Slashdot, are you saying that you are trying to emulate the functions of StackOverflow?
What's the deal with the sponsors? Are you saying Oracle (for example) is going to have some expert answer common Java questions in a slashvertisement/tech support type thing?
No, this appears (on the surface) to be another gasp at squeezing revenue from "the slashdot".
While I don't blame them for wanting to be profitable, I can just site here and think of the high level exec meetings that had subjects like "We need to find creative ways to monetize our user base" and someone said "I know! lets take 'ask slashdot' and make it a revenue opportunity...".
I suspect there was internal resistance to it, but most of that probably faded with CdrTaco leaving.
Sorry to reply to myself, but I'm a big believer in not bitching about a problem without offering a solution.
Slashdot corporate overlords, if you're browsing these posts for reactions to the change, here's a suggestion: consider the metafilter business model.
Put a slashdot poll up and ask the users if they'd be willing to pay $5 per year to get rid of all the ads, and eliminate 90% of the trolls (most trolls aren't willing to pay to troll).
Make karma mean something - those with excellent or above karma get
They already give certain members an option to disable ads. For people who have the choice there is a small box in the upper right-hand section of Slashdot that says:
Ads Disabled [*] Thanks again for helping make Slashdot great!
I don't know if it's based on excellent karma, an achievement (days read in a row), low uid or something else.
StackOverflow competior? (Score:5, Interesting)
What's the deal with the sponsors? Are you saying Oracle (for example) is going to have some expert answer common Java questions in a slashvertisement/tech support type thing?
Re: (Score:5, Insightful)
No, this appears (on the surface) to be another gasp at squeezing revenue from "the slashdot".
While I don't blame them for wanting to be profitable, I can just site here and think of the high level exec meetings that had subjects like "We need to find creative ways to monetize our user base" and someone said "I know! lets take 'ask slashdot' and make it a revenue opportunity...".
I suspect there was internal resistance to it, but most of that probably faded with CdrTaco leaving.
Slashdot polls have been repla
Re: (Score:5, Interesting)
Sorry to reply to myself, but I'm a big believer in not bitching about a problem without offering a solution.
Slashdot corporate overlords, if you're browsing these posts for reactions to the change, here's a suggestion: consider the metafilter business model.
Put a slashdot poll up and ask the users if they'd be willing to pay $5 per year to get rid of all the ads, and eliminate 90% of the trolls (most trolls aren't willing to pay to troll).
Make karma mean something - those with excellent or above karma get
Re: (Score:3)
They already give certain members an option to disable ads. For people who have the choice there is a small box in the upper right-hand section of Slashdot that says:
Ads Disabled [*]
Thanks again for helping make Slashdot great!
I don't know if it's based on excellent karma, an achievement (days read in a row), low uid or something else.
Re:StackOverflow competior? (Score:2)
I think you need to take a reading comprehension class.
The post you were replying to said: