[Firebreather]

I would like to suggest a change to jointly address the two issues mentioned here and here:

Instead of changing user titles, I'd suggest inclusion of point system along with existing user title .

And along with the "Mark Solved" button I'd suggest a "Thanks! That worked!" button.


And the method:

As I said, there would be points for posting a reply in a technical thread. Say, like 1 point. (The OP will not get any point for posts in his/her thread).

Along with the "Mark Solved" button I'd suggest a "Thanks! That worked!" button for each an every post, except that of the OP, and visible only to the OP like the "Mark Solved" button now. Whenever an OP finds the perfect solution, he/she can press the "Thank you! That worked!" button on the corresponding post that would serve two functions:

1. Mark the thread solved, and
2. Give extra points (like, say 100 points) to the problem solver.

Therefore total points of a member = points from replies to threads + extra points from problems solved.

These points may be added along with the post count. This way a member will be able to have some idea of the expertise level of another member and it won't be necessary to change user titles.

If the OP finds a solution to the problem without any assistance from any member member, they can simply click the "Mark Solved" button as they are supposed to do now.

But I'm not sure if this system should be applied for the "General Tech" and "Community" forums.


Later on (if needed and if possible), a system could be devised to:
1. Include an option to undo the action (if anyone accidently marks a wrong post to have helped.)
2. Give titles or badges to the members according to points. This may be used alongside the experience level shown about a member.
3. Extend the action of "Thanks! That worked!" and "Mark Solved" button to close threads.
4. Develop a similar system for the non-techical sections.
5. Suggest names for the various sections, like tech expertise level for the technical posts, chatterboxness for random discussion, debate quotient for civilised debates etc.

[sepala]

Good Suggestion..Thumbs up!

[Cookiegal]

I most certainly do NOT support this.

[DaveA]

I am with Cookiegal on this one, I do not like any point system.

[Firebreather]

What's wrong with point system?

There's not going to be any winners or losers. So no one will get demotivated.

[valis]

yeah, but there WILL be unspoken competition.........trust me, I've seen it enough to know this is NOT a good idea.

[sepala]

Originally Posted by Firebreather

What's wrong with point system?

There's not going to be any winners or losers. So no one will get demotivated.

I agree

[sepala]

Originally Posted by valis

yeah, but there WILL be unspoken competition.........trust me, I've seen it enough to know this is NOT a good idea.

NONO I NEED IT..I AM GONNA CRY!!!

[Firebreather]

Originally Posted by valis

yeah, but there WILL be unspoken competition.........trust me, I've seen it enough to know this is NOT a good idea.

Competition without winners and losers.. How can that be bad?
Infact, many may be motivated to start posting in the technical sections.

Besides, similar stuff may happen among those who only post in technical sections (number of post count by each), isn't it?

[valis]

nope.....competition, even without winners and losers, will ultimately breed discontent......trust me on this. I belong to a few forums that have those in place, and I've seen it get extremely ugly......even amongst professionals.

[Cookiegal]

I can only speak for myself but I do what I do because I enjoy helping people not because I want to see how many points I can rack up. That would make it a competition with the points being awarded by people who aren't qualified to judge the quality of the assistance and it would change the whole dynamic of the site in a negative way.

[wowzer]

Originally Posted by Firebreather

Competition without winners and losers

The word "competition" breeds and begs for a winner and a loser.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/competition

[Firebreather]

In that case, the word "competition" would be a wrong word...

I actually didn't mean anything that might result in demotivations, ego problems, misunderstandings, fights or anything similar.

[sepala]

Originally Posted by Firebreather

In that case, the word "competition" would be a wrong word...

I actually didn't mean anything that might result in demotivations, ego problems, misunderstandings, fights or anything similar.

yaya, me too..

[Ent]

I'm also against the idea.
I can see some benefit to the "Thanks that worked" notion for someone who comes accross the thread in 2 years and wants to know which of 4 or 5 competing suggestions is actually responsible for the "Solved" designation, but in most cases that doesn't apply. At any rate there would be far less chance of a mistake if they read the whole thing instead of just the "that worked" post.

As to counting up points, I just don't see the benefit to it. From my perspective, I know that I've helped people. I don't need to announce how many people I've helped to the whole internet. I also don't want to turn that feeling into bitterness about the ones who didn't give me rep points.

Moreover I'd prefer that people actually came back and said thank you with a post than just clicked an add rep button. That helps make it clear (to me as much as anyone, since I'm partly here to learn) what has worked and gives a further opportunity to prompt them into marking the thread solved if necessary.

Can you explain what the benefit of this proposed scheme is?