Should we change/add to Rankings

Canuck · Posted: Fri 03/17/2006 11:42am [Post #1]

As most of our long term members know, we currently have Rankings of members based on the ratings/recommendations each of us receives from our peers. When osc set this up, he set it to the following:

Member 0
Tech 15
Advanced Tech 30
Guru 75
Advanced Guru 150
Supreme Guru 350

In addition to these of course are Moderator, Spyware Fighter and Administrator, none of which are based on the point system and will remain so.

What we (the mods & admins) have been thinking for awhile is that there is a need to have some additional rankings. I don't think Osc could forsee back then the many talented, knowledgeable and longstanding members that would be attracted to this successful site.

To this end, we are asking your opinion, first if you agree that we should add 2 or three more rankings, perhaps at the 500, 750 & 1000 levels? Secondly, if you so agree, we ask for input for the naming of these levels.

I'll put my 2 cents in by suggesting something on the line of Sage and Exalted Sage (I don't think God or Pope would be appropriate though Wink

).

This post has: 0 recommendations

Leah · Posted: Fri 03/17/2006 11:46am [Post #2]

Are people still recommending posts as much as they did on the old site layout?

This post has: 0 recommendations

Basementgeek · Supreme Guru Joined: 01 Jan 2003 Posts: 12000 Points: 1188

Canuck:

This shows your English upbringing Smile

The only Sage I knew of was something my wife has in her spice drawer.

For all us others, that may not know what the word means, here is one definition of it:

proceeding from or characterized by wisdom, prudence, and good judgment

synonym see WISE

Leah:

On the points thing, probably not as much as before. One reason under the old system any member could award up to two (2) points for a post, which was a "highly recommend", Moderators could award three (3) points. Under the current system no one can recommend more that one (1) point.

Can this be changed ?, I don't know. The boss "osc" is aware of this. I know there are things with the new format, in this forum, that have not been tweaked/worked on.

BG

This post has: 0 recommendations

Basementgeek · Supreme Guru Joined: 01 Jan 2003 Posts: 12000 Points: 1188

How about something like adding stars under their current "title" ?

Say in Partie case he would have he would have one "star" because he has 400+ points. The starting point would be 400 points. After that 1 star for each 100 points. As in steam case he would have 11 stars added.

This naturally depends if osc could do it with out much trouble.

BG

This post has: 0 recommendations

Osc · Posted: Sat 03/18/2006 11:14am [Post #5]

The stars could definitely be done - a lot of other forum sites do something similar (and some equate it to 4-star generals, etc)

I don't know about being able to give more than 1 point - I always found that confusing. Right now, I think all members being able to give out a single point makes sense. I would add an extra step to the recommendation to choose between 1 and 2 points. If people aren't using it enough, should I make the Recommend this button bigger and flashier?

This post has: 0 recommendations

galena1 · Posted: Sat 03/18/2006 11:53am [Post #6]

The star rating sound lke a good idea. I strongly recommend 10 star rating beginning at 252 points. Very Happy

Joined: 20 Oct 2003
Posts: 2287
Points: 251
Location: Devon -UK

This post has: 1 recommendation

Leah · Posted: Sat 03/18/2006 12:05pm [Post #7]

Maybe you could do something similar to ebay and change the color of the stars.

This post has: 0 recommendations

Canuck · Posted: Sat 03/18/2006 1:25pm [Post #8]

My observation is that the single point for recommendation is OK. Trying to quantify/qualify information/help is such a subjective thing that those especially who don't know the rating system will/have gone through and recommended every post in a thread .. even posts asking questions. This happens too in the single point system, but at least there is a limit to what a member can rate.

Unfortunately, in my estimation, those getting the help rarely rate the posts, most are rated by the few members that are knowledgeable and recognize the amount of work/research/good finds that go into the responses (a point from these members means a lot). Our points are certainly going up much slower these days, but all of us are effected equally.

