Why do so few participate in the PM-based quiz?

[Rambuchan]

Luceafarul: Thanks for all the comments and thoughts. I prefectly accept what you are saying above, especially what you have to say about the 'invisible folk' in history - that's a very good point and I personally believe the quizzes do already deal with many of the invisibles in history, just not the ones I am personally concerned with. That's to be expected to a degree. Anyway, I don't want or need to debate it further. I've said what I think and so have you. Let the quizzes continue however the quiz master sees fit, having taken everything into this thread into account. And even if I don't play some, or go on a rant, do please know that I always visit the quizzes and read up more on the questions asked, when I have time. Like I said, for that I'm always grateful.

 

[thetrooper]

Only on a few occasions has the question about the maker of a painting, its title or what artistic school it belongs to been posed. Usually paintings are used for illustrating a person or an event.

I back you up on this. Many of the paintings so far fall under the category called general education, some are odd, yes, but you don't have to be an art expert.

As far as I can see, this thread is usually looked upon by more than 1000 people.

This is based on personal speculation: I think that the counting system for 'views' is deceiving here.

 

[Richard Cribb]

Luceafarul: Thanks for all the comments and thoughts. I prefectly accept what you are saying above, especially what you have to say about the 'invisible folk' in history - that's a very good point and I personally believe the quizzes do already deal with many of the invisibles in history, just not the ones I am personally concerned with. That's to be expected to a degree. Anyway, I don't want or need to debate it further. I've said what I think and so have you. Let the quizzes continue however the quiz master sees fit, having taken everything into this thread into account. And even if I don't play some, or go on a rant, do please know that I always visit the quizzes and read up more on the questions asked, when I have time. Like I said, for that I'm always grateful.

As you wish. I am grateful for you bringing this up, and while I still think that the representation of underprivileged groups in history leaves a bit to be desired, I will leave it with that.
My next quiz, if I ever will get the opportunity again, will be more Ram-friendly.

This is based on personal speculation: I think that the counting system for 'views' is deceiving here.

You are way smarter than me when it comes to that sort of thing, so I suppose you are right. In that case I should probably be satisfied with the amount of participators, even if I could still wish for an increase.

 

[Ciceronian]

My next quiz, if I ever will get the opportunity again

You can win any quiz you choose to participate in, so it would be very unlikely that you'll never get another opportunity to make a quiz!

 

[thetrooper]

Modesty does not become you Luc! I prefer the cocky variant.

 

[Richard Cribb]

You can win any quiz you choose to participate in, so it would be very unlikely that you'll never get another opportunity to make a quiz!

That's quite gallant of you, but I think that it will be more and more difficult to keep you and a couple of other young lions behind me.

Modesty does not become you Luc! I prefer the cocky variant.

Strangely enough, so did my women, including the current one.
You are sure you are not any of them?

 

[thetrooper]

Nailed! I am Doris, but I've had surgery. You can call me Glenn-Reidar now.



I've added a link to the PM-based quiz in my sig btw.

 

[privatehudson]

I don't google. I have no reason to suspect anybody else to google either. I expect and I am pretty sure that all participants respect the rules.

This issue came up at the time I was running a quiz once and I can say that on occasion some of the answers I recieved had been lifted pretty much word for word from wiki or another similar source. The only way that's been stopped recently is with the changed nature of the questions and increased difficulty level making it harder to google an answer.

 

[Richard Cribb]

Nailed! I am Doris, but I've had surgery. You can call me Glenn-Reidar now.

So this is you??

I hope I didn't cause your drastic decision...
And you still like Pondus, I understand...

I've added a link to the PM-based quiz in my sig btw.

Thanks.
I hasn't helped so far, but anyway.

 

[Knight-Dragon]

As far as I can see, this thread is usually looked upon by more than 1000 people.

And I would love to advertise in my sig, but the truth is that I am so computer-challenged that I already had to leave out some of the links I wanted to include.

A 1000 views does not equal a 1000 posters. Since a poster can view a thread as many times as he likes and each view will add to the number.

As for sigs, you can use a smaller font size and add more lines...

 

[Aion]

Don't know if it helps, but I added some propaganda in my sig, too.

 

[thetrooper]

Don't know if it helps, but I added some propaganda in my sig, too.

I have my doubts too, but it's a start anyhow.

