Priority queue structure - DPChallenge Forums

12/27/2005 04:17:29 PM · #1

Proposal is to make a priority queue for the critique club entries so that the most needy user gets the first critique. The queue can be based on the following

1. # of comments received during the challenge.
--- A higher no. of comments means the user already has got decent feedback and will have lesser priority. Lower number of comments received gets higher priority

2. # of critiques received in the last 3 months
--- Higher number, lower priority

3. User's average score after atleast 10 challenges
--- Lower average means higher priority. This I know is debatable, but if you have an average of 6 after 20 challenges, you are doing fairly well and let others with low score get a chance

4. User's comments and camera settings
--- If the user doesn't provide the camera settings and comments in the details section and just clicks for a critique, he/she gets a lower priority. If you want a critique, you are required to provide the relevant data

Can't think of any at this time.

trying a set of rules

comments: Priority
0 - 5 : 10
5 - 10: 6
10-20: 3
> 20 : 0

Critiques in past 3 months
0 : 10
1-2 : 6
2-5 : 3
> 5 : 0

User's average
< 5 : 10
5 -5.5: 6
5.5 - 6.0 : 3
> 6: 0

User's commets
Exif data: 10
comments: 10
No Exif : 0
No comments: 0

Add up the total score to get final priority

This is just an example and the exact numbers can be different.

Let me know what you all think

cheers,
KG

12/27/2005 04:20:24 PM · #2

I'd like to know who'd do the nightmare of coding this would require for something that is basically a volunteer application.

The thought behind it is commendable, but I really don't know that it's at all realistic.

12/27/2005 04:27:11 PM · #3

Since I am not much of a software guy, I don't know how much coding this will require, but this will help the most needy who really want to get their photos critiqued and end up without any as the queue is too long.

Another reason I want to bring this up is because sometimes I pick a photo to critique to find no details mentioned or the photo just taken for 'fun' and I don't know what to do with them. with this new system, atleast they will not be presented to critique first.

sfalice

Canon PowerShot SX60 HS

12/27/2005 04:30:35 PM · #4

Without knowing anything about coding, I'd say that your #3, with lower scoring entries getting priority has great merit.

And even more so, are those who are just beginning and who also have low scores. 10 Challenges is a pretty big hurdle for some of these photographers. From the critiques I've done, it would appear the beginners need guidance even more than the ones who have been around a while. I expect some of the beginners would actually stick around longer if they got early Critiques. Some of these beginners don't know the importance of the EXIF data, so that is part of the learning process. I'd probably suggest not requiring EXIF data for a Critique.

12/27/2005 04:33:31 PM · #5

Originally posted by gaurawa:

For the photos with no details, it's completely ok to just write, "Due to lack of details, I cannot give this photo a proper critique. If you wish for a critique in the future, please fill in the details and a description. Thank you." Or something along those lines. I have done so in the past.

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Nikon

12/27/2005 04:37:54 PM · #6

I also wanted to add that high scoring photos, if they show up for critique, I have no problem with saying that due to the fact that they scored high, a critique isn't necessary at this time. It all depends on your personal level of desire. After all, it's voluntary, and there's no point spending time doing something that isn't going to be any help at all anyway.

One example is a photographer that keeps coming up for critiques, and most of the time the scores are pretty high. Yet, if someone does a critique, the photographer basically says, "thank you, but I really don't care, the photo is exactly how I wanted it." Why they continue to click the "request critique" button is beyond me, but it's an example of a situation in which I'd just say what I mentioned above.

Nothing is actually holding any critique club member to giving a full and detailed critique to any photo they don't feel needs it.

Apple iPhone

12/27/2005 04:44:00 PM · #7

We need to be able to pass on photos from certain people...Maybe it SHOULD be lowest ranking on the list comes first...
then if we get time we do the higher ranking photographers

Originally posted by Artyste:

wavelength

Nikon D300

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

12/27/2005 04:48:58 PM · #8

I've actually had more fun critiquing the higher rated photos, it's more of a challenge, and I hate basically ripping apart a really bad photo while trying to be nice. Not that I hate being nice, it jsut seems backhanded every time I do it, though I know that's not my intetent.

