Why is "Karma Harvesting" considered illegal/spam?

Okay, so while I certainly understand on one level why certain questions categorized as "Karma Harvesters" might be frowned upon, I can find no reference to this being particularly problematic practice on either the FAQ page nor any of the questions posted on the site. Given the contest that is being conducted, every question is being crafted by its creator with the intent of harvesting as many karma points as possible (assuming that they are competing in the competition). Absent guidance banning certain types of questions, it seems to me that clasifying any type of question as illegal is arbitrary and inhibits creativity. Now I certainly understand why someone would want to minimize obscene and offensive speech, but beyond that???

Sooooo....why is "Karma Harvesting" considered illegal/spam and where can you find these rules?

karma harvesting spam rules obscene contest guidance

asked Jun 12 '10 at 18:22

SMGBobbyScott
991●20●46●49

Oh, BTW is asking for votes overtly considered Karma Harvesting?

(Jun 12 '10 at 22:44) SMGBobbyScott

i think it is, and if its not it should be

(Jun 12 '10 at 23:45) thrashintosh

3 Answers:

oldest newest most voted

The FAQ was updated today, and the reversal of karma and suspension of bunk accounts has begun. It's truly simple to see who is gaming the karma system.

Perhaps if people were concerned more with building a knowledge community rather than bolstering their efforts through questionable ways, this wouldn't be an issue.

Karma is not a privilege, and I certainly won't stand idly by and let valid / useful gestures be rendered moot by a handful of cheats.

The first prize was put out there to help get the site going - and, despite a few eyebrow-raising activities, I'd say we're off to a damn good start.

answered Jun 12 '10 at 19:05

chris ♦♦
11.2k●166●247●265

This goes a long way toward answering several of the issues...may want to check the wording of one sentence (add a not I think) but otherwise it looks fine. Additionally, I don't think I've suggested that you "stand idly by"...quite the opposite. I was asking for active engagement in the process of identifying what was cheating and the change in the FAQ sheet is a step in that direction.

(Jun 12 '10 at 20:47) SMGBobbyScott

by randomly positing simple questions that you know the answer to are you really contributing to the community? i think maybe make it so you can only ask 3 questions a day. or earn the right to ask more questions by answering more questions and gaining more karma, say you start off with being allowed to ask 3 questions a day, if you reach 500 karma increasing it to 5 questions, 1000 10 questions ext, this way the more you contribute the more you are allowed to contribute

answered Jun 12 '10 at 18:32

trueb
15.4k●53●104●260

Says the person who already has the inside track on 2000 points...hmmmm?

Wikipedia has a page dedicated to the apple (not the computer), my guess is that in order to make this site comprehensive you are going to need to have EVERY topic covered...GREAT and small.

(Jun 12 '10 at 18:39) SMGBobbyScott

@trueb that is an awesome idea, i would love to see questions limited down to three, there are certain people who really get on my nerves with there constant questions about nothing.

(Jun 12 '10 at 21:03) thrashintosh

Okay, so here's a problem that I think warrants clarification. Even the definition for what constitutes Karma Harvesting is being expanded beyond what I think it was originally intended. I asked the question earlier whether merely asking for votes would be considered a harvesting violation and at least one commenter suggested that they did. Experience with this individual suggests that he takes this perspective very seriously and others in fact act upon that definition. So I have a real concern in how this is implemented....SEE

http://lockergnome.net/questions/33674/is-it-just-me-or-is-there-some-thought-police-action-on-lockergnome

for a broader discussion on not just my concerns but others as well...

answered Jun 17 '10 at 20:55

SMGBobbyScott
991●20●46●49

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