Author Topic: thank you//could be better/well done (good)/outstanding  (Read 7794 times)

Offline MaxHeadroom

  • The man has built a jet Stuka, need we say more?
thank you//could be better/well done (good)/outstanding
« on: December 06, 2013, 02:44:08 AM »
Dear friends!

How about extending the forum-posts by some buttons?

On the next pic you can see, how our german fellow-board "Der Militärmodellbauer" (www.dmmb.org) manages, to encourage it's members to take part on the board's life on the one hand and to minimize server-space on the other hand:


I think, these buttons are a cheap opportunity to give to the members who have written a post a re-registration of those members who are too "lazy" to push the reply-button and to give a coment.
The costs to keep a board alive by paying for server-space aren't low -I know, what I'm talking about- and pushing a button and see who has pushed needs much minor server-space, than a common reply, no matter if the reply is only of one word, an average reply or of a complete novel.

What do YOU think about?

Max


Now you need some buttons to give a comment!  ;D
« Last Edit: December 06, 2013, 02:51:17 AM by MaxHeadroom »

Offline Old Wombat

  • "We'll see when I've finished whether I'm showing off or simply embarrassing myself."
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Re: thank you//could be better/well done (good)/outstanding
« Reply #1 on: December 06, 2013, 10:54:32 AM »
Just curious, coz I'm a computer dunce, how do they display on the posts/thread? ???

:)

Guy
"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."

Offline ChernayaAkula

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Re: thank you//could be better/well done (good)/outstanding
« Reply #2 on: December 06, 2013, 09:04:54 PM »
^ Yeah, that'd be interesting to know.  :)

<...>
Now you need some buttons to give a comment!  ;D

Nah, the "REPLY" and "QUOTE" buttons are all I need.  ;)
Seriously, if you need a specialized button because you can't be bothered to hit the reply button and type up a short reply along the lines of "That's awesome!" or "I like that", maybe a discussion board just isn't your thing.
The most I could see is a "Thanks" button. Then again, if you asked for something and somebody took the time to answer you, you should have the decency to honour that by replying with a proper "thank you" instead of just hitting some button.
And as for that button reading "verbesserungswürdig" (German for "in need of improvement"), just... wow.  :o If you feel the need to tell someone their model is "in need of improvement" (which on its own is rather cheeky, as it isn't your model) without offering even the least bit of advice, encouragement or helpful critique (after all, you just pressed a button stating the model isn't as good as you think it should be), then you really shouldn't be on a discussion board.

Maybe this came across as pretty harsh, but I'm really not convinced this is a good idea. If people feel the need to press "like" buttons that mean just about all or nothing, there's always Facebook.
« Last Edit: December 07, 2013, 08:27:45 AM by ChernayaAkula »
Cheers,
Moritz

"The appropriate response to reality is to go insane!"

Offline kitnut617

  • Measures the actual aircraft before modelling it...we have the photographic evidence.
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Re: thank you//could be better/well done (good)/outstanding
« Reply #3 on: December 06, 2013, 10:32:24 PM »
I find 'buttons' like that are very impersonal,  it's no better than hearing an automated voice on the phone.  Replying to someone's post with some actual words is much more gratifying, not only to receive but to give too ----

Two Thumbs Down on this idea ---

Offline PR19_Kit

  • Likes to brag about how long his...wings are.
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Re: thank you//could be better/well done (good)/outstanding
« Reply #4 on: December 07, 2013, 12:18:48 AM »
I can't imagine how anyone could have enough nerve to suggest that someone else's efforts 'could do with improvement'. That's setting themselves up for a gratuitous flame war at the very least, and a punch in the mouth at worst!

