New CR4 Rating and Score System needed.

I see, as far as you are concerned improvements are not required, as there is the off topic vote button and the spell check button?

TVP45 if you don`t have something nice to say, and are not interested in improvements that`s fine.

The "good" answer button was out of the question, although your spelling was seemingly correct.

What? I answered your concern. You can vote "Good Answer" (Aye) or "off-topic"(Nay). Most people don't vote, but whatta ya want from me?

your pony,

Quit horsing around and get serious.

I agree that we need a new rating system. I tried to give this post a GA and it wouldn't let me.

You said it better than me. Sometimes I go overboard with puns and bad jokes, but that was my point. GAs or off-topics aren't important except as guideposts. That is, if I get 10 off-topic votes, I better go somewhere and count to 20, 000 slowly before posting again.

Some of the other forums have lots more voting, and some people pay a lot of attention to it. Maybe Microconsultant is looking for some sort of rating system; if so, I invite him to tell us what kind of rating and why it would be useful.

I think it's the spellchecker that changed it from mircoconsultant to microconsultant....

That was a really good funny answer, from laughing.

It seems the button that is really missing is the "really funny, but not relevant button".

I get the point about having to many buttons to push, but I know there is a happy medium.

I guess the real question may be: "what does everyone want to get out of these posts", and how will any rating system affect future searches in CR4?

I know a happy medium, but she charges too much.

An "off topic" vote does not mean that the answer was "Nay", it could just have been a poor answer - on topic, I get the fact that the button may pose the same purpose. To a (new) user that does not see a bad answer button it is a reason for "no action" on the "bad vote side". What I am trying to say is that there is no balance. I feel that most people answer in a truthful way limited by their knowledge. If voting, it should be mandatory to explain why it was voted as such, thus deterring from meaningless votes.

OK, I think I see your point. But, sometimes I comment just because I like to hear my head rattle, that is, there's a small point or there's a bad pun to be made. In that case, a GA or an Off-topic doesn't have any value. Maybe a "Groaaan"?

But, there are also some posts where a GA doesn't need any explanation. For example, let's say we've got replies from Blink, Physicist?, and SparkStation. Each is almost certainly correct, usually relevant, and mostly complete. But the character of each is different. So, I'll give a GA perhaps in order of posting, perhaps because I'm amused by something in the posts, or perhaps because I learned something interesting. I'd hate to have to explain that.

So, I accept your point-of-view. I just don't know how you could implement it in a forum of mixed backgrounds, overly-wordy people (me), and a few really weird posters (UFOs n'at).

RE: looking for some sort of voting system:

Fact: We all know what a traffic light looks like, regardless of ethnic background. If you are living in a desert with a laptop and you are logged on to CR4, then google it and find out more.

RED

YELLOW

GREEN

It is so simple that it has become a universal language that people generally accept and for the most part respect. It can be adopted and used regardless if you are posting about UFO`s, how a toaster could be powered with solar energy or whether or not we require traffic lights on CR4.

My point is this system could be adopted easily, it is self explanatory, a world language and respected.

For example:

Red - Off Topic

Yellow - Not a perceived as a good answer

Green - Good answer, on topic and deserves a pat on the shoulder.

I feel strongly that we need to discuss how the three colours (<-- Canadian Spelling of color confused the spell check) could be assigned, how the votes are tallied, if we need a review system by a "GURU" of an expert group on that topic and finally how the outcome is posted, perhaps everyone should wear a traffic light with all the answers he has given as well as the comment that they have received - six lights, only visible to people that post a comment, for the full circle effect!

Any way there are likely thousands of ways to assign to a traffic light system.

The question here would be if that would be a good start of something to beta test if CR4 is up for it?

FACT: Traffic light type of evaluation systems are applied in many fields, even food processing and industrial applications as status indicators, it is common sense to use three colours to indicate event importance.

Lets keep the number of lights down to a maximum of 2 sets to avoid confusion!

I like the traffic light concept.

I just want a 'Nay', and 'Off topic' does not convey that.

I'd have three choices: 'Good Answer', 'Bad Answer', and 'Irrelevant'.

My full circle system, using 2 sets of traffic light suggestion for discussion addresses the concerns of pranks by showing both, votes placed as well as votes received. It would likely show if you are a prankster, a beta test could confirm, and of course it will depend on the three colour layout of options.

I offered up a GA for that one. 47 more to go. Can I ride the pony?

