Special offer
Jay Markanich, Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia (Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC)

Spam prevention
Rainmaker
474,492
Bill Dandridge
MKB, Realtors - Roanoke, VA
GREEN, ABR, GRI, EcoBroker

The Trulia/Market Leader/Zillow monster is just attempting to get more clicks so that they can charge more for advertising. We are doing the work for them to ensure that these sites get more clicks than realtor.com...

 

Nov 24, 2014 10:05 PM
Rainmaker
1,380,861
Loreena and Michael Yeo
3:16 team REALTY ~ Locally-owned Prosper TX Real Estate Co. - Prosper, TX
Real Estate Agents

I usually dont worry about that. In any system, there will always be people "gaming" it. Just plan to do what you think is right, the rest will eventually take care of itself.

Nov 23, 2014 09:50 PM
Rainmaker
1,731,203
Rob Thomas
Prestige Homes of The Tri Cities, Inc. CALL....423-341-6954 - Bristol, TN
Bristol TN-VA & Tri Cities Agent, ABR, GRI, e-Pro

Jay ...I think it should stop immediately ....or limit it to one question a week ....You could stay on here 24/7 and rack up a zillion points

Nov 23, 2014 08:29 AM
Ambassador
735,052
John DL Arendsen
CREST "BACKYARD' HOMES, ON THE LEVEL General & Manufactured Home Contractor, TAG Real Estate Sales & Investments - Leucadia, CA
Crest Backyard Homes "ADU" dealer & RE Developer

Jay Markanich while I agree with you in part with respect to a sensible and worthwhile Q/A platform I for one have been an advocate of one for years. If diligently managed it's an invaluable tool for generating a strong website presence overall. 

I've been a Trulia member/contributor for about as long as I have been an AR member and I have to say that I've gotten more milage out of the Trulia Q/A platform than any other social networking medium I've ever been involved with. 

But there should be limits and or some sort of monitoring of the quality of the questions that are being asked.

Nov 23, 2014 07:40 AM
Rainmaker
7,836,431
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

More very good reasons to dump the current points system.

Nov 23, 2014 06:21 AM
Ambassador
6,393,609
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

After checking back in after reading Praful's post, I think that it may be done already, who has time to wade through this mess of silly questions?

I thought they would have that sorting issues fixed by now, if it is going to stay the way it is then the q&a section is useless.

 

Nov 23, 2014 04:48 AM
Rainmaker
332,989
Dave Hill PhD,ePro,SFR,CIAS,BPOR,CNE,CSC Chicago Area Real Estate Agent
Midwest Premier Realty, Gurnee IL 224-321-0699 - Gurnee, IL

Jay - I agree, I hope that AR put a sensible cap on the number of questions people can post in any given time. That might do something toward ensuring the quality of posts. 

Nov 23, 2014 04:33 AM
Rainmaker
630,251
Ajay Pandya
e-Merge Real Estate Unlimited - Columbus, OH
Realtor Ajay Pandya

Well, the page is still alive - thanks to some good guidelines.

Sep 19, 2017 10:08 PM
Rainmaker
109,250
Kris Neese
ActiveRain - Bellevue, WA
Mr. Behind the Scenes at ActiveRain

I really appreciate this feedback, thank you.  The point-mongers are driving us crazy, too! We cut back the point values quite a bit last week to 10 points per question and 10 points per answer to demotivate them. We also have some rules going into effect in a few weeks that will limit how many times you can score on an event each day.

The points system is sticking around. It is a good way for us to motivate people on ActiveRain as long as we can make it fairly cheat-proof. Watch for some big changes to the system in our next release that should make things a lot better.

Nov 28, 2014 01:02 AM
Rainmaker
2,015,081
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

I think you make my point exactly Kevin.  Those who game the system do so only for points, not for content and maybe couldn't care less about content.

For me, the SEO is important as many people call me for inspections because of my blogs.  So I appreciate the position AR's power puts my blogs in.  But also, I am here for the learning and for the fun of blogging.  Does that earn me point?  Yes, certainly, but in the way I think they should be earned.

Gaming is senseless.  After all, the points really are meaningless, unless you consider being number 1 or 2 in your state to be a benefit.

Nov 27, 2014 10:20 PM
Rainmaker
1,153,794
Kevin J. May
Florida Supreme Realty - Hobe Sound, FL
Serving the Treasure & Paradise Coasts of Florida

It's all in the numbers Jay. Once upon a time AR had 330,000 members give or take. Today I see a figure slightly less than 264,000. Over 5,000 of them have fewer than 100 points.  The sweet spot is at or near member #15,000 who has approximately the same # of points earned. To become an AR millionaire you need to get to page 3 and beat out member # 127, that's a lot of hurdling. The Top Dog is approching 2.5M points. Posting, commenting, asking & answering questions, contests and oh, the liking, don't forget the liking, will get you there! However, without quality content the gaming is moot.

