Why has Yeddas answer-grading system changed?
The system was being abused. Some people were using the ‘thumbs down’ option to ‘steal’ thumbs from members for whom they had a dislike, instead of as the option was meant to be used (as an ‘I disagree’). Some of those people went so far as to open multiple accounts so as to be able to subtract multiple thumbs from people by using each of their Yedda identities to do so. Yedda staff considered several solutions, but ultimately decided that the current option was the best under the circumstances. I highly agree. I was one of the ones who came under attack; at one point I lost over 100 thumbs in the space of just a few hours. I believe all of us further agree that ‘thumbs’ are not the specific reason we are here, but it IS nice to be acknowledged for providing assistance and the thumbs are a shorthand way to do that.
I guess I would like the system to operate by the rule about giving five or seven alternatives for a grade. … On the other hand, perhaps there are other types of reasons not to use that: When I was in college, some other student, who was in that same program, but was taking it as a Swedish military education, was eager to escape the grade system, and wanted pass/fail courses (with higher standards for even passing) instead. My guess about why is that he would fear that his quite good grades could otherwise point him out for some potential enemy. Although he was far fromthe only one asking for that, I dare say he was keener on it than any one else!
