Disappearing Stars - Rating System a Sham

I have never actually known what those stars were for lol, but now i see I can click on them.  To be honest, I wonder if it really effects the merit of the thread?  I don't think it really does

Seems kind of petty and silly doesn't it? Who takes things that seriously around here?

I don't pay any attention to the ratings.

I pay attention to the STARS for training, nutrition, and breed sections. I think the stars are the most important for GUESTS. People who have a quick question and are looking it up online then they come across our forum.

Another board I've seen has the star ratings, too but it's an option only available to moderators and admin to highlight an excellent thread - in their opinion.

TAOofGoldyShep

If you hover your mouse over the star rating - within the thread - it will tell you how many times the thread has been rated.

I didn't know that! But it doesn't work for me... probably because I'm using Firefox.

I don't think it's a sham, either, but I like to read a thread regardless if there are stars or not, to make my own determination. I don't really give the star system much weight... mainly because of the reasons you gave, TAO. People can rate their own thread, it's about opinions, personalities, cliques, etc...  

I also belong to another board that has a rating system and it works pretty well, I think. But the members, while they have different opinions, are really pretty respectful of each other and I haven't noticed the personality clashes I see so much here. Maybe that has something to do with it.
 

Jewlieee

Seems kind of petty and silly doesn't it? Who takes things that seriously around here?

 

 

I wondered that myself, which is what led me to question why it was so important for some people to do what they have been doing.  I think Carla and Robin are right when they say it's all about opinions and cliques.  I just think it's another one of those bells and whistles that doesn't add very much to the forum. 

I have never used it although I have noticed some threads get stars, I thought it had something to do with the number of posts

spiritdogs

that doesn't add very much to the forum. 

That'd be your opinion...others might enjoy it...others might use it properly.  ANY bell or whistle up to, and including "Write a new post" can be abused if people so choose.

 I've always wondered what determines the stars. I thought is was number of posts? Is that wrong.....

I must be having a blond moment because I also wasn't aware there was any anti-clicker sentiment on the board. LOL.

rwbeagles

spiritdogs

that doesn't add very much to the forum. 

That'd be your opinion...others might enjoy it...others might use it properly.  ANY bell or whistle up to, and including "Write a new post" can be abused if people so choose.

I thought opinion was what forums are all about.  I was merely expressing my thoughts on the subject, just as many people did on the "downgrade" forum.   If I hit a nerve, I'm sorry.  But, that's what I think is happening - a bit of deliberate not "nice" by a small few.  JMHO

Nerve? nope....simply a disagreeing opinion. And if "opinion is what the forum is all about"...then the star rating system seems a great idea to me, what better and more clear way to express one's opinion on a post's content or value to the rater?

FourIsCompany

I didn't know that! But it doesn't work for me... probably because I'm using Firefox.

If you want, try this (don't hover right over the stars, as this is where it allows a member to rate): Put your mouse on the edge of the block containing the stars (top, bottom, or side edge) and see if the number of times shows then. It's a tiny pop-up, preview-like bubble. It will show the average, like 3.7 and number of times the thread has been rated.

Edit: Just noticed that when I was logged-out, I could hover over the stars and get the number of times - after opening the thread - mouse didn't need to be on the edge like when logged-in. At this point, this thread has been rated seven times...I have not rated it.

Wowsa, until this thread - and TAO's description above - I never even knew HOW to rate a thread, and basically never paid any attention to the stars.  Because, well, I didn't know how they got assigned, what criteria, etc, so it would be like putting pink hearts, yellow moons, blue diamonds, or green clovers - means nothing more than the stars to me.  Just a big ol' shrug and read on regardless of the stars... or clovers.