AB Etiquette:
What is proper eitquette when we answer Qs & the asker NEVER responds by awarding points or making comments? do those answering
A) Remind the asker?
B) Be stern?
C) Blacklist?
D) Ignore & keep answering the same Asker's Qs?
E) Other?

I'll answer most of the time either way, but I won't lie, I have some users on my -shall we call it- "grey" list? ; )

If I find that they have a 0% +feedback given and a lack of comments, even when they have asked a ton of questions, then I will not answer their questions. That's a bit extreme, but I have seen that happen.

Most of the time, I just answer the question if I find it interesting and don't sweat the points or comments. Luckily, most people do comment and award points.

There are also some people who asked a lot of good questions that still get responses that are no longer around, so they obviously don't comment/rate. I still answer their questions though.

The answer may still be helpful to someone in the future. I find myself answering a lot of science related questions that were asked years ago, and the asker has been long gone. They rarely ever get points.
I usually have fun answering the question, and I learn something at the same time.
I have let this bother me before, with users that ARE still here, but, I guess it is just something we have to deal with. No worries, keep on answering your heart out, your good deeds will be appreciated in time.

Why do points matter?

Uh... I think if people are going to A, B, or C, we need to have some sort of welcoming committee to tell new members that people will get in a snit if you don't give them points. And I mean "welcoming" in the loosest sense of the world, because that's not very neighborly.

I expect, and give, points for *good* answers. If you read my answer and thought I was spot on, good, or at least insightful, give me points, sure. I'd rather get points for you reading and liking my answer than a generic thanks+4 that got given to everyone else regardless of accuracy/sensibility/legibility of your answer.

E.
Some people aren't here to play the "points" game; they either want to learn something, or to teach something, or express their opinion on a particular topic, or offer advise to someone in need, or simply to get a chuckle at the inanity of some questions and/or answers.

Usually If I find the question interesting I will answer anyway.
Sometimes I do feel that continuing to give these people loads of points as the answerers do, knowing that the people do not even bother to read the answers is poor form.

Although I am quite happy to bring back old questions from departed users knowing that the person is no longer with us to rate the answers. That is a different situation entirely.. I have thought that maybe if a person does not bother with reading ,rating or commenting it is best to answer hoping it will help somebody else but forgo giving points to the question.
I have not reached that point yet.

E)Other...I don't know what to think. I answered a question last night and the questioner never commented but left a comment to the other person who answered..the other person answered after me because I looked at the time. I'm taking that as the questioner is telling me not to answer their questions anymore...maybe I'm wrong..I don't know.

It doesn't matter (well, it does a LITTLE) to me if I get points. D. If I can answer a question, either seriously or humorously, I will answer it. I have over 38 PAGES (75 each) of questions I've answered with exactly ZERO points. Does it sound like I care that much!??! LOL

I look at it like this... If it's not helping that particular user (maybe also they're new to the site, and don't really know about the ratings), I'm helping AB build it's database of validly answered questions by answering, I'm helping anyone else who may have had the same question, and someone, somewhere, sometime will give the answer points.

But, I tend to consider points "gravy", and the FUN of AB is helping people, answering serious and funny questions seriously and humorously, the "great answer"s I get, and the short (or long) chats with friends I've met here.

I will answer the question if I can, but I realize these people are only here for the points, which they will not get from me.

C)Blacklist.

I'm sorry that you dont have any time to award me points for solve your question, but I will blacklist you. Frankly, I think that the person who don't even leave a comment or points is being rude. I think that at least a comment should be deserved. Questions takes up my time and answering them takes up my time.

If you don't award me points, I won't either. It's as simple as that. That's the truth and that's what I believe in. It's my opinion.

I say the best policy here is to answer questions you feel you can be helpful with. Never question why so and so was stingy because that will not help. There are many wonderful people here who will thank you as well as reward you for your time. When I find someone who does not seem to care if they get any answers I stop answering their questions. I am mainly here to help others the points are a pat on the back the comments give me a warm and close feeling and with all the good i get from this place I don't allow the little bit of bad to ruin my experience.

I'm in one of those right now. I have chosen not to worry about it and move on. But (interestingly enough) she is engaged in banter with all of us. Ha.

I thought for a moment about a comment: "you know, traditionally a questioner donates points to people who show up. It's like a door prize."

Or even worse are the people who give the exact same response to all answers - I'd much prefer no response at all.

Anyhoo, I'd say that a good question is worth answering, no matter whether I got points/comments as a response or not, no matter what the asker's history is.

