Who's the busy buddy...???

[Rene Schweitzer]

MT, they use Community forum software. I believe we are getting an upgrade later this year, but I'm not sure when/which version.

[MTCarpenter]

Rene S

I contacted one of our tech folks, and he said that it's difficult to remove the rating feature--because of the software and the fact that all trains.com forums are under the same software "umbrella."

That's probably correct.  If they disable it for one board, it will disable it for the entire site.

Rene - at the risk of being too nosy, what software are they using?  If they'd prefer not to say, no problem.  I understand.  I'll keep my nose to myself...

[MTCarpenter]

Greg Elmassian

So, no one thinks it might be useful? (other than the software company )

Maybe newcomers could see the "great" threads more quickly?

There must be some benefit, most forums seem to have it. I noticed that some threads on MLS are rated.

Regards, Greg

 

Yeah, if done right, or fairly, the stars would help lead folks to the "better" threads.  But the problem is: how do you define one thread as "better" than another on a board like this?  To me, they're all great threads, but some of the information doesn't pertain to me, so I don't click on it (from looking at the title) or don't go back into the thread.

For instance, diesel engines don't particularity interest me.  I don't hate them or anything, but when I see a diesel thread, I don't usually read it.  And I wouldn't rate it one star for sure.

I'm a moderator on another message board.  We don't have the stars there, and I think it's for the better.  But YMMV.

I'm blabbing here, but I'm (stupidly) wondering how the system works?  I noticed that when I give a 5 star rating to a thread (which I do for all threads I read now ) that the star rating moves about a 1/2 a star if at all.  I'm wondering, especially in the case of the Captain Bob thread, that someone might have rated the thread a "5 star thread", but the software takes some sort of weird average of users vs. votes.  Or maybe views vs. votes.  It might take a certain amount of votes vs. views to get the rating even to one star.  That might explain the low star count for that thread.

Then again, I might just be over-thinking this whole thing.  

[Greg Elmassian]

So, no one thinks it might be useful? (other than the software company )

Maybe newcomers could see the "great" threads more quickly?

There must be some benefit, most forums seem to have it. I noticed that some threads on MLS are rated.

Regards, Greg

[grandpopswalt]

 Or, do as Vic suggested, every time you open a thread just click 5 stars. Eventually every thread will have a 5 star rating. At least that's how I think this rating system works.

Walt

 

[Rene Schweitzer]

Everyone, I checked with another online staff member here, and it is NOT possible to remove/stop the rating system here. I'd suggest we just ignore it. Whoever is doing this is obviously doing it to get our goats. If we ignore it, most likely, it will stop.

[two tone]

Hi Guys,       Have asked Rene if I.T guys can lock rating part of forum for a a few weeks so that the busy Body gets the hint we are not pleased for use of a better word. He/she spoils the forum for the rest of us.  Let hope IT can trace them and  a little word in thier ear 

                                  

[Greg Elmassian]

I would assume we only get one vote each, many forums have this feature. Can't we just vote and the majority get's it say?

How does it work?

Regards, Greg

[IRB Souther Engineer]

This is vey weird...

I wrote a new thread and within half an hour it was rated!

[vsmith]

The solution to not liking a low rating being given is simple, click a hgher rating. Some joker gave Rays electric meter thread a lowly one star rated, I added a 5 star rating and that raised it to 3 stars, if more add 5 star ratings that in itself will raise the overall rating, so better than complain, just click the stars.

[wjstix]

As most folks have said, I had no idea how to do the ratings before this came up, or really even noticed the stars on a thread. I don't think there's any way to track down who did the rating - I just put in five stars for this one to see what would happen, is there someplace where it shows up that I've rated something, like in my account info??

Otherwise...somebody said something once to the effect that defending the freedom of speech of people we agree with is easy, but for freedom of speech to work we have to give everyone the same right to express themselves, whether we agree or not. Giving that post a one-star rating was tacky and uncalled for, but I don't know that it violates any forum rules.

[Rene Schweitzer]

I contacted one of our tech folks, and he said that it's difficult to remove the rating feature--because of the software and the fact that all trains.com forums are under the same software "umbrella."

[altterrain]

 Normally, I wouldn't care either but this "person" gave a 1 star rating to the thread on the passing of Capt. Bob. Bob was a friend, a really nice guy and a regular here. It was very disrespectful.

