How should I spend my votes?
General Voting Guidelines
Be sure you understand the Voting/Experience System.
This faqlet exists as a guide to answer questions like:
"Why should I vote ++ for a node?", "Why should
I vote -- for a node?", "What are the site's
official voting rules?", and "How should I spend
my votes?". The suggestions given here are exactly
that, suggestions. You will of course develop your
own, personal voting guidelines over the course of using
this site, but hopefully you'll find these ideas useful if
you are just starting out and feeling a little lost.
One issue concerning voting is not a matter of
opinion but of site policy:
votebots are not allowed.
If you're already wondering "What the hell do you
mean, 'voting'? How do I vote?", then you're at the wrong
node. You belong here: I just became a Novice; Why can't I vote yet?
These guidelines were compiled based on input from a
number of Monks in both the Chatterbox and a number of
extended threads on the subject (? why do you vote like you do ?, Explanations for Voting,
Abusive Negative Voting, and many others since then).
If you have anything you'd like to see added,
send SiteDocClan a /msg.
The guidelines are arranged by section:
Voting on Wisdom Seekers:
- ++ if ...
- it's a thoughtful question.
- it shows that the poster did some research.
- it is well presented.
- it is a question you might ask.
- -- if ...
- it seems as though the poster is saying, "You do the
work because I don't feel like it."
Voting on Wisdom Sharers:
- ++ if ...
- it is technically correct.
- it answers the questioner's question.
- it is simple, fast, and on point.
- it contains code examples.
- it wasn't an answer already given.
- it helps the questioner find the answer on his/her own.
- -- if ...
- it is negative and cruel towards the questioner. (usually is something
like this, "This is a stupid question," or, "You should have
figured it out on your own you idiot.")
NOTE: Redundant answers and answers that are not entirely
correct should probably not be voted -- since the poster probably
did put some kind of effort into writing it.
- ++ if ...
- it contains code that can useful to other people.
- it demonstrates a rarely used feature of Perl.
- it gives other people ideas for their own code.
- it shows that effort was put into it.
- ++ if ...
- it uses real Perl code or describes something about Perl.
- it is original, witty, and entertaining.
- ++ if ...
- it is difficult to read.
- it uses code that is rarely used or
seldomly found in those situations.
- it is creative and original.
- ++ if ...
- it is thought provoking.
- it shows thought was put into it.
- it presents a good point.
- -- if ...
- you strongly disagree with its idea.
Voting on Suggestions
- ++ if ...
- it is original and creative.
- it would lead to an improvement in the site.
- -- if ...
- you think it would make the site less usable/functional.
- the suggestion has been raised, debated, and dismissed conclusively in the past.
Voting on Questions About the Site
- ++ if ...
- it is an insightful, novel question.
- it presents something that maybe should be a suggestion.
NOTE: You probably shouldn't vote -- on a question
immediately even if it is a stupid question or you can
find the answer in a FAQ, because the poster may be a
newbie and not know that there is a FAQ. But again, use
personal judgement.
Voting on Responses to Nodes
(Different from Answering Questions)
- ++ if ...
- it adds to the original post.
- it contributes different approaches to the same topic.
- it gives suggestions that can be used to make the
code or suggestions better.
- it reveals the honest opinion of a person.
- -- if ...
- it is unjustifiably negative or harsh.
- it misrepresents someone's position, just to make him/her look bad.
- it is excessively arrogant.
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