My two cents on this:

I just really feel like there are a lot of questions that I, personally, have asked on this site. I TRY to make sure that, minimally, I award points for answers that didn't offend me, but let's face it, I might miss some. It's not personal. I don't take it personal when other people miss giving me points or thanking me. It's not as though I keep a running tab of all the questions and comments I make and mark each one off once someone thanks me for it. So, I would say E)other...I don't notice.

I will however take the liberty to answer this question. I will answer both D and E
D works because I dont really pay attention most of the time to who is asking a question. I take each question in turn and answer the best I can. If they dont give me points I dont really care. Thats not the "point"
E) Other: The purpose of answerbag is not accumulating points. The points are there simply so if you would like to show grattitude you can. I answer questions because I find it entertaining and I apreciate it when people ANSWER my questions. I find no reason ever to ask for points. If I dont recieve points for an answer I felt was a good answer I just assume it wasnt a good answer after all or at least not what the asker was looking for. I do however get a little annoyed when people downrate my answers or questions with no reason. Sometimes I'll comment on it but normally I just ignore it as I'll be forgetting about it and moving onto more important things anyway.

I may answer their questions but I usually will only give 1-2 points, more as a marker to help show me I've answered it already and don't need to do so again. But I don't feel the need to reward people that don't care bout their answers. I will give points to other good points, but I see no reason to reward a Points Farmer simply for asking one more question. And there are 1-2 people I won't even answer their questions.

Great Question +5. When I answer a question I don't automatically expect to be awarded points, but when the asker then asks for additional clarification in comments and STILL does not award points-I find that to be rude. I generally do not acknowledge the comment. I find this particularly common with new users. At some point it is appropriate to show the answer some love !

I give points when I remember to. It is sometimes hard to navigate through here... I only come across my own questions when they pop up as having been answered, otherwise I forget that I even asked them in the first place sometimes. I always reward with points when i notice and I never give negative for any reason. (well for most reasons anyway some are inexcusable)

Im certain that few things are done on here with the intent to offend unless it is intentionally and obviously so. Other than that, I just roll along and catch what I do and miss what I dont.

In other words... Its not all that important in the big scheme of things for me...

Change your paradigm. Answer the questions for the sake of the questions...if you get feedback from them, then great. If not, then so be it.

Also, for some that I've noticed where no answers get points (or comments, even), then I assume the person doesn't do it as a matter of practice or isn't around for a while (not everybody makes AB a daily thing). Then I will not assign points until something shows up on my feedback folder.

Personally, I usually focus on answering the questions and assign points based upon what I think of the question. If I get points, so be it. If not, oh well.

Hi debtahals wears a curiosity COAT!
+5 for your answer! As far as I'm concerned, it doesn't matter to me if I get 1 answer, 4 answers or 24 answers or 124 answers. Each and every one derves to be read AND acknowledged.
I MIGHT have to use an answer to respond to each of your points. OR you could read my response s to the other folks who took the time and made the effort to answer.
I THINK IF I didn't cover it one of the other answers, the best option is to respond to that point.
I'm not able to award a specific number of points - yet. I click the mouse. BANG + OR - whatever AB established.
1) When newcomers read MY profile, they get a greeting. BUT I KNOW I'm A LOT different than others on AB.
2) Absolutely!!! They ARE VERY rude!
3) & 4) I do the same. We agree!
I think this is a "give and take" community. BUT I KNOW I'm not the only who views it that way.
VERY Truly Yours,
Ron Berue

(Warning: VERY long answer. I got on a roll. If you hate long answers, please just skip this one!!)

You already have 24 answers as I sit here typing this, but I'd still like to add my two cents worth. You've brought up a topic I've thought a lot about .. "etiquette" at AB. I'll just share a list of thoughts with you.

1) First of all, I have an underlying philosophy about the ebb and flow of content at AB .. as a Q&A site .. and as a community. I think it's BOTH, but think that's where part of the issues arrise re: values. etiquette and points. If you are brand new to the site, it's just a web site. Like Google. No "connection" or even expectation of interaction. Just a click of a browser - and a search for a topic - then seeing some Qs and As. IF any of those random visitors "sign up", they likely think it's so that they can contribute content vs just reading content, but STILL it's not that clear that there is a yin and yang of COMMUNITY interaction here. And it's not like you get a "welcome to the community" letter when you first sign up to explain the culture of the place.

So while I still don't like it, if I see someone is relatively new to AB, I'll cut them some slack and assume they just don't "get it" yet. Might say something in the comments - might not - depends on the
person and I suppose, what mood I'm in that day! :)

2) On the other hand, folks who are clearly into asking a ton of questions and NEVER acknowledge the answers - with points as a basic - and comments as an added courtesy - in my mind, are rude. I can't change their behaviour. But I can notice it. Some of those questions are GOOD, some aren't. So I'll answer some of them - thinking that at some point, someone may arrive and need just that very bit of information. So, it'a a "random act" in that sense. But I'll do minimal points to the question. (I'm glad all of us can decide "how many" points we want to give ..) But I don't want to "reward" that behavior of just blasting out ques and grabbing points. No concern for anyone who tries diligently to answer.

