There have been two recent discussions regarding the Thread Rating feature.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=471025
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=473467

Randy indicated that he would prefer that the TB make a recommendation regarding the return of this valuable feature.

I�d like to ask the TB to vote affirmative and recommend the return of the Thread Rating feature.

I respectfully disagree.

As Randy alluded to in ORP, things were just fine before ratings/rep, and things have been just fine since disabling them, so why the need for change? I don't think any case has been made (beyond "I'd like to have this feature back") that we need to re-start a feature which served as a tool for so much controversy and heat, and resulted in what many people agree was abuse.

However, if ratings are useful for rating informational threads and serious consideration is given to reinstating the feature, I would suggest restricting ratings to the most heavily trafficked miles/points forums. We don't want to see the return of one-star "happy birthday" threads. And by restricting usage to the most heavily trafficked miles/points forums, you dilute any one person's ratings, and get a more accurate picture of any thread's usefulness based upon a larger sampling.

I think it's a bad idea, but I don't ultimately care. Just saying.

A topic has been started by fellow member Attorney28 regarding this item. We'll keep you updated on our progress.

I'd like to ask the TB members not to be fooled by a small number of members claiming "abuse". There was NO abuse.

Just like there was no abuse of the reputation points system

I'm not going to comment further. I've spoken my peace and given my opinion, once. I'm not going to repeat it. I think I was clear. My post is below.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showp...1&postcount=14

It's more than a few members. It's lots of members and some who you would never ever think would say something. Well they have, in email & PMs. They know what went on and wish that it would stay off.

Tell me, (via PM so we don't pollute this thread), how are you so certain there wasn't any abuse?

Can I politely ask that we leave this thread alone for a few days. I can't speak for the entire talkboard, but I think we've seen enough user input in the past days to start our discussion. If we require any more input you can be assured that we'll be back here!

I agree with ScottC, insofar as the posters who have already put in their two cents (and more) in the other threads which have been closed are concerned.

Please accept this in a positive spirit; but all these redundant threads, re-wording the same idea multiple times, is starting to wear thin.

Thanks for reading. @:-)

I'd like to add something, if I may, and forgive me if it has been said already on one of these threads. I looked at a couple of the threads on this topic and didn't see it mentioned.

I think the thread rating feature is fine as long as it is NOT anonymous. I.e., any user or guest should be able to click on any thread rating and see a list of exactly who gave the thread what rating.

Then if there truly are gangbangers ( not my term, and I'm not expressing an opinion one way or another on whether there are or are not), it would be pretty easy for anyone to detect this.

So my question is, would such a feature be technically feasible in vBulletin, and without consuming excessive resources?

Excellent question. And if technically feasible, excellent idea. ^ Seems to get the best of both worlds: a quick and dirty way to draw attention to the important or consequential threads while relegating the trivial ones to the dustbin of FlyerTalk history while still discouraging the immature abuses of the rating system by those looking to adjust a rating for reasons other than the pure merit of the rated thread.

Might there still be problems? Yeah, but at least we'd know who the troublemakers are.

There were NO troublemakers!

If I decide to give a thread 1 star, that is my perogative. My criteria for a useful thread IS going to be different than others. That does NOT make me a troublemaker. If 5 other people who share similar criteria to mine also rate a thread, is that now making trouble?

Continuing to state a falsehood is a good way to fool uninformed people, but it will NOT fool somebody who is informed.

There's been much discussion of potential (or past) harms from the thread rating feature, and some discussion of how to mitigate those harms.

I'm curious whether members have thoughts on what the benefits of the thread rating feature are.

Indeed.

Please inform us then . I asked you contact me via PM so that I can get a better understanding of your point. I'm willing to change my mind. I have not yet heard from you though. Continuously stating that so many people are uninformed (and whining in another thread) really doesn't advance the discussion and lead us to be able to make up our minds.

The thread rating feature has abused by those internet clique types you find in kindergarten classes. For example, how do you give a true thumbs down rating on a thread which wishes happy birthday to somebody in Community Buzz? You don't get a better example than that of someone acting as a trouble maker.

That said, I could support KathyWdrf's suggestion wholeheartedly. If people want to rate a thread, then they should do so openly and thus stand by it. Accountability may be a foreign concept to some but it's very real for the rest of us. If a thread is considered so bad that it ranks a low star rating, then put your name to your vote that it's worth such a low rating. That will make the system honest and helpful.

I'm with gleff. I have no idea what the benefits are to this and would be interested in reading what other regular members have to say. I've seen only the abuse it has caused which led to its removal.

If I see individual TB members acting like one of the many internet catty cliques, I too will remember that when re-election times comes along. And I know from the many PMs I have received from other FTers that there are many who will be examining how individual TB members act.