Tips For Going Faster, Getting Speeded!

For those folks who are new, the SPEED icons are representative of a fastlane's users contribution to the Fastlane Forum. Here are some tips for you newbie's out there who'd like to go a little bit faster ...

1) Post threads that stimulate discussion. You don't need to post answers to get speed -- on the contrary -- you acquire speed by asking good questions.

2) Answer / comment on topics that are posted by "Speed Givers". In analyzing the administrator logs here, there are 2 very distinct groups here ... those that give and receive speed ... and those that rarely give it. If someone has spent 50 minutes answering threads you post and you don't speedo them, you're cheating them -- regardless if you like their answer or not. Respect our member's time by speeding them.

3) Don't cheat someone of their speed. If someone writes 5 paragraphs of comments to your "Will this business work?" thread and you don't give them speed, you are a speed cheater. On numerous threads, some of our frequent and thorough contributors (including myself) have written long, thoughtful responses that consume 30 minutes of our time to compose ... respect their time by paying them a little speed-up. If you don't -- they will unlikely respond to your questions again.

4) If you Speedo+ something and comment at the same time, tell them at the end of the post! If you like someone's comments, append your comments with a simple "Great idea, Speed++". This establishes you as someone who remembers to give speed and also pays the author respect. (ADDED: Please use sparingly as we don't want 1 great thread with 50 speed responses)

5) All topics can be rep speeded! You don't need to post great business topics to get speeded. I've rep-speeded jokes, news stories, and funny cartoons.

6) Post links to great "Fastlane" news stories. Unfortunately, our news aggregator doesn't find every fastlane news story. If you find one that you think is in line with the "Fastlane" mentality, post it! (Please no plagiarism)

7) Out-of-the-box thinking. Even if it slightly brings a thread off-topic, out-of-the-box thinking will help you score speed.

8) Strategies, Epiphanies, and Life Tips. If something works for you and you post those details, its likely to improve your speed. Doesn't have to be monumental -- but something that can make a difference. For instance, if you have a strategy that allows you to wake up every morning at 6am refreshed and feeling motivated, post it. "How I Failed and What I Learned" is likely to earn you big speed.

I was guilty of this, but not intentionally. I'd take the advice and move on without giving credit where it was due...

me too. I have a much better understanding of speed etiquette now though. I never read anything about it until this post. Guess I should have checked the regs.

Just re-read MJ's post...I don't do #4 either heh. Thanks again MJ...rep ++ :-D

Thanks for the tips! I've mostly just been reading along too... speed++

Actually let me clarify so the forum doesn't get cluttered with "Speed++" posts. I merely mean that if you comment on a thread that you love and speed it at the same time, append your comment with a notation that they were speeded.

Some have commented that we don't want threads inundated with "Speed+" posts that really don't contribute. THANKS for everyone who pointed this out. My bad. Lets just use our best judgment. Perhaps some speed MINUS FOR ME!

I am guilty of not giving admin people speed as frequently as I should- but not because I didn't appreciate anything they said- but because it feels kinda weird giving props to someone who knows more than I do. Like the student is encouraging the teacher. I'll change my thinking on that and give rep when rep is due!

Exactly. I've received awesome input and haven't gave speed to the posters because I felt the same way. Promise Ill change that from now on!

I'm guilty too. Passed some rep to MJ for his "The Power of Choice" thread since it really did hit home.

http://www.thefastlanetomillions.com...2562#post22562

Have to start giving more to Russ H and Diane and ATW and Yveskleinski and Andrew and Jorge and SteveO and Bilgefisher and Andiv and JScott and Kimberland and NomadJanet and Peter2 and Randallq99 and bflbob and....... I think you get the point.

Here you're chance to give me more...

I sell rep points. 10 bucks each vote. Anyone want some?

Mj,

Thanks for the clarity. I too was one of the
I will behave better from now on, because I do appreciate all the input the many speed demons on this forum have given me.

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I have a few issues with the rep speed.

