Can we have the "badges" as an option, please?

[Puffling]

Starting from today I notice that each member's avatar is overlaid with a coloured "badge" related to their post count.

I haven't seen an option to remove this in Account Settings.

 

Not only does this badge obscure the avatar, it also seems to promote the notion that more posts is a desirable state. Posting endless links from newspaper articles and then arguing with contributions to such a thread would quickly acquire a "higher" status in the badges. Some members may see this as worthwhile, feeling they earned their 'higher badge' rank. I have no issue with that at all. Let them flaunt their badges and I'll simply chuckle at them.

 

I accept that the board uses American software, and that they probably love ranks and status even more than Brits, but since I choose not to pin ribbons and badges to my clothes while out in public, I don't see why it should be different here.

 

Edited February 10, 2023 by Puffling

[doratheexplorer]

I quite like them, but I'd like to see a list of the available badges.

 

For example, is there an "insufferable twat" badge?

[Tracy D'arth]

Elitism at its worst.

[doratheexplorer]

Update: I've seen the list in the other thread.  The badges are disappointingly boring.  I've changed my mind, get rid of them if you can't spice them up a bit.

[RichM]

I think this relates to the new update as the forum started calculating "achievement points" since that update and has only just finished at which point these badges appear.

 

We will need to review this further. I will speak to Dan and the team later today and more info will be available soon.

[doratheexplorer]

Just now, RichM said:

I think this relates to the new update as the forum started calculating "achievement points" since that update and has only just finished at which point these badges appear.

 

We will need to review this further. I will speak to Dan and the team later today and more info will be available soon.

Why should I care about what you think?  After all, I'm a Grand Master but you're only a Veteran.

[Puffling]

I'd hate to try and steer @RichM 's boat through a narrow bridge now. With a shield on the top and a three-point screwdown plate thing at the bottom, it would be a nightmare.

[Paul C]

3 minutes ago, doratheexplorer said:

Why should I care about what you think?  After all, I'm a Grand Master but you're only a Veteran.

 

Because he also has a shield, top right?

[howardang]

These Badges are not necessary and do not add to the quality or content of the debate. They might also boost the egos of some who may think that more posts means better!

My vote would be to remove these totally meaningless and unnecessary badges and stop pandering to the "more posts are better" brigade. 🙂

 

Howard

[doratheexplorer]

Perhaps we could take inspiration from Freemasonry or Dungeons & Dragons.  Then we could aspire to be a "Master of the Brazen Serpent" or a "Numinous Hierophant"

[LadyG]

35 minutes ago, Puffling said:

Posting endless links from newspaper articles and then arguing with contributions.

 

 

Who would do such a thing ??????

Perhaps there could be a "self agrandissement" badge

Edited February 10, 2023 by LadyG

[Tony Brooks]

I am also not in favour of the badges. New members could well think they are to do with quality of advice, rather than just a post count. (missed the O out of the last word, I think that even if I had not noticed it would have been a reasonable reflection of my view badge wise.)

[Guest]

They do seem rather pointless.

[Tony Brooks]

Not really, they have seven points, but I still don't like them.

[IanD]

3 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

I am also not in favour of the badges. New members could well think they are to do with quality of advice, rather than just a post count. (missed the O out of the last word, I think that even if I had not noticed it would have been a reasonable reflection of my view badge wise.)

 

If the badges are kept (I'm not in favour) then posts in the politics forum should certainly be excluded from the count, for very obvious reasons.

 

If this is impossible, that makes getting rid of them pretty much essential...

[Tony Brooks]

Just now, IanD said:

 

If the badges are kept (I'm not in favour) then posts in the politics forum should certainly be excluded from the count, for very obvious reasons.

 

If this is impossible, that makes getting rid of them pretty much essential...

 

I could not agree more.

[Higgs]

1 hour ago, IanD said:

 

If the badges are kept (I'm not in favour) then posts in the politics forum should certainly be excluded from the count, for very obvious reasons.

 

If this is impossible, that makes getting rid of them pretty much essential...

 

If verbosity was worth a badge, you'd win, hands down. 

 

 

 

[Puffling]

We already have the Reputation rating from the forum. For example, I can see @Tony Brooks rating is 7.5k. Achieved by the more democratic means of other users responding to his posts (I presume greenies, laughing, hearts etc bump up a reputation by one, whereas a horrified emoji subtracts one). No objection to having this number displayed beneath the avatar, as I believe it used to be.

 

Add 'reputation' to information gleaned by a post count, and a visitor is able to distinguish the wheat from the chaff, as it were. Though I doubt many drill down that deeply.

 

The only function I imagine is gained from badges is for existing members to compete with each other for higher recognition, in a sort of Hunger Games rank tournament. I speak only for myself here, but I feel there's enough of that goes on already.

[system 4-50]

Are the ladies Grand Mistresses?

[rusty69]

1 minute ago, system 4-50 said:

Are the ladies Grand Mistresses?

Oi. You got my avatar.

[system 4-50]

32 minutes ago, rusty69 said:

Oi. You got my avatar.

The likeness is uncanny.  Are we related?

[Feeby100]

I am the odd one out I have just green one 😥

10 hours ago, doratheexplorer said:

Update: I've seen the list in the other thread.  The badges are disappointingly boring.  I've changed my mind, get rid of them if you can't spice them up a bit.

Where the list ?

[sueb]

I'm a newcomer!

Just now, sueb said:

I'm a newcomer!

I've been promoted. I didn't do anything. Please get rid

[system 4-50]

10 hours ago, doratheexplorer said:

Perhaps we could take inspiration from Freemasonry or Dungeons & Dragons.  Then we could aspire to be a "Master of the Brazen Serpent" or a "Numinous Hierophant"

No, just D&D.  Freemasonry is expensive.

Edited February 10, 2023 by system 4-50

[Ange]

2 hours ago, Feeby100 said:

I am the odd one out I have just green one 😥

Where the list ?

You find it by clicking on the avatar

 

Newcomer didn't fit on my screen 🙂

I too think the badges have no value but should definitely exclude VP postings if they are to remain.