Asp Forum - Quizmaster Retiring: Revenge of the Sith

Matthew Moss

1/14/2009 11:38:00 PM

Sorry for the dorky subject line...

A bit over a year ago, mid-November of 2007, James Gray announced he
was retiring as the Ruby Quiz master. He had run the quiz for nearly
three years, a wonderful achievement enjoyed by many Rubyists here.

Almost a year ago, mid-February of 2008, I began an attempt to follow
in his footsteps. Sad to say, though, I only lasted about 10 months.
As of now, I need to retire from running the Ruby Quiz.

When I started, I had made some changes in my personal life (incl.
quitting my job) that allowed me the time to write up quizzes and
summaries every week. However, nearly a year later, my personal
circumstances have changed again, and I will be unable to dedicate the
time necessary to run further Ruby Quizzes. Some of this has already
manifested by way of skipped weeks and late quizzes/submissions.

Hopefully, I've done reasonably well following James' incredible
effort. I also hope that, perhaps, there will be another quizmaster to
take up from where I left off. I certainly hope so; I may not be able
to run the quiz any longer, but I'd still love to participate in some
of the lighter quizzes to follow.

Apologies to everyone that I must step down, but also many thanks to
everyone for participating and making RQ2 very enjoyable.

-- Matthew Moss

P.S. For those who would consider taking the reigns, I can provide the
Ruby scripts (cgi, not Rails) used to run the current site at <http://splatbang.com...
>. As for hosting, I am open to several possibilities.

37 Answers

Aaron Patterson

1/14/2009 11:51:00 PM

On Thu, Jan 15, 2009 at 08:37:31AM +0900, Matthew Moss wrote:
> Sorry for the dorky subject line...
>
> A bit over a year ago, mid-November of 2007, James Gray announced he was
> retiring as the Ruby Quiz master. He had run the quiz for nearly three
> years, a wonderful achievement enjoyed by many Rubyists here.
>
> Almost a year ago, mid-February of 2008, I began an attempt to follow in
> his footsteps. Sad to say, though, I only lasted about 10 months. As of
> now, I need to retire from running the Ruby Quiz.

I wish I had time to take over, but I want to say that I appreciate your
effort! I hope someone will pick this up because I like reading the
Ruby Quiz!

--
Aaron Patterson
http://tenderlovem...

James Gray

1/15/2009 12:10:00 AM

On Jan 14, 2009, at 5:37 PM, Matthew Moss wrote:

> Hopefully, I've done reasonably well following James' incredible
> effort.

I think you did a great job. I know how hard it is! Thanks for the
great sacrifices.

James Edward Gray II

Jesús Gabriel y Galán

1/15/2009 9:01:00 AM

On Thu, Jan 15, 2009 at 12:37 AM, Matthew Moss <matt@moss.name> wrote:

> Almost a year ago, mid-February of 2008, I began an attempt to follow in his
> footsteps. Sad to say, though, I only lasted about 10 months. As of now, I
> need to retire from running the Ruby Quiz.

Hi Matthew,

Thanks for running the quiz, you did a great job !!
I've always enjoyed the quiz even though most of the time I didn't
have enough time to work on a solution (two little kids take too much
of my free time). When I did have the time I enjoyed it a lot. I hope
somebody will take over so we can give continuity to this great asset
of the Ruby community. Unfortunately I don't have the time or
knoweldge to run this kind of thing...

So again thanks for running the quiz.

Jesus.

Ron Fox

1/15/2009 10:49:00 AM

How about a 'quiz' group with a group leader rather than a single
quizmaster. Suppose there are n people in the group. Each person
then is responsible for at least a quiz every n weeks (if you want to
continue weekly). The group leader maintains any pool of additional
quizzes that come in for lean weeks where a quiz might be missing, and
determines which quiz from the group gets shoved out each week.. or
even go to monthly quizzes?

Seems a more sustainable/scalable approach.

Ron.