1. I've gotten a block on posting rep speed becuase it was the last person I repped.

2. theres no rating system. its I approve or nothing theres no levels of greatness for lack of a better discription.

3. it seems to go up in weird proportions.

4. theres no way to leave negitive feedback.

as to one of the points in the op I dont think I could bring myself to give rep speed to somone just becasue it took them a long time to get their thoughts down. It would need to be a great post with good points that provide actual personal insights or real knowledge of the topic.

on a different board I belong to people who create a thread can only vote on the responses. I wouldnt go this far but maybe give more weight % wise to a thread creaters rating on a post in thier thread but leave it open for everyone else to vote too.

IMO I would redo the entire speeding system.

__________________
"Speed is irrelevant if you are going in the wrong direction" Sucess is a do-it-yourself project!

Hey Carrie --

I'll take a stab at some of the answers to your concerns:

1. I believe this is to discourage (keep) people from creating multiple accounts and then giving themselves unlimited rep. If I could give one person unlimited rep, I could easily game the system.

2. Speaking more generally, lots of studies have been done that indicate that rating systems anymore complex than +/- tend to discourage people from using it. In fact, for years, eBay has gotten feedback that its rating system is just too simplistic, but the company has -- for 10 years now -- refused to change because it's heavily utilized and that's more important than having it be all-encompassing.

3. I believe that's because the number of rep points given is related to the rep of the person giving the points. If someone with a lot of rep (e.g., Diane, MJ, SteveO, ATW) gives you a thumbs-up, you deserve more rep than if someone who just joined yesterday gives you a thumbs-up.

4. I could write a couple articles on negative feedback and why it doesn't work (I used to work for eBay), but suffice it to say that I don't think any of us would want to go down that path. In fact, having moderators is a much better solution to the problem of low signal-to-noise ratio.

Just my $.02...

I am not talking about an intricate voting system a 4 or 5 star rating would work. the calculating however would be more complex.(ebay has a multi level rating for each of its 5catergories if I am not mistaken) it doesnt even have to be stars it could be like the signal strength bars on a cell phone or a rpm gage keeping with the car theme!

I agree that the people who have more rep speed should be weighted in the calculations heavier then those with none as well as a bit extra to the op of a topic(reguardless of their rep status). and the more rep + per people voting could determine how much speed they ultimatley get from that one post...

I personally think if people had the ability to give negitive feedback(or say a half star or something that denotes disapproval of it) people would put more thought into their posts...and the attitude in which they are delivered.(I would have used this option in one of my threads) we have the slow lane sign I fail to see the difference!

something like the rate this thread system but instead a speed this post option at the bottom of each post. rather then a yes or no. I think we can handle one 4-5 level vote...

good is one thing, excellent is another. I really think there should be some way to distingusih.

also other people should be able to read the comments left by the people who did add speed.(like ebay)

these are all just my opinions obviously its up to Mj.

__________________
"Speed is irrelevant if you are going in the wrong direction" Sucess is a do-it-yourself project!

MJ:

I am definitely remiss at giving you Rep. I think I had the very wrong viewpoint that you created the forum and thus had all the Rep you'd ever need. (I don't know -some kind of strange creator mythology going on...)

Anyway, a belated rep++

Thx Diane however I disagree. You are the most giving. This thread was not a speed campaign for myself. To the contrary, sometime this quarter, I will be removing myself from the rep system so all that speed rack-up will go for not. Hmmm ... maybe Ill divide it up for everyone?

We've already discussed negative rep ad-nauseam somewhere here before your arrival. Its not happening as its a way to cause serious discontempt among members. If you want to see what happens in that environment, check out the RD forum. If you don't like a particular thread, vote to give it 1 star. Thanks for your feedback and ideas.

Maybe you just move into the Autoban?!

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If you want things to change around you, you have to change first.

bump, for newer members.

I thought I had already read through all of these when I first became a forum member. Somehow missed this one.

I too feel weird at giving rep to those "ultimately" more fastlane than myself.

I guess it is time to think outside my box/comfort level and face/change my self limiting thoughts!