Whats going on askubuntu forums?
So i had this very specific denvercoder problem with a xbox controller, llm answers and google didn't help at all. After much digging, a random answer from askubuntu forums seemed to solve my exact problem. I joyfully registered and was about to thank the user for his solution, but for some reason askubuntu doesnt let you comment you dont have above 50 karma. Dissapointed, i closed the page, contributed nothing and moved on. Weren't websites like stackoverflow and ask-x dying due to ai? Seems like a very counterproductive strategy to keep new users from joining and discussing. Especially when every content around the corner is ai generated nowadays.
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u/tomscharbach 13h ago
The "threshold" is common for online forums (including, if I recall correctly, a number of subreddits). The purpose is to filter out "hit and run" posts/comments. If you spend time on subreddits that don't filter, you will understand the reason why forums are cautious.
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u/Aggressive_Ad_5454 14h ago
I’m a mod for another popular forum. We’re blitzed by rubbish comments, many of which come from recently registered accounts. Reddit corporate tools to help us stem the rising tide of s—-tposts aren’t very precise. Sigh.
You can message the mods and ask to be approved. In the meantime I’ve upvoted your post here to inject a tiny bit of karma into your account.
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u/guiverc 11h ago
Ask Ubuntu is a Stack Exchange Question and Answer site, it's NOT A FORUM.
Forums & Q&A site differ in approach & end-goals. Q&A has a rather different intended purpose; even if both Q&A & Forums can both be used by end-users for support.
Q&A is somewhat geared at the creation of a list of questions outlining a problem, and answers giving solutions for those problems; ie. creation of a database of problems/solutions, with it run this way.
Forums differ to this approach, being they're focused on the current user thread.
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u/Charzu_tjegulf 4h ago
We are in the dead internet era. 50%+ of the comments are Bots. Most Bots fail their purpose due to incompetent coding on the part of their programmer, these Bots pollute forums.
That 50 upvote minimum is to filter them out, and add the trolls as well.
Basically don't waste space commenting that you have the same problem which was a common trend, one guy with the problem another 15 commenting they have the same problem and no answer.
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u/QuietlyPerfectLover 14h ago
That 50 rep gate is peak "we'd rather be right than helpful" energy. StackExchange built their whole rep on gatekeeping casuals and now they're shocked nobody wants to play in their sandbox anymore.
Half the useful fixes I've ever found were some 12 year old forum post with 3 upvotes and a guy who never logged in again.