I would not worry about criteria being overly precise or strict about why one post garnered whatever reward compared to another.
The members will naturally cluster into their own habits on such things AND THAT SHOULD BE FINE.
It's not something that needs a Swiss watch's precision.
Let it evolve however it will. Set up a rational system and suggested criteria and let it go at that. I doubt it would be a problem. If a problem develops, adjust at the time.
FWIW if this becomes a huge issue users of Firefox can install an extension that let's them customize a web site according to their own preferences. It's called "Color that site"
Post by Charles1952 on Nov 6, 2014 20:51:42 GMT -6
Hey, Bassago! If you're still out there, I'm curious. Do AiRen's comments make a reward system a little easier for you to swallow?
I'm totally against reward and rank systems, that's what caused a lot of real and perceived problems at TOS.
I'm going to need help from you or another OTSer. I'm not familiar with the problems that caused. Right now, we have two awards, unless I've forgotten one. The "Hernando's Hideaway Plank Owner," is to note the people who were here at the beginning to help us get started. It needs 50 posts in the first month. I'm not sure I see the harm in that.
The other is the (odd) rank system of the Mexican Army. That also just measures the number of posts you've made. It's sort of "The Addicted Typist Award."
I know you see this as dangerous, and you may be right. I just don't understand why it would be dangerous.
The thumbs up at least let's you know if someone has read your post.
I didn't realize that that was what the thumbs up was for. I didn't know I was supposed to thumbs up a thread to show that I read a post.
Having staff rate the posts would be even worse IMO, especially using a thumbs down option. I'm 100% against negative rating as they seem to me just a bad idea all around.
I think we're all pretty much tired of moderators that swoop down out of the blue (or lime green under guohua's current policy) smiting people East and West. While there might be some way to do it, I'm not convinced that anyone should be judging post quality. (Especially if they've been hanging around Duffy's)
Honestly even "planks" or icons, etc are not something I think is a good idea. It just serves to separate and divide people into categories.
Right at the moment, there is only one division on Hernando's (unless you want to count those pink and blue little thingies on the mini-profiles), that's staff and non-staff. I can't tell you what effect that's having because I'm on the wrong side of the fence to see it properly.
What bad results do you see from calling posters with 250 posts "Soldado Primero," and those with 150 posts "Soldado?" I'm not saying they're not there, I'm saying that you see them and I'm not able to, so I want you to be my eyes, and show me.
I think categories are more or less AUTOMATIC as humans. We CANNOT cope with all the sensory stimuli assaulting our eyes, ears etc. . . . as is . . . IT IS TOOOOOO MUCH INFORMATION
Therefore WE MUST ABSOLUTELY MUST--and it is brain--hard-wired in--we MUST assign everything, including people, to categories--JUST TO COPE WITH ALL THE INFO.
Whether we OVERTLY NOTE that, is another issue.
But the categories are always there--inherently--in virtually all our minds--and too often our emotions--every waking moment. It's human. It's automatic. It's not always even that conscious.
The problems, that I think, is being mentioned is WHAT FOLKS DO with the categories they assign . . . and particularly how they feel about them and HOW THEY EXPRESS THOSE FEELINGS.
And IT WILL BE EXPRESSED. It may be subtle . . . but if the categories are important to the communicator, THEY WILL BE EXPRESSED however, brazenly or subtly.
So, personally, for this psychologist . . . I think a lot of the protest about NO CATEGORIES is misguided. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE CATEGORIES IN EVERYONE'S MIND . . . and to SOME degree, they will more or less always leak out into their communications.
Now, for folks for whom categories are merely the robustness of life . . . the richness of the interpersonal tableau of relational life--WONDERFUL. Categories add richness, depth, sparkle, interest etc.
For folks FOR WHOM categories are an excuse--out of their ATTACHMENT DISORDER dysfunctions--to reject, punish, strike out at, put-down, squash, trash, reject-in-order-to-feel-better or worthwhile--by putting someone else lower--then they will use categories destructively. BUT THEY WILL DO THAT WHETHER THE CATEGORIES ARE OVERTLY PART OF THE SYSTEM, OR NOT.
And THAT'S the sort of attitude that all of H's structure, management and existence is STOUTLY AND SOUNDLY AGAINST.
Therefore, I don't see it being tolerated whether expressed via an overt set of categories, or without an overt set of categories. We won't tolerate that attitude here, at all, regardless. imho.
Charles1952, You know you guys are making a Mountain out of a Molehill here. Some people will come here and create a threat, Maybe their First Thread, but they'll create a thread and Maybe, Just Maybe, Not The Greatest Thread, But they did and they may not be an Adult or Better yet, English May Not Be Their Primary Language,,, You ever think of that?