BTW...wats a spel cheker?

Certainly we do. I find it extremely good and educating.

dhayanandhan

There are different mentalities.

Some being very school oriented would like to have all answers pass an examination, many other consider that a tap on the shoulder is enough as appreciation.

We are NOT at school we are a group of unknown persons (to each other) and bound by the wish to share some thing, knowledge, opinions, aso.

I am glad if I get a GA not because I want to have a GA but it is for me a recognition of my thinking way by people having a broad experience and able in an objective way to say if it is good or bad.

I only once was upset when some body criticised my suggestion without looking at it in details. He apologised after an explanation we had and it is a good point for him.

You really summed things up.

We all want to share knowledge and appreciation, if someone objects to that statement I would like to hear why, and why that person is here.

We are not at school, but perhaps there are a lot of people on line that are using certain info from here in an educational setting. These people are in school, teachers and all. I would be interested to hear comments from a teacher on this subject. Although school formality is not required here, the proverbial tap on the shoulder may be enough, but is it currently a genuine tap?

We are a group of unknown persons, which is why the diversity of nations and knowledge spectrum is unique. Can there be a commonality then as to how we all feel that a shoulder tap system should work, as a genuine appreciation for an effort.

Thank you for your "teachers view" Kwez,

It has become clear that you also detected some issues with the rating system, as a "joke" was rated as a good answer. Although the voting may not be important, a different system would also give to one of the desirables that CR4 seems to be after, which is to sort Good threads from bad, perhaps we need to sort the Joker answers from the "good answers"? In any case I was not referring or recommending to replace the rating system in terms of "guru" etc. Simply as a system to get better output overall, and keep people honest with their answers. If a Joke gets thrown into a thread alongside a good answer, then that deserves a good answer, and such can get found easily by someone digging through this information in months to come.

Mirco.

Good morning mircoconsultant.

The current system allows one to applaud a good answer.

It also allows one to rate an answer as off topic.

If one believes that an answer is bad, erroneous, misleading or dangerous or defective, We POST OUR OBJECTIONS AND LET THE"FREE MARKET OF IDEAS" have its way.

I understand that traffic light systems are widely used, I implemented one for process control readings in a steel mill back in the last century. But a Yellow light means bad answer isn't any where as informative as someone saying, "Hey, The reason you have to always use the green wire for the ground is so the next guy opening up the box doesn't get fried/ fry the new module / etc. etc."

And personally,. I think that the red light outght to be for bad / dangerous answer, yellow for off topic, and then green for really good answers. but by only having three categories, you have no designation for acceptable answers.

Frankly, The functionality that is needed is an ability to sort and find just the good answers.

What exactly is the object of having these new indicators again?

if its "share knowledge and appreciation," we do this currently with our sincere comments. I have been grateful to recieve a post or a private email on the occasion when provided information that really helped some one out.

If its to protect others from bad posts, we do this currently with our sincere comments.

Your idea about adding a graphic for dangerous or bad posts, (sharing knowledge and protecting readers) is worth considering, in that case why not add one of these?

milo

Hi Milo, I have respected your answers in the past.

You seem to have not paid attention to the details of my suggestions / or questions, or perhaps you have misunderstood.

I suggested to use two sets of lights with three stages to show both posting related information of an individual as well as applause oriented indicators. Do you not see the potential advantages of this system as a deterrant to posting wrongful information?

We are talking about establishing a reputation on CR4, as well as to simply applause to a comment, as I indicated I had recommended also to back up a vote for a "bad answer" or a "good answer" to be backed up with some reasons, in a line or two, perhaps space limited, to keep it short. This coupled with a 2 X 3 light balance should work well.

The six status lights would then be shown in the persons ID side, to show not only the good post, but also the tally of their votes.

- would it hurt to beta test it?

Surely a pirate can handle it, even if he forgot to get grounded by the green wire on the red traffic light, although this has nothing to do with the thread it is still a good answer.

This brings up the next point - is there a way to hold a vote in a forum?

My intention is not to step on any peoples toes that have developed the current system. I think it actually works OK, but as with anything, it may be improved.

Create the need and you will have solutions.

Hopefully my answers will be worthy of your respect in the future too.

I plead guilty to not seeing the deterrent of an additional light systems, people get called " bloomin idiots" or whatever and they still post some lunacy sometimes.

I see no harm in a beta test. I am all for continuous improvement.

