Printable Version of Topic

Click here to view this topic in its original format

GMC Forum _ GMC site feedback & suggestions _ 'thank' Button

Posted by: Vaidya Aug 4 2010, 05:17 PM

Hi guys,
I have a suggestion.How about adding a 'Thank" button below the name of the poster?
This way people can thank people for posts which have been helpful.
It would help the mods nominate people for titles like Most Valuable Contributor etc.

Just thought i'd share it with all of you

Posted by: Wabba Aug 4 2010, 05:23 PM

This is actually a great idea!

Except that we have so good community that 99,9% of the posts would be thanked. biggrin.gif

Posted by: ZakkWylde Aug 4 2010, 06:04 PM

Yeah I like that idea! A lot of forums have those *Karma-Counters* to show the reputation of other members.

Yeah I like that idea! A lot of forums have those *Karma-Counters* to show the reputation of other members.

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Aug 4 2010, 06:30 PM

Sounds interesting! smile.gif

Posted by: fkalich Aug 4 2010, 08:47 PM

I would say no. This is why. This site is moderated sufficiently, it is not needed. Basically if you don't have a good reason, keep it simple. And such items tend to turn these forums into popularity contests with people all trying to please rather than people really being honest. That may make you popular, but it really does not help anyone in the long run. It is generally self evident who is helpful. Best help you often get is in the form of something you really do not want to hear, and one probably won't be clicking a "thank" button in such a case (although they may want to thank the person later when they realize that they were just telling them the truth, as hard as that was to swallow at the time).

Posted by: Fusar Aug 4 2010, 09:09 PM

Think this will have the same problem as Facebook's "I Like"-Button. Simply put your mouse on "Thanks" or "I Like" is no effort. But I think, if an answer really matters to you, you can put some time in writing a post to thank the other user smile.gif
In fact, I like your idea, but in my opinion, it will not be used in the sense you think of it...
and yeah, I haven't found another community where there are more helpful comments smile.gif

Posted by: Chris Evans Aug 4 2010, 09:18 PM

QUOTE (Vaidya @ Aug 4 2010, 05:17 PM) *
Hi guys,
I have a suggestion.How about adding a 'Thank" button below the name of the poster?
This way people can thank people for posts which have been helpful.
It would help the mods nominate people for titles like Most Valuable Contributor etc.

Just thought i'd share it with all of you


interesting idea, I like it but I also agree with Fusar`s point to take the time to thank someone with a few words means a whole lot more.

Defo food for thought though smile.gif

Posted by: Alexiaden93 Aug 4 2010, 10:53 PM

QUOTE (fkalich @ Aug 4 2010, 09:47 PM) *
I would say no. This is why. This site is moderated sufficiently, it is not needed. Basically if you don't have a good reason, keep it simple. And such items tend to turn these forums into popularity contests with people all trying to please rather than people really being honest. That may make you popular, but it really does not help anyone in the long run. It is generally self evident who is helpful. Best help you often get is in the form of something you really do not want to hear, and one probably won't be clicking a "thank" button in such a case (although they may want to thank the person later when they realize that they were just telling them the truth, as hard as that was to swallow at the time).

A considerate and well reflected answer to a question can be seen as positive, even though it doesn't meet everybody's "needs". If you explain thouroughly why the truth is what it is, and try to comfort or even be somewhat empathetic, the person you answer will thank you, for showing that you don't write something "negative" just to be mean.


I like this concept a lot. Yes it may be about popularity, but if a "Karma-counter" is what it takes to make this a better forum, then why ignore the opportunity? Instead of having MVC polls based on subjectivity from users who happen to be active at the time of the poll, why not have an infallible system that actually shows how helpful you are statistically? Personally, as I've said, I don't see anything negative about this idea. Great thinking, Vaidya. wink.gif

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Aug 5 2010, 08:25 AM

Very interesting idea - hadn't thought about it!

