Forum Enhancements

MathsIsFun · 2007-01-02 13:09:29

There are a couple of forum enhancements I want to do, but I am waiting for v1.3 of PunBB (the forum software that we use) to be released first.

You see, at present all enhancements such as:

* LaTeX
* Hide Tag
* Image Upload

Are changes to the actual PunBB code, so whenever a new version of PunBB is released I have to do a lot of re-coding.

But in v1.3 of PunBB they will support "extensions" which means I can have my enhancements in different files and they get automatically applied to whatever version of PunBB we use.

So I am waiting for v1.3

And when it is released there will be considerable pain as I figure how to get the existing modifications turned into "extensions" ... and we may all have a bit of fun when I make the new version live as LaTeX or some other thing goes crazy.

But after all of that I will be able to do new things such as:

* Member reputation points
* Forum sorting
* and any other requests such as "Today's Visitor" etc that members feel is a good idea.

So, as we await v1.3, let's discuss what we want done with the forum ...

Toast · 2007-01-02 13:24:14

Excellent! Any idea when it's being released?

rida · 2007-01-05 07:11:56

I think earning points for how well you get along with the rest is a good idea because it would increase friendship in the forum.

mathsyperson · 2007-01-05 09:21:40

The only possible problem with the reputation points is that people might start taking them too seriously, and start working by a rule of "the amount of respect I show you is proportional to your reputation score", or worse, "I have a higher score than all these people and so I am better than them".

They shouldn't be used as a rating system for how good a person is or anything, just as a way to make someone feel a sense of achievement. That said, I think it would be a very good thing to try out. If people start getting too elitist about it, then it could just be taken down again, but hopefully that won't happen.

MathsIsFun · 2007-01-05 09:25:27

Toast: people sometimes ask, and get told "when it is ready".

rida:

My latest idea on points is that you can give a point to any member when you want (usually for a good or helpful post), but that you only have 5 points you can give in any month, and you can't give to the same person twice in a row.

Patrick · 2007-01-05 10:20:44

MathsIsFun wrote:

...but that you only have 5 points you can give in any month, and you can't give to the same person twice in a row.

... or yourself, I guess?

Devantè · 2007-01-05 11:44:07

This idea is good, but it wouldn't be good as a 'part' of the forum, if anyone gets my drift.

MathsIsFun · 2007-01-05 13:13:41

Devanté wrote:

This idea is good, but it wouldn't be good as a 'part' of the forum, if anyone gets my drift.

Ummm, I think you drifted past me there ...

rida · 2007-01-05 22:42:06

MathsIsFun wrote:

rida:
My latest idea on points is that you can give a point to any member when you want (usually for a good or helpful post), but that you only have 5 points you can give in any month, and you can't give to the same person twice in a row.

But then again some people will just give them to their friends as often as they can.
I think you should have to give reason for giving a point to a member.

MathsIsFun · 2007-01-06 00:10:24

You are right, people may just form groups and give all their points to each other.

But then reasons would have to be monitored and argued about. We need something automatic.

Devantè · 2007-01-06 01:15:04

Hmm...so it would be like 'karma'? VBulletin have been known to use it in all of their latest versions. If we do introduce this system, we obviously shouldn't open it to guests. I don't think we should open it to members with a Novice rank, either, as people could easily register here at MathsIsFun to just use up their 5 points from the new system and then never return. This may not exactly happen, but something similar may, causing a slight problem.

rida · 2007-01-06 03:59:35

We have to find a way to make the thing fa

Devantè · 2007-01-06 05:23:04

Was that last word going to be 'fair'?

If so, then yes, we do need to find a way to make the system fair. I think five points a month sounds a bit strict, perhaps two (or three?) points a week.

Toast · 2007-01-06 07:06:39

Yeah, something like 2 per week sounds better. Some members might give out all their points in the first week and find they have no more left for the really useful posts later on.

MathsIsFun · 2007-01-06 10:12:23

I think that Guests should maybe have 1 Point, so they can reward a helpful reply. It is a good idea, but open to abuse.

