Forum Posts: Post Appreciation RANKING!!

[CavySpirit]

Alright. Here it is. I'm so tired of the whining about people needing to be nicer. It's my opinion that the majority of complaints are baseless.

However, you now have the opportunity to ANONYMOUSLY rank each other's posts based on usefulness and tact.

It's all subjective, but now everyone gets a vote on how they perceive a particular post. You can even vote for your own post (but you'll need 4 others to agree with you before a post status changes), but you only get one vote per post and you don't get to change it (at least right now). I'm also allowing Newbies to vote. Although you definitely have to be member in good standing to vote. Guests can't vote.

Once a vote reaches a count of 5 in either direction, good or bad, then THAT post is reflected in the profile of that user. Also, the status of THAT post changes and is visible on that post.

So, YOUR POSTING REPUTATION is on the line when you post. At this point, I'm also including myself and my mods.

If you don't like someone's post, you get to downgrade it. If you like it, you get to upgrade it.

Now, I'm not saying a post has to or should be FRIENDLY. I'm using a much more neutral measurement of TACTFULNESS.

What is TACT? Here a few flavors from the dictionary, (and I do not need anymore in future posts):

TACT or TACTFUL:
- skill in situations in which other people's feelings have to be considered.
- having or showing concern about upsetting or offending people.
- the ability to do or say the right thing at the right time.

If you go to a Member's Profile and click on the STATISTIC tab, you will now also see the following:

• Total ENJOYED Posts (# with Rank of 10 or more) 0
• Total APPRECIATED Posts (# with Rank of 5 TO 9) 0
• Total UNAPPRECIATED Posts (# with Rank of -5 TO -9) 0
• Total TURNED OTHERS OFF Posts (# with Rank of -10 or worse) 0

And you can go to those posts as well, when there are posts to go to.

In any post itself, is the rank of that post. It takes a score of 5 or more on any given post before the post status changes or the post is counted as appreciated or unappreciated in that member's profile.

You can click on the post score to see the total pluses and total minuses for that post.

In other words, a post could be ranked with 10 + and 5 - for a total score of 5+. Clicking on the score will show you the total ranking activity for that post.

Also, on each post on the right in the posters profile summary info, if you click on the "View Stats" (it's a toggle) to view that posters summary of their posting appreciation.


Have at it and have fun!

THE MORE EVERYONE VOTES, THE BETTER. So don't be shy about voting.

PS. There is no voting on posts in the Kitchen or the Forum Admin areas.

Note: After you vote, you have to hit refresh on that post to see the new post count on that post.

[AnimalHouse36]

Thanks I was wondering what it meant and I realized it happened right around the same time as that post in the kitchen...glad you banned it from the kitchen.

[tehdoc809]

Oh very nice, I love anonymity.

[gooberific]

Originally Posted by tehdoc809

Oh very nice, I love anonymity.

Me, too!

Thanks for this, T. I think it'll prove useful. Maybe wake up those of us who need waking.

[CavySpirit]

I'm glad the feedback is positive so far. Just VOTE, VOTE, VOTE!

The more you vote (up or down), the better off we all are!

Read and vote!

[fieryone]

I like this idea a lot! I think it's a great addition to the forum

[wigglesgiggles1]

I enjoy voting so I vote every post possible.Thanks again T!

[dra&pigs]

Do you have to vote? Of course, if there are posts I feel are extremely helpful and well-said, I will vote, but is it necessary to vote on just the threads you reply to with an answer?

[CavySpirit]

Originally Posted by dra&pigs

Do you have to vote? Of course, if there are posts I feel are extremely helpful and well-said, I will vote, but is it necessary to vote on just the threads you reply to with an answer?

Of course you don't have to vote, but over time, member's reputations can be helped by votes. This also encourages our over-zealous members to more thoughtfully consider how they phrase their messages, especially if everyone is using the system.

You can vote on any post (except the first one) in any thread. There are just the specific forums where no voting is allowed.

Also, it's not just about voting positively on replies you like. It's a good idea to vote down on replies/posts that you think could have/should have been worded better. Your one vote won't directly affect that post's status, but if others feel the same way and everyone takes the additional two seconds to vote, then it's better to send that message to the posts' author that they need work on their wording.

That helps us all get the forum to a place where it's deemed fair and reasonable, if not friendly!

So while it's not required to vote at all, it is helpful to vote, especially on what might be the borderline or problem posts. And more to the point, it's especially important to vote on the posts that some people think should have been friendlier--were you good with it or not? Inquiring minds want to know.

But we ALL (the whole community) get the most benefit if you vote frequently and honestly.

[dra&pigs]

'Kay, thanks T!

[Kipsie]

Okay, i'm very confused about this, but the part I understand sounds great.

[CavySpirit]

Originally Posted by Kipsie

Okay, i'm very confused about this, but the part I understand sounds great.

What are you confused about? I'll try to explain it better.

[Kipsie]

It's okay. I had to read it a few times to understand it completely. So it would take five people voting (lets say positive) for the status to change? Isn't this similar to giving 'thanks' to a useful post?

[CavySpirit]

Originally Posted by Kipsie

So it would take five people voting (lets say positive) for the status to change?

Yes.

Originally Posted by Kipsie

Isn't this similar to giving 'thanks' to a useful post?

Similar, but different.

Thanks:

• Always positive.
• No scoring.
• Not anonymous.
• Basically, you are showing public support or appreciation for a post.

Voting:

• Can be Positive or Negative
• Scored with 5 levels: Neutral, Appreciated, Enjoyed, Unappreciated, Turned Others Off
• Anonymous
• Evaluation on two specific criteria: helpfulness and tact
• Provides much better feedback to original poster (and the community) when a post is voted downward--in a way that is objective, collective and not personal.

[PixieStix]

Are there restrictions on members who are caged or inflamatory posters voting on posts?

[CavySpirit]

Originally Posted by PixieStix

Are there restrictions on members who are caged or inflamatory posters voting on posts?

Yes. In fact, I've updated the legend at the bottom of the forum display that explains the different user groups.

Anyone who is Caged or a Cavy Person can't vote.

[pennykit&amanda]

I really like this idea! I think I'll be thanking a lot less for posts I just agree on.

[AnimalHouse36]

Can everyone rate? Even newbies?

[Ly&Pigs]

Originally Posted by AnimalHouse36

Can everyone rate? Even newbies?

Newbies can vote. The only ones that cannot vote are Cavy Caged and Cavy Person.

[AnimalHouse36]

I got a -1 on a thread. I would like to know why I got that since I'm trying to be "nicer" in my posts since I've been targeted about it in another thread! I didn't think it was mean...and I know it was only one but I would like to know why exactly this person voted down...So I huess I don't really have a question, but I think it would be cool if there was something to find out WHY you got voted down...

P.S. thanks again T!