New feature! A new like button has been introduced alongside the helpful posts button. Plus everything you ever wanted to know about reputation scores

[drboris]

It was long overdue to introduce a 'like' button on the bottom of posts so that we can show appreciation for those posts which might be funny etc but which do not necessarily contain information which would be useful for a lot of other people to read. Please continue to use the helpful posts thumbs up rating button only to rate posts which are truly helpful to others. I have removed the limit on how many posts per day can be rated helpful, but we will keep that under review. Also underneath each post there will now be a list of people who liked or rated helpful that post, if any. (Unfortunately I could not get the existing helpful post ratings for each post to display, but they are saved in the system and count toward your reputation.)

All about reputation......

The "pips" in the top right of each post show that member's reputation score.

Each of the dark green reputation pips equals 25 reputation points.
Once you have 5 dark green pips you move on to light green pips.

Each of the light green reputation pips equals 50 reputation points.
Once you have 5 light green pips you move on to yellow pips.

Each of the yellow reputation pips equals 100 reputation points.
Once you have 5 yellow pips you move on to blue pips.

Each of the blue reputation pips equals 250 reputation points.
Once you have 5 blue pips you move on to ruby pips.

Each of the ruby reputation pips equals 500 reputation points.
Once you have 5 ruby pips you move on to another color. I'll post the details of that once someone gets that far.

You can see your own reputation score if you click on the 'User CP' link, and scroll down to the bottom. Beside the 'Latest Reputation Received' table it should tell you your total score. You can't see other people's exact score.

How reputation scores are calculated:

New members start with 0 reputation points.

- Each time someone hits the new 'like' button on one of your posts you get +1 reputation point
- Each time someone hits the helpful post rating button on one of your posts you get +2 reputation points (unless that person has less than 5 posts in which case you will get only +1 reputation point).

But....
[Update August 24, 2011]
Only the first 5 likes and the first 5 helpful votes you give in any 24 hour period will increase the recipient's reputation score. If you give any more than 5 likes or helpfuls in a 24 hour period the person whose posts you liked or rated helpful will still be notified that you rated them, but they won't receive any reputation points. This is to gently discourage people from giving more than 5 likes or helpful ratings per day, which could devalue the system.
[end of update]

Only registered forum members can hit the buttons, guests can't.

Other rules....

- Every 100 days you are an active member of the forum gives you +1 reputation point
- Every 25 posts you make gives you +1 reputation point
- You will also gain 2 reputation points if a new member signs up to the board and mentions your username when they are asked on the registration form if a current member referred them.

- Infractions (given by moderators for breaking the forum rules) reduce your reputation score by 5 points.

Admission to the restricted area

You will need 60 posts, a reputation score of 30, and to have been a member for at least 1 month. Once you meet all these criteria you will gain access automatically (although the system only updates accounts once/hour so you might have to wait up to 1 hour).

[MayreeAngel]

Definitely needed the LIKE button! Thanks for the info on the points.

[Troubadour]

I spoke too soon in my last post. I think these new features are great.

[northstar77]

Already explained above..

[lseven7]

So in other words, no matter how "helpful" I am, I am completely dependant on others who may or may not decide to 'like' me or find me 'helpful'. I am not in control of my own destiny on this board. Can I post sources that are not presently listed? How would I know if they are already posted in the 'secret' forum? As a new member, I really like it here, but the hierarchy is very confusing.

[Troubadour]

How would I know if they are already posted in the 'secret' forum?

I think the idea of a secret, paid or totally separate forum was discussed and a no-go.

[Bananastickers]

@drboris, like button & new scoring are awesome. Thanks for your hard work.
@lseven7, don't worry about the restricted area so much. You might be let down when you get there. Most of the info is already mentioned here or there is the open forum anyway & when the time comes people are usually good about looking over others posts to give a 'helpful'

[Mecha]

Yes I agree, I find on most forum the open sections will give you more information on any forum. They are well established with good, recent information. I find the open sections more informative than the closed part of a forum. You are in good company.

