Attention All ATS Members - Vote for the best worst funniest here on ATS

I have what I think is a fantastic idea to improve ATS and even improve the visibility of the site for little or no cost, except for the owner(s) having to recode.

Why not let members in good standing be able to VOTE UP good or outstanding replies to posts. It would eliminate all of the time wasted on silly or rambling replies, and also make intelligent people who just happen to find a post here from off site want to read more., instead of clicking away from the site after several dumb or salacious replies.

Allow us to vote (1 time only) for best reply, funniest reply, most nonsensical reply, etc. and then we as viewers would have buttons to click (clickable buttons at top of thread) if we wanted to view the best reply, or funniest or dumbest etc. Also, best response from a believer, or skeptic etc.

It would also help out the mods because as the better replies move up from votes, the silly/dumb or rambling replies move down, unless of course one wanted to click on view the worst/dumbest replies.

It would also move the site up in overall site rankings to allow for choices as to which replies one wished to view as voted by the ATS membership.

Well what say you? Any other ideas would be appreciated.









[edit on 31-8-2008 by TH3ON3]

Come on people, need some input for the 3 Amigos to see. Good or bad idea, and please explain in case others are more obtuse than you.

What is a ''member in good standing'' to you?

The big problem would be to get an accurate depiction of the thread, good standing or not, many people will still let their personal feelings on a subject get in the way, and thus vote up the ''best'' post that *they* can agree with. Not the best post in general.

The idea could be nice, but it needs more detail on how it is supposed to be integrated.

reply to post by -0mega-


Well obviously a member who has been suspended is not in good standing. Second it would even out since only 1 vote in each category would be allowed, and voting simply because you feel strongly would be eventually ovetaken by the majority of people with enough sense to not let feelings stand in the way. Besides, if you want to click on view best argument or answer for or against, you would just click the appropriate button.

Originally posted by -0mega-
What is a ''member in good standing'' to you?


The idea could be nice, but it needs more detail on how it is supposed to be integrated.

Yes I agree, it would need to be very well thought out to allow the best experience possible. This is just a rough draft idea.

What one person thinks is a good reply another will think is ridiculous! This idea is meaningless because you will have just as many votes for worthless replies as you would for truly substantial ones.

There is a Flagging and Star system that helps show the popularity of a thread and reply. That alone serves it's purpose.

[edit on 31-8-2008 by MrMysticism]

Originally posted by MrMysticism
What one person thinks is a good reply another will think is ridiculous! This idea is meaningless because you will have just as many votes for worthless replies as you would for truly substantial ones.

There is a Flagging and Star system that helps show the popularity of a thread and reply. That alone serves it's purpose.

[edit on 31-8-2008 by MrMysticism]

Yes but you can CHOOSE which you as a viewer want to see, the original thread, or the votes threads in order as selected etc. How is that not clear to you...But yes you make your point very well.

Originally posted by MrMysticism

There is a Flagging and Star system that helps show the popularity of a thread and reply. That alone serves it's purpose.

[edit on 31-8-2008 by MrMysticism]

It doesn't at all, it is very limiting because posts don't move up in importance. You have to wade through all the junk to get to the posts that got the most stars etc as it now is right?

I've seen a similar system at work on other forums. The ratings get averaged up and the result ("+3 ditto", "+6 funny", "-2 inappropriate") is shown openly. If you hover over that rating, you'll get a breakdown of all the ratings that post has been given. I like it a lot, honestly.

Having a system to "weed out" comments that don't make a certain vote quota or what have you would be an interesting addition. But I don't know...half a thread's content is dependent on comparison of info. Not to mention that the flow of conversation would be interrupted. That could all leave a lot of room for confusion and need for repetition... I don't think that ranking system would be necessary or very helpful.

[edit on 31-8-2008 by Siblin]

Oh. I see what you are saying now, there is no ranking system.

I would agree with that, it does need to be changed because some very good threads get buried under crapola flame threads about racial discrimation.

Originally posted by Siblin
I've seen a similar system at work on other forums. The ratings get averaged up and the result ("+3 ditto", "+6 funny", "-2 inappropriate") is shown openly. If you hover over that rating, you'll get a breakdown of all the ratings that post has been given. I like it a lot, honestly.

...half a thread's content is dependent on comparison of info. Not to mention that the flow of conversation would be interrupted. That could all leave a lot of room for confusion and need for repetition... I don't think that ranking system would be necessary or very helpful.

[edit on 31-8-2008 by Siblin]

Right. But again you a normal viewer make my point, if you wanted to see the whole thread without ranking by votes you would just click view unranked thread. Also it would make lurkers want to join since everyone wants to have a vote they believe in!

To further prove my point, all olf the people who answered so far can't even understand the plain english they just read, or put together a decent response for or against....So I would like to be able to click their respnses away as voted for best most coherant answers.

How is it that those who peruse and use ATs are so thick as to not be able to understand the simplist of posts? I thought all of us were supposed to be of above average intelligence.

The idea is good. But I doubt it will be implemented since, considering the number of daily posts here, it might overwhelm the system technically. Maybe this could be done with colours-of-stars though.

reply to post by Skyfloating


Well anything that would help would be an improvement. Don't get me wrong, ATS is great as-is...But nothing wrong with trying to make it even better.

When I skim through huge threads I mostly only stop at the posts that have been starred or were made by members I like. So I could imagine star-colour to be something that could be a rating-system and help us read threads. Maybe someday...

Originally posted by Siblin
I've seen a similar system at work on other forums. The ratings get averaged up and the result ("+3 ditto", "+6 funny", "-2 inappropriate") is shown openly. If you hover over that rating, you'll get a breakdown of all the ratings that post has been given. I like it a lot, honestly.

Do you remember what website that was?

Maybe if people could see this system at work it would help.

[edit on 8/31/2008 by Keyhole]

I would be nice to compare it with another site, but even if it shows the votes without allowing the post to move up under the view by vote order, it really only shows opinion and has no impact other than popularity by vote. My idea actually would make people want to be a part of ATS and contribute.

Someone said, well what about the posts that are intentionally sensationalistic or that are patently false that draw many replies like the bigfoot thread, wouldn't it have been voted down? I don't think so, I think it was about even, and if not, then so what, because again the viewer can choose to see posts that were voted down, or voted up... If you don't like the fact it has been voted as a fraud, you just click posts with no votes, or posts that are voted nonsensicle etc. It still makes for improved content from just about any angle one could have.

Click here for more information.

reply to post by TH3ON3


Usually when someone boast how great they are, they are suffering an Inferiority Complex. You obviously are one of these insecure people that needs to reassure yourself of your superiority when the reality is, your subconscious knows you lack the ability to communicate properly.

Hows that for a reply, to your egotistical comments?

[SNIP]

Mod Edit: Removed Insult.
Civility and Decorum are Required


[edit on 1-9-2008 by Gemwolf]