[wp-forums] Titles/Promotions/Labels

[Kaf Oseo]

>> If we are just trying to recognise people for there contributions then 
>> this is possibly the kind of thing, like a visible post count, which 
>> leads to the kind of problems Kaf if alluding to.
> 
> 
> It's that; but it's also an attempt to have a sustainable, relatively 
> neutral system for identifying users who are reputable.

*Neutral* is the watchword. But you don't get that when a select group 
of mavens, admins and what have you vote on who "gets in." You may even 
be able to devise a process that's balanced and objective; yet no matter 
how transparent you make it, you'll find many are not going to see it 
that way.

> The value of a reputation system is that new users can better choose 
> which answers to trust: the "experts" are identified as such, without a 
> new user being required to monitor the forums for days/weeks to see the 
> same participants answering correctly again and again.

Perhaps we're leaning on the wrong thing here. Is it the answers users 
want to trust, or the 'volunteers' providing them? When most people come 
to the forums and actually spend time digging up answers, they search on 
a topic, issue or problem. I'm not sure they care who's providing them, 
only that they find them.

Thinking off the top of my head, instead of a "topic resolved" flag on 
threads, perhaps a ratings system for replies would work. Individual 
replies could be flagged (once by each member) through a few enums, say 
'did not help', 'helped somewhat', 'helped' and 'helped 100%!'. Perhaps 
drop 'unrelated' into the mix, and stick on a default 'no rating'. From 
there "votes" are tallied and displayed next to the reply. It'd require 
an admin override to protect from goofs, personal vendettas and the 
like, but would allow *everyone* to decide what (and indirectly, who) 
should be recognized.

There's potential problems here as well (mostly administrative), and no 
method is going to be full proof, but something like this may provide 
that badge of honor and trust we're looking to offer, while allowing the 
entire community to sit in the driver's seat.

> What individuals do with this reputation is beyond our control.

Perhaps, but when you're responsible for bestowing that reputation, you 
are in part accountable.

-Kaf