But in the end, my participation is about communicating, not greenlights or votes.

I'll never be as popular as Del the cat, as feisty as Kris, as off the wall as Vermin,as quick (or as flippin animated) as Sparky, nor as thoughtful as TVP45. I won't be competing with Roger Pink in any math competitions any time soon, and I'd die trying to rough it with Duckinthepond. And I know that if I give bad steel advice, Abdul Halim Galalla or Kwetz will be teaching a class and I'll be taking notes. It keeps me honest, knowing that their are some real sharp hombres out there. For me CR4 is about these human connections, not the report card. If I save one person from say, having his bonescrews made out of 303 stainless, because I posted on CR4, then thats a great day.

Thats all. I'm not "agin' it," it just seems a little extra. But I do like the idea of being able to hit a "danger will robinson button" if there is bad advice given. Red light yellow light greenlight, these are universal. Will they add value? Probably.

Do I pay attention to the Good answer ratings. You betcha.

Thanks for the suggestions and adding your thoughts for the good of the order.

milo

Hi Milo,

I am not asking to be worthy, nor do I think this should be a competition.

So I bet most all CR4 users are paying attention to the ratings, the question now is would people pay attention to a rating of "good answers" as well as a tallyshowing what they have voted? And if it`s in three colours, or ratings for each all the better. good and bad doesn`t always fit, sometimes you need to hit the medium button, yes I agree it would add value.

So now how does CR4 get convinced of beta tests, I think someone with over 2000 posts should answer, or should the posts be counting "good answer" words instead?

Boy if I just had a way to set up a quick vote within here I would.

Some times ago one of the participants left because some of his answers were quoted as out of subject and he lost GA.

Thinking back at this situation I would say the suggestion of our "macro-fighter" should be tested if it is possible; this will be a tap on the shoulder with a comment, why not?

Any way I appreciate the fact that one fights for his ideas. It is positive.

I like the traffic light idea.. but I think some other icons would be more creative and fun, You could have an engineer's "iron ring" for the top rating; a bridge collapsing for the worst; or an electrocution.. or a meter reading zero volts. The sections already have some nice icons. You could have different icons for ratings in the different groups, where the icons would 'speak' the same language as the group.

I like your suggestion as well, I just thought as this is a world attendet posting spot, the traffic light is not only known around the world, but it also has the known properties of the three shades. Not everyone is an Engineer in CR4. The folks posting here all surely could relate to a traffic light - keep it simple, was my intention.

As to what is assigned to each of the three stages that is up for discussion.

If you want only two choices, there should be a positive and a negative. To me 'Off Topic' means Irrelevant (neutral, neither good nor bad).

There are lots of possible labels; I'd suggest GA and BA!

Hello Guest, you are obviously not new to CR4, why are you posting as a guest?

Do guest have the right to vote as well? That is dangerous, no commitment to CR4 and voting?

In any case - regarding "people use it and it is therefore effective" That is rediculous! --> People use it and they are therefore using it because it is the only system available! Sort of like you are using the computer Keyboard because direct memory input has not been invented -

The typewriter was also used by people, and it was therefore effective, just think if it did not evolve into a word processor and computer, then we would be posting typewritten notes somewhere centrally, it could be a long discussion.

Evolution of all systems is necessary, and CR4 is great, but how about making it greater? I would love to see more participants, particularly ones that are actually registered.

As Milo Suggested to me in an e-mail, how about everyone sends me an e-mail that either agrees or disagrees that a beta test would be a good thing on a different Voting system compared to the current one.

Just write good or bad in the mail and send it through the CR4 mail or directly to mircog@canstampconsulting.com

Do we need all this ? What we have is adequate. If it is a nonsense answer, the sender gets told anyway and can if he wants defend his or herself.

Except that sometimes nonsensical answers still get GAs anyway, simply because several members find them highly entertaining. I should know this all too well, since I regularly nominate flippant, irreverent, even thoroughly ridiculous answers on over-unity threads for GAs. After all, ask stupid questions (e.g. I just invented an over-unity generator, who wants to buy it?), get stupid answers (e.g. it wouldn't happen to powered by the gaseous byproducts of last night's Mexican dinner now, would it?).

GA for you, because I agree, but I'm not going to give it to you. for now,

cuz I want a pony.

And its even relevant to the post.

After all, ask stupid questions (e.g. I just invented an over-unity generator, who wants to buy it?), get stupid answers

There is an upside to stupid answers, it makes mediocre answers look like Genius or GA.

