I have always been curious about this. Under each person's user name at the left of their post there are either no stars or anything from one star to five stars. Presumably five stars is the best possible rating. If you put your cursor on the stars, it tells you how many ratings that person has been given.

For example, if you put your cursor on my stars to the left of this post (I think I currently have three stars) it will show that's with 18 ratings by 18 different people.

You will find that most people who have a five-star rating, only have been rated by one or maybe two persons.

SO, is it better to have one rating and a lot of stars, or a LOT of ratings and a fewer number of stars?

So far I have not been able to find anybody who has five stars who has been rated by more than one or two people.

To me it just seems like a strange way to rate people and the posts that they make -- it's the same way we rate products on Amazon.

Do you forum users think this is a good feature or a bad feature? Is it helpful in any way?

I don't think they are much use with the current voting scheme.

I have that feature turned off on all the forums I run. Its just a popularity contest.

Mary: I've just given you a "5" <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I thought it was the best feature ever!!!


....until I dropped from five to three...ooooo...wait, I'm back up to four!

Thank you! You just bumped me up to four stars. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Anyway, I am just wondering whether this feature should be abolished or whether you guys like it and whether it is useful or whether y'all don't care one way or the other.

I know they mean nothing (or I would have more stars:) )
The problem might be that since they essentially mean nothing because they are so subjective the people who come to the forum who don't know any better might put more stock in posts from people with 5 stars when they maybe should not.

Exactly what I was thinking. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I'd give Mary 5 stars if she'd laugh at my jokes ! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Max 5 Stars?

I always new you were supercool <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

ALLLLRIIIGHT.....who's the smarta$$....now I'm back to three.

Now you're talking!

I understand the stars, but what about the flame symbol, what does this mean, is it a way of signifying a post that Wouter has taken part in, as it seems only to appear on posts that involve him?

Gareth

Matt, how did you DO that?!! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Oh, never mind. I get it.

The flame indicates threads that have more than a certan number of posts. Fortunately, it does not relate to the number of words, or else Wouter definitely would be at fault. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I know what you mean, one day I had no stars and woke up the next with five...anybody?

Somebody loves you. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Welcome to the star club Collin!

Ha, ha, ha.

How's that? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />