possible change to forum ranking... looking for feedback

[Tonuss]

sigh... can't wait to see what some people will pick if allowed to pick their own title...

That is, at least, something that is relatively easy to police by forum administration. vBulletin allows for user-customized titles, and the admin can prohibit specific users from taking advantage of that option. So if you had a forum member who consistently picked a title that the admins did not like, they could simply reset it and remove his privilege to change it (as an alternative to harsher penalties, of course). (edit to clarify- I'm not saying that this forum runs on vB, just using vB as an example)

However, the ideas about ranking users based on their experience or expertise is a minefield, IMO, because it would require some form of authenticating. Otherwise, what would stop me from claiming ownership of characters that aren't mine? Or from accusing someone else of falsifying their own choices? Now the admins either have to spend time and effort investigating, or the system is no longer useful. Basic +rep or -rep systems aren't so bad, but the ratings are never evenly applied and are usually woefully unbalanced.

I don't think that a rating system can take the place of a reputation earned over time via the respect (or lack thereof) of your peers. I can see a system that is designed with fun in mind, and promoted as such. Say a system where you can rate a post +1 or -1, but the ranking system has random descriptions in random numerical ratings. Combine that with user-customizable titles and you give people the chance to be a bit silly without creating drama, and that can make the place a bit more fun. But I think ratings systems very rarely ever work as they are intended to.

[keyclone]

But I think ratings systems very rarely ever work as they are intended to.

i would agree.

i was pondering the possibility of providing something to newbie users... which they would get after a week or two of participation... so the point might be moot. being able to show some form of experience bar would be interesting, if we could somehow verify.

and more fun is always on the list of priorities

hmph... still pondering/chewing on it

[Moorea]

link about slashdot
http://slashdot.org/faq/com-mod.shtml#cm520
which is mostly post based plus some "karma" feedback

[Sam DeathWalker]

Sorry to kinda derail but seeing vBulletin was mentioned above, why is Burning Board better then vBulletin?

vBulletin allows for user-customized titles, and the admin can prohibit specific users from taking advantage of that option. So if you had a forum member who consistently picked a title that the admins did not like, they could simply reset it and remove his privilege to change it (as an alternative to harsher penalties, of course). (edit to clarify- I'm not saying that this forum runs on vB, just using vB as an example)

[Los]

Rating is bad mkay, are we getting dkp next, so we can buy post credits? (I like to exaggerate)

You will have noobs everywhere, and the more 'known' you get around the block, the more idiots you will attract. I think that most here are grown up enough to read past the gnomes? In fact I think that most gnomes stick to the newbie part of the forum anyways, is there really a need for it?

(imagine the impact on gurblash, he would be sooo in minus dkp)

[Svpernova09]

Sorry to kinda derail but seeing vBulletin was mentioned above, why is Burning Board better then vBulletin?

IMO, it's not. That's why we're getting away from it.