I love Burrito Manso. (Bean Burrito).

phoenix911

Many moon ago you could post as anonymous coward, which evolved to guest, there used to be a star rating system. http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/8642/Why-are-Guests-Allowed-to-Post

http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/11603#newcomments

you could make it your quest to bring about a change. you should probably pm Chris Leonard or moose to increase your chances of success.

as you see you get direct feedback to the quality of your posts.

Here are some of my favorite nearly related threads:

http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/19036#newcomments

http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/15639#newcomments

http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/14400#newcomments

http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/14053#newcomments

http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/13186#newcomments

http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/12925#newcomments

http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/13038#newcomments

http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/15824#newcomments

& of course the graddaddy of all off topic threads

http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/13355#newcomments

@ this point I've posted so many links on one will follow any of these LOL

since I don't think there is such a thing as off topic, I'll leave that judgment up to the rest of you!

I have to agree with the guest's comment. I like the system the way it is now. If we start "improving" it, we will soon have a system that is far too formal. The feel of CR4 is very conversational and friendly. I think the proposed system will erode that flavor. If you want this degree of "peer-reviewed" information, just go to Wikipedia.

Dear BD,

Please try to search CR4 for good information and see how it is to find an answer to a question.

The proposal was to do a beta test, not to implement right away, this would allow to see how it works. It could run in the back-ground, with two traffic light ratings appearing under your "logo" showing overall status of postings and votes placed. Settings could allow you to ignore it, just like the current system.

Hello,

My use of CR4 is almost exclusively for information and research. As you can tell by my membership date and low postings, I'm not much of a contributer (I have been working as an engineer for only a few years and feel I have far more to learn than contribute on a regular basis). I find the site to be extremely easy to find information on nearly any topic and the informal atmosphere makes reading threads fun, not a chore. As I said, when I want to read bickering about the "quality" of information posted, I just go to Wiki and hit the discussion tab. I really hope CR4 does not turn into that sort of environment.

With Respect,

BD

Here is what I proposed in this thread. It garnered a GA. So far, I haven't seen a better alternative, but then I might be prejudiced just a mere teensy-weensy tiny minuscule bit.

I'll add some background that might have been in my subconscious mind when I thought up the system. In the early days of ham (amateur) radio, in the days of CW or Morse code, hams came up with a system to rate each others' signals. They called it RST for Readability, Strength and Tone. Then when voice communications on AM and single sideband (SSB) became more popular, they followed the same system, but dropped the Tone rating because it wasn't as useful on voice as it was on CW. Then when FM repeaters the system changed to just one aspect of the signal - noise quieting. A signal the repeater receives at full strength is "full quieting," and a signal with noise is reported with an estimate of the percentage of noise.

My proposal rates a post on two things: relevancy and accuracy. Relevancy is fairly simple to rate: yes or no. Accuracy is more variable, so I allowed a range of 1 to 5. The only other thing I can see adding would be a rating for the quality of presentation.

Hi 3Doug,

I like the rating system you proposed, but have to side with others that it could over complicate things, again a beta test could prove. Maybe CR4 can hold a Beta test week, advertise, get more users, and try all the functions on a mix of people that have seen the current system and some that have not.

The traffic light system would be more of a status indicator, it would just add one voting option to the rating of a message. The other outputs would be generated by the software in the back ground to show Red Green or Yellow. These indicators should over time be able o make people realize the "value" of a members contribution without a lot of work.

Beta testing can be FUN .

It can sometimes be frustrating. Why the heck did I get an "Off Topic", when I was very much on topic, in this thread:

http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/30422/Emissions-Test-Failure-98-Chevy-PU

It was also what the OP did, and it solved his problem.

Go figure.

Off Topic,

Thanks for your reply Bricktop, the general discussion was to debate what a different system could look like. It is important to know what experiences everyone had in order to be able to suggest valuable alternatives to the current system.

Any suggestions as to what this system could look like?

Ah, the whole rating system is no big deal to me. Half of my GA's are for wise-cracks anyway. It would be nice, that when the OP got an answer that helped him, he would give a GA, but that doesn't happen all the time.

Maybe a "you made me laugh" button. Or how about "you sound just like my ex-wife" button.

When you solve someone's problem, you know you gave a GA, points or not.

Hello Bricktop,

Not to mention to help a single person that had an issue that another CR4 member experienced.

