Skill levels

Archive SparkFun Site Questions/Comments
1

I would like to suggest that the Forum provide an indication of skill level for users. Perhaps a 5 star system or just novice, beginner, …, god.

My issue is that in answering questions, it is not always clear the intent of the OP. A question answered one way might be over the users head, but answered the other way might be insulting. Other forum I join have a way to self rate your skill level, perhaps it could be added here?

How about the following for a skill level:

  1. I have no clue what a soldering iron is.

  2. I have a general idea what one is.

  3. I know what end of a soldering iron to grab

  4. I have used a soldering iron without having to make a trip to the hospital

  5. I have put together a kit and it worked

  6. My sponge still looks like a sponge

  7. I have replaced my sponge at least once.

  8. I have more than one soldering iron

  9. Forget the iron, I mostly use a hot plate.

Just looking to start a discussion…

2

Sounds like a good idea !

3

Gotta give those levels names…Noob thru Sparky or whatever, and make them part of the user profiles!

4

Beginner) I have no/some clue what a soldering iron is.

Intermediate) I have put together a kit/simple project and it worked!

Practitioner) My sponge still looks like a sponge

Experienced) I have replaced my sponge at least once.

Advanced) I have more than one soldering iron.

Stark/Sparky/Master) Forget the iron, I mostly use a hot plate powered by a fuel cell I tossed together from my old cold fusion reactor.

Noob is often derogatory. Used beginner instead.

5

Good idea. I can usually infer the skill level from the way the question is phrased, but this would still be a help.

What I would love would be a way to avoid “drive-by” questions where the poster never returns to see if his question was answered. Because of this, I’ve gone to a habit of either not responding to questions unless it’s clear the OP has returned to clarify/ask more, or else I just give a very basic answer and wait to see if they come back for more detail. Got tired of answering questions completely only to have it be a waste of time!