Larian Studios Forums General About this website Respect and what is to be a lamb...

Here, I will suggest an addition to forum statistics. It is not easy to do I guess, but I hope it will be worth it. I have mentioned in *maybe a new design* post that here in Estonia on forums we often have respect counter. I have visited one of such sites and here I will describe it's system. I think it is good, it is working well and it is keeping people from acting not nice.

There is post count as it is here. Under the post count there is another count, which counts raspect. On the scale from 1 to 10 in stars. It means how other members of this forum rate this member, if he knows and understands the atmosphere and rules of this forum. Yes, this count is subjective, but it shows how respected this member is. It can change over time, especially people should keep away from the *lamb* status (1 star out of 10) which can be gained by spamming and by violating the rules of the forum. You can start to rate others if you have been rated at least 9 times and medium rating of you was 8 or more.

These stars are showing *the contents* of member's posts. The less stars a member has, the more useless posts his fingers are typing. Minimal rate is 1 - lamb, max is 10. Rate is not a life saver it raises and lowers over time together with member's postings.

Rating is done anonymously, it is subjective and it doesn't mean any explanation.

That's it. Please share your thoughts.

well, I'm sorry to say it but..
I for instance mostly post in the chat topic, which mean not many informative posts, so that would make me something like a lamb, or maybe 1 or 2 stars higher..

I don't think that I would want to be a member of this forum anymore when I know that this is how other members really think of me <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/puppyeyes.gif" alt="" />

jvb, it is important what you post not where you post. Beleive me, you will be the last one ending up with lamb sign <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />

And we can start with 2-3 stars, not with 0.

Don't worry JVB you are a re5pected member here. As for me I know that most of my posts are not informative but I like to post things that make other peole laugh and improve the atmosfere of this already great forum. A respect meter would be a good idea IMHO. We can all say that mebers with 500+ posts are re5pected here (Yes even Lews, It wouldn't be the same here without lews). I think the respected meter would weed out the members that don't behave (like that johnson fellow). Like I said the forum doesn't have to change and I like it the way it is. But one day this forum will have to change. With <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beyond.gif" alt="" />, project X & <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/div.gif" alt="" />² sections comming in the next years this will become one huge forum so its only a matter of time. While we are on the subjects of meter I know a forum where the stats of a member are EXP, MP & HP (when your EXP bar is full you level up). I personally rather have a karma meter then a respect meter or both. My biggest concern is that this could possibly scare of new members.

It will definitely scare away those who are coming to spam.
But if a person needs help or wants to suggest something, why will this scare him away?

Thanks Morbo!

I think this is a great idea too. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/up.gif" alt="" />

Well, the "core" still knows one another by name, and that's imho good.

"Not lost in the waves of Living ..." <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />

Hi Alrik!

My names Lews! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/silly.gif" alt="" />

There was a 5 star voting system when the forum was first started, but it was removed. Unlike the design you described, there were no restrictions on who could vote based on their own rating.

Do you think user ratings are needed in this forum

A problem is that people like Thor or Mysteek would rate everyone 1/10.
But I like the idea, Egin.

I don't like the idea very much. We know each others' reputations through experience, and newbies do pick things up fairly quickly, especially here. The thread rating system doesn't seem to get used.

If it was brought in, I'd suggest a thumbs-up/thumbs-down system. Each post has a thumbs-up and a thumbs-down icon which each member can click once, affecting the posters reputation. Of course, if someone becomes particularly angry at someone, they will just search for all of their previous posts and go on a thumbs-down spree, but any system will have that problem.

now why would that make you a lamb????

just for chatting?

its its about good things, then BLEH about information!

Well, the way I see it, reputation is more of a personality thing. Friendliness and helpfulness is rewarded, nastiness penalised. Chatting, for the most part, would remain neutral.

@Death

No Death, they will be able to rate only after being rated 8-9 times with a rate of at least 8. This insures that only those familiar and well known can rate.

I like what Alrik is saying. Yes, the core still knows one another. Rating is not for the core members imho.

@Raze
Thanks for posting link. I see this was discussed before, voting clearly showed that peeps are not interested.

Hande I see what you are saying. It was just an idea and maybe you right that it is not needed here as community is relatively small and number of newcomers is relatively low.

People were not interested in user ratings the way it was implemented when the forum was new. Your suggestion mitigates some of the problems people had at the time, so it doesn't hurt to discuss it again.
Personally, most of the time I tend not to pay much attention to the left column of topics.

Just my subjective opinion:
Rating - thumbs, stars, lambs, nutty squirrels, jester caps, tigers, dots etc - display hierarchy. Is this wished here on the board?

Another thing: we've got 48 hrs time limit on editing - so even if a controversial post/topic is deleted or modified by the poster, the graphical display will remain - a sort of stigma.

And I highly disagree that a certain amount of posts makes a member here inevitably "respected". Quantity is not quality IMO.

Please, keep this in mind: A community is a group, determing group pressure, dynamics. So, howling with the croud would not make me respectable IMO. Uttering a different (singular) opinion and defending it is freedom of thoughts/speech... [color:"yellow"]Edit: IF not intended as a personal attack, of course[/color] - I fear rating would cramp this.

If I knew an antidote helping against spam/trolling... I'd propagate it - I don't consider a graphic display or additional tiny icons would be one.
Kiya

If majority should take up Egin's suggestion - I suggest the possiblity to switch off display in personal settings then.

I agree with Kiya, at least in most points.

"The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway" (Genesis) <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />

I don't like the idea of rating people - I vote no.

I agree with Kiya although I think that with offensive and really rude posts something must be done.

same here, no to the voting