Badge/Title System For Good Members

[WeAreOneRepublic]

I think rather than a reward system what about adding little badges/titles that after a certain amount of good contributing posts in a sub-forum you get one, so if you do 100 or something helpful posts or are seen as a contributing member to Relationships and Dating then you could get a badge that says "Relationship Doctor", or one for P101-> Boys and Girls "Puberty Know-it-all". It can help to point out people who really know their stuff and can be easily sourced and asked questions if people have them. It is not a competition at all, just recognition for knowledge as such.

[LunarScorpio]

Does this not kinda defeat the point of the site. People would not feel as good if they thought their posts were not as good. The idea is that everyone does there bit, so I feel it would possibly ruin the sense of community a little

[WeAreOneRepublic]

Does this not kinda defeat the point of the site. People would not feel as good if they thought their posts were not as good. The idea is that everyone does there bit, so I feel it would possibly ruin the sense of community a little

Not at all, if people that only have a few posts, that are good, then get sad because they do not get the badge means they do not understand. If they are a good contributer(based on mods?) then they can get the badge, just because people don't make many posts doesn't mean their posts aren't good. It would develop the community to help those who are new and also have people know that the information they give is normally of a good standard.

And P.S. aren't you the guy who sent me an advertising PM about your forums?

[AlexOnToast]

Hmmm. I think the important thing to remember is that the number one function of VT is it's role as a help site, not a social club. I can see what you are getting at tho, but I don't see it working out in the long run.

[WeAreOneRepublic]

Hmmm. I think the important thing to remember is that the number one function of VT is it's role as a help site, not a social club. I can see what you are getting at tho, but I don't see it working out in the long run.

As much as I don't want it to turn into a social club(although I don't know how that could happen) I do have to keep side affects in mind. I just think people that know their stuff can be identifiable to others, and some of the other benefits mentioned above.

[AlexOnToast]

As much as I don't want it to turn into a social club(although I don't know how that could happen) I do have to keep side affects in mind. I just think people that know their stuff can be identifiable to others, and some of the other benefits mentioned above.

I get what you are saying and I can see the benefits, but from what I've come to learn, there used to be a similar system called "rep" and it ended up being abused and causing mishaps, so was removed.

[WeAreOneRepublic]

I get what you are saying and I can see the benefits, but from what I've come to learn, there used to be a similar system called "rep" and it ended up being abused and causing mishaps, so was removed.

The thing was, rep was done by peers and members while this would probably be more of a staff thing(but not sure how much they already have to do) to decide because if it was user based then that would cause problems.

[ksdnfkfr]

I dont disagree with what you are saying, but at the same time im personally adverse to anything resembling a status symbol. Im not even sure if i like my post face and post count possibly suggesting that im in any way more important or whatever than anyone else here - cause i aint.

[AlexOnToast]

I dont disagree with what you are saying, but at the same time im personally adverse to anything resembling a status symbol. Im not even sure if i like my post face and post count possibly suggesting that im in any way more important or whatever than anyone else here - cause i aint.

I completely agree. I'm not overly fond of the Face system either. I can imagine it causing snootyness and the like. I also don't really see the point in the post count being visible, But it and the post-faces do kinda serve as incentive for people to contribute, and I'ts throwing the active members a bone, a little reward for their work, which I can understand.

[ImCoolBeans]

I'm not so fond of profile/postbit badges. I don't think that this is 100% a bad idea or anything like that, but I don't want add a system where people are competing for status. I don't particularly like the idea that people may appear to be more qualified or as kashmir said, "more important". I don't want any of the members to feel bad or discouraged about the site, and I could see this potentially causing those feelings.

[ksdnfkfr]

I completely agree. I'm not overly fond of the Face system either. I can imagine it causing snootyness and the like. I also don't really see the point in the post count being visible, But it and the post-faces do kinda serve as incentive for people to contribute, and I'ts throwing the active members a bone, a little reward for their work, which I can understand.

yeah it is an insensitive to get to post more. I'm starting to crank it up
on the autism forum to get to 1000 to have a custom user title. But what
I really enjoy is the interaction and feeling helpful. Being special needs ive
been helped a lot so now its nice to be a helper instead.

I don't want any of the members to feel bad or discouraged about the site, and I could see this potentially causing those feelings.

My feeling is that those of us who have been here a little longer and have a bunch of posts under
our belt, should feel we are at the service of other members and be encouraging to them.

[AlexOnToast]

what
I really enjoy is the interaction and feeling helpful.

You have summed up my exact feelings :D And you are extremely helpful, especially to me :D

[Infidelitas]

I don't think it is a bad idea, I can just see it turning into the rep system fairly quick with people doing virtual dick-waving with their badges.

[Gumleaf]

First and foremost this is a help site. The main priority of this site is to provide help and support to those who need it. In theory your idea has merit. But the reality is that any reward type system ends up just rewarding popularity which is not what the site is about. Previously we had a reputation system on this site and to start with it was a good idea and worked well, but then from about 2008 it started turning into a big monster where people with only 50 posts had massive amounts of rep for not doing much other then being popular. From what I've seen, the general harmony of the site has improved since the rep system was disabled. Basically all i'm saying is that I think the disadvantages outweigh the advantages of such a system that you're suggesting.

[NeuroTiger]

The idea is nice but it's not applicable to such a forum unfortunately.
Being part of the VT family is already something amazing and certainly all the members bring about their contribution on one way or the other.
Helping somebody is great and we need no status for that.
Remember, "a friend in need is a friend indeed"

[DerBear]

It would be cool to an extent but with badges comes prestige and prestige comes with rather large egos usually.

[DarkHorse4eva]

it might be nice for those who get it, but it can lower others self esteem, especially if the "badge" fits to the threads with mental illness and low self esteem

[PinkFloyd]

Way back in 2012, there was rep system that was misused.The odds of anything like it coming back are slim to none.