Matthew Moss wrote:
> Sorry for the dorky subject line...
>
> A bit over a year ago, mid-November of 2007, James Gray announced he
> was retiring as the Ruby Quiz master. He had run the quiz for nearly
> three years, a wonderful achievement enjoyed by many Rubyists here.
>
> Almost a year ago, mid-February of 2008, I began an attempt to follow
> in his footsteps. Sad to say, though, I only lasted about 10 months.
> As of now, I need to retire from running the Ruby Quiz.
>
> When I started, I had made some changes in my personal life (incl.
> quitting my job) that allowed me the time to write up quizzes and
> summaries every week. However, nearly a year later, my personal
> circumstances have changed again, and I will be unable to dedicate the
> time necessary to run further Ruby Quizzes. Some of this has already
> manifested by way of skipped weeks and late quizzes/submissions.
>
> Hopefully, I've done reasonably well following James' incredible
> effort. I also hope that, perhaps, there will be another quizmaster to
> take up from where I left off. I certainly hope so; I may not be able
> to run the quiz any longer, but I'd still love to participate in some
> of the lighter quizzes to follow.
>
> Apologies to everyone that I must step down, but also many thanks to
> everyone for participating and making RQ2 very enjoyable.
>
> -- Matthew Moss
>
>
> P.S. For those who would consider taking the reigns, I can provide the
> Ruby scripts (cgi, not Rails) used to run the current site at <http://splatbang.com...
> >. As for hosting, I am open to several possibilities.
>
>

--
Ron Fox
NSCL
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-1321

Matthew Moss

1/15/2009 2:40:00 PM

On Jan 15, 2009, at 4:49 AM, Ron Fox wrote:

> How about a 'quiz' group with a group leader rather than a single
> quizmaster. Suppose there are n people in the group. Each person
> then is responsible for at least a quiz every n weeks (if you want
> to continue weekly). The group leader maintains any pool of
> additional quizzes that come in for lean weeks where a quiz might be
> missing, and determines which quiz from the group gets shoved out
> each week.. or even go to monthly quizzes?
>
> Seems a more sustainable/scalable approach.

My personal experience with groups on the Internet is that they
generally don't work for a situation such as this. It takes a certain
amount of hard work and dedication to keep things going; the usual
result is one or two people doing most of the work anyway, but also
spending time badgering or attempting to motivate the others with
little success. It is often difficult enough to find one dedicated
person... but finding a group of them?

That said, I am certainly not against a group of people contributing
to Ruby Quiz, but really... as I will not be running it anymore, that
would be left to the quizmaster (i.e. "group leader") who follows me.
If he can find a group of N people who each regularly contribute a
quiz every N-th week, more power to him and them. But you still need
someone -- a group leader, as you say -- to manage the whole.

Likewise, it may be an easier task to do quizzes only monthly, or
every other week. I certainly have skipped weeks when I was behind
schedule or overburdened. Again, that's a detail that my successor(s)
can set either as the rule or the exception.

Ruby Student

1/15/2009 2:46:00 PM

[Note: parts of this message were removed to make it a legal post.]

On Thu, Jan 15, 2009 at 5:49 AM, Ron Fox <fox@nscl.msu.edu> wrote:

> How about a 'quiz' group with a group leader rather than a single
> quizmaster. Suppose there are n people in the group. Each person then is
> responsible for at least a quiz every n weeks (if you want to continue
> weekly). The group leader maintains any pool of additional quizzes that
> come in for lean weeks where a quiz might be missing, and determines which
> quiz from the group gets shoved out each week.. or even go to monthly
> quizzes?
>
> Seems a more sustainable/scalable approach.
>
> Ron.
>
>
> Matthew Moss wrote:
>
>> Sorry for the dorky subject line...
>>
>> A bit over a year ago, mid-November of 2007, James Gray announced he was
>> retiring as the Ruby Quiz master. He had run the quiz for nearly three
>> years, a wonderful achievement enjoyed by many Rubyists here.
>>
>> Almost a year ago, mid-February of 2008, I began an attempt to follow in
>> his footsteps. Sad to say, though, I only lasted about 10 months. As of
>> now, I need to retire from running the Ruby Quiz.
>>
>> When I started, I had made some changes in my personal life (incl.
>> quitting my job) that allowed me the time to write up quizzes and
>> summaries every week. However, nearly a year later, my personal
>> circumstances have changed again, and I will be unable to dedicate the
>> time necessary to run further Ruby Quizzes. Some of this has already
>> manifested by way of skipped weeks and late quizzes/submissions.
>>
>> Hopefully, I've done reasonably well following James' incredible effort.
>> I also hope that, perhaps, there will be another quizmaster to take up from
>> where I left off. I certainly hope so; I may not be able to run the quiz
>> any longer, but I'd still love to participate in some of the lighter
>> quizzes to follow.
>>
>> Apologies to everyone that I must step down, but also many thanks to
>> everyone for participating and making RQ2 very enjoyable.
>>
>> -- Matthew Moss
>>
>>
>> P.S. For those who would consider taking the reigns, I can provide the
>> Ruby scripts (cgi, not Rails) used to run the current site at <
>> http://splatbang.com... >. As for hosting, I am open to several
>> possibilities.
>>
>>
>>
>
> --
> Ron Fox
> NSCL
> Michigan State University
> East Lansing, MI 48824-1321
>
> Although I am just a Ruby Apprentice, I like the idea of a "quiz group". I
can also give it a try if no volunteer is found, to run the weekly quiz. As
long as I am not expected to solve the quiz myself (remember, I am a light
weight Ruby learner) I would be happy to feel the vacuum until someone more
experience takes it over.
Regards,
--
Ruby Student

Ruby Student

1/15/2009 2:49:00 PM

[Note: parts of this message were removed to make it a legal post.]

On Thu, Jan 15, 2009 at 9:47 AM, Ruby Student <ruby.student@gmail.com>wrote:

>
>
> On Thu, Jan 15, 2009 at 5:49 AM, Ron Fox <fox@nscl.msu.edu> wrote:
>
>> How about a 'quiz' group with a group leader rather than a single
>> quizmaster. Suppose there are n people in the group. Each person then is
>> responsible for at least a quiz every n weeks (if you want to continue
>> weekly). The group leader maintains any pool of additional quizzes that
>> come in for lean weeks where a quiz might be missing, and determines which
>> quiz from the group gets shoved out each week.. or even go to monthly
>> quizzes?
>>
>> Seems a more sustainable/scalable approach.
>>
>> Ron.
>>
>>
>> Matthew Moss wrote:
>>
>>> Sorry for the dorky subject line...
>>>
>>> A bit over a year ago, mid-November of 2007, James Gray announced he was
>>> retiring as the Ruby Quiz master. He had run the quiz for nearly three
>>> years, a wonderful achievement enjoyed by many Rubyists here.
>>>
>>> Almost a year ago, mid-February of 2008, I began an attempt to follow in
>>> his footsteps. Sad to say, though, I only lasted about 10 months. As of
>>> now, I need to retire from running the Ruby Quiz.
>>>
>>> When I started, I had made some changes in my personal life (incl.
>>> quitting my job) that allowed me the time to write up quizzes and
>>> summaries every week. However, nearly a year later, my personal
>>> circumstances have changed again, and I will be unable to dedicate the
>>> time necessary to run further Ruby Quizzes. Some of this has already
>>> manifested by way of skipped weeks and late quizzes/submissions.
>>>
>>> Hopefully, I've done reasonably well following James' incredible effort.
>>> I also hope that, perhaps, there will be another quizmaster to take up from
>>> where I left off. I certainly hope so; I may not be able to run the quiz
>>> any longer, but I'd still love to participate in some of the lighter
>>> quizzes to follow.
>>>
>>> Apologies to everyone that I must step down, but also many thanks to
>>> everyone for participating and making RQ2 very enjoyable.
>>>
>>> -- Matthew Moss
>>>
>>>
>>> P.S. For those who would consider taking the reigns, I can provide the
>>> Ruby scripts (cgi, not Rails) used to run the current site at <
>>> http://splatbang.com... >. As for hosting, I am open to several
>>> possibilities.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>> --
>> Ron Fox
>> NSCL
>> Michigan State University
>> East Lansing, MI 48824-1321
>>
>> Although I am just a Ruby Apprentice, I like the idea of a "quiz group". I
> can also give it a try if no volunteer is found, to run the weekly quiz. As
> long as I am not expected to solve the quiz myself (remember, I am a light
> weight Ruby learner) I would be happy to feel the vacuum until someone more
> experience takes it over.
> Regards,
> --
> Ruby Student
>