Thank you for the 25 points!  

Nov 27, 2014 09:59 PM
Rainmaker
1,308,838
Jon Kolsky
Kolsky Realty & Management - Long Beach, CA
Licensed California Real Estate Broker

Jay Markanich ~ wow.... I feel bad trying to answer your question, so I think the best thing to do is hope for better questions

Nov 24, 2014 02:31 PM
Rainmaker
1,895,067
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

As long as AR keeps it open with no limits.

Nov 24, 2014 08:52 AM
Rainmaker
599,274
Nathan Gesner
American West Realty and Management - Cody, WY
Broker / Property Manager

If they want a functional forum, they need to improve the interface. Right now I am limited to browing the newest or most popular questions. That doesn't help me find anything or encourage me to share, particularly when the top question is from point-grabbers asking silly questions.

They should create a normal message board with general topics. If the topic is "Code of Ethics" I can read through it without having to filter through all the unrelated junk.

Nov 23, 2014 09:31 PM
Rainmaker
1,622,432
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

Well, you can not fix or please everyone. If the question or blog post are pointless and just for points, it will remain ignored. Some of us do aggressively work for points~ nothing new about that.

Nov 23, 2014 04:59 PM
Rainmaker
864,658
Les & Sarah Oswald
Realty One Group - Eastvale, CA
Broker, Realtor and Investor

Point system is good for those who love challenges...but giving it away is another story. I hope they amend the Q & A point system soon...

Nov 23, 2014 11:52 AM
Rainmaker
2,015,081
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Rob - I don't know how many people are doing that, but it is conceivable.  Again, if there were no points at all, how many people would stick around AR?

I would.

Nov 23, 2014 08:39 AM
Rainmaker
2,015,081
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

I didn't see your follow-up posts Debbie.  See, who knows?

Nov 23, 2014 07:51 AM
Rainmaker
2,015,081
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Debbie - I just saw your other answers. See, who knows?

Nov 23, 2014 07:49 AM
Rainmaker
2,015,081
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

That is exactly the point John A.  Set up as it is it's silliness.

Nov 23, 2014 07:48 AM
Rainmaker
2,015,081
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

No Debbie.  That was the Battle of Breed's Hill in Boston (people incorrectly call it Bunker Hill).  Nobody really knows, but it's said to probably have been Captain Trumble.

John Paul Jones said, "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead."   That was the battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812.

Nov 23, 2014 07:48 AM
Rainmaker
2,817,671
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Was that John Paul Jones?

Why didn't you pose that as another q, LOL?

Nov 23, 2014 06:18 AM
Rainmaker
2,015,081
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Who said don't shoot until you see the whites of their eyes?

 

Nov 23, 2014 04:10 AM
Rainmaker
564,720
Women of Westchester Working Together
Women of Westchester Working Together - West Harrison, NY
Women helping Women get ahead

Yes, this is stupid. And, now even more people are asking these stupid q's. I hope they fix this by Monday.

Nov 23, 2014 04:03 AM
Rainer
279,878
Dipti Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
On a team with Praful Thakkar

There is a gaming in every system I believe.

Apr 23, 2018 09:31 PM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Well, it is still there....

Gaming it was, in the beginning. Now there are rules to that game.

May 18, 2017 10:18 PM
Rainmaker
2,015,081
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

That there is the right idea Bruce!

Nov 28, 2014 06:46 PM
Rainmaker
519,139
Bruce Hicks
Best Homes Hawaii - Honolulu, HI
Your Best Hawaii Realtor!

Apparently, your question stimulated a whole gang of comments, Jay!  With all these companies buying each other out, we are the little sheep that follow along.

Nov 28, 2014 06:10 PM
Rainmaker
2,015,081
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Jon - put them in order and you can see them.  Push on Show All Answers.

Nov 28, 2014 10:29 AM
Rainmaker
1,308,838
Jon Kolsky
Kolsky Realty & Management - Long Beach, CA
Licensed California Real Estate Broker

Jay Markanich ~ I thought I answered this question but I don't see it? Maybe it was deleted? If not, I'll try it again... I don't think general assumption work to well... And assuming that the Q&A section is not valuable because you feel there are those gaming hurts this section... If you see a question you don't like, so be it... But maybe there are those that will like it? Remember different strokes for different folks 

Nov 28, 2014 09:18 AM
Rainmaker
2,015,081
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Not sure what you mean Jon - that I am making assumptions?  Or the many people who have had posts about the gaming going on?

AR saw what was happening and made changes.  If someone asks dozens of irrelevant questions every day for days it might not be an assumption to think there is something there not related to questioning?

By the way, my legal name is Jon, spelled the right way!

Tammy - I am a late comer to this circumstance.  I just posted my question about it in a way that got noticed.

