Posted on Jan 29, 2019
Should we delete the "trailblazer" award on RallyPoint? Is it encouraging non-substantive comments on a significant fraction of discussions?
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Are RallyPoint members just stealing the "trailblazer" influence points by responding as quickly as possible to a new post, but not really thinking about the post, or commenting anything substantive? I have seen on about 50% or more of all posts that the first post is just a non-substantive, "Great post" comment. Should we ask that the "trailblazer" reward be removed? I like the concept, because it SHOULD generate discussion and response, but it seems to be having the opposite effect: It encourages comments that are worthless, and which demonstrate that the commenter has no real interest in discussing the original post. What do you think? Other than removing the influence point incentive, is there anything else we can do? Thanks!
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RallyPoint
RallyPoint
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 32
This has been the topic of the day several times amongst the admins. I'm in favor it. I'm also in favor of users with a high amount of points from either not gaining points period after a certain level or being limited to X number of posts each day. We definitely have some users that feel that the point of this site is to gain points rather than share good information.
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CAPT Michael Toleno
Thanks for the quick (and useful!) response. Glad to hear my perceptions have some grounding in history.
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SPC Douglas Bolton
SGT Ben Keen I totally agree on the need to stop Trailblazer points. I also agree woo% that there should be a limit of how many posts one person can post. They are some that post over 15 times in a day just to get up votes. The limit will help I feel overwhelmed with all the -post I don't have time to read.
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I have never understood the points system. the whole pointof RP IMHO is to encourage discussions among veterans. OK I get points...woo hoo..that and a dollar will get me a cup of coffee. Just do away with the points and let folks talk instead of rewarding points chasers. It isn't a game or a competition it is a forum for back and forth conversations.
Maj Marty Hogan
Lt Col Charlie Brown
1stSgt Glenn Brackin
Cpl Craig Morton
SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
COL Mikel J. Burroughs
SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4"
LTC Stephen C.
CPL Dave Hoover
SMSgt Minister Gerald A. "Doc" Thomas
Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
Sgt Wayne Wood
PVT James Strait
SGM Erik Marquez
MSgt David Hoffman
MSgt Stephen Council
MAJ James Woods
SGT Elizabeth Scheck
PO1 H Gene Lawrence
Maj Marty Hogan
Lt Col Charlie Brown
1stSgt Glenn Brackin
Cpl Craig Morton
SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
COL Mikel J. Burroughs
SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4"
LTC Stephen C.
CPL Dave Hoover
SMSgt Minister Gerald A. "Doc" Thomas
Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
Sgt Wayne Wood
PVT James Strait
SGM Erik Marquez
MSgt David Hoffman
MSgt Stephen Council
MAJ James Woods
SGT Elizabeth Scheck
PO1 H Gene Lawrence
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SCPO (Join to see)
You basically speak against the RP points system, yet you tag many of the biggest points-fanatics on RP. They would certainly take umbrage with your above stated position.
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Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth
SCPO (Join to see) - I tag to get my points out...not for points. If you see I have been on RP for several years and am no where near the points of thos who have joined about the same time or after me. I just try to get my points out to folks to increase discussion. However, I can see your point because points are assigned to tags etc...just trying to get discussions started versus just letting a post sit. I wish we could tag without points but I guess we can't.
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SCPO (Join to see)
Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth - Scott, I know you've been on here a long time. So does everyone else. Look at how many viewers you have on a post you create. There's where you see that people ARE reading what you post. And the majority do not up you or down you or even comment. Like me, for instance. Tagging people, and the SAME people which most taggers do, typically ONLY generates reactions from them, post after post. Look at how many times some out-of-nowhere person tags your posts. The proof is right there. These high rollers on here don't care one iota about whether you READ or WATCH their post. Tagging is only saying "You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours." Round and round and round. It's always been about points with them.
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I plead guilty. Sometimes the only thing to say is Great Post. Other times expressing appreciation for posting something that the responder has not seen before is appropriate. Everything does not necessarily need an in depth discussion on this site. Possibly a phone conversation would take care of that.
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CAPT Michael Toleno
LTC Stephan Porter This is totally anecdotal and subjective, but from the posts I've seen in my relatively short time on RP, I'd say over half of the short "great post"–type responses are not adding much to a discussion.
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SCPO Morris Ramsey
I disagree with this statement. I have a lot of “close” friends here on RP. I appreciate “great post” from them as I hope they do from me. CAPT Michael Toleno
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