Reach for the stars - not the thanks button

[crabfoot]

I had a PM conversation with Clinton - I have recently been thanked for posts by people (including Clinton), really for info I sent by PM at the same time, and frankly those thanks looked a bit like an "old pals network" might be building, because the posts involved only showed part of the info I was thanked for.

Clinton suggests that in the circumstances of getting help via a PM, it might be better to add to the person's reputation by clicking on the star at the foot of a post. He also says he thinks the scoring scheme for the reputation "green blobs" is probably set too high, so he's looking into that.

I can't say that it worries me too much how the things tot up, but I don't like the idea of the thanks system looking like anything cliquey, or an old pals network.

So - reach for the stars ...

[Kay]

Ah, so you're suggesting sic itur ad astra. (You are a Latin scholar aren't you? Good Scottish education and all that.)

I must confess I feel a little bit of glee when I get a thanks thingy I've no idea how the rep system works, and preferred not to ask in case I made myself look stupid.

[crabfoot]

Actually, I went to school in Bradford on a scholarship (people get them sometimes, even if they live on a council estate) - but yes, everybody had to live with Latin - and the school was in the Daily Telegraph top ten.

Unlike my poor old dad who got his schooling from Hyndland SM, then the army. "What did you do in civvy street?" said the sergeant. "I worked for Olivetti as a trainee typewriter engineer" said dad. So the army taught him to type ...

[Kay]

Aye well, I came from a very poor background. It's just that the (freebie) school I went to had compulsory Latin for some of us. Just a bit old-fashioned, that's all. I don't regret it.

[crabfoot]

I have a multimillionaire cousin who designs oil rigs - fae the Milk. As you said, Scots education ...

[Clinton]

As things stand we have both a rep system and a thank you system and no rules on their use. Members can either publicly thank someone or privately rep them. I'd like to keep it that way and keep it as open as it is now.

But the reps are not leading easily to green bars. Only Andy seems to have acquired enough rep to have two green bars, double of what I have. This system needs some tweaking. (Not that all of you should stop repping Andy! )

I hope to do a post next week explaining the rep system (and the Thank You) and announcing some tweaks. Hopefully after that the system will be clearer, reward contribution more visibly and more members will use it.

[akirk]

Ah, so you're suggesting sic itur ad astra. (You are a Latin scholar aren't you? Good Scottish education and all that.)

now that brings back memories - motto for my prep school - St Andrew's B.A. now trying to remember the school song.

regarding thanks / rep / etc. I am not the biggest fan of it - I tend to ignore it except for using it in one way - to show agreement with a post without adding a new post saying just I agree
so a sort of 'I agree' button...

I know some forums where people write posts trying to get thanks (for some bizarre reason - almost as though they can trade them in for cash at some point!

I prefer people to be straight forward and honest - even if it is not always appreciated!

Alasdair

[Kay]

@Clinton

I tried the rep thing, which I hadn't done before due to not knowing what it was. It seems to be a way of "approving" of a post. I don't like that. I don't think that you should increase someone's "reputation" just because you agree with them. I quite often thank people even when I disagree with them if I think they have made good points. I would like to see "reputation" being awarded for behaving honourably, such as helping others or doing a good deal. So, yes, please do tweak the system and make some rules and guidelines for its use.

We had a "Karma" system where people could give positive or negative karma to others. The negative karma got abused. Some people used it if they simply disagreed with someone. Some people seemed to think they should rate every post + or -. Most members didn't like it. We scrapped the negative karma and kept the positive. It's a bit like getting a "thanks" but more vague as you've no idea what you're getting the karma for. I like the thanks system much more.

Anyway, "reputation" shouldn't be a reflection of how good you are at saying things which people agree with.

[delta4]

regarding thanks / rep / etc. I am not the biggest fan of it - I tend to ignore it except for using it in one way - to show agreement with a post without adding a new post saying just I agree
so a sort of 'I agree' button...

I think the last times i clicked Thanks was with same purpose. But only the last 2 or 3. In the beginning i posted Thanks on a new post but to stop posting "i agree" or "Thanks" i started clicking

And noticed that some forums use it this way.

[Slowdive]

I am always a fan of thanks and rep systems. Everyone likes a pat on the back (thanks) and reputation usually over time lets new members spot the quality contributors quickly. However both of these systems should work easily here due to the largely mature crowd we attract. Due to the nature of the place and the quality of members and moderation we have a very low noise level around these parts.
The only time a rep system becomes a necessity is when a forum is so large you have to hang a neon sign over peoples heads "Good people here".
So yes I think they are great and dare I say fun, but neither seem a necessity at this time due to the nature of the space we are all sharing.