Enable Stars for Number of Posts?

Should We Enable Stars for The Number of Posts Members Have?

  • Yes, enable stars

    Votes: 1 5.9%

  • No, don't enable stars

    Votes: 16 94.1%
  • Total voters
    17
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M

Matthew Schenker

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Jan 15, 2007
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2,619
Everyone,
When a member posts a message to the forum, the total number of posts that member has contributed to the forum is displayed under his or her name.

SMF also has an option for awarding stars based on the number of posts members contribute.  Right now, I have stars turned off.  But would you like to have stars turned on?

I can define the number of posts necessary for each "star level" any way we want.  We could, for example, have the following breakdown:
One Star = 1 to 150 posts
Two Stars = 151 to 250 posts
Three Stars = 251 to 350 posts
Four Stars = 351 to 450 posts
Five Stars = 451 and over

So, do you like stars, or are they unnecessay?

Matthew
 
I'd be worried that such a system rewards quantity over quality. It would, even if only subtly, encourage lots of small posts.

Kind of like this one...
 
Matthew,

I think Dan hit the nail on the head that a system like that rewards quanity instead of quality.

Besides I think you should be the only one with stars....

5 stars...... give yourself a promotion!!!  ;D

jim
 
Dan Lyke said:
I'd be worried that such a system rewards quantity over quality. It would, even if only subtly, encourage lots of small posts.
Click to expand...

Agreed.  Besides, we've already got post counts under our avatars.  The count isn't confusing enough to need an explanatory graphic.  ;D
 
Matthew - you said it right IMHO - unnecessary.  You could remove the tracking of number of posts, also IMHO.
 
I also think it's unnecessary and maybe a bad idea.  I'm a programmer.  We type very fast.  Which means that I can create garbage quickly.  ;D  Giving me 5 stars for content-free prose (such as this post) defeats the purpose.  Let's go for quality, not quantity.

Dan.
 
Well, I see where this is going!  Sounds like people are happy having the stars off, which is the way things are right now!  But I'll keep this discussion up here, so people can feel free to weigh in any time.  That's the idea of an open forum, right?
Matthew
 
Your approach to addressing this issue is completely correct, IMO.  The number of great ideas that are embodied in this forum is higher than any other forum that I can think of.  But...

IMO, great ideas are the result of 1) coming up with lots of ideas, 2) placing them under the spotlight for critical evaluation, 3) gathering and analyzing feedback, and 4) making a good, prompt decisions.  It is the combination of all four that results in great ideas. 

Good ideas are implemented and go on to greatness.  Ideas that don't make the cut fall by the wayside.  Doing all of this at breakneck speed results in what you see around you in this forum. 

Keep up the great work!!!

Thanks,

Dan.
 
Matthew, you're the only one who should have some stars - to identify yourself as the moderator.  As others have said, quantity of messages posted is not a measure of the value of any of those posts.  I am a frequent poster, but certainly not one having expertise close to that many others have shared!
 
Matthew Schenker said:
SMF also has an option for awarding stars based on the number of posts members contribute.  Right now, I have stars turned off.  But would you like to have stars turned on?

So, do you like stars, or are they unnecessay?

Matthew
Click to expand...

Thanks but no thanks.
This forum has a much better quality to quantity ratio than SMC and I hope it continues so. One of the things that turns me away from SMC are the quantity of "Atta boy" and "I wish I had one of those" posts that only add to the length of the thread.

 
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