A Suggestion for DI

[williaty]

First of all, I'm not sure what the proper name for what I'm talking about is. It's the little title that appears under the member name on the left hand side of the screen next to each post. For this discussion, I'm going to call it the Member Title (MT).

As far as I can tell, the MTs on DI are assigned by post count (like they are on NASTYSHACK, COS, etc). This is fine and dandy as it gives you an idea of how active the poster is. However, the problem is that the MT (being based on post count) has nothing to do with how much the poster actually knows. For insance, on NASTYSHACK, it's very common to see someone who's a "Noob" arguing with someone who's a "Guru" about some technical issue. In this case, MT is the only thing we have to judge the relative worth of the two posters' arguments. Most people are going to believe the Guru over the Noob. However, the truth turns out to be that the Guru is a post whore in Gallery and the Noob is a chief mechanic on a rally team that runs Subies. Oops.

So, in addition to the MTs automatically assigned by post count, I propose that we add a specific MT that is awarded for merit. Call it Technician, call it Geek, call it NeedsToGetALife, I don't care. This MT should ONLY be able to be assigned by mods. The mods can do this at the request of the community (nominated by many memebers or something) or if they see someone consistently posting good information. This should not be an easy title to get. If the member is not so outstanding as to make a mod see the member name and say "oh, that guy, yeah he always knows what he's on about", then the title shouldn't be awarded.

Basically, I'm tired of not knowing who knows their ****!

[WRXCMM]

Most people are going to believe the Guru over the Noob. However, the truth turns out to be that the Guru is a post whore in Gallery and the Noob is a chief mechanic on a rally team that runs Subies. Oops.

Andy would be right up there with Guru...lol



So, in addition to the MTs automatically assigned by post count, I propose that we add a specific MT that is awarded for merit. Call it Technician, call it Geek, call it NeedsToGetALife, I don't care. This MT should ONLY be able to be assigned by mods. The mods can do this at the request of the community (nominated by many memebers or something) or if they see someone consistently posting good information. This should not be an easy title to get. If the member is not so outstanding as to make a mod see the member name and say "oh, that guy, yeah he always knows what he's on about", then the title shouldn't be awarded.

Basically, I'm tired of not knowing who knows their ****!

and i agree with this.

maybe a rating system on post quality?
i've seen like on websites (yahoo answers for example) users can rate how helpfull the answer was.

but only certain people could rate these answers. (to keep control over bogus ratings)


myo2

[RS-ti_Andy]

um.. i dont like this idea.

cause that if your in an area u excell in and someone doesnt believe u cause u have "noob" under ur name.

if you look around you will know who is smart an who isnt.. like me.. i make to many guesses..but now i state that. and like Rollo who knows alot!.. u can see by his very thurow advice.

your basically segragating people to there knowledge and by what i got on this site.. we arent like nastycock or the others.. and its a whole.. not a personal level.

imo

[rollo]

maybe a rating system on post quality?
i've seen like on websites (yahoo answers for example) users can rate how helpfull the answer was.

You can already rate threads (not quite the same, but close). Not many people do though.

I see what Andy's saying (and not just cos he said I was thorough, although thanks, I try :D ). For instance, Andy seems to knows a ton about industrial welding, trance music, Top Gear and how many people you can fit in a Scion xB. But maybe not so much about, I dunno, Subaru suspension setup. So what title does he get (other than the one he has :D )

Me.. I know a fair amount about - and have experience with - driving technique, basic mechanical stuff, rallyx, dogs, alt. rock, etc. And hopefully I can speak intelligently to most topics on DI, otherwise I wouldn't be here. But I've never done, say, an engine swap, I've never welded anything and all trance music sounds the same to me. So.. what title do I get.

Silly examples maybe, and I see both sides, but I think a blanket title could be misleading. Maybe something more generic like "Knows about things" or "Makes good sense most of the time" :D

[409industries]

vbulletin has a feature called "Reputations" which could be used as a scale for how useful / beneficial a person is in the community because i think other members can rank people (award points for good posts) etc.

The bottom line is this.

Member Titles (or MT's as you call them) are done easiest based on post count. This is done simply because there isn't any administration involved, it just goes. Id be down to check out the "reputation" rankings... I sure don't have any time to dedicate to approving things, etc...

[rollo]

Yeah that works, and it's easy. Plus it's generic enough that it doesn't imply that anyone is anything other than "reliable" (or whatever). But it also encourages people to post good stuff.

[WRXCMM]

that is a good way to do it.

[twohlix]

I honestly dont think DI is big enough for this to be a problem. Also, I think many members are willing to call BS on someone posting something that is just wrong.

I also think that a system like that tends to discourage new users from even trying to participate in a discussion. Hell, I could be wrong, but thankfully I'm not being rated on this post :eek::eek::eek:

Also, I dont think this is a problem yet

[409industries]

I'm all for the solution that doesn't require me to have to keep administering it. :)

[Bananarama]

I was thinking about this yesterday too. However, instead of a generic subtitle or what you call a MT, it would be neat for the user to create his own MT and have the option of changing it to whatever he wants, whenever he wants.