You helped that one person and only that person at the time. But with the accessible archive we have and are developing a very good data base of practical knowledge and experience.

For the most part the point system is more of a release be it comical, or of a competitive sorts, I've noticed the members do not take the points system seriously but for a few exceptions.

But either way, we need the clever, comical remarks as well as the On Topic answers.

It breaks us a break, and flexes our imaginations

phoenix911

Do we really need a database of jokes? We can go to some "joke forum" for that.

As mentioned before, I really enjoy a great sensible, or funny remark as part of an honest attempt to a good answer.

But boy some just love to over-do it! Is it to get more postings?

"I love bad puns, dumb jokes, and arcane references (like Matilda in the antimatter thread)."

So do I!

Thank you for the GA, but please don't. That cancels the off-topics and I really do believe the off-topic votes should be allowed to be heard. Democracy does matter.

No, that way only the negatives get a chance to vote, and that's not fair!

I respect your comments and Jokes, when it has something to do with the topic and has some relevance as to giving an answer. Everyone should lighten up!

I will not vote you out.

Thank you. I do sail by my own compass and that'll never change. Most of the time I poke fun at everything I can, especially myself, and sometimes that offends people. I try hard to never be deliberately rude (except to scam artists and crooks), but I come from a life experience that produces darn thick skin and a lot of gallows humor. I certainly wouldn't give up on posting; I'd just be on a different forum(s).

Yeah, I see that. You probably got an off-topic for being too straight-to-the point. Lots of times, voters seem to dislike short, correct answers (Who knows why?).

But, that suggests a new way of doing this that would be a lot more fun. Suppose we have to post our names with our votes? Then, whoever got an off-topic" could go back and off-topic all that poster's GAs. Then the original voter could register on multiple computers and do an off-topic blast..., say, do I sound like a Boston politician yet?

and if you get voted too many off-topics, you get derated to 'Guest'

great.... I was also thinking we could have monthly and annual awards, for best, and worst posts/ideas/language skills/offensiveness/anthropomorphization/innovation, etc. it would be a competition based on voting of course, but you could nominate and place a vote for your choice for any particular award. to identify the classics.

I like it. Perhaps later I'll start a thread asking members what their favorite thread was over the last month or so, and why.

(if someone else wants to do it, I don't care, but I really got to get back to work now.)

Oh, Oh! I got one. The blog about ice cream being made from human breast milk. Now about that Peachy Paterno?

Hallo, everybody... Just see how many "good answers" exist in this specific forum... I count 8 untill now...

There are several problems in this kind of voting:

1) Some answers that are rated as "good answers" are not really "good answers". I.e. someone gives a (wrong) answer (that, sometimes, seems to be "right" in a first place), get some credits by some guys (who don't know well the spacific issue or they just misunderstand it) and, afterwards, this answer is proven (objectively) to be wrong. I just corrected such an answer once but it was too late as it had, already, obtained 3 credits (so it remained a good answer although the credits became 2... maybe the guy -who wrote it- took out a credit from himself... ??? ...)

2) Some answers are rated as "good answers" just because they have fun or just because they contain a very "smart" comment. But, beside this, these answers don't offer sth essential. They don't give a serious opinion or a solution to a problem.

3) Some guys don't get the credits that they deserve. This happens because the other guys cannot evaluate (or even understand) their answers. (I, also, suspect that some guys gets more easily good credits than others. I hope that nationality doesn't play a role on this.)

(Let's give you an example: Jorrie who is a real "guru" on the Relativity issues have only 3 good answers... although he has posted several thousands of excelent posts clarifing many difficult issues on Relativity and Cosmology... but I think that he doesn't "need" any credits from any of us...)

Someone could claim that the whole issue of "credits" is not so important. My opinion is that the issue of "credits" is good and useful because of this: When someone takes a look in a forum of his interest, usually he hasn't enough time to read all the posts. So he can read only these answers that are rated as "good answers" in order get the "good stuff". But sometimes (because of what I have already mentioned) he reads only some funny (or even wrong) answers intead of really good answers. And this is bad.

So, my advise is to give credits only when you are really sure that an answer is absolutely good or if you think that an answer is really clever and gives some "food for thought" (sometimes a "good question" is more useful than an answer).

