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by pentagrama·3y ago·view on hn ↗
I remember trying to learn front end development around 2013, was fascinated by responsive web design and twitter bootstrap. Asked some questions on that site, was mostly ridiculed for my amateur questions several times, never touched the site again and also never learned front end. So this is my story with that site.
3 comments
I had the opposite problem; I'm actually quite skilled in areas but never had enough "karma" to answer any questions so I've never ever been able to.
Same. I got put in StackOverflow jail for posting my contribution an answer because I didn't have enough karma to post a comment on a previous answer (or maybe it was the other way around, I forget). Never mind that I was earnestly trying to help the original poster, and pointed out a legitimate mistake in one of the answers. I broke protocol and had to be punished.
It seems like there was a time window when you could actually get upvotes, and if you missed it you'll never be able to use the site as a normal user.
Not quite true, though indeed getting upvotes seems not to be as easy as it once was. I still get an upvote on some of my relatively recent answers once in a couple months, although it depends on the answer.

The quick way to accumulate reputation is through bounties. However, it's very much a lottery: bountied questions are often about ultra-specialised niche topics. You may need to hunt for a long time to find something you actually know something about.

You don"t need any karma to answer any logged in thing can answer. I say thing as ChatGPT is being used to produce a load or crappy wrong answers now.

Thus I don"t understand your issue. This is a XY-problem :) I know enough about the subject to know that your issue is not the actual issue as anyone can answer, if you had issues then there is something else.

On StackOverflow.com you are allowed to answer (most) questions even if your reputation is low.
There is some barrier to entry.

My friend, a much less skilled developer, was much better at the craft of SO. I just lurk/solve my own issues

I went to a university that basically just handed me the Comp Sci manual and said RTFM. I almost failed out, but then I learned it.

I have only had great experience with SO, but regardless, don't get dissuaded by those with less than mediocre tact.