[williaty]

I honestly dont think DI is big enough for this to be a problem.
That's exactly why I'm bringing it up now. DI is small enough to get the foundations laid correctly. On NASIOC, for instance, it's a lost cause. It's too far gone to save. I don't want to see that happen to DI.


Also, I think many members are willing to call BS on someone posting something that is just wrong.
But if you're a noob, how do you know who to believe? The guy posting, or the guy calling BS?


I also think that a system like that tends to discourage new users from even trying to participate in a discussion. Hell, I could be wrong, but thankfully I'm not being rated on this post :eek::eek::eek:
Why would it? You don't get penalized for being a dumbass, you get recognized for being knowledgeable. If anything, it should encourage noobs to ask questions and learn things so they can actually be helpful.

[fattie92]

I have been on sites where the reputation system was used. It seemed to work well when it was used.

I know a little something about cars. At least I hope I do... After all, I work on them for a living. Its easier to pick out the smarter people when you know a little bit yourself. As a complete nOOb though, it would be hard to figure out who you can trust. I am all for a Reputation system.... Aaron, get off your ass and get this done!

[Galen]

if you look at Zilvia.net (yes, it is a 240sx site, and yes, i used to own one) they have user ratings. seems like a good way to tell if someone is legit. if you give someone good advice exc.. they can give you a good rating. this also goes the other direction.

EDIT: woops, you all are already on top of it. heh.

[WRR]

I jus like reading stuff like below... it makes my day! :mrgreen:

[Rally OBXT]

I make everything up I say here.....










I don't know $hit.

[Rally OBXT]

:crazy:

[Mikey B]

i know on SHOforum we have a thank you system. If the post was helpfull you can thank that person. Then under there user name they have "thanked = 34 times" or whatever

Its on vbulletin

[409industries]

The "thank" system seems like it would be much more appropriate. I don't like the idea of someone getting "points" taken away, then it turns into this bitch fest if someone unfairly took someone elses points away. I can see the PMs now. The more you are helpful, the higher number of thanks youll have... thats good enough. No need to take them away for making a mistake or something.

One of the IT forums that i use has stars, and they're essentially the same as "thanks" in that if someone posts up a good, helpful post that helps solve a problem you can reward them by giving them a star. People with more stars tend to be the people that are posting more quality answers to questions.

[WRR]

LXforums (Chy 300/Dodge Charger/Magnum) uses a button on the upper right corner of the screen that looks like a scale and you click on it to add to someones 'reputation points' and it adds to the green reputation bar located near their vehicle info (IMHO this works very well)http://www.lxforums.com/board/showthread.php?t=108112&page=6

SRTforums uses 'trader rating' designed like ebay feedback but I think lots of people use it for info feedback as well...
(this system seems to work ok too)
http://www.srtforums.com/forums/f31/srt4-rally-x-ridgecrest-ca-feb-2008-a-423304/

I hope you can see these without signing up - if not I will delete them...

[RS-ti_Andy]

I jus like reading stuff like below... it makes my day! :mrgreen:


nice quote! lol.. i dont even think i spelled that correctly :shootsself:

[409industries]

Check out a pretty good solution that i found to address your concerns williaty...

http://www.dirtyimpreza.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7252

[williaty]

I noticed and promptly thanked you for banning Andy. It'll be interesting to see how this works out.

[WRXCMM]

I noticed and promptly thanked you for banning Andy

sorry for offtopic here but

holy mother of pearl :shock: when did this happen..i know the last 2 days there had been alot less post but i didn't see that happen.

someone laid down the law:muhaha:

back to you bob...in other news this thanks system should work just fine.8)

[UP2MTNS]

sorry for offtopic here but

holy mother of pearl :shock: when did this happen..i know the last 2 days there had been alot less post but i didn't see that happen.

someone laid down the law:muhaha:

back to you bob...in other news this thanks system should work just fine.8)

I've really been trying not to gloat :D


on topic....I was about to ask why some posts you can 'thank' and some you can't...then I realized you can't 'thank' you own post. haha

[gc8STi]

Is it possible to get a classified section on this site? Suby guys sellin' to other Suby guys. It's worked out great on another forum I'm a part of. Just an idea.

[UP2MTNS]

Is it possible to get a classified section on this site? Suby guys sellin' to other Suby guys. It's worked out great on another forum I'm a part of. Just an idea.

There's been one for a while now.

DI Market Place....Vendors....member to member....

http://www.dirtyimpreza.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=5

[williaty]

Yeah, I was about to say, did you miss the entire Personal For Sale forum?

[409industries]

The question about if there was a FS forum should have been in its own thread. We were discussing the Thanks system in this thread anyway...

follow UP2MTNS's link to all our FS / vendor forums.