Posted by: maharzan Aug 5 2010, 09:19 AM

QUOTE (ZakkWylde @ Aug 4 2010, 06:04 PM) *
Yeah I like that idea! A lot of forums have those *Karma-Counters* to show the reputation of other members.

Yeah I like that idea! A lot of forums have those *Karma-Counters* to show the reputation of other members.


I know you will probably get the most thanks.. biggrin.gif biggrin.gif but you didn't have to post that twice..wink.gif

Ideas good.. I saw star ratings on member profiles.. how do we get that?

Posted by: Vaidya Aug 5 2010, 11:27 AM

QUOTE (maharzan @ Aug 5 2010, 08:19 AM) *
Ideas good.. I saw star ratings on member profiles.. how do we get that?


Other people have to come to your profile page and rate you.

Posted by: tonymiro Aug 5 2010, 12:29 PM

QUOTE (fkalich @ Aug 4 2010, 08:47 PM) *
I would say no. This is why. This site is moderated sufficiently, it is not needed. Basically if you don't have a good reason, keep it simple. And such items tend to turn these forums into popularity contests with people all trying to please rather than people really being honest. That may make you popular, but it really does not help anyone in the long run. It is generally self evident who is helpful. Best help you often get is in the form of something you really do not want to hear, and one probably won't be clicking a "thank" button in such a case (although they may want to thank the person later when they realize that they were just telling them the truth, as hard as that was to swallow at the time).


After too many years experience of lecturing in HE I generally agree with you fkalich.

FWIW some UK Universities already have a system in place whereby students 'rate' their lecturing staff. Evidence demonstrates that these tend to be 'beauty contests' as you suggest. Students tend to rate courses and lecturers positively according to how 'fun' and 'easy' they are perceived to be. Far too often what is rated highly delivers a very shallow learning experience and the (ex-)student only comes to realise that when it is too late.

If you trawl through any internet forum it is easy to find some respondents who are rated highly and whom the forum users think offer the best advice and conversely others who are often shouted down or ignored. Too often the former merely repeats 'perceived wisdom' that may or may not be correct but that others accept without any real thought. Too often the latter offers good advice but is ignored as they are seen as different and/or difficult by the majority of the forum. Typical 'in-group/out group' behavior.

It's perhaps endemic of the shallow 'Pop Idol/X-Factor' society in which we now live: - it's not just that we all get our 15 minutes of fame but that we also lack the capacity for true reflexivity. All that is solid turns in to air (as Berman put it).

Posted by: Azzaboi Aug 6 2010, 01:51 AM

Why fix something which ain't broke?

It's nice to get +Rep and all, I know a number of sites and forums which do, but mostly it becomes redunient and like 'fkalich' said it becomes a popularity contest.

Plus we already have a Member Rating option, I think that is quite good.

Posted by: Alexiaden93 Aug 6 2010, 03:39 AM

QUOTE (Azzaboi @ Aug 6 2010, 02:51 AM) *
Why fix something which ain't broke?

It's nice to get +Rep and all, I know a number of sites and forums which do, but mostly it becomes redunient and like 'fkalich' said it becomes a popularity contest.

Plus we already have a Member Rating option, I think that is quite good.

Member rating can rate people down, instead of only counting the good things they do, which seems like a more fair way. Also, the rating system doesn't seem representative. Is it 5 stars guitar playing? Composition? English literature? Language? Attitude in forums? Hairstyle? Number of friends on GMC?

Did you read my post? Don't answer that, if not, read it please.

Posted by: Marek Rojewski Aug 6 2010, 09:49 AM

I don't like the current way of member ratings, but the karma counter is one of the worse features You can implement to a forum. Never saw a forum that worked well with such a feature.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Aug 6 2010, 02:57 PM

I think it's a great idea. I hope it is easy to implement, lots of forums have these features for member's posts.

Powered by Invision Power Board (http://www.invisionboard.com)
© Invision Power Services (http://www.invisionpower.com)