Be that as it may, either system would be fine. If we had to work to get to the higher rated photo's/photographers, then we'd prolly keep up more.

DjFenzl

12/27/2005 04:52:33 PM · #9

There are some exceptions that would be ruled out though that perhaps shouldn't.

I asked for a critique on my cheese entry because it was my first entry on the site and I'd like to know how I could improve it given the fact I've never entered here before.

I placed 11th though and my score was comparatively high to the other pictures submitted. I had a fair amount of comments but not a whole lot of critques (except for the guy who said I should be banned from DPC). In this case my photo would be given a low priority whereas I am asking for a critique because I'm trying to get a better feel for how photos are viewed on the site.

12/27/2005 05:05:15 PM · #10

I think this system should definitely be tried out (assuming coding aint an issue). Maybe all first entries should immediately be top of the list, so less people who are scared away by a low first score or distinct lack of comments.

12/27/2005 05:11:16 PM · #11

First time entries can get a higher priority. so may be adding another field of First Entry : 50points makes them on the top of the list ?

12/27/2005 05:14:01 PM · #12

Artyste, thanks for your suggestions. I will try those.

Also on a related topic, I think the club member should also get a "Skip" button without going through the admin. That will allow me to skip without really telling the person I don't want to critique your photo.

12/27/2005 05:18:14 PM · #13

Originally posted by gaurawa:

The potential for abuse with that is just too high. At least giving a reason to the photographer allows for them to perhaps either not request in the future, or realize what does and doesn't need critiquing.

12/27/2005 05:30:37 PM · #14

Originally posted by Artyste:

Originally posted by gaurawa:
Artyste, thanks for your suggestions. I will try those.

Also on a related topic, I think the club member should also get a "Skip" button without going through the admin. That will allow me to skip without really telling the person I don't want to critique your photo.

The potential for abuse with that is just too high. At least giving a reason to the photographer allows for them to perhaps either not request in the future, or realize what does and doesn't need critiquing.

Yeah but if you just leave a comment saying 'i'm not giving you an indepth critique for such-and-such a reason' that person receives no critique, whereas if you skipped them they would presumably go back in the queue and someone else would critique them. Perhaps a system where you are allowed up to 3 skips at a time, so cannot just pick and choose completely but have some flexibility. (and no, i dont know how easy or hard this would be to code)

12/27/2005 05:33:06 PM · #15

Originally posted by kirsty_mcn:

Originally posted by Artyste:

Originally posted by gaurawa:
Artyste, thanks for your suggestions. I will try those.

Also on a related topic, I think the club member should also get a "Skip" button without going through the admin. That will allow me to skip without really telling the person I don't want to critique your photo.

The potential for abuse with that is just too high. At least giving a reason to the photographer allows for them to perhaps either not request in the future, or realize what does and doesn't need critiquing.

Yeah but if you just leave a comment saying 'i'm not giving you an indepth critique for such-and-such a reason' that person receives no critique, whereas if you skipped them they would presumably go back in the queue and someone else would critique them. Perhaps a system where you are allowed up to 3 skips at a time, so cannot just pick and choose completely but have some flexibility. (and no, i dont know how easy or hard this would be to code)

good point. Perhaps if there were more moderators that you could contact in order to skip, instead of just being given a certain amount of random skipping.. I'd also like to be able to still leave comments on why I wasn't doing the critique, and still have it go back into the queue maybe?

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

12/27/2005 05:38:01 PM · #16

oh, and another thing. I agree with most of the suggested scoring methods (preferably with first entry = +50) but i dont think you could base it on whether they have written a comment, because people would just write "n/a" or something meaningless, much like making commenting compulsory.

oOWonderBreadOo

Canon EOS-5D

12/27/2005 05:38:09 PM · #17

I was thinking something fairly simple (although the coding I don't know about!) where the member (or registered user...) has to have entered at least 5 (or pick another number) challenges before they can request a critique?
It's seems like a test of how seriously they take it. But then again it's the critiques that are one of the draws to the site so I guess you can take that with a grain of salt! But it would help cut back the # before they really understand the site and how things work.

