Lottery Post Journal

My personal reaction to the new ranking and graphics

Well, it's been almost a day since I posted the new ranking system, as well as all the new graphics.

My feeling is ...WOW.

I had no idea that I would have such an emotional feeling attached to the new ratings and graphics.  For me, it's as if the forums are brand-new again, with lots of new things to discover again.

Does that sound wacky?  I hope not.

Normally when I post something new, like a new feature or page, it's a feeling of relief that another weight (out of a long list of weights) has been lifted, and I can move on to the next thing.  With this, it's completely different.  I actually find myself sitting back, paging through the forums, just to gaze at everything.

I am astounded at just how "right" the ratings have turned out.  I think maybe the good feeling I get looking at the ratings comes from the fact that it was something I brainstormed myself, and so when when I put it in place and it worked beautifully, there was some kind of visual confirmation of, "now that was a good idea".

With something like a forum web site, there are something like 10 billion web sites out there, so almost every idea has already been thought of by somebody.  But there are a few times (like this) where I think I've actually come up with something new.

Is this a nauseating post?  Well, it's my blog, so I'm allowed! Big Grin

I think one of the things that makes this ratings system work, where it may not work on most other forums, is the fact that Lottery Post has been around so long, and has so much data and content.  For a site that has not been around so long, or doesn't have many posts or members, it would not be able to create a nice distribution of ratings.

There are a few other adjustments that I'll make to the appearance of the member "badges" on the left side if posts, but nothing too substantial.

At last, a new feature that I can truly enjoy myself.  Life can be good sometimes.

19 Comments:

  • I don't mind being "advanced" instead of "senior" Todd. LOL

    By justxploring, at 3:44 PM

  • i'm pretty happy with being a veteran.i have gotta work toward the guru next! i think it gives us all something to work toward....

    By LOTTOMIKE, at 3:54 PM

  • Todd,

    I read your original blog about this and was impressed with the thought you put into it and the way you devised the ranking system. Very ingenious and "Spockingly" logical. Good work!

    By Rick G, at 3:59 PM

  • I don't have an "Advanced" degree in anything but hard knocks, but the good news is that I have an Advanced degree at Lottery Post university....LOL

    Great job Todd...

    By pacattack05, at 4:27 PM

  • Rick, thanks very much, a very high compliment indeed!

    Mike, the nice thing about it is that you really don't have to do any work at all. The system rewards you for just being here and participating as always. It doesn't reward posting MORE posts. So a person posting 10,000 posts one day gets exactly the same "credit" as a person posting 1 post on the same day.

    JE, I hear 'ya! People will never know how much time it took me to come up with those nine different names. What an unexpected challenge that was!

    By Todd, at 4:31 PM

  • Thanks Pac.

    By Todd, at 4:31 PM

  • I'd like to see a demerit system go along with the ranking system. Maybe minus a bar for every rude and unnecessary mean comment, even when it's on the sly. Fighting - minus 2 bars - Not to bog Todd down with such triffles maybe done quarterly. Same rules apply.

    I'd like to see a Lounge Forum as well for those folks who want to post non-lottery stuff (but not be on the main page but separate) and just jive around. And anedotal polls like whose got the best avatar, blog and stuff. I'm sure people will hang out in there.

    By Tenaj, at 6:00 PM

  • Geez, can you image the guff I'd get if I started issuing demerits? I get enough insults and backstabbing as it is with just deleting spam and locking threads.

    I do like your lounge idea however. Thanks for suggesting it.

    By Todd, at 6:41 PM

  • i want to be "chief bottle washer"   lol

    By emilyg, at 7:18 PM

  • Hey Emily, that's not a rating, it's a title I typed -- any premium member can type any Personalized Title they choose - http://www.lotterypost.com/control_profile.asp

    By Todd, at 11:16 PM

  • The Lottery Post forum has been designed very well, much better than any other lottery site.
    It is a very nice place, it is the best lottery site that I know of.
    And it seems to have outgrown all others.
    Good job Todd.

    By EXCALIBUR, at 3:39 AM

  • I know exactly what you mean about "what you feel" after you reformat something. You take it and tweak it and next thing you know its looking new again, Nice job....like an old classic car that you just gave some TLC to, and it looks great,,,,I've dealt with people for over 30 years all I can tell you is that if you give the same product to 100 people your gong to get 50 different responses....

    Anyway I know what you mean.....The site really jumped out at me when I logged in after your changes,,,

    By fja, at 9:02 AM

  • Nice work Todd! I am looking forward to becoming an Advanced member.

    By cps10, at 10:20 AM

  • It fits me well
    Many won't argue my rating.
    I get countless of questions.
    IF they truly search this
    forum they would find answers
    like I have.

    By Blackapple, at 10:40 AM

  • Todd, Just an FYI..
    I also go on Speedtv.com and read the message board and post infrequently, as I am a NA$CAR fan.
    This board also has rankings like :
    rookie
    abnormal user
    speed freak
    veteran

    They do the same thing you do. They rate / rank based on longevity, number of posts, frequency of posts, etc...

    DD

    By DoubleDown, at 10:34 AM

  • Do you have a link to their page that describes exactly how they assign their rankings? Thanks.

    By Todd, at 12:40 PM

  • Todd, Here is something I found in the FAQ section of the SPEEDTV forum.
    The question is "How do I change my rank " ?

    http://insider.speedtv.com/faq.php#12

    DD

    By DoubleDown, at 6:51 PM

  • DD,

    Thanks for the link. That forum uses a plain post count for their rankings, just like I mentioned in my blog entry. WHen I said that this was a new idea, I meant it. Here is the text from their site:

    ------------
    How do I change my rank?
    In general you cannot directly change the wording of any rank (ranks appear below your username in topics and on your profile depending on the style used). Most boards use ranks to indicate the number of posts you have made and to identify certain users. For example, moderators and administrators may have a special rank. Please do not abuse the board by posting unnecessarily just to increase your rank -- you will probably find the moderator or administrator will simply lower your post count.
    ------------

    I also want to thank you for the link because maybe the people who complain about me here can see that other legitimate forums take much less crap than I do, and they take a hard stance on people who try to take advantage of loopholes.

    By Todd, at 9:27 PM

  • You're welcome...

    DD

    By DoubleDown, at 7:35 AM

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