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Votes for the posts?


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Posted by bico
Every now and then I have noticed that there is an ongoing and sometimes somewhat infected discussion about wether the number of posts is a good enought measure of the quality of a members posts, or if it's not.

By implementing a relatively simple voting functionality, where the members can vote for a post that (s)he thinks is good, useful, valuable and/or informative, there might evolve a new view of what is a quality post and who is a capable and reliable poster.

I recommend a very simple voting procedure: If you think that a post is a quality post, then you may vote for it. If you don't think that a post is a quality post, then you shouldn't vote for it. As simple as that.

If implemented, what's needed from the user interface?

- A new field in the information area to the left of every post:

name
avatar
Joined: date
Posts: count
Votes: count
From: country/city

- A new entry in the profile page:

    :
    :
    :
Joined: date
Posts: count
Votes: count
    :
    :
    :

- A new icon in the selection area at the bottom of each post:

[Profile] [PM] | [Edit] [Quote] [Print] | [Vote]

What do you think? Good enough? Fair enough?
_________________
/bico

[ This Message was edited by: bico on 2004-05-02 00:23 ]


Posted by Lynx69
I wouldnt be bothered to vote because there are too many votes so it will get annoying...sorry M8

Posted by Lynx69
Actually I would be bothered if it was a really good post. You will have to think about the fact that someone might lose a lot of posts if other people forget or arent bothered to vote.

_________________
Dont hate the player-Hate the game!
Official T610/T616/T630/Z600 Forum

[ This Message was edited by: Lynx69 on 2004-05-02 00:43 ]

Posted by Cycovision
I'm sorry, but In my view Esato is primarily a discussion forum, not a knowledge base forum like http://www.experts-exchange.com/ True, people come here to ask questions and get answers but to me, it's all in a very friendly and informal fashion.

Why do we need a 'post quality voting system?' Everybody here has something to contribute in one way or another and Esato's moderators are more than capable in moving, removing and redirecting' inappropriate posts.

I think it would destroy the 'atmosphere' of Esato that I have come to love.

Posted by tranquil
The idea of a system like that is not a bad idea.
I would be easy for everybody to see who, acording to others, know what they are talking about.
The problem is that it wouldn't work here. Some members would agree to vote for eachother all the time and cause the voting system to show how many mates you have here instead.

Posted by Jim
Maybe for the market forum, like on ebay, so we can see if the guy is ok, but then it will be alot of work for laffen ...

Posted by mixin
If implemented you'd need a "only logged in members can vote" and they can only vote for a person once.

Posted by ~lozishere~
Funny that I posted this idea yesterday... Before Bico! Grrrr... it was in another thnead... look at how www.slashdot.org works, and you'll see how it is sometimes... not so effective...

Posted by scotsboyuk
A voting system for posts is completely impractical, it wouldn't work the way it was designed to, and for some very simple reasons. As has already been mentioned people would be more inclined to vote for their friends, even if it were just one vote per person, it would still be an abuse of the system; there is also the reverse of this argument, that is, people might withhold votes from someone they didn't like, even if that person was contributing valuable knowledge or help. We would also need to consider voter apathy, as a rule of thumb, most people will probably not be bothered to vote after the initial novelty has worn off and thus undermine the foundations of the system.
In my opinion, a far better idea would be to implement a reward scheme for members who demonstrate a good understanding on certain subjects or who help other members often. I have suggested this system before and I believe that it would work rather well. If the moderators are able to assign certain members distinguishing 'badges' or avatars, then this would act as a sign to newbies that they are members who might be able to help them. The fact that it would be the moderators assigning these 'distinctions' would rule out cronyism or 'old boy networks'.
We have a problem at the moment with the fixation on the number of posts that people have made, since this subject has already been discussed, ad infinitum, I will not go over it again, except to say that something has to be done about it. I can envisage a situation where members will simply be posting to pass the five hundred posts mark, in fact, we can see this already happening, albeit it hasn't developed fully yet. Now is the time to act, else we shall have an Esato that is filled with endless drivel because newbies see it as imperative that they reach five hundred posts to become 'respected'.

Posted by Cycovision
I think scotsboy's idea of moderator assigned badges is a much better one. Surely the only way to prevent newbies posting just to get their post counts up would be to decrease the emphasis on number of posts? For starters, why not make avatars fully visible immediately on joining? It does seem to act like a 'reward' for the first 50 (or whatever it is) posts.

Also, why have the post counter in the main forums at all? As has been said time and time again, number of posts does not give a true indication of a poster's knowledge or helpfullness, so why not just have the post counter in the profile pages?

Posted by scotsboyuk
I suppose on one hand it could be argued that the post counters do provide a valuable function in showing how active a member is. This is important to know because it can influence someone's choice of person to ask help from e.g. someone with a low post count is perhaps less active than someone with a higher post count and despite being more knowledgeable (as displayed under my proposed system) than the more frequent poster, the more frequent poster is more likely to give an answer sooner, although the person seeking help has the ability to choose to wait for the less frequent poster.
Perhaps we could modify the post counter, instead of simply displaying the number of posts in the user’s replies, it might be worthwhile to also display the average number posted per day, as is currently displayed in a member's profile.

Posted by masseur
I have to ask, why do members need any recognition at all?

surely we are all equal and one member can ask a question or request help and another member can respond without expecting anything in return? I certainly have never expected anything and receive my satisfaction from having helped somone get past their problem

in general, members do not aim questions at specific individual knowledgable members, they simply post in forum and its up to whoever sees the post, and can offer a suitable reply, to respond and help

even moderators themselves have no separate acknowledgement to who they are except by common knowledge or perhaps the Moderators. Who, what and where. thread, or if their usernames are spotted in forum headings.

I say we just get over this whole issue once and for all (I'd be happy to see the post count removed completely) and get on with the task of helping others and enjoying the community spirit

Posted by BobaFett
@masseur is right. this post counting question seems to me a new passion on esato ( unfortunately )...

Posted by scotsboyuk
The post count issue is hardly new, it has been around for as long as I can remember at any rate, and probably longer still.
I suggest giving certain members recognition, not to glorify them, but simply so that newbies are able to quickly identify those members most capable of answering their questions should they not receive any answers to their posts, which, as well all know, happens more frequently these days. The whole aim of Esato is to provide a place were people can come to discuss their mobile phones as well as various other things and to receive help, should they need it; anything that make sit easier to give that help is a good thing in my book. The added advantage would be that it might make the post count a little less important to some members.

Posted by ~lozishere~
i vote for scotsboy!!!! what ho old chap, send me the money by paypal.
nothin like some corruption on a sunday!

Posted by bico
@Moderators: Lock this thread, please!
_________________
/bico

[ This Message was edited by: bico on 2004-05-02 20:31 ]


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