site suggestions

[Silver4evr]

As a member of the epinions.com product review website, not only are our total posts tracked but also our number of individual page views.

For me, I’ve only posted 4 reviews on epinions.com but have over 7000 page views. One of the products I reviewed, its timeliness and the quality of my review has made it very popular.

In addition, each member can rate each new topic post as: very helpful, helpful, somewhat helpful, not helpful. In this manner, the quality rises to the top.

Based on the popularity of my topic posts, I am #320 on the web site out of thousands of posters even though I have a limited number of reviews.



While I’m sure that not all epinion.com features would apply to the BMW forums, it appears that some of the features could improve its content.



Since some of the BMW forum members have thousands of post to their names its obvious that they spend a lot of time in the chat rooms while other member do not spend time in the chat rooms but post interesting pictures and other information. It also appears that some members post replies just to up their post counts.



I suggest that to improve the BMW forums member metrics and their member rating:

1) tracking of total page views be added to the members stats

2) chat room posts only count as 1% (100 chat room posts to accumulate 1 measured post).

3) When ever someone views a post topic, the topic be returned to the top of the list just like when someone posts to a topic

4) You’re topic rating system take into consideration the number of on going page views.

5) Each time you post, a “rate this” topic be available.

6) Popularity and topic ratings be taken into account for member level ratings.

[Furious]

this is nothing new to almost all forums.
i have thought if abolishing the whole post counter all together.
the content will always be there. and i understand what you are trying to say, however most of us realize that post counts dont mean much in the way of overall knowledge.
keeping track of number of pages viewed would be quite a lot, for instance my post count is close to 4000 but my page views are probably 50 times that , to me that would be overkill to be able to view that.

i will talk to the other staff members regarding this situation and post back what i figure out.

in the mean time i wouldnt pay attention to the post counts, like i said they dont really mean much

[Silver4evr]

Since we're keeping track....might as well keep track of everything...especially since your member status depends on it.

It's nice to be recognized for one's contributions whether it be posts, page views, member status, etc.

thanks!

[Furious]

Originally posted by Silver4evr@Feb 6 2004, 03:35 PM
Since we're keeping track....might as well keep track of everything...especially since your member status depends on it.

It's nice to be recognized for one's contributions whether it be posts, page views, member status, etc.

thanks!

blah it really doesnt remember what status you have, the knowledge speaks for itself.

[Silver4evr]

Originally posted by Furious@Feb 8 2004, 04:53 PM
blah

Thank you for this pearl of wisdom. If your conclusion was correct then there wouldn't be "noobies" or any other member rating.

[Furious]

Originally posted by Silver4evr+Feb 8 2004, 10:22 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Silver4evr @ Feb 8 2004, 10:22 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Furious@Feb 8 2004, 04:53 PM
blah

Thank you for this pearl of wisdom. If your conclusion was correct then there wouldn't be "noobies" or any other member rating. [/b][/quote]
im not receiving your sarcasm very well. what you may not understand is there is a reason for a noobiee rating. if you havent already checked most of the posts on the forum you would notice its usually new guys and girls who may not understand how the forum works and usually ask questions which have been asked over and over, the rating allows that person(s) to have other members use a little leniency.

now beyond that part of having a rating why would anyone care how many pages viewed or how many posts you may have made. ive said it before id personally love to get rid of the tracking system all together.
because to me i could care less how many posts you have. members status doesnt mean anything to us (the staff) so why should it matter to anyone else (for example look at some of our moderators like TECH and extech, they both have very low post ratings but are already known for being the smartest of the whole bunch)

silver4evr if you have a problem with the way that myself and the other staff run the forums then please feel free to email me with your concerns.

[Silver4evr]

This topic is called site suggestions. I made one.
You expressed your opinion. I expressed mine.
With your "blah" responses it appears that sarcasm only goes one way.
With the tone of your replies, you're not motivating anyone to remain a member.

[Torque]

how about this:
-post counter abolished... and the ratings... because you can tell if someone is a noobie by the MEMBER SINCE DATE:

I already know of forums that did this, and eliminated a whole bunch of dumb and unnecessary posts

[bitcore]

I REALLY REALLY HATE to nit-pick, even more so because I'm fairly new here and the long term members may be biased towards me since I havn't established a confident level of friendship in anyone, but I'm definitely not new to other message boards. These are nice ideas for a forum, but are definitely not well suited for this environment.

