Top earners, how much time do you spend?
And, bigger question, why? If we're talking about multiple hours a day, then what are you getting out of it? Money? Recognition? Social interaction?
No fair getting by with a "I like to help people" answer! If you're spending multiple hours a day on Mahalo just because you like to help people, then I have to ask - what did you do with all that time before Mahalo existed, that you're now no longer doing? What is it about M that made it take precedent over other ways of helping people?
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M$2 Answers
When MA first went beta, I signed up within the first week (and Darcy already had several hundred points within those first few days!). My family had just spent almost two months on a major production where we were gone every day for most of the day, and all I wanted to do was veg.
So I did it in front of MA. I do like to help people. And I'm a bit competitive as well. And I like to write. So, since I was home and didn't have anything pressing happening anyhow, I spent hours each day on MA. And that put me up to green belt within the first couple of weeks. Purple took a bit longer.
Then after the holidays were over, my normal life kicked back in. Most days I spend less than an hour. Once in awhile, though, there will be a string of interesting questions that coincide with some down time for me, and then I do spend more time.
My family gets a kick out of what I write. My 12-year-old son likes to follow the questions I've answered. He can't wait for his birthday so he can answer questions, too.
I do like the M$. But they aren't the main reason I answer questions, or I'd never answer an untipped one.
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M$My motivation is partly the satisfaction of getting the best answer and helping someone out, but also because I prefer to spend my free time doing something at least a little bit intellectual. Before spending time here I spent time answering questions on other sites (discussions.apple, macnn, and slickdeals.net tech support) so I have really just shifted my efforts. I don't watch any sports and I figure that could easily be the few hours a week I am here.
The reason I shifted to Mahalo is because I like the diversity of questions and the community here. I also like the challenge of doing research which is something I didn't really have to do at any of the other message boards I answered questions on. Sure I threw in a few links, but for the most part I was only answering questions that I had direct knowledge of.
I don't know exactly how many hours a week I am here because I joined while I was almost on winter vacation and now I am still in the slow part of the semester. Mahalo just provides me with a nice way to relax between classes.
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M$
I'm with you Ssharon... we share the same outlook. Especially about the diversity of questions. I like it.
Personally, I have a secondary monitor that I only use when I'm writing code. For the most part, I have my RSS feeds scrolling on there and Mahalo Answers is part of it. So, when I see an interesting question, I answer.
I'd say maybe an hour a day answering questions.
Well Ssharon you're in the top 10 all time list, so "nowhere near" isn't quite accurate :).
But your answer is perfectly acceptable - I wasn't trying to dismiss the "helping people" answer, but to get under the covers a bit more, because that answer by itself is not enough - there's always been plenty of ways to help people.
Well I tried to be thorough in my answer.
Also, I'm not in the top 30 for top earners, and relative to my rank for points or best answers that is significantly off. I mentioned it because it shows that I am more interested in answering questions, rather than to earn money to answer questions.
It appears that I worded my question wrong, as I didn't really care about M$ earned -- in the details I just said "points". Thanks for the answer!