3) Beyond new users - or point grabbers - there are those questions posted here that I've come to call "orphan questions". The original poster hasn't visited in a long time. Maybe they gave points to answers while they were here - maybe not - but if anyone answers it "now", they aren't here to be giving any. Again, I'll answer those. I'll also make it a point to LOOK at other answers just sitting there and point or comment on them. I consider that a "nice thing" to try to add to my AB routines. Many have contributed amazing answers out there, so it's nice to find and acknowledge them. :)

4) I'd also like to turn this around, if I may. That is, I like to post questions too. I've had users come and answer. I always give points. I always comment. I feel like posting a question is like HOSTING. I've put it out there. If people take the time to stop, read, think, respond? They deserve to be acknowledged. Ok.

Well, I've had questions where several people answered ... I gave points to all of them .. TALKED with all of them .. not just a thank you, but individualized comment threads .. then had just one of them or NONE of them give any points to the question!!! HUH? So just wanted to say it can happen in the other direction as well.

Etiquette. The give and take of interaction.
But that has to be "taught" right from the start with new users.

I had one person who saw that I always point and comment those who answer my questions go on to answer a LOT of my questions. Didn't give points to ANY of my questions. So yes, I felt "used". They went away with a bunch of points. I felt sort of violated. Perfectly good answers, so unfair not to acknowledge that. Just not POLITE to "me" and worse, I don't think they even realized that might be a variable!!! Just a web site.

So maybe that's part of what's underneath all our questions of content vs points vs etiquette. Is this a content web site or a user community sharing knowledge and opinions? That "identity" sets expectations about how we interact here.

We'll all say "it's not the points that are important" just like many say it's not the "thank you" that's important when we volunteer or do things for charity. But I'll stick my neck out and say that if we decide we want to SPEND TIME HERE .. it's "exactly" like volunteering. Time, head, heart. And thus, the basic etiquettes go a long way in making it more FUN rather than getting burned out.

Now, since I've written the All-American novel here, is anyone ready to kill me yet? :)

(Off to ask questions and answer questions and get into comment discussions. This stuff can get me down if I let it .. so better to just keep on keepin' on.)

E

If I see someone doing this I normally just ignore it, I do not care about points (although they are nice!) anymore.

However, if he/she makes a comment on my answer and does not give the points then I will take them away from him/her too.

I don't take it personally if the asker never responds. Some people just don't have the time I suppose. I like to respond to each individual when I ask questions though :)

E)

I have a mental blacklist of such users, but... it doesn't mean I would never answer their questions. Sometimes I do, because some people might find my answer helpful.

If ever I do answer the questions of such people, I don't give them the full five points that I give for questions. I just give them 1 point, to remind myself that I have already answered that particular question.

Why only 1 point? Simple. I don't want to encourage the behavior of not acknowledging the answers that you receive.

E) Turn off the ratings notification on your feedback page.

I don't worry about the points anymore, I answer questions and comment where it interests me or I feel I can contribute positively. When you don't know if your getting positive or negative ratings, it makes it a totally different AB experience. :)

It's up to each ABer as to how they would react. I have never done A or B. I have only a few on the C list and I think one of them is now inactive, that was the type that asked hundreds of questions a day and never replied.
Most of the time I do option D. As Chris said, my answer might be helpful to someone else.

People do notice who doesn't give points and who does. It's not that big of a deal to me, I answer questions because I want to answer them, not for the points. You can point it out to them if you feel like it, just don't expect a response. :)

I would say E. Besides my friends, I answer questions at random, so whether or not the asker rewards with points doesn't matter much to me.

good question

The points aren't really that important, but I feel that if you're taking the time to ask a question, you should somehow acknowledge those who take the time to answer. I see some folks who asks tons of questions and never give points or comment. Most people consider people like this to be "point farmer" or "point whores." There was one gal who posted a lot of interesting questions, but never, ever commented on any answer or gave any points. I read in her profile that she loves asking questions and getting points. But, what is the point of asking if you don't care about answers? When I realize that about someone, I usually tend to ignore there Qs after a while. Like I said, it's not the points I care about, but at least say "thanks for answering" or something if someone takes the time to answer you!

I'm new. Didn't understand the point system. Maybe a reminder or explantion would be helpful. Had I not read this question looking for something else, I would not have known.