I also think that more people would get involve if the quiz is given once
and no more than twice/month.

--
Ruby Student

James Koppel

1/15/2009 3:11:00 PM

I haven't done Ruby Quiz in a while, but when I did, a big draw for me was =
making it=A0an important part of my week. If you made it once or twice a mo=
nth, all that would accomplish is that no-one would form a "Ruby Quiz habit=
" as I did.=0A=0A=0A=0A=0A________________________________=0AFrom: Ruby Stu=
dent <ruby.student@gmail.com>=0ATo: ruby-talk ML <ruby-talk@ruby-lang.org>=
=0ASent: Thursday, January 15, 2009 8:48:43 AM=0ASubject: Re: Quizmaster Re=
tiring: Revenge of the Sith=0A=0AOn Thu, Jan 15, 2009 at 9:47 AM, Ruby Stud=
ent <ruby.student@gmail.com>wrote:=0A=0A>=0A>=0A> On Thu, Jan 15, 2009 at 5=
:49 AM, Ron Fox <fox@nscl.msu.edu> wrote:=0A>=0A>> How about a 'quiz' group=
with a group leader rather than a single=0A>> quizmaster.=A0 Suppose there=
are n people in the group.=A0 Each person then is=0A>> responsible for at =
least a quiz every n weeks (if you want to continue=0A>> weekly).=A0 The gr=
oup leader maintains any pool of additional quizzes that=0A>> come in for l=
ean weeks where a quiz might be missing, and determines which=0A>> quiz fro=
m the group gets shoved out each week.. or even go to monthly=0A>> quizzes?=
=0A>>=0A>> Seems a more sustainable/scalable approach.=0A>>=0A>> Ron.=0A>>=
=0A>>=0A>> Matthew Moss wrote:=0A>>=0A>>> Sorry for the dorky subject line.=
...=0A>>>=0A>>> A bit over a year ago, mid-November of 2007, James Gray anno=
unced he=A0 was=0A>>> retiring as the Ruby Quiz master. He had run the quiz=
for nearly=A0 three=0A>>> years, a wonderful achievement enjoyed by many R=
ubyists here.=0A>>>=0A>>> Almost a year ago, mid-February of 2008, I began =
an attempt to follow=A0 in=0A>>> his footsteps. Sad to say, though, I only =
lasted about 10 months.=A0 As of=0A>>> now, I need to retire from running t=
he Ruby Quiz.=0A>>>=0A>>> When I started, I had made some changes in my per=
sonal life (incl.=0A>>>=A0 quitting my job) that allowed me the time to wri=
te up quizzes and=0A>>>=A0 summaries every week. However, nearly a year lat=
er, my personal=0A>>>=A0 circumstances have changed again, and I will be un=
able to dedicate the=0A>>>=A0 time necessary to run further Ruby Quizzes. S=
ome of this has already=0A>>>=A0 manifested by way of skipped weeks and lat=
e quizzes/submissions.=0A>>>=0A>>> Hopefully, I've done reasonably well fol=
lowing James' incredible=A0 effort.=0A>>> I also hope that, perhaps, there =
will be another quizmaster to=A0 take up from=0A>>> where I left off. I cer=
tainly hope so; I may not be able=A0 to run the quiz=0A>>> any longer, but =
I'd still love to participate in some=A0 of the lighter=0A>>> quizzes to fo=
llow.=0A>>>=0A>>> Apologies to everyone that I must step down, but also man=
y thanks to=0A>>>=A0 everyone for participating and making RQ2 very enjoyab=
le.=0A>>>=0A>>> -- Matthew Moss=0A>>>=0A>>>=0A>>> P.S. For those who would =
consider taking the reigns, I can provide the=0A>>>=A0 Ruby scripts (cgi, n=
ot Rails) used to run the current site at <=0A>>> http://splatbang...
quiz/=A0 >. As for hosting, I am open to several=0A>>> possibilities.=0A>>>=
=0A>>>=0A>>>=0A>>=0A>> --=0A>> Ron Fox=0A>> NSCL=0A>> Michigan State Univer=
sity=0A>> East Lansing, MI 48824-1321=0A>>=0A>> Although I am just a Ruby A=
pprentice, I like the idea of a "quiz group". I=0A> can also give it a try =
if no volunteer is found, to run the weekly quiz. As=0A> long as I am not e=
xpected to solve the quiz myself (remember, I am a light=0A> weight Ruby le=
arner) I would be happy to feel the vacuum until someone more=0A> experienc=
e takes it over.=0A> Regards,=0A> --=0A> Ruby Student=0A>=0A=0AI also think=
that more people would get involve if the quiz is given once=0Aand no more=
than twice/month.=0A=0A-- =0ARuby Student=0A=0A=0A=0A

