Member 'expert' status suggestion

[jsnetman]

The worst posts on the Internet probably have a sig containing MCSE

 

Yes there are people who do these exams from cheat sheets and bootcamps but as you say they are easily exposed if they have no experience.

[GrumbleDook]

Re - slagging off MCSE / CCNA / etc quals : But there are also those who seriously study and deserve the qualification on their own merit, not based on bootcamps and braindumps.

 

My thoughts on this are as follows.

I like the 'question open' and 'question solved' flag ... but on most places it is used it is down to the OP to say it is solved, and fails to take into account that it might also solve a question for someone when they find it on the search (or via Google) 6 months later. I would prefer 'nominate for wiki' to be a flag so that we have solutions and a wide range of options in a place that is more helpful ... but that is because I think wikis are better for these sort of guides.

There are other forums who have regular votes for particular categories ... it usually involves nominations and then people are voted for over a few days. CertForums is one of the best places I have seen for this.

There could always be a panel who decide to award things based on the last month, 3 months, 6 months, year of advice and help ... MVP style almost ... but I know that will then generate the arguement about who chooses who is on that panel.

 

Personally, I am happy to give thanks for things which cheer me up, but that is different to Rep. However, we know Rep gets abused for petty reasons, like that comment to Gatt on his political choices, etc ...

 

To some extent we could almost be self-selective by publicising our areas of expertise (ie what *we* think we are good at) and we would have to trust members to remove their areas of expertise if they are no good. In the same way, if someone is really good and does not have that badge then I am sure that enough people will say "go on ... stick it up there ... you're really good on that" ...

 

If people abuse it by claiming to be an expert in an area yet fail to give advice when asked, or consistently give wrong advice, then Mods and Admins could be contacted to have a word.

 

Of course, this relies on people agreeing to work with the system (and mods / admins) and not take offence when challenged.

[webman]

I would prefer 'nominate for wiki' to be a flag so that we have solutions and a wide range of options in a place that is more helpful ... but that is because I think wikis are better for these sort of guides.

 

*raises hand* Don't you remember the Chorley conference last month? We're getting a dedicated articles section for that sort of stuff. Aren't we?

 

On a similar note, I quite like the stackoverflow/serverfault method of message rating and solving.

[SYNACK]

Here's an idea, why not tie the badges idea in Xbox style. If we are able to get the better breakdowns of rep from each forum you would easily have a system that gives achivements for certain points levels in a certain topic. They could even have well though out descriptions that made them both funny and informative.

[russdev]

I had an idea not sure if we could do it but how about linkedin style where people could add recommendations of a user to a users profile..

 

Russ

[mac_shinobi]

I had an idea not sure if we could do it but how about linkedin style where people could add recommendations of a user to a users profile..

 

Russ

 

On the profile and a miniture version under the badge

[pete]

Re - slagging off MCSE / CCNA / etc quals : But there are also those who seriously study and deserve the qualification on their own merit, not based on bootcamps and braindumps.

 

Agreed. But this is the Internet and a new user has no way of telling whether you fall into the "serious study" or "bootcamp / braindump" category. So using it as a metric for choosing which advice to follow is dangerous.

[vikpaw]

I actually think we have a pretty good system as it is. If it ain't broke; don't fix it!

 

People frequent forums where they have expertise OR interest and help out when they can.

 

When searching for solutions i'm more concerned with the content rather than the poster and any 'expert' status - it's my choice what to do with the advice, and if / how i implement that.

 

I do know certain people and respect their advice in certain areas, and my opinion would stay the same regardless of an awarded badge.

 

I sometimes come across a problem on a forum i don't frequent and can provide answers, sometimes because i got there first, being a few hours ahead, rather than because i'm particularly skilled in that area.

 

In the MIS forum, some of us have now started to prefix the threads with the software used (yes it's mostly [sims]!), and also marking the thread [solved] on occasion. It has just been a natural progression. Sometimes i find reading through the whole thread is often more useful, than just the post with the solution, as the process, and the understanding of what went wrong can be helpful for other issues.

