New SDN Forums Users.

[Former Member]

Hi Guys,

I think some of the new SDN Forums users don't even know that they are supposed to reward points to the helpful answers to their queries. Once they get some solution to the problem from replies, they just don't may b even get back to that thread again.

And this leads to dissatisfaction amongst the repliers and may be leads to lesser response gradually.

This is what i have observed. It may not be true for all.

Is there anything that can guide the new users on SDN Forums on reward system because i don't think any new user goes to contributor's system page and read the stuff out there.

Regards,

Tejas

[Former Member]

I do not believe that this problem can easily be overcome.

Imagine this: Some SAP user out there, not specifically engaged with SDN (not feeling any responsibilities), faces some urgent problem he cant solve. Through google he comes to SDN, gets to the forums, with some luck hits the right one, posts a question and leaves.

Due to the functionality of SDN he will get email updates on any answers to his thread in his mail box. With a good probability he gets a good solution right to his desktop, he solves his problem and goes home to see his wife, kids, dog. The next day he has a new challenge....

Only if he has to come back for a follow up question or if he starts to use SDN regularly he might really become aware of the points system and start awarding points.

Moreover, from the emails I occasionally receive from people asking me for advice I suspect that a lot of people out there believe that the folks answering their questions belong to a larger SAP maintainance team and that they have paid for this maintainance with there regular SAP license fees anyway.

Well, my advice, don't take that reward stuff too serious, answer questions if you feel satisfied by the fact that you helped someone (nb: no matter if you get rewarded or not, you nevertheless help the unthankful people as well as a number of anonymous readers), leave it if you don't want to help or set up your own private buddy list of whom to help and whom not to help.

anton

Message was edited by:

Anton Wenzelhuemer

[stephenjohannes]

Anton,

You bring up a good point and usually there are some people who don't ever reward anything but ask answers. I there was an "ignore" feature in SDN then I would probably add to my list anyone who I tried to give a reasonable answer to their question and didn't come back with any feedback(points and/or reply). I don't expect points for every answer, but getting closure to question should be the point.

The CRM forum got so bad for a while that I decided that I was too busy to read the forum and answer questions. I decided to start answering questions again, as way to research topics that I find interesting and could help me with my current activities. I am also guilty of going after the "low-hanging fruit" when I pick questions to answer.

Your suggestion is probably the best solution, as trying to change behavior can only go so far, and really you should answer questions because it either:

gave you the good feeling of helping someone or helped expand/refine your knowledge of the subject.

Good luck,

Stephen

[Former Member]

Hi Guys

Perhaps the problem is that the whole reply is sent to the user via e-mail. If the casual user's question is answered via e-mail, there is no reason for the dude to ever click the link and return to the forums. Maybe the e-mail notification should only contain the first few lines of the response so that it is necessary to go into the forums to retrieve the rest. And then the user is more exposed to the requests to close the question and award points.

Cheers

Lyal

[Former Member]

Hey Lyal,

I really Appreciate your point. Its really an important aspect of the issue that is there.

-Tejas

[Former Member]

> Moreover, from the emails I occasionally receive from

> people asking me for advice I suspect that a lot of

> people out there believe that the folks answering

> their questions belong to a larger SAP maintainance

> team and that they have paid for this maintainance

> with there regular SAP license fees anyway.

Anton, I couldn't say it better -:D That happens to me a lot....Most of the time I reply them kidly asking them to post on the SDN....I mean...I'm not Rich Heilman.....

I think that people who sends personal mails, are too lazy to give points so they rather mail one of us to get an answer and move on.....

Even when you get 1 point for giving points, people don't do it or don't want to.....They even doesn't close threads.....which is bad of course.....If you search the forums you will surely filter only answer threads....but when the correct answer is on a unclosed thread.....Then you feel the depression of getting what you are looking for -:(

Greetings,

Blag.

[eddy_declercq]

Hi,

There is enough information available in the FAQs and rules of engagement in each forum available. It's just a matter of opening your eyes and willing to click/think before posting anything.

Eddy

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PS. Reward the useful answers and you will get <a href="http:///people/baris.buyuktanir2/blog/2007/04/04/point-for-points-reward-yourself">one point</a> yourself!

[Former Member]

Maybe each reply to the question should have a note at the end like Eddy's

<i>(PS. Reward the useful answers and you will get one point yourself! )....</i>and also remind them to close the thread, and give points to all answers.

I doubt if people actually take the time to read the FAQ's. I know some do, but maybe not all of them.