someone should at least research it for an hour and have good resources (quotes, videos, pics. ) to back up their answers.As for the Tasks and the How-Tos, I would lift the imbargo on the 72 hr.

Turnaround period on certain tasks where there is no rush to get them published. Some tasks and How-Tos really need the extra time so we aren't just spitting out Wiki and the top 3-4 sites listed on google.Do we want to be original or roll out quick pages that are quick and dirty peppered with typos, grammatical errors, and possible plagarism (Wham, Bam, "Thank you Mam" so to speak). For me, I've personally been very ill and my editors have been very patient with me--bless them for that.

I realize some pages have to be put out quickly because they are news. However, encyclopedia-like tasks that are mixed with current news and good writing takes time. I don't care if I get paid $3.00 for a task.

I want to be proud of the finished product. I'm lucky I have a husband who supports me. Just putting my $.25 in.

The vast majority want to provide real answers and take a shot at winning a question. A few people out there do jump in and just try to answer for points. There are a few very cool safe guards that Mahalo has that make this a relitive non issue.1) People can mark an answer unhelpful 2) Askers can select "No best answer" 3) The highest belt levels Brown & Black go through a belt test In my time here I have seen a few waives where we will get a few people who answer questions like, "What is the best way to make money online?" with answers like "I dunno .

.. ". Such users will rarely if ever get best answer and these answerers will often move on to other sites naturally. Even if someone could "game" the system for points they would get roadblocked at the highest levels.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.