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

12/27/2005 05:43:37 PM · #18

Originally posted by Artyste:

Originally posted by kirsty_mcn:

Originally posted by Artyste:

Originally posted by gaurawa:
Artyste, thanks for your suggestions. I will try those.

Also on a related topic, I think the club member should also get a "Skip" button without going through the admin. That will allow me to skip without really telling the person I don't want to critique your photo.

The potential for abuse with that is just too high. At least giving a reason to the photographer allows for them to perhaps either not request in the future, or realize what does and doesn't need critiquing.

Yeah but if you just leave a comment saying 'i'm not giving you an indepth critique for such-and-such a reason' that person receives no critique, whereas if you skipped them they would presumably go back in the queue and someone else would critique them. Perhaps a system where you are allowed up to 3 skips at a time, so cannot just pick and choose completely but have some flexibility. (and no, i dont know how easy or hard this would be to code)

good point. Perhaps if there were more moderators that you could contact in order to skip, instead of just being given a certain amount of random skipping.. I'd also like to be able to still leave comments on why I wasn't doing the critique, and still have it go back into the queue maybe?

yeah i agree with all of that. Although with moderators you have to consider people having the time to be moderators. Maybe have a load of moderators and when you want to skip it sends a message to whoever is online at the time, along with stats like how many times you've requested a skip, or total no. of critiques you've written. again, no idea at all about coding, just spewing out ideas :)

The thing is, all critiquers are volunteers, and if theres no way to skip a photo, you may find people just get stuck on a nasty image and and it stops them critiquing cause they dont wanna leave a bitty comment but really dont wanna write a critique.

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

12/27/2005 05:47:35 PM · #19

Also, critique club comments show up as a regular comment and are counted as such. In order to have a weighting system as described these types of comments would have to have their own count. Not that that's a big deal to take care of coding wise.

CEJ

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

12/27/2005 06:08:54 PM · #20

I admit the past few weeks have been very hectic for me and have not done any critiques - I actually miss it. But this time of year with three plants that have three different shutdown and start up schedules I am doing a lot of running around.

To your suggestion...ideas like this have floated around here and there. In my opinion...the system does not need to be changed. But people who request the critiques should be more selective. Some people check that box for EVERY photo. I do agree that someone who regularly gets 6+ on their scores may not appear to be in as much need as the guy who averages 5 or less. But that is the key - apparent need. I have drawn photos from some of the photogs considered the best here. A little intimidating at first. But you know what - they have also given me great feedback on my critiques and, to my surprise, have complemented me and thanked me for the insight, advice, suggestions. Maybe the 6+ guy is shooting for professional status of some sort. Honing his/her skills is just as important to him/her as it is to the rest. Glancing over my critiques that have not even been checked as helpful, it has been the lower scoring photog who doesn't even acknowledge the critique. That is more discouraging than anything.

The problem I think lies more in people actually doing the critiques as opposed to thinking about doing them. As I said I have not been able to do them the past two weeks and I feel bad about that. But this will change in the next few days. I think that if the people who volunteer for this do whatever they feel is their fair share on any given day/week/rollover period a lot more would get done.

Take the marathon around Thanksgiving. A lot of people in that thread were saying how they were doing lots of critiques, etc. etc. I had very little time that weekend but did as much as I could. When I got the numbers for who did what before I gave out the free membership, I was at the top of the list. Kind of discouraging.

ClubJuggle

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

12/27/2005 06:15:14 PM · #21

Originally posted by Artyste:

I'll double-check with Heather, but the last I checked on this I believe this is not (or is no longer) the case.

If a photographer does not provide details the critiquer should still provide a critique, but mat state that the critique is limited due to the lack of details provided.

We may change this going forward, but unless and until we state a requirement for photographer details up front, the critique club member assigned the photo should still provide a quality critique for the entry.

Thanks,
Terry