Just wonder if the others had the same effect:
Last year i decided to learn programming (web) and started to use stackoverflow of course.
Occasionally i was answering questions that i felt i knew answers for and started to gain “points”.
Then for a while i used to go there to flex before coding (warm up) but also to enrich my own experience.
Now having scored 2000+ points and some badges I realized i actually am spending ~30min there and this is hurting my quality time coding.
So a useful resource turned into time sink. Now i have to force myself to timebucket it.
But answering questions to help others that are only starting is so tempting;)
I'm happily using the following approach to fight StackOverflow's gamification, quite successfully for me personally:
// In AdBlock Plus, BEGIN
###hot-network-questions
stackoverflow.com##.module.community-bulletin
stackoverflow.com###hireme
stackoverflow.com##.-rep.js-header-rep
stackoverflow.com##.-link.js-review-button
stackoverflow.com##.-badges
stackoverflow.com##IMG[src="http://static.adzerk.net/Advertisers/*.png"]
stackoverflow.com###beta-ad
serverfault.com##.module.community-bulletin
serverfault.com###hireme
stackoverflow.com##.ad
stackoverflow.com###chat-feature
stackoverflow.com##.everyonelovesstackoverflow.adzerk-vote
stackoverflow.com###newsletter-ad
security.stackexchange.com##.everyonelovesstackoverflow.adzerk-vote
stackoverflow.com##.so-header.js-so-header._fixed
stackoverflow.com###hero-content
stackoverflow.com###herobox-mini
stackoverflow.com###herobox
stackoverflow.com##.alternate
stackoverflow.com##.clc-cp-lb.red
stackoverflow.com##.newsletter-anon
stackoverflow.com##.\-container
stackoverflow.com##.clc-cp-link
stackoverflow.com##.clc-cp-lb-back-pattern
stackoverflow.com##.clc-cp-lb.blue-and-green
stackoverflow.com##.\-wrapper.g-column
stackoverflow.com##.top-bar.js-top-bar._fixed
stackoverflow.com###left-sidebar
stackoverflow.com##.left-sidebar.js-pinned-left-sidebar
stackoverflow.com###footer
stackoverflow.com##.site-footer.js-footer
stackoverflow.com##.d-inline-flex.ai-center.ws-nowrap.s-btn.s-btn__primary
// END
Maybe you'll find it useful too.
Wait sorry I don't quite understand - what is this?
I have just a few points on stackoverflow but could easily see the appeal and how one could spend a lot of time there.
Timebucket it if you need to be but don't forget to link your stackoverflow portfolio on your resume. The questions you answer there might help you stick out as knowledgable/helpful.
It is true, I recall we interviewed an engineer and she mentioned stackoverflow score, which was impressive.
This comment was deleted 8 years ago