The New Rating System

I receive an online newsletter from a man named Robert Genn that carries an article that may add some spice to this whole issue of judging and rating. I will post it in BizTalk as well because I think it brings up very challenging issues. Here is the start, take a read, and see the whole article and the hornets nest it stirred up at http://clicks.robertgenn.com/trumpet-self-esteem.php:

"The Flat Trumpet of Self Esteem: "Back in the good old days, the Girl Guides used to get badges for accomplishments. Nowadays they're also getting badges for loving themselves. The self-esteem movement is an epidemic that's been sweeping parts of the Western World--claiming that even young girls need to feel good about themselves before they can do good things. I don't think so. I think you have to do good things to feel good.

It's particularly noticeable in the art game. In some quarters, we go to a lot of trouble to help others feel good. These days some of us are getting all sorts of praise for just trying. The Internet is full of it. Jack writes to Bill: "Right on, Bill--I love your fence posts." Even though Bill's fence posts are substandard, he still gets approval and encouragement. I guess it's more democratic. ...."

My impression is that sabotage is rarely the motive for low-ratings on articles. Usually a low ranking is due to user error or one of Internet Explorer's ubiquitous bugs. (Sometimes the slider disappears, sometimes the "Rate It!" button is missing... ah Microsoft...)

We are VERY close to putting the new "Thumbs Up" rating system in place for articles. The only hangup right now is conceptual: If people can rate Articles, do we also extend this functionality to Events and Groups?

Whenever we look at adding a new feature to Biznik, we try to step back and take a look at the big picture and see if this feature is applicable anywhere else, or if - through slight changes - we can make it something with much wider appeal.

Always thinkin', we are... always thinkin'....