Posted by Harry [NR] on 2/11/06 3:42am
Msg #96232

Announcement: Minor Forum Enhancements

Here they are:

1) After signing in, clicking the Notary Talk tab now drops you directly into the General Discussion forum.

2) The "no message" indicator (n/m) is automatically appended to the end of the subject for posts having no message.

3) The author's state abbreviation is now displayed on the post detail page. Important: If your state is wrong, you must contact Support to have it changed.

4) A few more emoticons have been added. Here is everything so far:

Smile

Wink

Big Smile

HaHa/NaNa

Frown

Angry

The keystrokes are the same as they are on MSN Messenger.

5) The system should now remember your "Link My Profile" setting. For those authors who nearly always link their profiles, this should save a click.

6) A ratings system. From the detail page of any post, click the Rate It button for instructions and to submit your rating. Here is how the system works:

a. YOU rate posts on a scale ranging from very bad to very good.
b. Each time you rate, your rating will be factored into the post's overall rating in real time. (The fewer the voters, the more weight your vote will carry.)
c. You cannot rate your own posts.
d. Each night, ratings will be compiled for each board participant. If you consistently receive negative ratings from a broad range of Notary Rotary members, you will lose your posting privilege.
e. The votes of members with poor aggregate ratings will NOT COUNT toward the aggregates of other members; the votes of members with strong ratings may count more toward the overall totals.

That's it in a nutshell, so we'll see how it goes...

Harry
Notary Rotary, Inc.

Reply by PAW on 2/11/06 8:18am
Msg #96243

I think the "Rate It" button is a bit misleading. When a user clicks on the "Rate It" button, apparently the user is rating the POSTER, not the message. Therefore, I suggest that maybe the button needs to be labeled something like "Rate Poster".

Other than that, I do like the new additions, so far. I still wish it would remember my "last read" message and the format I prefer, linear instead of always opening in threaded mode.

Just my 2¢ worth.

Reply by thnotary_NY on 2/11/06 8:58am
Msg #96250

I think I missed something, where is this Vote button, I've seen mentioned.?

Reply by PAW on 2/11/06 9:00am
Msg #96251

It's really the "Rate It" button. You 'vote' whether or not the -poster- should continue to be able to post. Not on the value or worthiness of the post itself.

Reply by Charm_AL on 2/11/06 9:04am
Msg #96252

I don't know PAW, what I read was that you rate the post. I really think this feature is going to turn this forum into a 'real' playground now.

Reply by NM_CO on 2/11/06 9:19am
Msg #96255

Re: Announcement: Minor Forum Enhancements - Charm

Ya, kinda like Romper Room. You get a greenie for that one!

Reply by PAW on 2/11/06 9:23am
Msg #96256

I know it says that you're expressing an "opinion of the post", but the poster is banned if there are "too many" negative ratings. To me, that's rating the poster, because it is the poster who is punished for expressing a negative (to others) opinion. So, if you don't agree with me, you give the post a negative rating. But in actuality, that's a negative rating of me, not the post.

I personally just don't see this as a good thing.

Reply by Charles_Ca on 2/11/06 10:51am
Msg #96309

Re: Announcement: Minor Forum Enhancements, I agree Paul

I suspect that it will be used to bludgeon posters who aren't liked on the boards regardless of the value of the post. Oh well lets get on with our own pogrom!

Reply by Charles_Ca on 2/11/06 10:56am
Msg #96310

Forgot to add, I think this will have a chilling effect on

much of the posting that goes on here.

Reply by BrendaTx on 2/11/06 2:49pm
Msg #96393

Re: Forgot to add, I think this will have a chilling effect on

Chilling?? Charles, we'll need a blue button for that!

Reply by SLP_VA on 2/11/06 2:23pm
Msg #96386

From Paw's perspective, I just don't think that is the intent of the new enhancement at all (JMO).

The posts are being rated, not necessarily the posters. Sometimes some of the posts are uncalled for and does not have anything to do with the original post.

Why not be able to rate that poster's post if appropriate?