Best to keep quiet and go find somewhere else to be so arrogant perhaps.........
Regards
Kit

--------------------------
Any aircraft can be improved by fitting longer wings

Offline MaxHeadroom

  • The man has built a jet Stuka, need we say more?
Re: thank you//could be better/well done (good)/outstanding
« Reply #5 on: December 07, 2013, 12:25:55 AM »
I understand your caveat/hesitate, Moritz and kitnut617, but from my experience, the buttons are only like an overview.
The members, who REALLY want's to give a comment -at DMMB- pushes the button AND give a reply, so there is grown a unique culture of interesting and useful assessment.
And: "no", PR19_Kit, usually there follows a helpful discussion about what is "verbesserungswürdig" - trust me. :)

O.k., think over..., it's only a proposal.

Max
« Last Edit: December 07, 2013, 12:31:15 AM by MaxHeadroom »

Offline Old Wombat

  • "We'll see when I've finished whether I'm showing off or simply embarrassing myself."
  • "Define 'interesting'?"
Re: thank you//could be better/well done (good)/outstanding
« Reply #6 on: December 07, 2013, 12:26:40 AM »
Max is only offering a solution to the potential for excessive usage of server space & time on posts, as opposed to simple button-press counting, guys. Let's not get too assertive! :))

Max, this is a young site & I don't think server usage isn't an issue, yet, but, when it does become one, this may be a solution of sorts (another one is to just post URL links to pictures, rather than IMG links, as another modelling site I am a member of does). However, at this point, I agree with the others - it does seem a bit impersonal & I, personally, dislike the "needs improvement/could be better" button idea (if you're going to criticise, make it constructive - the button doesn't do that). ;)

I'd still like to know how the results of the buttons are posted, though, if you don't mind. ???

:)

Guy
"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."

Offline MaxHeadroom

  • The man has built a jet Stuka, need we say more?
Re: thank you//could be better/well done (good)/outstanding
« Reply #7 on: December 07, 2013, 12:39:13 AM »
Thx Old Wombat/Guy: you lighten up my intention.

Max

Offline jcf

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Re: thank you//could be better/well done (good)/outstanding
« Reply #8 on: December 07, 2013, 02:01:17 AM »
A few comments,

1) not a standard feature of the SMF software and I couldn't find a mod pack for anything similar;

2) as Guy asked, what do the bloody things actually do? So you press a button, then what?
    If it just auto-creates a post that says Good Job etc., what's the point?

3) the statement that folks who look at a post but don't respond are 'lazy' is distasteful, not everything
    requires comment and it may be that many of those who are just looking also follow the maxim
    'if you can't say something nice, then say nothing at all';

4) if case you didn't notice we do not track post counts, we don't use karma features, no status titles
    etc. So how many times one posts or their posts are responded to, and these buttons seem designed
    to boost post numbers in both categories, is irrelevant.

 :icon_fsm:
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Sense doesn’t come into it. People are
more scared of how complicated shit
actually is than they ever are about
whatever’s supposed to be behind the
conspiracy.”
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Re: thank you//could be better/well done (good)/outstanding
« Reply #9 on: December 07, 2013, 03:01:48 AM »
Thanks for the suggestion Max - we always welcome suggestions like this. :)  Thank you also to everyone who has commented - this is also welcomed. :)

My thoughts:

  • As Jon has detailed above, the software we use for this forum (SMF) doesn't seem to allow this feature so in effect the topic is moot;
  • If someone wanted to do a quick response without the time to write a lot, then simply use the emoticons like this:   :) ;D :o :-*
  • Re criticism, if it is constructive I think it is ok and usually wil be welcomed.  However the adage "if you can't say something nice then don't say anything" is also a good rule to consider.

« Last Edit: December 07, 2013, 03:11:41 AM by GTX_Admin »
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Offline Logan Hartke

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Re: thank you//could be better/well done (good)/outstanding
« Reply #10 on: December 07, 2013, 03:08:02 AM »
As Jon has detailed above, the software we use for this forum (SMF) doesn't seem to allow this feature so in effect the topic is mute;

Moot.  This topic is FAR from mute!  ;)

Cheers,

Logan

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Re: thank you//could be better/well done (good)/outstanding
« Reply #11 on: December 07, 2013, 03:15:26 AM »
As Jon has detailed above, the software we use for this forum (SMF) doesn't seem to allow this feature so in effect the topic is mute;


Moot.  This topic is FAR from mute!  ;)

Cheers,

Logan


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All hail the God of Frustration!!!