I would like to suggest a method of creating a "Personal Favourites List" so that when I see a Good Answer,by anyone.. I can append that comment, and maybe a short tree of related discussion to my own home page. Then when I want to find that information again, I have my own little library of postings that were really relevant to me. This isn't exactly good answer rating, but then again, it really is good answer oriented. I'm aware that there is already a list of my own good answers, but that isn't what I'm referring to.

Chris

There is a list of new comments that shows comments only since I subscribed. I think this should just be a straighforward index, showing all posts, including the OP, plus their rating.

To Stevem,

I also think that CR4 is fine as is.

Do I also get a good answer for that statement?

I think you just proved that CR4 is fine, but that improvement can be made to the voting system, as you did not answer the thread question. Some reader seems to think you have a good answer!

Again - BETA TEST, for those that are interested to put this to bed, the hope was to obtain ideas of what it could look like.

Guest,

As you are an advocate for CR4 why are you not even signed in?

Let me say again that I think CR4 is amazing, otherwise I would not be here!

Again you pointed right at it, an off topic answer is easily identified, a poor answer is not and the system does not differentiate or allow for alternatives.

My own personal view is usually backed by fact when I do chose to vote or comment.

I just pointed out that we could post how people generally judge things and have it show in shades of three colours.

Imagine a traffic light with a single green colour, when you are not allowed to "go" everyone would just know to stop, right? Would that also not be a reason for improvement, or are there to many features?

Facts are not opinion oriented, when I think someone has a bad answer, I would like to post it, I don`t generally vote without merit.

I realize you are just posting without reading the thread fully. A beta test would leave the system as is.

Why are you using a computer, when you could have faxed your answer to CR4, I am thankful you did not stop that evolution. There never was a mention about insufficient features. The intend is to aid the search of the postings, are you aware of the effects the rating has on future Searchability?

Maybe the rating system should be removed to avoid having too many functions?

It has nothing to do with right or wrong, it has to do with Continuous Improvement.

And Yes, I may disagree with someone voting in a system without sufficient choices.

As you are an advocate for CR4 why are you not even signed in.

Maybe he/she is merely a passing guest and doesn't want to be a member. Have you thought about that? And must we all now make an account of our actions here? To you? Who died and left you in charge? George Orwell?

Re: George Orwell?

The year is not 1984. I posted the original thread asking for suggestions for a new system, can we get back to that? I did not ask if we should have a change. All that disagree had a choice not to be here, but they stayed! Most of us got off topic when discussing if a change is necessary. You said that someone may be "a passing Guest that does not want to be a member"???

Why would a passing guest be interested in the rating system in CR4? Have you thought about that?

You may want to re-read 1984 and step on the faster moving sidewalk.

Perhaps it is a good idea if the poster of a thread is in charge to keep the discussion and answers on topic, but that would likely be too complicated to implement.

Do you have any answers to the original thread or are you just boasting of your knowledge of GO?

Any fool can carry on, but only the wise man knows how to shorten sail. -Joseph Conrad

After 75 posts, we think we get it.

You have provided your thoughts.

Have you listened and understood the thoughtful feedback that you were given in return?

You asked for people to email you their support.

How many emails did you get?

"A motion to adjourn is always in order." some guy named Roberts.

Mirco, No harm, no foul, but seeing no unanimous acclaim and rush to the walls, perhaps some reflection is called for? We like what we have, it continues to work well for us and we are in no rush to muck it up just because we can.

Thanks for bringing up the idea.

peace.

milo

Mircoconsultant,

Are you hung up on getting Good Answer points for your posts? Then post Good Answers! It's really quite simple.

Have a nice Christmas,

D.G. (Different Guest)

I am not truly concerned about someone marking my answer as a good answer, particularly when I started the discussion thread, as I was seeking the answers.

I am happy that there are many responses that actually are on topic, and perhaps that someone is thinking that a beta test with a different system would be a good idea, and who knows maybe someone will create a three colour BS meter, or something similar to what was suggested by some.

I have tried to post both, good and bad answers and comments, I have deliberately voted "poorly" on the means available (as some users may unintentianally do), even tried to provoke certain responses.

When all this is done and I have a minute I will try to search CR4 to see what results the search will have when using the "good answer method".

Thank you all for your participation in this discussion, have a Great Holiday!

(This is not an answer it is just comments!)

Just one more, to try to get a good answer...

I tried to "submit this answer", but was only given the choice to "submit this comment", does this prevent me from getting votes? ---

No? Perhaps we need this added functionality:

(preventing voting to "good answers when they are "just comments".)

