Bye Bye Star Ratings..?

[SydTheSkeptic]

Hey Arkians.

I disabled the star ratings on the site.  Please let me know if anyone's against this.   I figured there really was no need for it other than to show support for one another's efforts, but then, that could just as easily be done by commenting.

 

Let me know, though.  If you guys are overwhelmingly for having the star ratings, I'll turn it back on.  :o)

[BlancheNoE]

Of course I like the star rating when it's used to show support but too often it's in an attempt to deflate one's aspirations, I think. You know,..like when someone in the school yard doesn't like someone else so they try to piss in their Cheerios by down-rating,...so I'm good with this.

I am very interested to hear what the rest of our shipmates think though, Mateys ? What say you ?

[SydTheSkeptic]

True, Amy.  The active membership on the Ark is pretty small in numbers, but we're a tight group nonetheless.  I don't want to turn strangers away at the door and I don't believe you guys want this to be a private site (we discussed that, initially, and voted against it), but I also don't want it to be so easy for trolls to come in and get in the way of the friendly vibe we've got goin' here. 

When I see a video that's been down-rated (rare as it's been here), I wonder why that  person's not got the courage to simply communicate using their words rather than an anonymous tool.  With those exceptions, the star-rating's been more like a congenial nod of support, much like a smile in response to a friendly face.  :o) 

 

I think what I'll do is put a FIVE-STAR thingie up on the front page that people can copy and paste into a comment, if that's what they'd like to use instead.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

[lima]

I hate it when people down-rate my content and down-rate other peoples content.  I think it's mean.

I am glad to see them gone.

 

[JustAnotherUserName]

I always just clicked all the stars of the videos I watched anyway, whether I liked them or not.  I figured it was the least I could do for someone who went to the effort of making a video and posting it.  Sorry.  I guess I'm a liar and cheater too!

[spacemonkey1310]

Comments>stars

[NatureJunkie]

I agree wholeheartedly, Syd. In practice, the only use they serve is to zing somebody, and I don't like seeing that at the Ark. So good move!

 

Although... I wish you hadn't removed them before Amy put up her Christmas Meet-Up Out-Takes.

I would have given that five stars.

[Marie]

If you haven't got anything nice to say... don't say anything. *grin*

 

I only rate videos when they have been watched many times and not rated. Love it or hate it, if I do rate... it's always 5*s for the courage of putting oneself out there.

 

Great decision Syd! That's why we pay you the big bucks. muahahaha ~Never~mind~

[lima]

Today Ning rolled out a new feature, the Ning Like button and the Facebook like button.

 

You now have the option to turn on the ning like button option and rename it "favorites"  this will automatically disable your Star ratings, hence no needing a code to delete them.

 

this will also show how many comments the video has gotten with the favorite/like icon next to it on the video page.

 

It's a really neat feature for substituting the favorite button, can show you what content is hot at the moment, and at the same time there is no thumbing down so to speak to hurt others feelings.

 

It as well will give you the option to see what other members favorite, to get an idea of what type of content intersts them.

 

It's in a beta testing mode, so when you go to manage, you turn on from beta, then you go to features, select "like" and select your options to play with.

[SydTheSkeptic]

Awesome Lima.  Thanks- I'll check it out.