Reply by BP/WV on 2/11/06 4:26pm
Msg #96416

What are the colored squares for??? did I miss something?

Reply by Teddog_CO on 2/11/06 9:26am
Msg #96258

PAW Re: Announcement: Minor Forum Enhancements

I admit it! The "Rate It" button is confusing. Why would I like to take upon myself to "vote" someone off the board ? They have paid for their subscription and this is a Free country to voice your opinion. Harry can remove someone who is really just to outrageous.

Personally I do not have an axe to grind with anyone. Worthiness of their post? In that case I better "split" now I just like to say "Hi" in the AM. I don't really spend much time posting-just to busy.

Well this "new wrinkle" will give me something to think about. But I will not Rate anyone until I can give myself a good reason to do so. Just a "60's" kind of person's thinking "Peace Brother." lol

Teddog

Reply by Becca_FL on 2/11/06 10:10am
Msg #96279

Re: PAW Re: Announcement: Minor Forum Enhancements

I don't know how I feel about the "Rate It" thing. I'm willing to give it a try and just wait to see what happens. It does seem to be a bit grade school to me.

The tribe has spoken...Hmmm. Does the last Notary standing win a million?

Reply by TitleGalCA on 2/11/06 10:23am
Msg #96292

Wow, Becca -

You had a negative red bar next to your post. I just counteracted it with a positive vote, now it's neutral.

This could be fun!

Reply by Becca_FL on 2/11/06 10:30am
Msg #96297

Re: Wow, TG -

Yeah, I saw it. Let the grade school Olympics begin. The Cali & Becca haters are going to have a field day.

Reply by CaliNotary on 2/11/06 12:52pm
Msg #96342

It's on, Becca.

The first one of us eliminated has to buy the other one a beer.

Do we get to adopt Survivor personas? I wanna be Rob Mariano.

Reply by TitleGalCA on 2/11/06 10:21am
Msg #96289

Harry - Positive v. Negative

Just a suggestion: I think the terms "positive" and "negative" might not be the best if the goal is to create a helpful/informative forum (which it is already).

I would suggest helpful/not helpful.

A dull, uninformitive post, if written correctly could still be called "positive" whereas a harsh, in-your-face post could be called negative, but if it were chock full of good, accurate information that is helpful to SA's (yes, think Calinotary) you couldn't call it "positive" but it certainly was "helpful".

I would hate to see the forum full of happy little posts that do nothing for us.

I think that using positive/negative COULD turn the forum into a personality contest. Of course anyone would want to see their posts with little green bars next to it...so of course the natural inclination will be to couch it "positively". I think positive/negative can also be a politically correct judgment call for some, whereas helpful/not helpful might actually get readers to interact, post and give us their best stuff.

Thanks for the new additions to the forum - it's nice to see it grow and change, and you know you'll get lots of feedback (attempted a wink here, we'll see if it comes through).

Reply by Teddog_CO on 2/11/06 10:26am
Msg #96295

Re: Harry - Positive v. Negative

This whole thing is giving me a Headache.

Reply by Shane_OH on 2/11/06 10:27am
Msg #96296

Re: Harry - Positive v. Negative

Is that a negative remark Teddog?

(Imitates the Emperor in Gladiator)....

THUMBS UP....THUMBS DOWN....

Reply by Teddog_CO on 2/11/06 10:32am
Msg #96299

Re: Harry - Positive v. Negative

Rate Posts>>>THUMBS DOWN! NAY! NO!

Reply by BrendaTx on 2/11/06 3:56pm
Msg #96412

Re: Harry - Positive v. Negative

Someone gave Shane a blood-red block.

I moved Shane's remark here into the pink.

I like his imagery...but then again, one of my favorite quotes is "Off with their heads!"

Reply by LisaWI on 2/11/06 10:31am
Msg #96298

Re: Harry - Positive v. Negative

I think there should be one for rolling on the floor laughing. I do enjoy these posts. They are uplifting and positive especially if its been a hectic day in the business and outside of the business.