1) tracking of total page views be added to the members stats

Hacking such features into an already stable and functional message board isn't What do I have to say? I suggest you abolish the post count all together. I've been to other forums where they finally evolved and decided to remove post count all together. Everyone bitched and moaned for a couple weeks, finally everyone got use to it and the whoring stopped almost completely. Although I like it since I don't abuse it, in best interest of everyone else and the ones that do whore to have a larger ego, I move to remove it.the greatest idea unless it's a really necessary design element of the website. Especially since this forum's software has occasional updates, and any update done on the server will overwrite the changes to the code to allow such a feature. This is possible, but a pain in the ass. A profile modification such as "member's ride" was needed since the whole website deals around that fact, so it was added.

2) chat room posts only count as 1% (100 chat room posts to accumulate 1 measured post).

Do you know how difficult it would be to create a program that aggregates AIM usernames and messages in the chat room, compares it with the database on the webserver, and update postcount accordingly? That would require some serious multilingual programming, a dedicated computer to monitor the chat room 24/7, and direct access to the forums database (which most co-location\remote hosting facilities WILL NOT ALLOW). Let alone disassembling AIMs networking protocol to allow this program to simply interface with the chat room.

3) When ever someone views a post topic, the topic be returned to the top of the list just like when someone posts to a topic

Do you know how CHAOTIC it would be to surf any boards if this were true? The first page of topics will constantly randomize, including topics from the depths of hell long lost and forgotten. You may think that is a positive thing to bring up topics like these, but that's what the search function and posting "bump" in that thread is for.

4) You’re topic rating system take into consideration the number of on going page views.

As said in point one, more complex algebraic functions hacked into an already stable release code.

5) Each time you post, a “rate this” topic be available.

A whole new thread? or just a 1-10 rating of threads? IMHO, I do not think this is needed here. It's similar to a real-time 1-10 rating of a human conversation. Nobody does such a thing in normal conversation, we also don’t need it here.

6) Popularity and topic ratings be taken into account for member level ratings.

Ah, Adding more complexity to the post-whoring problem. A popularity rating. Let's keep the forums as distant from a popularity contest as possible.

I hope you didn't take this as a flame, it sure does sound like it. Sir, madam, I mean you no disrespect. I am not attacking your integrity or intelligence. I merely disagreed with your suggestions. I'm not saying they are bad, I just don't believe they would benefit the forums and the members as a whole.


Also, I move to have this thread locked before it becomes a massive flame war, feelings get hurt, and we loose members due to hard feelings. My comments, along with the pompous remarks made, etc etc... It doesn’t look good. Unless we all can end this discussion like civilized adults, then I suggest we lock thread and simply move on.

[Furious]

Originally posted by Silver4evr@Feb 9 2004, 08:35 PM
This topic is called site suggestions. I made one.
You expressed your opinion. I expressed mine.
With your "blah" responses it appears that sarcasm only goes one way.
With the tone of your replies, you're not motivating anyone to remain a member.

ok , ill appologize because you dont know me , i always use the blah expression, its not ment as a negative thing towards a member or what they have said. my "tones" are just fine, there are a lot of members who know me not to be an asshole, and i try my best to be the most helpfull i can be, it seems though that its not enough for some.
your site suggestion has been noted and im leaving it at that.
basically after reviewing things, its gonna be one or the other and right now it stands as
1- the forum stays as it is
2- the post counter will be abolished.


the staff tries its best to make the forum accomodate everyone to its best. and we understand that we cannot at all times please everyone.

once again silver4evr i appologize and would like you to continue to be a member here.

[Silver4evr]

As you all can see, I've made numerous posts in the past few weeks so it should be obvious that I enjoy sharing what little I know with others. I certainly enjoy picking up some good info from everyone else.

One of the best responses to site suggestions is to just say "Thank you for your suggestions. We will consider them if and when the site is updated." and let it go at that.

If your response goes beyond that then what follows is just a discussion of various ideas and opinions. I was just throwing it out there for discussion. If I came across as too over-the-top I apologize. Some of you have been here much longer than me so I respect your decision and look forward to many more spirited discussions.

Peace out!

[bitcore]

well anyways, can we have a poll in the longe or somewhere to aboish post count or not? That ought to help settle this.

[cam540]

If anyone is the asshole its me, not furious! He's a good guy and wouldn't try to put down any members here.