We are looking to change the ranking system used for forum members. Currently forum ranking system is based on posting. The order is:

Newbie 0
Member 25 *
Full Member 50 **
Senior 100 ***
Expert 250 ****
Veteran 500 *****

If you have better idea for forum ranking system, please feel free to post here.

I don't like referring to people as "newbies" because it has somewhat negative connotations.

One of the things I really appreciate about the culture of this forum is that everybody's questions are taken seriously even if the answer might, to some of the members, look pretty simple.

Some forums I've seen seem to go out of their way to treat newcomers with contempt which is too bad because this is such a great opportunity to educate ourselves and each other.

One problem I have with the quantity-based ranking is that it may unintentionally discourage some of the less active members from getting involved in the discussions - after all it can be hard to voice a dissenting opinion with all those Experts and Veterans out there.

It would also be nice if there was some way of recognizing people who make contibutions the above-and-beyond type - I'm sure that the techs here have to make a living somehow and their continued generosity with their time is most appreciated.

Thx Gordo, do you have suggestion on this one?.

Anyone, any other idea on forum ranking system?

Hey Andy,

For what reason are you wanting to change the ranking system?
Just for something different or do you want to get away from the post count recognition?
I think that gordo is on the right track, but how you would put his idea into practicality is almost beyond me.
I think that the only way to do it would be for you to read each post that our techs post and award them some form of points for a points system which incorporates into your rank.
But this would be alot of work for yourself.

I just want something different and have no plan to get away from post count recognition because it is a common ranking system on nearly every forum that i've been involved with.

It is ofcourse possible to include other metrics such as awarding point to each individual but as Dr. hundi pointed out, it will be a lot of work.

Hi,

I would suggest to take into account the age of the membership. Maybe one month could have value of one post?

And beyound the number of post the consist (lenght?) of the post should be of weight - eg. 2 comprehensive answer with good explanation has more worth than 2 very short message.

Kind wishes, Attila

i like this idea about users ranking other users, rather than using a basic counter program. what if we used a 1-5 or 1-10 ranking system... the more the posting helps, the higher the viewer would rank the poster. let's say i post a response and it completely solves the problem, i'd get a 10. if i didn't do anything except waste the reader's time, i'd get a 1. how you'd enforce this, i'm not sure. maybe put in a tracker to see who is ranking and who is jsut reading and moving on without ranking the poster? jsut an idea... i think it'd help give someone credability. it's hard for someone to take you serious when your title is "newbie". how is a member supposed to know if a veteran is just a 15 year old who is on here 24/7 and trying to sound like he/she knows what he's talking about (when he/she actually doesn't), versus a certified master technician who jsut signed up yesterday and hasn't had a chance to prove his/her worth yet? no offense to 15 year olds... just my thoughts.

also, maybe this will make people think before they post random, off topic, or slanderous messages. the way things are now, even these rude and/or crude messages count as a post.

thanks!

Hi Andy
How about badges. Earn cool badges that show on your post as you earn them. Got the idea from watching my wife play Pogo online.....They earn badges as they progress through games.
Cool avatars also would be kinda nice.
And a spell check.....LOL :beer:

Hey Andy!

I want to be a Sooper Dooper Veteran Expert when I grow up Just like Joe! :grin:

joekewl

Super Dooper Veteran Expert

But seriously, the current system rewards quantity but ignores quality. Some members shovel out tons of quantity( not Joe though and no slight intended) Not sure if you want to have other member ranking each other either. After all, we are volunteers. And we don't even get a beer.

However, a plus for the current system is that it does take a strong commitment to stay active in the forum to advance. It still takes a lot of quantity to advance.

Byron

Maybe a Vbulletin type of "reputation" system?