ThoML

1/15/2009 3:20:00 PM

> Likewise, it may be an easier task to do quizzes only monthly, or =A0
> every other week.

I personally think a group of quiz masters would necessarily result in
a greater variation of "quizzes" which would probably make more people
interested in solving the quiz. IMHO a weekly quiz would be better
suited to maintain a general interest. This would probably be easier
to achieve for a group (2+) of quiz masters. You're right though that
such a group would still need somebody who carries the one ring to
bind then all. :-)

Many thanks for your time and effort you put into the ruby quiz. I
always found it quite interesting to follow the discussion & read the
summary.

rick_2047

1/15/2009 4:32:00 PM

Ok of all the people who are commenting i am perhaps the least
qualified coz i never solved one on my own, but i think this is the
best time to tell people what has been on my mind for a very long
time. But first let me make it clear that i am in no state right now
to take voluteering for what i am suggesting.

I do not know the particular history & culture of quizzes (i say
quizzes because i know about python and perl quiz) but i find it very
common that most of them are like for the stack of people just above
the intermediate level(correct me if its wrong). Nobody seems to be
bothered about those learners just who have just understood the
syntax, conventions and philosophy of ruby. While the quizzes are
great they are of little value for such people (who actually are the
most in need). I always maintained that the best way to learn the
solution is to actually solve the problem. Now i propose that apart
from the regular quiz section we have, we also start a beginner quiz.
You know like quizzes intended for people who are just learning tho
ropes.

I know many of you think that it would be unlikely (specially now that
we lack a proper quiz master altogether) to have something like this.
But think about all those beginners who are left gasping for breath
when they read the first quiz.

On Jan 15, 7:20=A0am, Tom Link <micat...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Likewise, it may be an easier task to do quizzes only monthly, or =A0
> > every other week.
>
> I personally think a group of quiz masters would necessarily result in
> a greater variation of "quizzes" which would probably make more people
> interested in solving the quiz. IMHO a weekly quiz would be better
> suited to maintain a general interest. This would probably be easier
> to achieve for a group (2+) of quiz masters. You're right though that
> such a group would still need somebody who carries the one ring to
> bind then all. :-)
>
> Many thanks for your time and effort you put into the ruby quiz. I
> always found it quite interesting to follow the discussion & read the
> summary.

comp.lang.ruby

Quizmaster Retiring: Revenge of the Sith

Matthew Moss

Aaron Patterson

James Gray

Jesús Gabriel y Galán

Ron Fox

Matthew Moss

Ruby Student

Ruby Student

James Koppel

ThoML

rick_2047

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