Once upon a time I seem to recall listings being posted of who got how many points. I can't locate that on the system now; so maybe the thing has changed. If the point system is no longer used that way, then I will humbly backtrack and agree that maybe it is worth using. My problem with it was that when it started up, it's purpose seemed to be that of creating a 'competition' which [I thought] served to denigrate the volunteer nature of the system that already existed.

If those lists are truly gone, then I will bow to your and Sylvain's concept of how they should be used as agreeable and useful.

On the other hand, if the 'who has how many points' stuff still exists, then I'm afraid that I'll have to continue to ignore the points system.

As far as moderately long threads are concerned, if I'm looking at it fresh, then I usually jump to the end and work backward. The 50 message limit is a real headache sometimes.

Alan

>While I agree with you, I also know that whether or not someone wishes to receive points for providing a solution to a thread, it definitely helps when points have been assigned (I like the term 'assigned' better than awarded even though I feel an award should be given for someone taking the time to enter a resolution!) when you are searching the UT threads for a resolution to a specific problem. Scrolling through he results I will check those messages that have points assigned FIRST and only read the others if the messages with points do not solve my problem. It is quite a time saver! I wish more UT users would assign points to the message that resolves an issue for that reason alone.
>
>Tracy
>
>>Maybe, but I think if you check back on some of those threads later, you might find that the thread is not necessarily closed at the point of the reward. Just because someone solved a person's question, or problem doesn't always mean that discussion of the situation should be abandoned. Ideas can still be exchanged about possible better (more efficient) ways to achieve the result, or flaws that might have been spotted by someone else.
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>>I think you do yourself a disservice if you stop reading a thread that interests you just because of points having been awarded.
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>>Alan
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>>>The points system have another purpose that I find valuable: it show just by looking at the thread that the original problem/question as been resolved/answered and that the thread is now "closed". With this system, I won't lose my time going through a thread to see if the problem was resolved or not.
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>>>>My own guess is that the people who would be getting most of the points, really don't much care. If you look at Cetin's posts, for example (a guy who should be getting points all over the map), he specifically asks not to receive points. I'd do the same, but in his case it makes sense, while in my case, I feel it would be presumptuous.
>>>>
>>>>I think the 'reward' system as it applies to VFP contributors is an overrated concept. There is a certain siblinghood feeling among Fox developers that has existed since the old Dbase days that supercedes any rewards. Frankly I think there are very few people here concerned about either giving or getting points.