[Keith K Stone]

So in other words, no matter how "helpful" I am, I am completely dependant on others who may or may not decide to 'like' me or find me 'helpful'. I am not in control of my own destiny on this board. Can I post sources that are not presently listed? How would I know if they are already posted in the 'secret' forum? As a new member, I really like it here, but the hierarchy is very confusing.

Yes, you are pretty much dependent on others to rate your posts. If your posts are helpful, believe me other member will give you the credit that you deserve.
Yet you really do control your own destiny by what you post. I don't see why you wouldn't be able to list new sources that are not presently listed. New info is always good. If it is in the restricted area you will be notified of your post being moved to that area. You would have no way of knowing it was listed there, if you don't have access. We are all glad that you like it here and will become a helpful, contributing member. As far as finding things being confusing, just go with the flow. things will look better to you in no time at all.

[MNLady]

@drboris--As a new member of PR (but not even close to new in posting on these types of boards), I REALLY appreciate having everything laid out for me like this. I can say that I understand almost all of it and what I might not totally get is so minimal that it doesn't really matter.

I like it here. A lot. Everything here so far reminds me of the way DB was at it's best. That is, there is all the helpful, informative posts and a place for random off-topic things and the feeling that you can make some nice online friends here (as I had at DB), but I haven't seen very much or any of the scamming/otherwise just icky posts from people who register, post for a day or two frantically (bordering on innappropriate at times), and then disappear.

@lseven--I don't think you will need to worry too much about the "helpful" thing. I've only been here a couple of days and already have had several posts marked helpful. I believe most everyone here understands that if they find a post helpful, they should rate it because that is how this board is set up--on reputation points. By taking off the limit of 5 posts per day (currently) you can mark as helpful will help too.

[drboris]

I made another small change so that now the most helpful post of each thread will be highlighted with a yellow background.

Thanks all for the feedback. The like button seems to be working OK so far.

[Jolie]

Yes, you are pretty much dependent on others to rate your posts...Yet you really do control your own destiny by what you post.

I totally agree with @Keith K Stone. Technically, yes, you are dependent on others to rate you helpful. However, you control what you post and if you put the time and effort to be truly helpful, you'll get the ratings soon enough!

I think I got my first 5 with 48 hours of the rule initially being instituted because I went out of my way to find threads that I knew I had a lot of info and knowledge about. I also went out of my way to find the correct answers to questions I was unsure about. Also, I posted new thread topics regarding things that I thought others would find helpful. For example, I posted a Pain Killer Comparison Chart and a thread about topical painkillers.

You'll be all set if you put in the effort.

[toela65]

I really like this setup and think it will bring a lot of positives to the forum especially with the incentive for posters to try and be helpful etc.

I have only just got here but already the forum seems like DB but with many improvements. Its like DB at its very best but then better still. I love the way everyone is so friendly, caring and helpful. I would just like to give a big thank you to everyone involved with getting this forum going and building it to where it is today. You should all be very proud.

I am new to the forum and have been out of the IOP business for well over a year and I am also from the UK. I suppose at the moment I will struggle to be able to give many helpful posts as I won't have the knowledge that others have yet so I will have to try and find some other way of positively contributing to the forum.

Again, many thanks to all who made this forum possible. No doubt you have helped many many people who will be very grateful.

[Jolie]

@toela65, everyone is so friendly, caring, and helpful? THEN IT'S NOTHING LIKE DB! LOL

[kjaguar519]

yeah I used to be over at DB but then they got super sketch

[drboris]

You can now un-like a post or reverse a helpful rating you gave.

[Keith K Stone]

@drboris
How do we do that?
@drboris forget the last, I get it.

[jlcb24]

Very informative... loving this website more and more everyday. I find this site very easy to navigate and appreciate the new feature.

[Bellavista44]

Thank you @drboris. I told you my posting would lighten up once I feel @ home. I came back and saw things changed. Thanks for satisfying the queries on this topic!

Also, I thought when a moderator gave a helpful post rating, that is worth more points. True or untrue?

[drboris]

Also, I thought when a moderator gave a helpful post rating, that is worth more points. True or untrue?

Actually that's changed and it's the same for everyone (well, with over 5 posts) now.