@ luceafarul:

 

[Rambuchan]

Just three quick things: 1) You don't need to make the quizzes specifically 'Ram friendly' Luc. 2) Good to see what trooper looks like for once . 3) Are you guys trying to start up some rival babe thread here or something?

 

[Richard Cribb]

A 1000 views does not equal a 1000 posters. Since a poster can view a thread as many times as he likes and each view will add to the number.

Note to self: Stay out of mathematics. For good.

As for sigs, you can use a smaller font size and add more lines...

I will look into it. But I can only promise myself blood, sweat and tears.

Don't know if it helps, but I added some propaganda in my sig, too.

Thanks. It doesn't hurt anyway.

Just three quick things: 1) You don't need to make the quizzes specifically 'Ram friendly' Luc. 2) Good to see what trooper looks like for once . 3) Are you guys trying to start up some rival babe thread here or something?

1) We'll see... 2)Looked like, as in the past, I am afraid. 3)Perhaps we are.

 

[Knight-Dragon]

I will look into it. But I can only promise myself blood, sweat and tears.

You only need to wrap your text around [*size=1][/*size] I think... (w/o the asterisks).

 

[Knight-Dragon]

3) Are you guys trying to start up some rival babe thread here or something?

Well, if it's a Historical Babe thread, I have no problems with it...

 

[El_Tigre]

- The quizzes are too difficult...

I think there is something behind this first part. Quiz masters, in general, are often keen to share / demonstrate their in-depth knowledge on a subject but this often means that the questions are very hard for most folk. Quiz masters should recognise that it's a quiz to which people are supposed to submit answers and in which they should be encouraging folk to participate, not a demonstration of their specialism in a given subject. Just write an article and post a new thread if you want to do something like this. There should always be some easy questions to encourage new folk to get involved, that's not always the case.

Maybe some questions in each quiz could have more than just one answer. How about a question like: "Most historians agree that the Middle Ages ended between 1450 and 1550. Name as many reasons as you can for this periodization. (1 point each)". Answers coud be the Age of Exploration, Reformation, Printing Press, capture of Constantinople, Renaissance, ... (another Eurocentric question, I'm afraid)

Other questions might be "What were the causes / What were the results of War X / Revolution Y / Invention Z /... ; with X, Y and Z being well-known historic events from around the world. As a result, general education would be more important than knowledge about a particular (and often obscure) historic event.

I think everyone of us can earn a couple of points with one or two of such questions, and this might be an incentive to continue with the quiz. Of course, no one wants to write an essay, so it must be possible to answer with a couple of catchwords or in some short sentences.

 

[Ciceronian]

Maybe some questions in each quiz could have more than just one answer. How about a question like: "Most historians agree that the Middle Ages ended between 1450 and 1550. Name as many reasons as you can for this periodization. (1 point each)". Answers coud be the Age of Exploration, Reformation, Printing Press, capture of Constantinople, Renaissance, ... (another Eurocentric question, I'm afraid)

Other questions might be "What were the causes / What were the results of War X / Revolution Y / Invention Z /... ; with X, Y and Z being well-known historic events from around the world. As a result, general education would be more important than knowledge about a particular (and often obscure) historic event.

I think everyone of us can earn a couple of points with one or two of such questions, and this might be an incentive to continue with the quiz. Of course, no one wants to write an essay, so it must be possible to answer with a couple of catchwords or in some short sentences.

The problem is, it is difficult for the answerer to know what the questioner wants to hear, and it is difficult for the questioner to mark it. For instance, in your example I'm not sure whether I would accept "Renaissance" as one of the answers, since that was merely the name of the new age. The answers to these questions can be very subjective and that's why I avoid them.

 

[El_Tigre]

The problem is, it is difficult for the answerer to know what the questioner wants to hear, and it is difficult for the questioner to mark it. For instance, in your example I'm not sure whether I would accept "Renaissance" as one of the answers, since that was merely the name of the new age. The answers to these questions can be very subjective and that's why I avoid them.

Well, I would be rather lenient towards the participants. And as quiz master, you could always ask for clarification if you're not sure about an answer. But your right, it's a slippery slope.

 

[El_Tigre]

"The World According to Rambuchan"

Spoiler :

Sorry Rambuchan, I just couldn't resist.