FORUM GRADING--ELIGIABILITY

Before anything else, please switch off your CAPS LOCK. In case you didn't know, typing in all capital letters is the equivalent of shouting. Some people (if not most people) find it rude. I, myself, find it more difficult to read.

As for your questions, the CR4 admin (Chris Leonard, mgaulin, Moose, etc) can probably answer them better but I'll just jump in with a few of my own.

Screening of posts - with the volume of posts, threads and blogs that keep coming in, I think it will take quite a bit more manpower than CR4 has to screen everything. I believe they still do it but won't be able to catch everything right away. Some of us help out by sending them private messages or e-mails to alert them.

You're also aware that this is an international forum with no restrictions on who may join. This takes maximum advantage of the different opinions, ways of thinking, knowledge and more, that one can get for a question or discussion. The downside, well, you already know.

Some of the members or guests (some would say, "a lot") do not speak or write English very well. Some members find this very frustrating while a few try to help anyway. I have no doubt that they know what they're asking or looking for. They just don't know how to express themselves.

Response grading - grades or points are given by the members or guests to whoever they think deserves it. You've already found one of the flaws in this system but mgaulin is certainly looking into it. If you have a suggestion, you can use this same section (CR4 Feedback) to give it.

A panel of experts is an idea, but who's going to police the experts? You might not agree with an expert's decision so we're back to square one.

I, too, would like CR4 to be perfect. I think what you found is a case of "the best of both worlds" kind of thing. There are advantages and disadvantages but, hopefully, it will all get worked out.

Vulcan:

SORRY ABOUT THE CAPS!

Not being a typist, and hate looking for the "caps" button each time it's required, I sometimes resort to just leaving it on.---No malice intended .

It's commendable that you take the time to assist the CR4 staff --I'm sure they welcome your participation!

I totally understand the complexities of screening all posts and the language barriers experienced by participants from all over the world--Maybe posts should be presented in "native tongue" and subsequently translated (If they wish to involve the english speaking group)--Or

1--Ignore posts that make "no sense".

2--Reply, requesting the post be clarified, with no activity to take place until this condition is met.

3--?

GRADING--

I,m releived to hear that the staff is looking into this area of the forum.

As far as "who will screen the experts", I beleive the majority of "experts" would rather decline an opinion on a topic outside their expertise than to be caught with their "pants down"--At any rate, it's got to be better than just "anybody" jumpin in a forum with an "attaboy" to a response that has already been expressed the same way 14 times prior. Obviously, they are not reading the preceeding activity on the forum which results in probably the biggest problem overall with the forum.

Take a few minutes to review my last post "calculating sq' of property" and the subsequent responses which totally blindsided me. Pay paticular attention to my post question and you'll see only several answers we're directed to the topic question. Not that I didn't appreciate the responses, but thanking everyone ( which I feel is necessary) became a chore.

Good morning and good day--Donzi

Donzi,

That's a good question.

I can only speak for me, but it doesn't bother me too much if the first post is not so good. I (or others) will just type a short message to please provide more detail. Usually, if the OP does that, I'll see if I can answer; if not, they die abornin'.

As for grading responses, I think the best answer is just to encourage every participant to actually use the "Rate" button.

I personally would like to see a button for "Worst pun" or "Most arcane reference". But, I think that would quickly spin out of control.

TVP45:

Bet it cold up there (I know-I'm Syracuse man).

If you haven't already', look at my response to the first response (believe it was vulcan)--As I stated, the biggest problem in the rating system is the failure of participants to review all of the activity within the forum before "jumping in" with an "attaboy" --It tends to direct credit in a "spin the wheel" foremat instead of to the person (s) who most accurately answered the question(s) earlier.

I further see an oppurtunity for someone to build their "self esteem" by getting others to jump right in with flurries of "attaboys"--I would hope none of us need that much attention.

On the "Pun" topic--JUST TOTALLY IGNORE--They hate being ignored--They require conflict to exist.

Thanks--donzi---See you around the forum.

No, I'm the offender! I'll trade a "good answer" for a real groaner pun any day of the week. I'm addicted.

TVP45:

Need to get out of the cold--it's affecting your judgement--or you're one of these folks that love "house" and his crude mannerism's--I thought he was cute (at first)--I know find him self indulging-self centered and obnoxious which I'm sure you're not---You've maybe just been cloistered too long (snow/cold)--Have heart--soon the grass will pop up, the leaves will return and your body will be nourished once more by the sun--I'm rooting for you! PS-You'll be able to mow again--Betcha can't wait.

Best regards--Donzi

I have been on this forum for a couple years

These are engineers they could over analyze a ham sandwich .

I enjoy a good argument but it gets old sometimes .

Although there are some great contributors and interesting topics like anything you have to sort it out .

By the way I'm a big fan of House

See ya Donzi

traditional:

Mama accuses me of that (over analyzing) .

I guess my main point is for responders to read the question and existing answers before offering info--It may well have already been answered several times so subsequent "same answers" just confuse the issue.

My last thread requested the formula for a quadrilateral--I ended up with 30 some answers--great participation but a little mind bogling to sort out.

Yea--We watch House too.

Thanks--Donzi

Hey Donzi,

I enjoyed your thread on hull preparations and speed issues for your little boat. Thanks for that.

ZIn the case of a quick succession of similar answers, it is important perhaps to consider one technical issue driving it. This forum is Internet Protocol (IP) based and therefor client-server. This means several persons can be working on composing an answer simultaniously and those responses will appear in the forum in the order in which the final submission button is pressed, but on any given client they appear only when the window is refreshed. It is the temporal reality of the technolgy.

Because of this, as one person writes a response, another who types more quickly or is more judicious in use of words will have a response with an earlier time stamp but in fact was simultaneous.

This might be particularly prevalent in the situation of a question asked having an answer that is well understood among experts, but not so well understood among others. I have seen it several times in my short tenure with this system.

Hope this helps.

r/

Sam

(FOr me a client-side resident spell-checker in the application would certainy help.)