I'm all for anything that reduces the role of points in how people act and make decisions around AB. And while this is far from my ideal when it comes to the points system (Namely, reducing *All* points, to zero), I'd definitely call it a step in the right direction. I can't even count all the questions I've had flagged where it seemed, as far as I could tell, that the only reason the person had flagged them was because they thought they could get away with it and claim the points.

I think that's a great idea. The flagging situation has gotten out of hand. It seems that any question that is flagged as nonsense or duplicate is accepted out of hand. If fewer points are awarded users might be more inclined to lay off the flag button.

I think it would be good to have it be down to 3 or even less for all flagging (recategorizing included). It's getting really annoying how many flags are being accepted. I definitely wouldn't mind if there was a smaller point value, or even, GASP, no points! I would still moderate.

I think it would stop or at least slow down people who only flag to get the points!!!!!!!

I think this would be a good idea. I think people now just flag for the points, and they don't realize that they're flagging something that shouldn't be flagged. I think that reducing the point value would be a good idea.

Sounds good. Thanks Jod

I like the idea there Jodie, but mainly I think we should also focus on the wrong category was well too. Looking at this, I think that Wrong Category is probably the most used flag, since many quesitons can fit in more than one question as well, and is mainly used by many moderators, even me when I use the flag.

possibly...but then, from my own experience, a lot of flags aren't even accepted. I flag questions that I find offensive, nonsense, duplicate, etc. I never do it just to get points, because a lot of the time, I don't get them.

If that would make AB a better site then I'm for it! =)

I think it's a great idea.

I've posted many questions about the moderation because I think the moderation points have really gone too far. In my very first week here, I was only number 12 in the weekly standings because I didn't know yet how to moderate. When I did learn how to moderate - zoom! I've been on the Answerbag Top 5 of the week for three weeks! Sadly though, my number of answers and questions has dropped (as can be gleaned from the "Most Inquisitive" and "Most Answers" leaderboards) because I focus now more on moderating the site. It's surefire points, that's why. I can give a good answer to a question and get no points at all. One time, I was even downrated for it. Sorry for the comparison, but Yahoo Answers doesn't give you points for flagging stuff. So when I flagged questions and answers when I was there, it was for the love of the site. Mushy but true. Who wouldn't flag answers such as "f**k you idiot"? I do believe in giving points for people who moderate. But I think it should be lowered to 2 points. Five is simply too much. In the current system, each approved flag is as valuable as a good question, and almost as valuable as a good answer. That defeats the purpose of a Q&A website. One more thing, the moderation points actually saved me here. I've been accused of being a sock puppet and of uprating myself using other accounts. Well, the moderation points couldn't be manipulated in such a way. Unless I slept with AB-Rich and/or AB-Joel. The moderation points are actually a great equalizer. Sad to say, many of the so-called "Sages" and "Maestros" are not really Sage-y and Maestro-y. I realized that while I was moderating the site. I saw the answers of some of those with high levels and Jesus Christ! I also saw the answers given by Level 1 people way back then. Some of them were very good! It pains me that their answers received no points at all. As I've told Kevin, it might sound like a "johnny-come-lately" kind of thing, but I gave their answers + 6. With the moderation points, those who are new and unknown are given a chance to catch up with those who have been with the site for a long time. With that, we are given a chance to give ratings of + 6 and + 5. God forbid that those rating powers are left to the hands of a few. Then we are left with congratulatory "questions" receiving hundreds of points. Indeed, AB would become a mutual admiration society composed of Sages, Maestros and up who have been with the site for a long time.

I think we should either get rid of them all or have them reduced to one point. Definately in my opinion the five points for recatorgorizing should go. The recatorgorization moderating is the one that is making it a problem. People are just moving the same questions round and round like pass the parcel. New categories are being suggested purely for the sake of moving questions that do not really need recatorgorizing. It is becoming farcial when we can sit for an hour (some people eight hours or more) just moderating. It is almost easy for some of us to earn fifteen hundred to two thousand points a day. Some of us have become like seagulls on a garbage dump. This weeks leader board is a perfect example, all five of us are people that Moderate big time. One on the board had never even answered or asked a question until yesterday. This surely is not what AB is meant to be about. I know my letter to staff on the Blog has started this debate and I am willing to stand by the fact. I have 80,000 Moderation points which is still less than my earned points but not much now. I am quite willing to give them up, if this goes across the board. I know that will mean a big change in positions but I am quite willing to accept that fact Pattijo asked on the Blog last week why newer people are leaving her behind and rising in the ranks so much faster than we did when we first arrived. Well moderation from recatorgorization is the reason. I realise that a lot of people will not like my opinion but when you can rise to the top and stay there just on housekeeping, that detracts from the fact that AB is supposed to be a Question and Answer site. I suppose there are many more points that I could make but I have said it all before on different answers and comment threads. My biggest surprise is that somebody has listened to me, the invisible woman. I may edit and add to this as my mind clears.

I think "If it aint broke, dont fix it!"

do away with the points for moderation completely. Or those point should be recorded in a seperate column "Clean up points". People take the path of least resistance and that is by moderating. Others answer and write questions. If point continue for moderation then there should be a 10-15 moderation stop per day.

I think that makes a lot of sense as those are the flags that seem to make people irate about what happened to their questions. And it seems to be the one used in anger or revenge if what I see is any thing.

This debate has been beaten to death. I agree with Dead Drunk's answer (brilliant). Put this in perspective. For all the "I don't care about points" claims we sure have a lot of folks complaining about high mod point earners taking up slots on the Leaderboard. What Jodie propses in her question is a good solution. AB Staff should also cut mod point earners off if they do not maintain a very high percentage. That might curb the ardent flaggers who do so just to get the points. Moderating is not "easy". Half of what I flag as a "duplicate" I don't find in the list of possible duplicates. I have a good memory and have been here long enough to locate the dupe even if it's not on the list. Let's be honest about how much things are "worth" on AB. Should you get 5 points for answering a question with yes, no, or I don't know? Cutting and pasting from sources? Or throwing an answer out there that is inaccurate to win the points race? The truth is, none of these things are more respectable than moderating. Quite frankly, I am happy that somebody cleans up the clutter around here.

Actually, I moderate to be helpful AND for points. Besides,I ENJOY moderating. It "annoys" me when I see a post such as "What is the best recipe for peanut butter cookies?" in the "Automobile" section, etc.; clearly in the wrong category. However, I probably would not flag anything if I were not awarded points. In my opinion, to do it correctly is time consuming and warrants points. Five points is a very strong incentive.