Stars/Ranks -- Stay or Go?

Definitely keep the stars!

QUOTE: Originally posted by MusicCity If someone wanted to simply post for the sake of getting another star, they could just go to the "Test" forum and blast a couple of hundred into it.

nope, you don't get a post for a "testing forum" post..... also, it would be very frustrating for someone to try to blast a hundred posts in anywhere on the forum. it would take about an hour to do with the 30 second waiting period after each post.

keep 'em.........seems a part of the fabric of the forum and i believe i've just reach 99..........whewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww........(tired fingers)

I agree with the mainstream. I feel that the stars are part of the fun of the forum and should stay. Admittedly they are just in fun and may lead to "Star Shooting" in some cases, but does that really hurt anything? In the first place, I don't think there is a lot of that going on. If someone wanted to simply post for the sake of getting another star, they could just go to the "Test" forum and blast a couple of hundred into it.

From the standpoint of experience building models, they mean nothing. As was mentioned, some of the most experienced posters on the forum have relatively low post counts while some others with relatively low modeling experience have high post counts. But from the standpoint of those who frequently use the forum they are an indicator of having been around for a while.

I say leave them. They are all in good fun and add to the forum. Now, if you wanted to adjust things, say all the way from PFC up through 5-Star, that might be interesting

Regardless, thanks for all that you guys at FSM do for us. We appreciate it.

I also want to keep them, I agree, it adds to the fun, comraderie, and family feel of the site!
Lee

QUOTE: Originally posted by leemitcheltree Doesn't this forum take time away from YOUR builds?

Actually no it doesm't. It takes away from TV time.

Sure the forum takes away modelling time, and I agree about the misleading thread titles sometimes, but I don't want to see it gone ...

The stars & ranks are harmless fun (I can say that 'cause I recently got 4!) and they add to the sense of cimmunity.

Keep 'em.
Bruce

I think they're almost like a badge of honour - but you do have to weed out the chaff now and again. Quality is preferred over quantity.
But I've always wondered how someone can rack up 30 to 40 posts a day and still build a model. Doesn't this forum take time away from YOUR builds? I could be priming something, or filling seams, but I'm here typing on a keyboard. Not that I mind - it's too late in the evening to start the compressor anyway - it's too loud and it'll wake the kids.

I vote to keep them. What is the harm in having them?

QUOTE: Originally posted by lizardqing2 I say keep them too. Just another small thing that adds to the greater feel of the fun that this forum is. Not only that , but what would we do without Joe's toasting?

aaaawwwwwwwwwww shucks.

twas nothing, nothing at all. (kicking the ground)

joe

QUOTE: Originally posted by lizardqing2 Not only that , but what would we do without Joe's toasting?

Good point! I say leave them too, it does add to the overall fun and I agree that the level of stars means nothing when we're sharing input. It's funny, but I feel if they went away, some members may cut down on the chatter and we'd start to lose touch of each other. I for one would continue to be involved even if the star/ranks were dropped.

Keep 'em.

A lot of us members are dedicated to this forum because we feel that this is one big community where we belong. While many members post just to ask questions, we must admit that many post to answer them, give advice, make some jokes that take away the stress or to welcome newcomers. This kind of interaction is the lifeblood of the forum. Is it so difficult then to give a little recognition to these dedicated people who keep the forum alive?

I say keep them too. Just another small thing that adds to the greater feel of the fun that this forum is. Not only that , but what would we do without Joe's toasting?

