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A crisis of conscience ...

While I download code when an article interests me or is of use to me as I solve programming questions I have about concepts/conceits/etc and since I haven't added any articles of my own I feel guilty about my behavior.

Guilt is an odd thing though. Despite being guilty the fact of the code project "matter" is that for every behavior input the member is graded by the voting system. And here's where it gets personal. I actually don't care about votes!

Reading through the many threads where "vote" is some sort of issue with others I detect that there's only one way that I should actually be feeling guilty. And this is assuring, because the one's who author articles have a right to vote.

But that's just it. I get points automatically! So THAT'S how I'm connected to all this voting stuff.

What is my function then, as a downloader and user but not a contributer?

I think my function is to be a critic.

How is it that being just a critic then gets me votes?
Posted

A critic is a true 'fan' as in he is the one who is going to provide real constructive feedback to the author.
So obviously, you deserve points for being a 'critic'.
:)
 
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Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 13-May-11 19:52pm    
Totally agree, my 5. Even non-constructive criticism can be valuable.
To me, it is one of the valuable part in communications and exchange of experience.

Please see my answer.
--SA
Abhinav S 14-May-11 1:35am    
Thank you.
Because you're helping to organized the site. You also organize by voting, bookmarking, downloading, and other things. Caring about votes will come - be patient, young Jedi. :)
 
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Abhinav S 13-May-11 15:14pm    
Nice. My 5 right away. :)
Its the "Young Jedi" part that got me.
Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 13-May-11 19:53pm    
Let's see how this person can use the Force. My 5 for your note.

Please see my answer.
--SA
If you're a person like you describe, please, do me a favor, look at my articles/tips, may be even answers.
If you could offer me some valid criticism (not necessarily constructive!) I would be much more grateful than if you supplied me with tons of articles on technology.

Criticism can be much more valuable. There is too much technical information out there. It can turn into valuable knowledge only it it is digested by the reader, not another writer. By many reasons information digested by someone else does not help much. More importantly, if you simply read it, you cannot trust it until you understand it with mathematical accuracy and grind through you own experience. It all takes considerable amount of labor. When we do this work, you all makes some mistakes which can gravely erode the value of our knowledge. Peer review and criticism is the only thing which help to dig out our deeply rooted or casual mistakes. We can trust science only because scientific method includes multiple check ups of the result from different stand points by different people. Same thing happens in technology.

Perhaps most people are more or less illiterate in their profession. One of the main reason for that is the lack of culture of listening to criticism and using it for improvement of work.

If you can really play the role of critic and you can do it really well, you can be most valuable person in our effort to exchange technological knowledge and experience — for those who is able to value it.

—SA
 
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Comments
Abhinav S 14-May-11 1:35am    
Is a good answer. 5.
Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 14-May-11 13:45pm    
Thank you, Abhinav.
--SA

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