I got made a merit source this morning, which was a bit of a surprise since I hadn't ever applied to be one and have stated multiple times that I didn't want to be one. However, since Theymos has seen fit to saddle me with the responsibility, I'll accept it and take it seriously.
However, I don't plan to give merits to any old Newbie just for a typical crappy post, i.e., I don't plan to lower the standards that I've always had. What I do plan on doing is finding low-ranked members who actually deserve merits, and I'll pay more attention to noob posts when I see them.
Theymos wants these noobs merited even if their posts are just "good". Fortunately we all have different definitions of the word "good" and in my opinion that's the standard I've always tried to uphold. I just happen to have high standards when it comes to what's good. I'll be on the lookout for good posts, as I'm sure all the new and old merit sources will be. We've got more sMerits to play with, so I don't think this is going to be as bad as it looks in the first 24 hours of the change.
However, I don't plan to give merits to any old Newbie just for a typical crappy post, i.e., I don't plan to lower the standards that I've always had. What I do plan on doing is finding low-ranked members who actually deserve merits, and I'll pay more attention to noob posts when I see them.
Theymos wants these noobs merited even if their posts are just "good". Fortunately we all have different definitions of the word "good" and in my opinion that's the standard I've always tried to uphold. I just happen to have high standards when it comes to what's good. I'll be on the lookout for good posts, as I'm sure all the new and old merit sources will be. We've got more sMerits to play with, so I don't think this is going to be as bad as it looks in the first 24 hours of the change.
newbie hell
I like that. I think I'm going to use that in the future.Careful what we wish for, since meritocratic systems focus on rewarding type which, in turn, forces people to compete for relative position or advantage.
I wouldn't be surprised if the newly anointed "merit sources" start to face a deluge of competing, yet compelling (to them), posts appealing to their personal post allegiances.
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A system that measures people on relative as opposed to absolute performance is quite likely to be very time consuming indeed for our merit sources.
An analogy is that of everyone at a stadium standing to get a better view. While individually rational, this is wasteful for the group as a whole. When everyone decides (rationally) to put in more resources for the positional good (a better view), relative positions are unchanged but everyone "spends more" just to maintain their relative position. Meritocracy is a good system but it sure ain't perfect