 -Brian

[ztribob]

 Personally, I suspect that most of us have never even noticed the ratings before all this discussion started.  But maybe I'm wrong.  Anyway, in answer to your question, I'm not bothered by it.

Bob

 

[Rene Schweitzer]

MT, I wish I had the ability to disable code in the software, but since we're part of a larger software package, I don't have access to that. Is everyone else really bothered by this? Would you like me to check with our online publishing people?

[Ray Dunakin]

I've really never even paid any attention to the stars. Most times I'm just looking at titles and whether there's any new posts. Like some of the others have said, I didn't even know how to "rate" threads until this subject came up and got me curious enough to look for it.

[MTCarpenter]

 It's part of the message board software.  If it becomes a big problem for the members, the webmaster or the folks that maintain the message board part of the website should be able to remove it from the code or just disable it.

[Great Western]

 The ratings only show if you are logged-in it seems.  I wondered how it was done but on investigation I noticed a star ratings box just above the "sort posts" box at the head of the page when reading or replying to posts.

[Rene Schweitzer]

Ray--I moved a few threads yesterday into the railroad building forum, so that was me. As for the rating, I don't even know how to do that (my options are limited as I use a Mac). The excessive rating seems exclusive to GR--I didn't see much rating on the other railroad titles.

[PJM20]

I say we take this to the moderator, it's never been funny in any shape or form. - Peter

[ttrigg]

altterrain

We either have an out of control moderator here or a hacker!One of the regular contributors here (doubtful) or some lurker    ? -Brian

 Brian, not this moderator.  I freely admit to rating some of Ray’s artistic endeavors and one of Vic’s mini-pizzas, but that is it.

We have seen a “lurker” over on the smaller scales and 12” to the foot size, but have not seen him here yet.  All I’ve done is to remove the occasional “blue word” and going inside a post to activate a link or two.  We seem to be a bunch of “sedate gentlemen” here.  I went “inside” this post and whoever did it left no trace of editing, so I’m guessing someone on Kalmbach staff made the changes you talk about.

[Rex in Pinetop]

The "busy buddy" just moved one of my posts and it wasn't me so I'm thinking the person has to be someone with system admin access.  I think we had this problem a couple years ago too.  Are we doing something wrong?

Rex

[underworld]

 Brian

I just rated this one 5 now.....just for fun!!! Had never really paid attention to that before!!!!

Steam on The Bel Del

Maybe it's more like th pH scale.....1 is bad one way....5 is bad the other way......

we're just looking for something close to 3!!!!!! 

I had a friend in high school that tried to tell that to his parents about grades.....

"An "F" is bad.......but an "A" is bad too....makes you seem to pretentious....

a "C" is good and solid....right in the middle!"

They never really bought his line of reasoning!!! lol

 

underworld

[Steam on the Bel Del]

Rate a Forum string, that seems odd. I thought these were to entertain and impart knowledge, I didn't know how to rate a string, what do you look for, good grammar, correct spelling, or entertainment value? I thought the stars indicated how many people responded over a given period of time. I haven't figured how to get back to the index without going to the main page.

OH, OH, OH, I KNOW: it is syntax we judge the forum strings. Now does 5 stars mean it has good syntax or bad syntax?

[kstrong]

Ratings? Do spelling and grammar count?

Later,

K 

[dwbeckett]

altterrain

 Who is the busy buddy that's been rating every single thread?

One of the regular contributors here (doubtful) or some lurker   ?

Care to step forward Mr. Busy Buddy? 

 -Brian

I will admit to rating one - Ray's electrical meter and I just changed back too 4 stars, first time was a 5 but as you said someone is changing them I tried 5 agin but it would not go to five . I normaly don't rate but Ray's needed to be a five star. Like my Mom use to say " If you can't say somthing nice about someone THEN don't say anything. " That's why I rated it a 5 star, and I think the A hole that rated SMC's Charle Brown a1 star should be taken out and shot.

Dave 

[MTCarpenter]

 I rate this thread 5 stars!!

 (Sorry, couldn't resist...)

[smcgill]

 Good Question!!

[altterrain]

grandpopswalt

 What's a busy buddy?

Walt

 

Just a play on a busybody - A person who meddles or pries into the affairs of others.

 -Brian