 

We're all IT specialists and everyone's input is welcome, i don't think we need to get bogged down in ranking.

[enjay]

It's easy just stick quals under your post MCSA/MCSE/CCNA...., people will take your advice if you have the relevant quals in the subject. Although you can still of course be knowledgable in a subject without.

 

How about topics such as e-Safety, for which elsiegie40 clearly deserves a "badge" or using Moodle, which you can be expert/specialist in but cannot have an MCSE for?

 

I do think a breakdown of rep or thanks would be good to be able to make your own mind up, but I just dont see the need for extra badges of how good some members on here are.

 

The advantage of a badge is that it would be clearly visible by the users' post, so at a glance through a long thread, we could see who knows their stuff, without having to read their post and then click some place else to see with what authority they speak.

[witch]

I actually think we have a pretty good system as it is. If it ain't broke; don't fix it!

 

When searching for solutions i'm more concerned with the content rather than the poster and any 'expert' status - it's my choice what to do with the advice, and if / how i implement that.

 

I completely agree - you read what people have posted re your problem and it is usually quite clear that some people know more about that particular problem than others, you look at the results and you make a decision.

I think it would put people who may just happen to know the answer to that one issue (because they have battled with it themselves)off from posting if an 'expert' posts first.

Also, the proposed solutions depend on rep which IMHO isnt given that often and certainly not automatically for helping solve a problem. For example, I am more inclined to thank people than give them rep.

I think that even the 'division of rep' idea would mean a change in normal behaviour for a lot of members, and rep can be given for irrelevant stuff, eg a funny answer posted in a technical thread which would show up.

I really don't think we need to do anything - if someone has the time and knows a lot about your problem, they will post and you get the help you need. Those who are not expert but have an idea usually say so - then it is up to you whether to chance what they say.

[penfold]

vikpaw sums up my view to be honest

[vikpaw]

vikpaw sums up my view to be honest

 

thanks - do i 'thank' you or 'rep' you or is this thread in a sidepot?

[pauljonze]

I agree with vikpaw and witch.

 

As I previously stated I think the existing system is fine, I've never had a problem with any of the advice given and find it better to take a look at all advice given before making a final decision, it would be daft to simply apply the suggestion solution of any one person (despite their level of knowledge) as sometimes the message can become garbled and they misinterpret you post and vice-versa. It also seems to suggest that anyone without a badge is therefore going to be overlooked, as by implication they must be a newbie, unreliable or unhelpful etc. Also, perhaps there could be badges for those who give poor advice so we can ignore them?

[vikpaw]

Nobody at fault but an example of Good Advice gone awry: http://www.edugeek.net/forums/mis-systems/58863-sims-crashing-out-when-running-report.html

Even 'experts' get it wrong if they misunderstand the problem or it's not communicated in a way they understand. No offense to the OP who had little experience of SIMS.

 

EDIT: and by " 'experts' " i mean people who i respect and value the opinion of in this particular area, though the list is not limited to just the posters in this thread, and includes a far wider range of members.

Edited July 1, 2010 by vikpaw
clarify 'expert' !

[PiqueABoo]

Re - slagging off MCSE / CCNA / etc quals : But there are also those who seriously study and deserve the qualification on their own merit

 

Like me for instance (once needed to be able to tick the MSCE box on job applications, no courses, bootcamps or braindumps involved) ;b

 

I'm slagging off people with acronym collections in signatures: There are exceptions to the rule, but they are apparently trying to prove something and IME that can often extend to compulsively posting cocky, irresponsible "answers" above those sigs on issues where they're out of their depth.

 

I think all this is an attempt to solve the wrong problem and it's not that big a problem to begin with: I'd be more interested in trying to minimise the number of people asserting broken tech memes that can break other peoples systems i.e. encourage them to be a bit more [bleeping] responsible. If you aren't 100% sure about whatever from personal experience then just use a bit of simple cautious language to indicate that e.g. "I'm not sure, but in principle... blah-blah-blah".