You can be anything you want to be here at Hyundai-Forums :thumbsup:

I've been a member of the Australian R31 Skyline Club for quite a few years now (I've only just sold my beautiful 87 GT, sigh), and their forums have "whiz points". Sounds pretty silly, but basically whenever someone posts a really helpful reply to a question you may have had, you go to the Whiz-o-Meter points nomination thread, and nominate the member for a point! It's actually really helpful to newbies (I know, I don't really like the term either, but for lack of a better one right now, it'll hafta do). If you're new to the forum, and you post a question, and someone with, lets say 12 Whiz Points, posts a reply, you know that their advice is probably true and accurate.
Here's a link to the nominations page on their forums:
Nominations page
Something *similar* would be neat I think.

This is the only think I can think of off the top of my head, considering the post-rules still apply. I think Member should replace Newbie since when someone signs up their techinically a "member" of the forum. I put Consultant ahead of Expert since once you're a consultant you're pretty much at the top of your field ... but not yet a veteran.

Member 0 - 49
Apprentice 50 - 99
Expert 100 - 249
Consultant 250 - 499
Veteran 500~

Or, since it's a automotive forum you could go with an automotive theme.

Rookie 0 - 49
Pit Crew 50 - 99
Crew Chief 100 - 249
Driver 250 - 499
Team Manager 500~

... or something like that, I don't know all the racing lingo or titles.

Military

Lieutenant 0 - 49
Captain 50 - 99
Major 100 - 200
Lt Colonel 201 - 499
Colonel 500 - 699
General 700~

Or maybe even just replace Newbie with Rookie. I guess there's a hundred different variances you could go with. I do like the feature that's on some other forums I've seen that have a "rate this post" feature - something like that might cut out a lot of trash posts. Then again, it could be abused.

I like Jerry's idea of using automotive titles but am not familiar with racing titles. Can anyone give me complete list of racing titles? Alternatively, we can use these titles

1st Gear
2nd Gear
3rd Gear
4th Gear
5th Gear
6th Gear
7th Gear

or something like this

Cold Air Intake
Turbo
Nitrous
.........

But then again I am not familiar with those terms so please help by suggesting more! :beer:

Mu suggestion:

User Title:
Neutral Newbie - 0
Novice - 15
Clutched - 25
1st Gear - 50
2nd Gear - 100
3rd Gear - 250
4th Gear - 500
5th Gear - 1000
6th Gear - 2500
Supercharged - 5000
Turbocharged - 7500
NOS-ed - 10000
2Fast2Furious - 20000

:)

I don't mind being called a newbie, because I'm new to the forum and who's to say that I'm not 15 even if I call myself a master mechanic. It's all about trust, longevity and feedback on these forums (and obviously, the quality, useability and thoughtfulness of posts).

I think you should have the "key" to the rankings somewhere, maybe in new member information. If it was there I didn't find it, and stumbled on this thread by accident after looking for the rules, then suggestions.

It looks like there are some other categories that aren't listed. What the heck is a forum ninja? Etc.

It's a great forum though, thanks for supporting it.

This post has been edited by Southsider1: Feb 2 2008, 04:31 PM

I have been a member of a lot of forums and I don't really feel the dislike towards *newbies* here. But if you have to change it, what about junior member?


Also, what about a thumbs up/down type of rating for especially helpful or distracting posts. The problem is that I would hate to see some of the off topic stuff leave, because that makes it feel like a real conversation, and is one of the things I enjoy the most about this site.

A little off topic: but I have over 250 posts but I am still ranked as senior instead of expert. How come?

This post has been edited by noobliterator: Apr 10 2008, 03:27 PM

I would say you could have a standard grading system based on posts but if someone
were to post something informative or very useful to the majority of the forum then I would would think they should get credit for it in the form of perhaps reputation points similar to the way V bulletin boards often do. Usually the members give the rep by clicking on an icon but on a forum like this maybe the mods could give rep for really good posts which benefit everyone. The rep points could boost the members status up the grading system.

This post has been edited by Sonata_Guy: May 9 2008, 07:22 PM