Suggesting a Rating-factor or Indifference-factor for the Forum Posters

Question

Hi,
This is actually not a question, but a suggestion on presenting forum users' behavior indicators.
I like the new point system that OTN introduced that allows the questioner to rate the answers based on how it solved his/her problem.
However, in some forums, the forum users show exceeded indifference and apathy for rating answers. Often they do not rate a correct answer using the rating method; and sometimes even after acknowledging informally that the question has been answered. I often come across posters who post a question and on seeing the reply they do not answer or even acknowledge any help they receive even informally until they get stuck in the next steps. If it just goes for once in a while, then it's ok. However, some forums show a greater prevalence of such trends and some users show a habitual indifference. I don't know if you have noticed it too.
So, I was wondering what if a rating-factor for the questioners (or indifference-factor, or courtesy-factor) is introduced that can reflect the %age of answers a questioner rates as correct, or helpful. Similarly, their tendency to mark a question as answered when it is answered may also reflect in a similar factor.
what do you think?
AMN

Answer 1

I understand what you're saying, but to me, this is like saying that we want to rate the questioners so if they don't award points we can avoid answering them.
The only questioners I tend to avoid answering are the ones who are blatently rude or obnoxious. Just because they haven't awarded points for getting answers to their questions is not really an overriding factor, in my book anyway. I come here to learn stuff myself and to assist where I can, regardless of whether people give me points for it or not. I've never once had to ask for any of the points I've been awarded, I've just been given them, yet if I had received points for all the useful answers I'd given I'd probably have twice the amount... and so would a lot of other members here. If I'd received no points, I would still answer questions cos, to me, it's not about feeding my ego by saying "look at me I've got loads of points", it's about me assisting and learning from other people's issues and the other expert answers given.
On a more practical/technical level I think you'll find that the forum is limited by what the Jive software is capable of, so whilst it came with a question answered/points system as part of the package, I think awarding points against members for other reasons is probably not part of it's capabilities.
;)