Atoning for my Sins as a Test Hoarder

[EastStroudsburg13]

Alright, while I know all of your intentions are good, I think some of you are forgetting to keep in mind that you're effectively removing the tournaments' control over where their test sets go. While we do ideally want as many tournaments to be releasing tests as possible, we shouldn't be effectively removing tournaments' ability to know if/when their tests are being publicly released. This especially applies in this case where certain tournaments are getting released gradually, as opposed to a great many at once, meaning that certain tournaments are effectively getting singled out to be released.

We're in sort of a weird place in the Science Olympiad landscape right now. I think many tournaments don't realize just how widespread private trading is, and it's possible we're on the brink of more tournaments coming to this realization. But there is a risk of backlash against the site itself by tournaments who don't want their tests shared (for their own reasons), and there's a possibility that affects what we can do with the Test Exchange.

In summary, I don't really know what the best way to go about this is. I would probably at least ask that you be discreet with the tests you publish, and only publish tests from tournaments your team has actually attended. This will at least allow for tournaments to see some pathway by which their tests arrived to this point. I also welcome input from others, especially those with experience in the tournament-running or coaching side of things, to see how schools could react to something like this. It's a nice idea, but this is a pretty significant and sudden step and there could be consequences that some of you may not have foreseen.

(AND YALL SAID TRADING WAS BAD FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC)

With all due respect, you have acted pretty impulsively in starting this thread. There is a LOT you have failed to consider in starting this without any warning, planning, or discussion.

[whythelongface]

Alright, while I know all of your intentions are good, I think some of you are forgetting to keep in mind that you're effectively removing the tournaments' control over where their test sets go. While we do ideally want as many tournaments to be releasing tests as possible, we shouldn't be effectively removing tournaments' ability to know if/when their tests are being publicly released. This especially applies in this case where certain tournaments are getting released gradually, as opposed to a great many at once, meaning that certain tournaments are effectively getting singled out to be released.

We're in sort of a weird place in the Science Olympiad landscape right now. I think many tournaments don't realize just how widespread private trading is, and it's possible we're on the brink of more tournaments coming to this realization. But there is a risk of backlash against the site itself by tournaments who don't want their tests shared (for their own reasons), and there's a possibility that affects what we can do with the Test Exchange.

In summary, I don't really know what the best way to go about this is. I would probably at least ask that you be discreet with the tests you publish, and only publish tests from tournaments your team has actually attended. This will at least allow for tournaments to see some pathway by which their tests arrived to this point. I also welcome input from others, especially those with experience in the tournament-running or coaching side of things, to see how schools could react to something like this. It's a nice idea, but this is a pretty significant and sudden step and there could be consequences that some of you may not have foreseen.

(AND YALL SAID TRADING WAS BAD FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC)

With all due respect, you have acted pretty impulsively in starting this thread. There is a LOT you have failed to consider in starting this without any warning, planning, or discussion.

Seconded. Releasing tests is nice. Releasing them on a site that could be held accountable for actions like this is not.

[jonathanzhang53]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knowledge_sharing

i'm so glad all of us minors can gather here today and pretend that it takes courage and humility to share pdfs with each other.

[MIScioly1]

I'm of two minds on this topic. On the one hand, I totally agree with East. We don't want to get in trouble on this site, and this thread was created quite impulsively. There certainly could be unintended consequences.

On the other hand, I am of the strong opinion that all tests should be released publicly. I think it is totally unnecessary to keep tests "secret". Science Olympiad should be about sharing knowledge and growing intellectually, so why hide resources from those who could gain?

[EastStroudsburg13]

On the other hand, I am of the strong opinion that all tests should be released publicly. I think it is totally unnecessary to keep tests "secret". Science Olympiad should be about sharing knowledge and growing intellectually, so why hide resources from those who could gain?

I have this opinion too; but in the end some things require deliberation and discussion first before taking a major step towards an ultimate goal. That deliberation was lacking here, and so now we have to deal with everything after-the-fact.

[Random Human]

Kinda bs in my opinion. All us test hoarders should unite as one and post it on our little private chat. Getting rid of sins to other test hoarders.

[EastStroudsburg13]

Kinda bs in my opinion. All us test hoarders should unite as one and post it on our little private chat. Getting rid of sins to other test hoarders.

Yeah, this would be pretty scummy. Posting tests without deliberation is impulsive, but still with good intentions. I cannot say the same for your proposal.

[IcsTam]

Just curious, but what kind of backlash can this actually spawn? I feel like it will either A) cause more watermarking or B) cause more publicly released tests, but I don't see why it's detrimental to the community past that.

[WhatScience?]

You guys are right, I was impulsive.

If any of yall wanna discuss this, pm me.

[MIScioly1]

Just curious, but what kind of backlash can this actually spawn? I feel like it will either A) cause more watermarking or B) cause more publicly released tests, but I don't see why it's detrimental to the community past that.

I think it is good that the tests are being released publicly. I'm not sure doing so in a forums thread was the right way to go about doing so, particularly when several people who run invitationals are members of the community as well.

I think perhaps it would be a good idea to have a talk with East about the best ways to go about sharing these tests.

From the perspective of someone who has helped run a tournament, I personally have no problem with it, but I am an advocate for releasing all tests publicly. I don't know how a tournament director from, say, MIT would feel about it.