Post 'rating' System Options

[Jessticles]

 I'm not sure if this is possible for us (i'd have to investigate), but I HAVE seen it on other forums. 

basically, you can judge any users posts and give them a positive rating for it (so if it's helpful, or funny, or informative, or w/e), or a negative rating (if it's unnecessarily flaming, or stupid, or w/e). The reason I'm suggesting this is finality suggested in her homepage thread that we update the homepage every so often with 'posts of the week', and this might be an easy way to find out which posts our users enjoyed the most, or which were most helpful. 

I know we have gold stars on our profile, but I think that's for members as a whole. I'm fairly sure this system is just for individual posts and which ones are liked the most - although it probably contributes to some sort of overall record each member has (so 100 good posts, for example). 


The way I saw it at forums was usually a little + or - symbol, and you could rep them (good rep or bad, I assume). 

What do you guys think - something to be considered, or just unnecessary and stupid?  

[SummerKnight.]

Yeah, they have a system like that on the Student Room forums, you can give positive or negative rep for each post so the quality of the member is also visible from rep points.

But... I cant see anything wrong persay with it, except fake ratings. I like the idea.

[Tom Fairbear!]

It might become a bit of a popularity fest, ie everyone voting for e-buddies posts.

[Money Mike]

Fuck no. Stay the fuck away from doing this.

This was tried in another forum I used to post in. It came with a software upgrade, I believe.

It's called the Reputation System. Problem was, members' took advantage of it. If their was someone you despised, even if they posted something intelligent or qualitative, that person would get a negative rating. I remember someone who had a rating of like -333 at some point, and he was a smart guy.

Tom makes a great point. Anyone who is based toward someone else (don't fucking lie, we are all to a extent) could give that person a positive rating, even if they said something that should have warranted a negative rating.

The shittiest part was this system DIDN'T apply to the Mods, or the Admins in there. That would have been fun. Plus people complained and bitched all the time about their ratings, and they started threads on it in their OT section of the forum.

Jess, you really want to read PM after PM of people bitching? I'm sure you get enough of that already. It was found that people weren't mature enough to have a system like that and it was completely abused. Given the ages in here, I WOULDN'T do it.

If you are going to do it, at least apply it to the Mods and Admins.

[TerrierChad]

I think it is a bit risky doing it all over although you could implement it to a smaller extent perhaps in the Art & Poetry section maybe. Have the system there so people can vote whether they like a poem or not perhaps.

[Finality]

Here's a mod to do it. I like the idea.
http://mods.invisionize.com/db/index.php/f/7611

[Jessticles]

 If we were going  to implement this, then I thought it was quite obvious we'd extend it to the submods, mods and administrators too. They're still members yo.  

I do see what everyones talking about, popularity contests, only liking posts because of friendships or personal preferences for certain members, or dislikes for others. I suppose it might turn into something like the star rating on each members profile, something which ultimately most people do not use or care for all that much. I did think it would be a handy tool to find "posts of the week", or helpful posts, or w/e. 

I think it is a bit risky doing it all over although you could implement it to a smaller extent perhaps in the Art & Poetry section maybe. Have the system there so people can vote whether they like a poem or not perhaps.

The only thing is, that is essentially rating the thread, which you can already do. This was more for actual helpful, informative, constructive, or humorous posts - or the opposite. 

[Finality]

I think we could set it so that only positive increments are allowed.

[TerrierChad]

The only thing is, that is essentially rating the thread, which you can already do. This was more for actual helpful, informative, constructive, or humorous posts - or the opposite. 

You can? Well, you learn something new everyday!

Also, I agree with Finality. If it is to be implemented then just having positive rep would avoid having any bitch fights but still accomplish the goal of having a "Post of the Week" award.

[Old Spice Guy]

I would love to hand out some negative reputation.

[Eagle]

Return of the postwhore, but with a twist.

[WƦetch]

If you do, you should make it visible who gave you a rating. On a few other forums, there were always "Who the fuck negged me" topics everywhere, and people demanding that if they get a rating on their post, the person who did should leave their name saying they did. It would also prevent people from just senselessly handing out false ratings based on the member and not the post, because it would be visible if they were just negging every post from a member they didn't like.

Good in theory, but in all honesty it would probably just turn into a biggest dick contest and circle jerk type thing.

[Refraction]

It might become a bit of a popularity fest, ie everyone voting for e-buddies posts.

Obviously it would. As opposed to have it mean anything, you might look at something like EB's "karma" system which, really, has no affect on anything other than being used to bribe noobs when the mods want moar support.

[Seasons End]

Sounds interesting Jess. Doesn't that also mean you'll have to updat some stuff here as well as the homepage.

[Recovery]

I don't think it's necessary. If this forum was aimed at making friends and chatting, why add a rep system? Unless there is an option to "thumbs up" a post which is witty/funny/etc.

No wait, sounds like YouTube to me. But ultimately, there is no point having reps/ratings. I come here to unwind and seeing my posts geting negative ratings just proves to be an unnecessary distraction.

My 2 cents.

[Benjamin Hall]

I personally would not go for a post rating system. It's an open invitation for trolling and flaming.
Not to mention mods inboxes will be flooded with reported posts, "He gave me a negative rating! He just hates me!" more than they already are!
Now, in a more mature setting, it would be awesome.
But lets face it, many people here don't take well to criticism, even if it is constructive.
It's your call, but I feel that it would be an open door for trouble.

[Money Mike]

Seems like most of us who have posted in here is against this.

As I was telling Jess earlier privately, the biggest problem with this is having the members take it seriously. That was a huge problem in the forum I saw it tried in. The members took it like a joke.

The administrators in there actually admitted it was a bad idea, and that the forum was not mature enough to handle a reputation system. If anything, they tried it to weed out the stupid, useless posts.

[Old Spice Guy]

We could always give it a test run for maybe a week or two to see if it'll work here or not. If it does then great. If not then it can always be removed.

[Kasey Is Awesome]

Blah this could be either good or bad.

I'm not sure yet.

But this could be fun as well so yeah. Would be cool to try out. :3

[Seasons End]

Maybe we can still have it, just that we have to quote the post and give a reason why. Then moderators can check it then approve it or not. They don't have to do it straight away, but I hope you get what I mean.

EDIT: I know this will make the moderators busier.