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Offline perttime

  • The man has produced a Finnish Napier Heston Fighter...need we say more?
Re: thank you//could be better/well done (good)/outstanding
« Reply #12 on: December 07, 2013, 03:20:04 AM »
"Could be better" is pretty useless without further explanation.
I'm sure I have made several posts saying something like: "This is a cool design/model/drawing! I'm wondering about a couple of things, though..."

Offline Old Wombat

  • "We'll see when I've finished whether I'm showing off or simply embarrassing myself."
  • "Define 'interesting'?"
Re: thank you//could be better/well done (good)/outstanding
« Reply #13 on: December 07, 2013, 11:59:03 AM »
"Could be better" is pretty useless without further explanation.
I'm sure I have made several posts saying something like: "This is a cool design/model/drawing! I'm wondering about a couple of things, though..."

  • ...snip...
  • ...snip...
  • Re criticism, if it is constructive I think it is ok and usually wil be welcomed.  However the adage "if you can't say something nice then don't say anything" is also a good rule to consider.

...snip... I, personally, dislike the "needs improvement/could be better" button idea (if you're going to criticise, make it constructive - the button doesn't do that). ;)

All these add up to the same thing:-
  • Constructive criticism is good, it gives opinions without insult & advice to assist the improvement of skills.
  • Criticism for its own sake, without any explanation or helpful hints, is, at best, pointless; at worst, a cowardly, hurtful, personal attack; & should never be tolerated.

Luckily, this type of behaviour is almost never seen here - probably because we all view our modelling as a form of self-expression & look upon modelling as a form of art more than anything else - but I have seen it far too often on the "serious" modelling websites & is one of the reasons I rarely, if ever, visit them any more.

To bring this back on subject: I think that, even if it was possible with BtS's software, the "could be better/needs improvement" button can make it all too easy for (what are they called - trolls?) to anonymously create disharmony amongst the members here.

My tu'pence-ha'penny's worth.

:)

Guy
"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."

Offline Weaver

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Re: thank you//could be better/well done (good)/outstanding
« Reply #14 on: December 07, 2013, 08:49:46 PM »
I understand the argument about server space and I also find that I don't look at or comment on as much as I feel I should due to sheer lack of time. However, I really don't like these sort of karma/poularity features. They speak to me of social networking sites (which I loathe) where "popularity" or "freinds" become no more than points scored in a form of game, completely divorced from the real meaning of those words.

Personally, if I'd posted a model on here for your consideration, I'd rather have no comment at all than a push-button "score" or standard comment. Hell, I'd rather somebody took the time to say "I really don't like your model because..." rather than just pushed a "could do better" button. At least I'd have learned something from their post, rather than sitting there looking at a could-do-better score and thinking "WTF???..."
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Offline kitnut617

  • Measures the actual aircraft before modelling it...we have the photographic evidence.
  • Holding Pattern
  • *
  • I'd rather be dirtbike riding...
Re: thank you//could be better/well done (good)/outstanding
« Reply #15 on: December 07, 2013, 11:44:57 PM »
However, I really don't like these sort of karma/poularity features. They speak to me of social networking sites (which I loathe) where "popularity" or "freinds" become no more than points scored in a form of game, completely divorced from the real meaning of those words.

I think Harold has hit it on the head here, my ad version to these social networking sites probably influences my remarks

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Re: thank you//could be better/well done (good)/outstanding
« Reply #16 on: December 08, 2013, 04:02:45 AM »
Folks,

This is one of the reasons why, as Jon has pointed out already, we do not track post counts, we don't use karma features, no status titles etc. This was one of the things we discussed when setting up the forum and it was roundly agreed that it was better off without them.  We don't care whether you post a million times or only ten.  What we do care about is that you do what suits you and that you enjoy yourself.

Now, unfortunately we have not been able to eliminate post counts altogether.  There are some areas they still show up.  We are trying though...
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.