Comments for weblog.probablynot.com

Comment on The Problem With User Rankings by Chas

Chas — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:43:41 +0000

This is a common “1 star bandit” problem that really shows the weakness of any server-wide rating system: One idiot- whose opinion we likely can’t trust anyway- can mess the whole thing up.

Even more complex. You’re a creative player that does very well, but doesn’t template or take FOTM builds. I’m a religious FOTM follower (I’m not). We’re likely to rate each other more negatively than people that share our views.

Wouldn’t it be better if pro-FOTM’ers could find other like-minded people, while anti-FOTM’ers could do the same?

Serverwide ratings pretend we all have the same interests and prevent this.

Is there a solution?

Well, it substantially increases database load, but what if you only got the ratings from those people that you rated favorably, more like a social networking site. Essentially, it’s a kind of “friends’ referral system. (In theory, you can even extend this to your friends’ friends’ referrals)

Now, you’re seeing a rating that’s been applied by people that you liked- that shared more of your priorities and interests, so the people they rate favorably or negatively might also resonate the same with you.

Moreover, the 1-star bandit is powerless unless he first is able to convince people to LIKE him.

Comment on Company Policy by Michael

Michael — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 20:09:40 +0000

Thanks for the link David. Me = psych geek. I’ve not gotten far, but that looks like a great read.

Comment on Company Policy by David

David — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:46:25 +0000

It seems this white paper refers to the story at least. I’m not sure it’s claiming to be an original source of the story however. http://www.superdecisions.com/~saaty/ISAHP2005/Papers/YuPL_ChenYC_EmpoweringAHPWithHabitualDomains.pdf

Comment on Company Policy by David

David — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:42:14 +0000

This is a story told in psych 101 courses. I can’t recall an exact source (nor could Google find it), but I remember talking about it my freshman year in college. Those were the days…

Comment on Programmers Are People Too by jason

jason — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:48:28 +0000

Thanks for that link. Nice read.

Comment on Programmers Are People Too by Michael

Michael — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 05:02:13 +0000

Let’s not forget that the report, the bug fixes and the new field on screen b are still part of the programmers job, too. The impatient suits that all to often set unreasonable goals and unrealistic time tables can’t (well, can, but really shouldn’t) expect said programmer to put aside all other projects and work only on the big one. Pretty soon you have a programmer with 100 tasks in his backlog and a new app still being worked on. Getting angry with an employee for doing their job… sounds like corporate exec’s to me.

If you didn’t see Anatomy of a Runaway IT Project last week, I think you’ll enjoy it.

Comment on Urban Dead is dead to me by jake duane jones

jake duane jones — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:55:42 +0000

I agree with you, like the game but it has it’s flaws, you should make a game, I’m always looking for new zombie online games.

Comment on Blog Banter: The Box versus the Digital Download by Blog Banter: The Lost Artifacts of Gaming | Video Game Sandwich

Blog Banter: The Lost Artifacts of Gaming | Video Game Sandwich — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:25:53 +0000

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Comment on Crafting and Mini-games by slot machine

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Comment on Blog Banter: The Box versus the Digital Download by jason

jason — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 03:48:37 +0000

@bs angel:
Its not that the game allows three downloads. You’ve bought the box and the CD… the game only allows 3 “installs”, where replacing your video card (or other hardware) is considered an install.

@Silvercube:
Manuals… maybe, but that’s what PDFs are for, or they could always just team up with the Prima guide people and sell them separately. As for the Special Collector Editions, 99% of the time its a box of junk trying to get you to spend extra money. The last time I got a collector’s edition that had something I cared about was the Ultima Online one with the cloth map, which I still have.