Yes, people deserve a Pat on the Pat for Making An Effort,,, Some people just set in the Shadows and Wish they had the Courage to Post or make a Thread or Tell Their Story,,,,, Well,,, What's Hernando's Hideaway All About People,,,,,, It's About YOU! So Let's Act Like it,,, Who The Hell are we going to Offend?
Post by Charles1952 on 18 minutes ago Hey, Bassago! If you're still out there, I'm curious. Do AiRen's comments make a reward system a little easier for you to swallow?
I understand AlRen's POV on this and am OK with the positive reinforcement if everyone thinks we need to have it. My POV is that we Hernando's don't really require that especially in light of what the original HH and Duffy's was all about. But as these boards are not just HH but expanded to many other areas (politics, pets, crafts, etc) then I can see people joining us who don't really get the spirit of Hernando's.
As far as the thumb's up that's just what I use it for, it's always nice to know if your post was read.
Planks and ranks and such are not critical with me just that they seem to divide people. On TOS there were many threads where newer people felt there were elite groups and clic's for members with high flags or stars and in some ways that was true. The same for moderators and staff, it was almost as if when a staff member or mod created a thread people would S&F it almost in a way to suck up and be associated with the elite. I don't really care for that and would hate to see it migrate here.
Still I'll support the majority here in their decisions. I'm glad to be able to make my point.
Hernando's Hideaway Plank Owner
If the lessons of history teach us anything it is that nobody learns the lessons that history teaches us. —Anon
1. Colors have probably changed since you started this thread but right now it is very white with a gradient gray-to-black header on each of the boxes. Personally, I'd darken it a bit but not black. You can't go wrong with various shades of gray (no more than 50 of them, though!)
2. The thread organization probably isn't as bad as you think. TOS has a great custom-built structure which is essentially proprietary and it gets people so used to it that other forums feel strange. I think after a while, Hernando's will feel much more natural to you. This is actually a pretty common way to structure forums. When designing the forum section for my site, I ran into the same problem until I realized it only felt weird because I was so used to TOS.
3. Rewards... I don't think you'll find a solid consensus from people on this one. I am always in support of gamification if done in a fun, non-rival way (even though that can be fun, as well). I'm not sure what sort of options you have at your disposal but the best way to find out would be to try them out and see which of us flip out about them (good or bad). There's no better way to get forum participation than offering a bit of virtual incentive. Think of it like smiling at people or waving at strangers as you pass in a car; it costs nothing and it makes their day a bit better.
Overall, I think you guys are doing a great job at being attentive and proactive. Just don't get burned out. If you are having fun, it's likely the rest of us are, too.
I'd like you to try something when you get the time. It is not a perfect fix, but it may do for now.
Click on your profile, then on edit profile. Then click on settings. A few blocks down the left hand side, you'll see a box for themes. Click on the drop down menu, pick a theme and try it out.
Two notices:
1.) you'll get a box with a message, maybe twice. Click ok, I'll try to get that removed.
2.) Nothing will happen unless you save the changes at the bottom of the page. With any luck it will change the colors you see, but only you.
Post by Charles1952 on Nov 6, 2014 21:36:03 GMT -6
@guohua,
It looks like our colors and our rewards are well on the way to being solved. How do we encourage the members who don't post, or maybe post three times a week?
I'd like you to try something when you get the time. It is not a perfect fix, but it may do for now.
Click on your profile, then on edit profile. Then click on settings. A few blocks down the left hand side, you'll see a box for themes. Click on the drop down menu, pick a theme and try it out.
Two notices:
1.) you'll get a box with a message, maybe twice. Click ok, I'll try to get that removed.
2.) Nothing will happen unless you save the changes at the bottom of the page. With any luck it will change the colors you see, but only you.
If this works, we can add more themes.
Totally works. I'm trying out the "woods" theme right now.
ps edit - judging by the column width, I'd say this "woods" theme would be a good one for those of you on mobile browsers. It seems responsive.
That works fine but I've gone back to the (grey) test theme as the others weren't my style. If we could get more themes that would be great, some basic themes. Or if members could define their own theme.
Hernando's Hideaway Plank Owner
If the lessons of history teach us anything it is that nobody learns the lessons that history teaches us. —Anon
FWIW, I vote a slightly darker set of colors. I'm using 3 27 inch monitors in a partial wrap around configuration...and 27" of white is almost physically painful to get hit with. Especially later in the evening when I don't have my main office lights on.