# What about a star system to recognize frequent posters **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [November 10, 2002, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-a-star-system-to-recognize-frequent-posters/136088 "2002-11-10T01:06:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-a-star-system-to-recognize-frequent-posters/136088/1 "2002-11-10T01:06:32Z")
Many boards employ a “star” system to recognize people for contributing with their posts. An example would be giving someone with 100 posts one star, those with 250 two stars, 500 three stars, 1000 four stars, and 5,000 five stars. There is the potential for abuse with ambitious newbies who will spam just to get some stars, but such nuisances could be weeded out by the moderators. ---
**Author:** ![cagiva650](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cagiva650](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cagiva650)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-a-star-system-to-recognize-frequent-posters/136088/2 "2002-11-10T01:42:28Z")
My Stars And so after 2 to 5 years you might have 25,000 posts and then your stars will start looking ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-a-star-system-to-recognize-frequent-posters/136088/3 "2002-11-10T02:34:24Z")
How about using Ebay’s colored star system? (I mean, if you wanted to use such a system) ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-a-star-system-to-recognize-frequent-posters/136088/4 "2002-11-10T02:50:54Z")
Just stop and imagine how much _more_ post count padding there would be if they started handing out stars for numbers of post. ---
**Author:** ![Erika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/47e85d/32.png) [@Erika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erika)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-a-star-system-to-recognize-frequent-posters/136088/5 "2002-11-10T03:27:37Z")
I don’t really see the reason to give “bonuses” for having more posts. It would exacerbate the “when do people listen to _me_?” “no one’s nice to newbies” issues. And while the mods _could_, theoretically, spend time ferreting out those people who are posting for stars, they do lots and lots and lots already, and don’t really need an extra thing to do. 'Sides - the real recognition here will always be winning the respect of other posters. Regardless of post count. ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-a-star-system-to-recognize-frequent-posters/136088/6 "2002-11-10T04:37:19Z")
Your method implies that the ‘number of posts’ is of paramount importance in determining the value of a user. While the post count (along with ‘member since’) is an extremely helpful indicator in _specific cases_, I do not see it to be of importance in general. There are many members who reply only when they have something valuable to add, not just because they know something on the subject. Also, for example, no matter what his post count, I’ll always consider **QtM** ’s answer as the final word in a medical thread 🙂 Even if **handy** replies to it 😉 Thing is, this board is very different from other boards… and for that I love it. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-a-star-system-to-recognize-frequent-posters/136088/7 "2002-11-10T10:59:00Z")
If you implemented a system that awarded stars based on how often someone offered a correct answer to a factual question, or made a solid point based on credible evidence, then I would be all for it. Fighting ignorance, after all, is the raison d’être of the Straight Dope. But rewarding only quantity won’t do. As proposed, I think it’s a bad idea because it’s misleading and unnecessary. ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-a-star-system-to-recognize-frequent-posters/136088/8 "2002-11-10T15:01:48Z")
I’ve got a simpler proposal that I think would be a bit easier to implement. Perhaps what we could do is next to every post list the number of posts the poster has and when they were registered. That we we could tell at a glance how long they were here and the quantity (if not quality) of their contributions since then. I think the board admins could put that into action with almost no trouble at all. ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-a-star-system-to-recognize-frequent-posters/136088/9 "2002-11-10T15:12:42Z")
Yeah, and maybe they can put the Location of the poster as well! ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-a-star-system-to-recognize-frequent-posters/136088/10 "2002-11-10T19:39:34Z")
I call the Dagobah System! ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-a-star-system-to-recognize-frequent-posters/136088/11 "2002-11-10T19:41:42Z")
If it’s within the level of customization that the board administrators want to engage in, I would prefer they REMOVED both the post count and registration date. Both are of very little relevence beyond curiosity. ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2002, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-a-star-system-to-recognize-frequent-posters/136088/12 "2002-11-11T00:20:36Z")
yabob, I agree. When the post counts first became visable, I said the same thing and I still feel the same way. You used to have to purposely click on a profile to view that info, and I’d prefer it that way. Post counts are irrelavant to the value of a post or a poster. ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2002, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-a-star-system-to-recognize-frequent-posters/136088/13 "2002-11-11T00:28:27Z")
> [@](#): > > Post counts are irrelavant to the value of a post or a poster. Not neccesarily. If a person only has 1 post in their history and that one post is some sort of controversial rant, this lessens their credibility in my eyes. The chances that it is not even their own words but a copy and paste diatribe are significantly higher. As are the chances that they are not interested in a healthy discussion. On the other hand, if the person who posted the rant has been here for a couple years and has a few thousand posts under their belt that demonstrates to me that they are participating members of this board who are more likely to be interested in active discussion and talking WITH us, instead of AT us. ---
**Author:** ![mske](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ccd318/32.png) [@mske](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mske)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2002, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-a-star-system-to-recognize-frequent-posters/136088/14 "2002-11-11T21:18:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Blalron \* > \*\* > > Not neccesarily. > > If a person only has 1 post in their history and that one post is some sort of controversial rant, this lessens their credibility in my eyes. The chances that it is not even their own words but a copy and paste diatribe are significantly higher. As are the chances that they are not interested in a healthy discussion. > > On the other hand, if the person who posted the rant has been here for a couple years and has a few thousand posts under their belt that demonstrates to me that they are participating members of this board who are more likely to be interested in active discussion and talking WITH us, instead of AT us. \*\* There are many quality people here who mainly lurk, and only post occasionally. But when they post, it is worthwhile. I don’t see how the “star” system replaces the current Post Count stat. If the poster has something intelligent to say or discuss - I’ll read it. ---
**Author:** ![wolfstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d6d6ee/32.png) [@wolfstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfstu)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2002, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-a-star-system-to-recognize-frequent-posters/136088/15 "2002-11-11T22:19:50Z")
Post count might also be useful to a moderator in deciding how to react to a questionable post. A user with a post count of 5 might get a different explanation of their errors, etc., from a mod than one with many more posts. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2002, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-a-star-system-to-recognize-frequent-posters/136088/16 "2002-11-12T01:04:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zette \* > **You used to have to purposely click on a profile to view that info, and I’d prefer it that way.** Possible objection – a net increased load on the server as, say, one person in ten regularly clicks through to the profile to get post-count info. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by AudreyK_ > If you implemented a system that awarded stars based on how often someone offered a correct answer to a factual question, or made a solid point based on credible evidence, then I would be all for it. This is closer to the “ideal” system: a “rate this post” feature, similar to the “rate this story” thing that Yahoo just implemented in their news pages, or the “did you find this useful” feature Amazon has on their reviews. Over time, a habitually sloppy poster would get a bad rating for accuracy, and would either shape up or leave, a net benefit for the board. This would of course be vulnerable to subjective skewing (in GD, for example, all the Democans could downgrade the Publicrats, and vice versa), and furthermore it would be about nine different kinds of ass pain to implement. It would be cool, but my holiday gift list is already long enough this year. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2002, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-a-star-system-to-recognize-frequent-posters/136088/17 "2002-11-12T01:20:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kat \* > I call the Dagobah System! Hee hee. I read this like eight times already, and I just got it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2002, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-a-star-system-to-recognize-frequent-posters/136088/18 "2002-11-12T02:40:50Z")
How about we just call up **Bad Astronomer** or **Chronos** and get them to list 20,000 some odd stars, then each post you do, you post count changes to a new star. then to find out your number, you have to look at a list on a separate website. Then randomly switch the list every few weeks. this will cause comfusion to rain down like toads on Egyptians, and people will offer money to end the insanity. Use that money to buy a better server. ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2002, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-a-star-system-to-recognize-frequent-posters/136088/19 "2002-11-12T03:07:48Z")
I call Achernar! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2002, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-a-star-system-to-recognize-frequent-posters/136088/20 "2002-11-12T14:49:17Z")
Tars, you’re too damn cool. I say we run with it. But how do we get the hamsters in their little space suits? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-a-star-system-to-recognize-frequent-posters/136088.md?page=2)