I believe that is what the "Off topic button" that no-one uses is supposed to do when submitting the message. Has anyone here ever used it?

See post 79

DDG (Different Different Guest)

DDG, Milo,

I have started this thread in the response of other fine members of this community, unfortunately not many of those have actually responded here. Believe me there are many comments regarding ratings.

Let`s leave the system as it is without even a beta test? Too bad .

Count the answers I had to my original question! <-------- Not the "good ones". Perhaps I`ll write an article for IMQ on the topic of Continuous Improvement, based on how it is hampered by the motions.

Exactly. High Five!

CSM,

I agree, and also read CR4 often. I never suggested to stop any strange or well thought out funny comments, as you mentioned as well you have rated occasionally based on pun, because there were only two choices.

I would like to have fun, and get a reasonable credibility to all true as possible "GA". This would be a by-product, not part of any more effort. A tally that sways as tallies get posted, not as per just 2 answers that make it so. In due time there will be so many post everywhere that a functional searchability will be desired, with a quick response. I enjoy being able to find an answer to a question, or pointers quickly.

It sort of is like building a city with a meager underground transit system, just to find out later how complicated it now is to change, due to the structures that have been build, as well as the under ground architecture. At the time, there was no need.

Everyone, just pay attention when you want to vote on CR4, and think back to this discussion, even return, and post another or start another discussion about your idea.

The GA's don't really mean anything to me, nor does my ratio. That would completely kill my wise cracking nature. However, I really like it when someone tells us how they really feel about, well, just about anything.

So, a GA to CSM, for the recognition that a smart-ass like me is welcome.

What about a little thumbs up/down like on youtube, where you simply click it and that's the end of it. The little pop up box to rate answers is so annoying

Hey CQ,

I believe you are only the third member that actually tried to post an answer that was related to the original question. Although discussions are necessary, on or off topic.

I thought it was a good answer. But watch out I got shot down for advocating even a change, even by guests - let em read, not vote, or post.

I believe that the number of choices should remain at three, smiles or lights, regardless, again it must be simple for people to use it.

So, now then that we have three solutions, traffic lights, a system that uses engineering rings, or smileys how do we get CR4 to beta test it? Or is someone actually going to give more possible solutions?

I did see some other forum where posts could be voted "funny, but not not important to the discussion".

Actually I gave you a suggestion on the most effective route to elicit change.

What do you hope to accomplish with your proposed system?

As to moderation there used to be a system. It would be counter productive to let the original poster be in charge [inmates running the asylum]. asking a question indicates a lack of knowledge, which disqualifies TOP[the original poster] opinion validity in many cases.

as w/any free internet resource, you have to take what is offered & be able to reconize the truth when you see it. many besides the original posters read the threads for many different reasons.

Quick quality answers are going to cost you money

Mircon, I'm surprised you want to stop guests from posting. I just did a quick count of Good Answers since you posted this. You have none and the guests have four. That's

Mircon = 0

Guests = 4

Is there a trend here?

I Like Roger Pink's idea on this. Scale for Crackpot Theories on CR4.

I agree that CR4 is due for some improvements.

I'd like to see a better equation editor. It's an engineering forum and one would presume that equations are important to Engineers. Something along the lines of microsoft's equation editor would be nice (I know we can't have that, but something like that). I think when you put a tool like that in here, it only brings good things with it. I may only be used 1% of the time (if even that much), but I bet the percentage of good answers such posts would get would be disproportionately huge.

I'd also like to see a software tool for constructing circuit diagrams. I myself vow to never use it, but I know somebody who sits right next to me at work who could probably school us good if he had such a tool. The electrical engineers deserve the coolness this would bring to our site (coolness of course is relative).

I enjoy this forum a ton, but I really feel if its gonna be an Engineering forum, rather than slash dot with a different color scheme, then it should get specialized tools that only engineers would use.

If you guys like these ideas, or have others along the same line, please comment on this response.

I would definitely be on board with both of those ideas. Right now our best option is to construct the figure in another program and post a screen capture as a graphic. Enhanced editing tools would be cool (as you say - in a very relative way!).

Agreed, although I usually do my circuit (and other) diagrams in 2D CAD. Currently I have to convert them to JPGs for posting, and they always show up much smaller than I'd prefer. Dragging to make them bigger loses resolution.

What I'd really like is to be able to post PDFs