If I’ve gained 500 karma, I should be able to upvote or downvote F(500) comments, where F would probably be a log function of some sort.
Um, that math doesn’t work out unless the number of new users expands exponentially fast. You need F(n) to be at least n, and probably significantly greater, in order to avoid a massive bottleneck.
Um, that math doesn’t work out unless the number of new users expands exponentially fast. You need F(n) to be at least n, and probably significantly greater, in order to avoid a massive bottleneck.
I thought of that too, but then I realized the karma:upvote conversion rate on posts is 10:1, which complicates the analysis of the karma economy.
If F(n) < n, then yes, karma disappears from the system when voting on comments, but is pumped back in when voting on articles.
It does appear that the choice of a suitable F(n) isn’t quite obvious, and this is probably why F(n) = infinite is currently used.
Still, I think that a more restrictive choice would produce better results, and less frivolous voting.