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So was result #21 on that page, as it claims?
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harold aptroot wrote: So was result #21 on that page
Yes, it was.
3 columns x 7 rows 
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I stumbled upon this thread in the Suggestions forum :
http://www.codeproject.com/Messages/4387427/Insults-are-not-welcome.aspx[^]
And that got me thinking about how language ability and coding skills are the 2 major factors that affect how people get treated online.
Well, there’s no score/ranking here really but I’ve formulated this theory on what makes someone popular in a technical/geek forum (like CodeProject, StackOverflow, or say Reddit). In my observations, it seems to be directly related to a combination of your language ability (not just grammar, but the ability to use humor and sarcasm to good effect) and your technological competency. Here’s a venn-diagram of sorts that tries to explain this better:
http://i.imgur.com/fHExJ.png[^]
2 : represents people who have great language/humor/verbosity.
3: represents technology gurus with extreme coding skills.
4: represents the intersection of 2 and 3.
1: represents those with neither language skills or technical ability.
Now, people in 2 and 3 (but not in 4) usually get along okay. Here on CP we have a fair number of category-2 people who can write well, express complex ideas succinctly, and possess incredible senses of humor, but who are very ordinary programmers. They are popular. We also have a number of category-3 people, mostly from non-native (English) countries who are very good at coding/technology and who answer a lot of Q-A threads. They are fairly popular too despite the fact that many of them write with the verbosity/grammar of a 6 year old. Then we have the rock-stars like Christian and Pete who are category-4, that most elite of forum classifications. These folks are revered and held in the absolute highest esteem. So, what does this leave us with? Well folks who can’t code, and whose English expressing abilities are severely lacking. While it sounds unfair, it’s best if these people try and work on at least one of these skills before venturing out to these sites, unless they possess really thick skins and are prepared to learn and improve amidst a showering of insults and abuses.
Opinions welcome...
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Nish Sivakumar wrote: Insults-are-not-welcome.aspx
I know you're making a serious point, but I read that as Inuits are not welcome earlier on today.
Every man can tell how many goats or sheep he possesses, but not how many friends.
Shed Petition[ ^]
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Very analytic way to show things, I guess you have chosen the right career 
I also think you are right, at leat in most cases. Im assuming the nearer the center you are the more points you'll get?
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Thank you and yeah, those nearer the center usually get the most points/karma/rep as well.
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Now for a more appropriate answer.
It is always good advice to read a site and get accustomed to its peculiarities before you post on it. Unfortunately the vast majority of people (I would imagine) end up here because they have an immediate problem. I don't think poor coding skills really matter, it is the ability to express yourself properly (and by that I do not mean just English not being your first or second language, many native English speakers cannot communicate well, especially using the written form of the language) that does, because straight away it gets people's backs up.
I am sure that many asking succinct questions have attempted to find out the information, but simply lack the skills, or are not confident in their skills, to express what they have done so just put the question and no background.
Every man can tell how many goats or sheep he possesses, but not how many friends.
Shed Petition[ ^]
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ChrisElston wrote:
I am sure that many asking succinct questions have attempted to find out the
information, but simply lack the skills, or are not confident in their skills,
to express what they have done so just put the question and no background.
I agree, sometimes it's a matter of nerves.
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For people who are very new, it can be challenging to even know what to ask. They face a problem, but due to simple lack of experience, also lack the context to know what to ask, or what to search for. I am self-taught, and I think I am getting pretty good at this programming thing. But only a few years ago, it was very difficult to even know A. What to search for on line, prior to asking (because I recognized that it is better to try to find an answer for yourself, first) and B. How to ask the question, or how to describe the problem.
Fortunately, I am a native English speaker, and relatively adept with the written language. I shudder to think how I would come off, or how successful I would be, if I needed to ask questions about the complex subject of programming in a foreign tongue.
While it can be painful to read some questions or answers posed by a non-native speaker, these people deserve all of our respect and some kudos. It takes some serious cojones to attempt asking or answering a question about programming when you don;t speak the language. Imagin posting your next question or answer in, say, Russian (if, that is, you are a single-language native English-speaker).
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You forgot category 5, idiots.
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