As far as the star system is concerned, I think that's a great idea. I think a new name for steamwiz would be worth consideration though ... a play on words like Spy Master ... Spyware Master, not just because of the points he has, but in recognition of his expertise. Just a thought.

This post has: 0 recommendations

Basementgeek · Supreme Guru Joined: 01 Jan 2003 Posts: 12000 Points: 1188

I never have been real happy with the term spyware/spyware help forum. We try to help with all types of, what could be considered just
"malware". Whilst I know that they is a difference between Virus, trojans,worms, adware, spyware and foistware, etc. But to most of us this just unwanted crap that the PC has, gone/fixed. Call it anything you want

I really think this a better term ,"Malware" since most everybody here uses an M$ operating system. MS defines it as:

"Malware" is short for malicious software and is typically used as a catch-all term to refer to any software designed to cause damage to a single computer, server, or computer network, whether it's a virus, spyware, et al.

Reference:

Defining Malware: FAQ

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/alerts/info/m alware.mspx

I have another idea or two, but will post them in our Mod forum.

BG

This post has: 0 recommendations

steamwiz · Posted: Sat 03/18/2006 4:18pm [Post #10]

Hi

I like the idea of stars Very Happy

nice one Gary Wink

Here's a slight variation...

100 pts = 1 stripe
200 pts = 2 stripes
300 pts = 3 stripes
400 pts = 4 stripes

500 pts = 1 star replaces the stripes

6,7,8,900 get a stripe again

1000 = 2 stars

and so on...

This way I would have 3 stars not 11 (which would look rather ostentatious)

Is there a possibility we could have 2 titles ?

So that someone could be a guru, and a spyware fighter for instance ?

At Castlecops for instance I am listed as a security expert & a Microsoft MVP...

This would enable Basementgeek, Canuck, & whoozhe to be moderators & Supreme Guru's

This post has: 0 recommendations

Basementgeek · Supreme Guru Joined: 01 Jan 2003 Posts: 12000 Points: 1188

Steam:

The thought of stripes was about the first thing I thought of. However I thought this would be best avoided because of the current military involvement in the "war", at least for me.

Just about anybody that "really knows" me here, knows my opinion about the "War/USA involvement" -I am going to be the last person to suggest it. But this would also work very well, using a military type ranking system.

BG

This post has: 0 recommendations

steamwiz · Posted: Sat 03/18/2006 6:57pm [Post #12]

Hi Gary

Well... we are fighting a war... against malware...

As for the "other" war, I don't know your feelings, and I don't want to debate it in open forum... but I will tell you mine ... I think the USA and Britain were right to go in when they did ... people forget that apart from everything else, more than a million children starved to death under Saddam's regime ... However I now believe we are causing to much friction just by being there, and it's time to bring the soldiers home.

That's my first and last word on the subject. period.

Graham

This post has: 0 recommendations

galena1 · Posted: Sat 03/18/2006 8:17pm [Post #13]

Mmmm......Stars and Stripes Wink

This post has: 0 recommendations

Basementgeek · Supreme Guru Joined: 01 Jan 2003 Posts: 12000 Points: 1188

Maybe "silver" (guess white?) for 100 points, gold start for 500 points. Steam, not sure what you mean by stripes ? Are you talking about chevrons ?

As far as the "Recommend this !" maybe change it to "Was this post helpful to you?"

Really like to see it sort of the way it was, were it took more than one click to recommend a post. I went to check "who" recommended a question, which is kind of unusual rating a question, instead I clicked
"recommend this". The poster ended up with two points for a question.

BG

This post has: 0 recommendations

steamwiz · Posted: Sun 03/19/2006 4:22am [Post #15]

Yes, you could have chevrons ... or a vertical yellow stripe (like a ribbon)

Or maybe just have the stars instead of stripes... say a silver star for every 100 points, replaced by a larger GOLD star, when you get 500...

Just a few ideas for osc to mull over ... looks like the members don't really care... apart from Leah & galena1 ...

steam

This post has: 0 recommendations