Nov 28, 2014 07:05 AM
Rainer
305,560
Tammy Adams ~ Realtor / Podcaster
Maricopa Real Estate Co - Maricopa, AZ
A Maricopa Agent who Works, Lives & Loves Maricopa

I try and go to the unanswered ones to help kick it off and you are right, there are a few folks asking the same question in 5-6 different ways.  LOL

Nov 28, 2014 07:00 AM
Rainmaker
1,308,838
Jon Kolsky
Kolsky Realty & Management - Long Beach, CA
Licensed California Real Estate Broker

Jay Markanich ~ I wish that folks would not assume so much, and instead look at each question and decided whether or not folks are gaming... I think the general assumptions are a bit too much and hurt the value of the Q&A section...

Nov 28, 2014 06:40 AM
Rainmaker
2,015,081
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Thanks Kris.  I'm one of these old guys who doesn't see my point total, and never check my standings.  The points that I have are from consistent effort, over years, and nothing spectacular.  I would be here still if there were no points.

However, if points are the most important thing then the whole site is full of non-contributory participants.  And therefore watered down and not the original concept.

Still, to my thinking, points really are worthless!

Nov 28, 2014 01:50 AM
Ambassador
3,164,294
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I don't think it will go away and I think it's pretty stupid to be giving points for it.  I think it could be useful for peer to peer questions and answers if t here were no points.

Nov 27, 2014 12:53 PM
Rainmaker
3,340,443
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

Wouldn't it be cool if there was more SEO and more consumers could find the place they went for questions from local and national real estate folks than talking to ourselves...and the point is...the points...I guess ! grrr

Nov 26, 2014 05:28 PM
Rainmaker
1,280,748
Donna Foerster
HomeSmart Realty Group - Parker, CO
Metro Denver Real Estate Assistant

Jay~ I really like the Q&A feature, however I agree that there are folks "gaming the system" and asking just plain ridiculous questions. I've asked 4 legitimate questions and I'm getting very little response. I'm very disappointed. The "gamers" are ruining it for the rest of us!

Nov 26, 2014 09:06 AM
Rainmaker
2,224,473
Debbie Laity
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

I'm wondering that, too. There are some people really taking advantage and posting tons of questions that I think are very basic and there just for the points. 

Nov 25, 2014 08:19 AM
Rainmaker
2,015,081
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Yepper Cindy.  Hence my word "silly."

Bill - as always, follow the money.

Nov 24, 2014 10:11 PM
Rainmaker
599,274
Nathan Gesner
American West Realty and Management - Cody, WY
Broker / Property Manager

In fact, this would help the moderators screen out the "point grabbers" by limiting questions that pertain to the topic. Any question that does not apply to a topic could be flagged by users. Get a certain number of flags and the moderators wipe it out as "unuseful" to the community and no points awarded!

Like other message boards, they could create a category specifically for people to share their politics, interest in collecting bottle caps, or selling their business but they wouldn't be awarded points for those posts. It would keep them to a minimum and keep me from having to screen through them.

Nov 23, 2014 09:35 PM
Rainmaker
564,720
Women of Westchester Working Together
Women of Westchester Working Together - West Harrison, NY
Women helping Women get ahead

Yes, I know...I've been there.  I guess if they had cell phones back then, we would know who said what...and of course GPS to correctly identify the location.  Oh, and this stupid thing mixes up the order of the comments, so it's sometime challenging to follow the stream.

Nov 23, 2014 09:25 AM
Rainmaker
2,817,671
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Oh actually, there is some debate on who said it.  See this link: Who said, "Don't fire till you see the whites of their eyes?"

 

 

Nov 23, 2014 06:27 AM
Rainmaker
2,817,671
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

oops. I had the battle right (in my head), but wrong person - William Prescott.

Nov 23, 2014 06:22 AM
Rainmaker
1,782,182
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

I think a quick fix would be to limit the questions per day. I hope they don't make me break out my list of stupid questions here Jay Markanich

Nov 23, 2014 05:34 AM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

It's still around

May 27, 2018 06:28 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

It looks like it's here to stay.

Sep 10, 2017 05:29 AM
Rainmaker
1,622,432
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

Answers, questions, blog posts~ do you really want to find some logic and rules here, on AR?

:)

Dec 27, 2014 05:10 PM
Rainmaker
2,015,081
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

The answers come up in screwy order. 

I am not sure, but I don't think I've ever deleted a comment...

Nov 29, 2014 06:30 AM
Rainmaker
1,308,838
Jon Kolsky
Kolsky Realty & Management - Long Beach, CA
Licensed California Real Estate Broker

Jay Markanich ~ thanks for the insight! I am glad that my comments still stand and did not get deleted 

Nov 29, 2014 06:18 AM
Rainmaker
7,836,431
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

I like Nathan's idea of a message board that is divided by topics.

Nov 23, 2014 10:12 PM