Askville

Infobox Website
name = Askville



caption =
url = http://askville.amazon.com
commercial = yes
type = Collaboration
language = English
registration = Required
owner = Amazon.com
author = Amazon.com
launch date = December 8 2006
current status = Active
revenue =
slogan = ask...answer...meet...play

Askville is a user-driven research site founded by Amazon.com and opened to the public on December 8 2006. [cite web| |url=http://askville.typepad.com/askville_blog/2006/12/welcome-to-askv.html|title=Welcome To Askville |publisher = Amazon.com, Inc. |date = 2006-12-08 |accessdate=2008-03-05] Unlike the defunct Google Answers service, Askville is designed to run much like a computer game. Users gain or lose "experience points" in particular topics as they answer questions in those topics, depending on how good their answer is.cite web|url= http://askville.amazon.com/faq.html#_Toc144916238|title=Experience Points, Levels, and Quest Gold |accessdate=2008-03-05|format=HTML|work=Askville FAQ] Users also receive "quest gold" by asking and answering questions, and by voting on the worth of other people's answers. The user can then use these coins as rewards, either to obtain more coins or to exert voting influence on the answers.

Also unlike other question-answer sites, Askville has evolved into a social community as well as an information site. [cite web|url= http://askville.typepad.com/askville_blog/2008/03/what-would-you.html |title=What would you do at an Askville Dinner Party & Tshirt/Mug Update |accessdate=2008-03-05 |format=HTML |work=Askville Blog] This is primarily due to their discussion boards, where Askvillians can enter into long discussions sparked by individual questions. Though indeed sparked by the questions, discussions often take on a personality of their own. No "experience points" or "quest gold" are awarded for discussions, but many Askvillians have come to value the give-and-take, the bickering, and especially the supportive friendships made there.Fact|date=March 2008

As of August, 2008, members of the Askville community complained of a lack of moderation and participation from the Askville administrators. In response, Askville appointed a community manager to track and handle user feedback, and the site management made a commitment to more effectively enforce their policies. [http://askville.typepad.com/askville_blog/2008/08/index.html] The voting system underwent a major revision, including the addition of anonymous voting.

ee also

*Answerbag
*Google Answers
*Yahoo! Answers
*Wikianswers
* Ask MetaFilter

References

External links

* [http://askville.amazon.com/ Askville]