Yahoo! Answers Servery: Do the recent changes improve or degrade the site?
How likely would you rate the new changes, and how satisfied are you with them?
Here are the recent changes. ( Note, list the changes that are not mentioned in this question)
(1) A new question format. ( This allows your questions or answers to look as if you don't have much to say, although you probably wrote a very long question or answer. It also limits scrolling down in order to read the question or answer, and it also maximizes advertisement images).
(2) Randomize voting selection ( This prevents point gamers from holding first place with low quality answers in order to get chosen as best answer by lazy voters who are looking for a quick 1 point).
(3) Thumb down ( Notice when you thumb down an answer and re-view it, there will be a new design.
(4) Reporting ( Notice when you report a question, you are no longer taken back to the question after reporting it, but rather taken to the question category. This means to report and move on. No looking back).
2008-04-30T10:40:45Z
(5) Reporting 2 ( Notice when reporting an inappropriate question or answer, you are required to select an option for reporting. This helps incorrect reporting).
(6) Thumbs up ( Notice you now receive an extra point for each thumb up on your answer selected as best answer. This means if I thumb up your best answer today that was chosen as best answer a year ago, you will receive an extra point).
2008-04-30T10:43:49Z
Survey*****
2008-04-30T19:50:26Z
Note #3 is a glitch.
I apologize for the misinformation. Wasn't my fault.
Anonymous2008-05-01T18:03:54Z
Favorite Answer
I don't feel qualified to respond to the wider format point because I use an ad-blocker. It seems to my screen that some extra space around the edges has been utilized, that's all. It's nice in itself (less scrolling is required, links aren't truncated as often, etc.), but again, I don't know what effect it has for most users who can see the ads. I suppose Yahoo! needs all the revenue it can get now, considering Microsoft's pressure.
The other "improvements" I support, and am glad to finally see acted upon, but further improvement is still necessary. Randomizing answers during voting will now enable cheaters, unless Yahoo! later implements timestamps. The report screen could bear more detail on the violations; "chat", "spam", etc. are listed, but "solicitation", "not a Q or A", and others still go unknown to many members. And of course, "Return to Category" was unanimously not a good move.
I hadn't noticed that answers thumbed-down remain in correct viewing order. Thanks for that one. I suppose I prefer it the new way, but this change wasn't at the top of any critics' list.
There's one more report screen improvement that you neglected to mention here. Voting cheaters used to be able to click the report button to view the nickname of the anonymous answerer, then hit their back button to vote for/against them. Now those nicknames are kept anonymous on the voting report screen as well.
(1) I suppose we will get used to this, though it does make the line length rather long.
(2) This one gets my vote as best innovation. I have always felt cheated when I take the time to read all the answers, narrow it down to two or three, and re-read those to ensure that I vote for the answer that really is the best .............. and after all that I find I need not have bothered because the first poor answer has six votes already and the real best answer doesn't stand a chance because it is on the second page!
(3) Haven't seen this yet.
(4) Ok .... well, I will just have to remember to save it to my watchlist before reporting.
(5) Good idea. I was sceptical about the incorrect reporting until I nearly did it myself the other day. I had sort of registered at the back of my mind that the answer box seemed smaller than usual, but didn't twig until I went to press Submit and saw the button said Report instead!
I still think they should move the Report button - stick it over on the right, out of the way.
(6) Oh I love this one! I've made good use of it already to give people an extra point for a really good answer.
Edit:- Thanks for reminding me, H-man, I too have always thought it should be obligatory to give a reason for reporting. I have seen too many people complain of receiving a VN with no reason given. It seems most unfair to punish people without even telling them which rule they have broken.
Three thrings, but this means a higer degree of responsibility from BOTH support and member. 1) Banning of trolls. Y!A has the philosophy that it is unfair to ban an IP address for it affects others at the address. Well, if a troll is going to have falmer wars here, they really do not care about others. Trolls MUST be stopped so banning via IP address may be the best, only option 2) A better appeal process. having come off a 10-day suspension, the reaction from the staff was one of neglect. I deserve to be able to honestly argue any suspension and answer violation with someone for real. We need a hall of justice where I have an appointment to argue the merits of the case. As the aggrieved party, i explain why this is not worthy of a violation or suspension. If I have filed the report, I must defend why I feel that it is a violation and not just some knee-jerk reaction because I don't particularly like the question or answer. And if i am suspended, there is a term limit. My account is suspended for six months or whatever. We cannot have this "non-deletion banishment" where there is no hope of restoration. If the person is that bad, then delete them flat out when the appeal fails, OK? But don't keep them hanging around until the end of time 3) A remodification of the violation categories. Quite frankly, "chatting" does not bother me at all. I don;t care if you want to know what people think of Britney Spears or my favorite songs from between 1999 and 2004. Violations are for serious infractions Squatting Cloning Solicitations Race baiting Foul language Obscene avatars Spite violation reports These are heavy duty, not junk like "posting in wrong category", "pretending to be non-human", "wearing white shoes after labor day." Now, the big trick is whether Y!A believes in itself enough to see that there is a problem and they are willing to work with the membership to fix it
1. Unsure - the long line might be less comfortable to read. 2. LIKE! Although, if 'A's could only be edited the same way as 'Q's (adds only), 'place-holding' and certain forms of plagiarism would become instantly obvious. 3. Haven't noticed. 4. Neutral (thanks to something I learned from you, I started RAMO a while back). EDIT: It should take you back to the page you were on instead of to the beginning of the category. 5. Annoying, but only because I was used to having a default - the idea's good. Personally, I think the text box stuff (or check-list) should be required, too. 6. I thought we had this already, but if not, good.
New glitch - I've seen a few questions where the last answer ends up BELOW the 'Resolved Questions' box, between it and the Yahoo Int'l stuff (no, of COURSE I didn't make a note of which ones but I will if I see it again).
I agree with a previous post - put the 'Add'l Details' on the 'answer page', too.
On another topic, any word on a fix for the 'stuck' resolved questions?
1) This one, along with number 2, were the only ones I noticed. I think It's an OK idea, it doesn't improve or downgrade the site.
2) I don't really like this one too much, I don't feel it neccessary. If people don't want point gamers voting for the first answer, then don't put your question up to vote.
3) I just checked, and I didn't see a difference. The only thing I noticed is that this one is glitching.
4) I don't really like the idea, I don't find it necessary. Not to mention the typo.
5) I don't find this neccesary.
6) Love this one. I have been waiting to see this change in the community. Finally!