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Question stealing: a sin or a virtue?
Someone wrote my American Idol question this week and I have to say I was pretty upset... that is until I remembered that I stole it from bayoubear to begin with about a month ago.
There is definitely a sense of "ownership" for the questions and categories that people usually handle. Especially, I think for the high volume questions - there's a certain thrill about seeing your name on the front page for the first time. On the other hand, the level of possessiveness that has developed around these questions makes it a lot harder for new users to come up with reasonable questions. Additionally, if a market isn't being made, do you step in and do it, ask permission first, or does that question type always belong to that person to make or not?
So what do you think? Should we continue to stake out our turfs, should we encourage new users to take over or should we make them find their own turf?
(Tone note: no criticism happening here, hope no one feels defensive. Just wanting to bring topic to discussion)
There is definitely a sense of "ownership" for the questions and categories that people usually handle. Especially, I think for the high volume questions - there's a certain thrill about seeing your name on the front page for the first time. On the other hand, the level of possessiveness that has developed around these questions makes it a lot harder for new users to come up with reasonable questions. Additionally, if a market isn't being made, do you step in and do it, ask permission first, or does that question type always belong to that person to make or not?
So what do you think? Should we continue to stake out our turfs, should we encourage new users to take over or should we make them find their own turf?
(Tone note: no criticism happening here, hope no one feels defensive. Just wanting to bring topic to discussion)
I’m guiltily still annoyed about American Idol
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Inappropriate?I think the answer to this question depends a little on the infrastructure that Hubdub affords the question creator. If there were enhanced functionality with regard to daily or weekly questions - a way to easily create a series of questions - then there's a good argument for owning a question. It also adds an element of confidence to the questions (provided they're not about Roadies and brought to you by satyaki :-}), that they come from a reliable source. It's also a way to establish a presence on the site. People remember you as the person who maintains that topic, which imparts a little personality to the site.
But as things stand, it's not always possible for someone to keep up the questions as the weeks go by. You get busy, or you lose interest. Personally, I'm more interested in inventing new types of questions, than in keeping them going from week to week. In most cases, I'm happy if a repeatable question becomes popular, and am thrilled that someone else would want to ask it again, as I find it becomes a chore after a while. It's nice to get credit when someone takes it up, but beyond that I feel that my questions at least are GPL. But I can also understand that other people may feel more possessive of their efforts.
One idea might be a check box on the question creation page that "claims ownership" of a question series. This would display somehow with the question (a copyright symbol?) and it would be understood the creator doesn't wish others to take over future versions.
I think, however, that we should also consider when repeated questions are a good thing and when they become problematic. A bad question repeated ad infinitum is an irritant. That's one of the great things about someone else picking up a question "thread" and repeating it -- it indicates an actual interest out there in having the question repeated. Maybe we need some mechanism for designating such popular questions (a heritage classification), and these are the questions that are most easily repeated at the creation page and also the questions which may be owned by the creator (or passed on to someone new)?
Also, while certain questions create communities of interest that are entirely beneficial to the site as a whole, there is always the danger of becoming swamped by the familiar at the expense of new approaches and new questions.
I’m glad you brought this up.
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Inappropriate?My take on this is that question "stealing" should be encouraged. I really don't mind someone creating/repeating my questions, which has occurred several times before. Therefore, I don't understand why someone would be upset at that: I'd be happy(It saves time, removes the 12 hr thing). Maybe the new creator could include a tribute to the original creator in the background?
I’m amused
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Inappropriate?I am with Rohan on this one. If there isn't already a question about the topic, then I think anyone should be able to write it. The more experience a wide group of users have writing questions is going to help everyone.1 Comment
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That's a good point. I was going to mention it but forgot. Copying a question is a great way to get started in creating questions. It teaches you the mechanics of the question creation page. -
Inappropriate?I agree with Rohan! I am guilty of stealing a question of his XD
But yes, it stealing shows that people are interested in the question... maybe we should just put "Originally posted by Rohan" (that was an example)
I’m happy
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Inappropriate?A great, well approached question and all very appropriate, positive replies. A wise crew of "Founding Hubdubbers" seem to be letting newbies approach the question board with welcoming "permission"! And I agree.
I’m happy to be a part of this cool crew
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Inappropriate?I hope we see in the near future the ability to create questions for markets that are repeating, like the dow or movies, with little ease and maybe we could introduce a way in which a question wouldn't go live til a certain point so the odds could be set if needed. I know I have asked for all new questions to be in a state of pending until reviewed, and then once reviewed made immediately live with no restrictions. But how helpful would it be to have all the NFL game questions written, and be able to fix the odds as the weeks approach. That way we could help with duplicate markets as well.
Just my 2cents. What do others think.1 Comment Add a comment
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This is a great idea.
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Inappropriate?Great topic for discussion, thnx.
I asked before taking on a question and was encouraged by the creator and others to make it happen.felt it was basic courtesy.
Imitation is a sincere form of flattery.
grand ideas above, Destry.
Would be nice to have a template for Earthquake type questions, so that a bunch could be created at once.
I’m pensive for hubdubs survival.
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Inappropriate?Darn...and I just now realize that you DID 'steal' my Idol question...just kidding, you've done a great job of maintaining it throughout the season...and I remember you 'offering' to let anyone who wanted to write it themselves. The problem with repeating questions is that everyone tends to sit back politely, as we should to some degree, to allow them the opportunity to post their market. But sometimes real life interferes.
Just keep calm about it and don't have a snit-fit...we're a growing community and we can all help each other.
I’m confident
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Inappropriate?If I take the original question someone else has posted, and use it (but it still resembles the original question in some degree), I try to remember to acknowledge the original poster in my question's background info or comments, etc.
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