Rating a member

Hi LoL, you find that a lot of people who register have been lurking/searching for a while anyway and already know whose who. I get quite a few PMs about jungle gardens because people have read/seen what I post about my own experiences of these plants. The best way to help newbies is to pre-emptively share what your into so people can see what your all about. This also creates interesting discussion and improves the breadth of information available. The fact that I deserve to be a guru is pure coincidence but to begrudge people a level of rating just because they enjoy the non gardening aspects of GC is ludicrous as it is these very loyal and on-line people that will know whose who and can direct newbies to the right 'expert'.

By the way I have this for you...orange fiend



Shiney, Well said

 

I think Nathan and the other mods have made the right decision with regard to ratings. Titles are not serious and are less open to misinterpretation as FAQ is very clear that they depend on number of posts. Raising the number of posts might be an answer, anyone who contributes 2,000 posts on non-gardening threads would in my opinion deserve a title for effort!

 

Popularity rating has gone and no one seems to mind. Good. The ranking thing is common on many forums and can be controversial or just harmless fun. If the rank titles are humorous enough then there is no problem. What is wrong with just showing the number of posts? I still maintain that to indicate that someone is an expert who is not is misleading and even intimidating. eg if a compulsive poster who is shown as a Gardening Guru makes an inaccurate statement, will a newbie challenge that or accept it? Is there any indication that the ranks are not to be taken seriously? No.

Freedom to express opinions without making personal attacks is crucial to this and every other forum and the quieter folk should not be shouted down. Inflammatory language like saying we are all talking "balls" is bad manners and does nothing to help anyone.

Non-gardening topics are clearly shown and all Waco and others said was that he found himself getting lost. All that I said in reply was that there were too many posts for anyone to try to keep up with and the answer was "self selection" ie you choose what threads to follow and which to ignore. I am not trying to ban non-gardening topics, but do think that GC is losing its original focus and "feel". You may or may not agree with that.

Someone mentioned the number of registered members that GC has now. Great, but to get things into perspective - compare that with the number of active members; those that still post.
Big difference isn't there? Conclusion is that most register and then leave GC.

 

Don't talk to me about getting lost.I've been lost for fifty years.It is too early in the morning for all this.

Perhaps a lot of people join because they have an initial question that needs answering, and then go off to put the answer into action.

Perhaps GC is like a good Gardening Book.It can be picked up and put down as and when the need arises Just because I have bookshelves full of books it doesn't mean I shall never look at them again.
Sometimes people join,then go off and completly forget all about GC,others cannot get enough of it.
It is like a friend.We might not always want to be with them tenty four seven,but it is nice to know that that friend will hopefully always be there,so when we feel we need them they will be there for us...me especially.

I think the "Stars" bit that was ok, it was just the status bit that was getting confusing.

Kandy

 

Hurray! Dont have to worry about having no ratings now - Ive been lost too, for nearly as long then Kandyfloss!!

 

Lets Party!

 

Yes lets party, party, party

 

Yes party and a good chat... I have some of HoneyBees Chilies to try later...

 

Well said Shiney and Kandyfloss - common-sense approach from both of you.





BM where DO you find all your smilies etc???

 

Thanks JJordie.

 

I have a highly trained smilie sniffer dog :D ...



...and he has a cat with attitude who uploads them for me. :D



BM

 

Welcome one and all... Something for everyone

 

well said shiney and kandyfloss couldnt of put it better myself

Lets celebrate and party, party, party