Keep them. I've long since stopped really caring about the number of stars beside my name, but it's fun seeing what eveyone else is doing and how many posts they've made.
As Woody, Joe and others have said more eloquently, the star ranking is part of the esprit de corps found on the FSM forums, and it keeps me coming back to read others' postings and motivates me to make my own modest contributions from time to time. And, as my grandmother used to say, "don't fix it if it ain't broke!"

keep them please. i am one who would come to this forum regardless but i look at it this way. this forum is about fun, and getting to be around others who have a passion for plastic. many things make up this atmosphere. one of the things is the stars. granted posting on every thread is not in my nature, yes there are threads i dont post on, but the opportunity for someone to achieve a higher level is part of the basic core of this forum. and if that means they take the time to post on each and every thread then so be it. that euphoria of seeing the numbers rise and the stars change will pass and they too will come to understand what it is there for. i for one do not judge someone based upon the stars or the number of posts they have, there are masterbuilders who only post a few times a wk/mnth.

joe

Keep it the way it is. It gives a person something to shoot for. To take away the stars is like taking away our Krispy Kremes. Another post. Closer to my fifth star.

I've been to other sites where they are used to make it look like one person is of a higher social status than another. FSM however seems to keep the ratings light and fun and it seems to be a big deal when someone reaches 4 or 5 stars. Makes the forum feel more like family.
Scott

It wouldn't bother me either way. My time spent in the forum, number of times I reply, or who's posts I read are not based on the stars in any way.

There are many people with only two or three stars who's posts I actively seek out. There are also people with four or five stars who's posts I mostly avoid. The old adage that quanitiy does not mean quality is definitely true.

The stars do make it just a touch easier to quickly identify individual posts. I am constantly on the lookout for "5 gold" to see what information is coming down from the head office!!!

Great poll,

keep them ( ah good nother post)

QUOTE: Originally posted by zokissima ahem, once again: "if it isn't broken, don't fix it"

Me no comprende!

Didn't mean to ruffle feathers or rub a sore spot. I agree that most of the members on the Forum are freindly, knowledgeable folks that I'd love to share some beers with & talk modeling. Some of the more prolific Posters are guys that I respect & read all of their posts with interest. There are some however that put up Posts that I can see no logic for, other than adding to their count. I really don't give a rats patooty if that's their goal, I just learn whose Posts to read & whose to scroll over.

HEY, I'm one Post closer to 2000 .

They are part of the fabric of the forum...Keep em!

QUOTE: Originally posted by rjkplasticmod I don't care one way or the other. The Ranks & Stars seem real important to some, but it also tends to generate a lot of meaningless, spam type posts from the star chasers. When I see members averaging near 30 posts a day, you know a lot of that is just Junk Mail.

I disagree. If it was about star chasing then most of the prolific posters would have slowed down after getting their fifth star. It's about enjoying our time at the forum and interacting with friends. Too many boards are dry places that don't seem as inviting or conducive to building real friendships like FSM seems to do effortlessly.
Be careful about changing this place....there's magic here!

Yeah!

(Sorry. Just wanted to add another posting so I can chase some stars. I think that's what rjkplasticmod meant when he was talking about junk mail. I think he's right too.0

Eric

Keep them. Ranks and post counts are universal to almost all internet forums, and everyone likes them.
ahem, once again:
"if it isn't broken, don't fix it"

I say keep 'em. They are part of the fun here.

I think they are kind of nice. It shows that there is an interest in posting and how much time and effort they are giving the forum and fellow modelers.

Richard

QUOTE: Originally posted by rjkplasticmod When I see members averaging near 30 posts a day, you know a lot of that is just Junk Mail.

No, I don't know that at all, Rick! What's your definition of "Junk Mail?"

And as far as people wanting to "star farm," so what? Let 'em! Who does it hurt, or inconvenience? This is all supposed to be fun. And we should encourage everybody to post as much as possible.

As far as posting goes, the only minor beef I might have is about topic titles. Sometimes I get suckered in to reading a topic that I have no interest in due to a vague or misleading title. Descriptive, accurate titles would certainly make cruising the forums a little smoother.

But back to stars/ranks...they're just a bit of informative fun. They should neither intimidate nor captivate a forum member!

But I think they should definitely stay.

I don't care one way or the other. The Ranks & Stars seem real important to some, but it also tends to generate a lot of meaningless, spam type posts from the star chasers. When I see members averaging near 30 posts a day, you know a lot of that is just Junk Mail.

Keep them. Seperates the addicted from the casual (not that there's anything wrong with either).