Devantè · 2007-01-06 10:54:42

This is a good idea if you can get it to filter logged IPs. That'll reduce abuse by half.

mathsyperson · 2007-01-06 11:09:38

How would you make it so that every guest gets one point each? I thought that guests were just "generic people who aren't members". Can the forum differentiate between different guests?

justlookingforthemoment · 2007-01-06 14:46:21

Devante wrote:

If so, then yes, we do need to find a way to make the system fair. I think five points a month sounds a bit strict, perhaps two (or three?) points a week.

I don't think it really matters how many we have. I know another forum which gives one point a day and people don't abuse it. At the start, I'm sure we'll have fun playing with the feature, but after that, the novelty might wear off and the system will be used sensibly.

Also, are we just having a system where you can only add points, or you can take them away too?

Toast · 2007-01-06 15:25:57

I think if points can be taken away, only mods and admins should have the power.

Devantè · 2007-01-06 21:04:37

justlookingforthemoment wrote:

I know another forum which gives one point a day and people don't abuse it.

That forum would probably be ProBoards. They allow only one 'Exalt' or 'Smite' per day, each being opposites of one another. It should be obvious what each one does.

And yes, I think we are focusing on taking away points, too. Should the point deduction be introduced to be used in lesser amounts than that of the point addition?

Devantè · 2007-01-06 21:08:41

[ A reply to Toast but he deleted the post and the link was outdated ]

Last edited by Devanté (2007-01-06 21:09:01)

Toast · 2007-01-06 21:25:10

Hmm I don't remember what it was I deleted

rida · 2007-01-07 10:34:45

I think you have be at least a member to be able to give points to members because most novices register and never come back.

Devantè · 2007-01-07 20:30:34

Devanté wrote:

Hmm...so it would be like 'karma'? VBulletin have been known to use it in all of their latest versions. If we do introduce this system, we obviously shouldn't open it to guests. I don't think we should open it to members with a Novice rank, either, as people could easily register here at MathsIsFun to just use up their 5 points from the new system and then never return. This may not exactly happen, but something similar may, causing a slight problem.

(similar to what you said )

Patrick · 2007-01-08 02:20:27

rida wrote:

I think you have be at least a member to be able to give points to members because most novices register and never come back.

This doesn't really matter though, does it? If they find a post usefull, why not show it?

Math Is Fun Forum

#1 2007-01-02 13:09:29

Forum Enhancements

#2 2007-01-02 13:24:14

Re: Forum Enhancements

#3 2007-01-05 07:11:56

Re: Forum Enhancements

#4 2007-01-05 09:21:40

Re: Forum Enhancements

#5 2007-01-05 09:25:27

Re: Forum Enhancements

#6 2007-01-05 10:20:44

Re: Forum Enhancements

#7 2007-01-05 11:44:07

Re: Forum Enhancements

#8 2007-01-05 13:13:41

Re: Forum Enhancements

#9 2007-01-05 22:42:06

Re: Forum Enhancements

#10 2007-01-06 00:10:24

Re: Forum Enhancements

#11 2007-01-06 01:15:04

Re: Forum Enhancements

#12 2007-01-06 03:59:35

Re: Forum Enhancements

#13 2007-01-06 05:23:04

Re: Forum Enhancements

#14 2007-01-06 07:06:39

Re: Forum Enhancements

#15 2007-01-06 10:12:23

Re: Forum Enhancements

#16 2007-01-06 10:54:42

Re: Forum Enhancements

#17 2007-01-06 11:09:38

Re: Forum Enhancements

#18 2007-01-06 14:46:21

Re: Forum Enhancements

#19 2007-01-06 15:25:57

Re: Forum Enhancements

#20 2007-01-06 21:04:37

Re: Forum Enhancements

#21 2007-01-06 21:08:41

Re: Forum Enhancements

#22 2007-01-06 21:25:10

Re: Forum Enhancements

#23 2007-01-07 10:34:45

Re: Forum Enhancements

#24 2007-01-07 20:30:34

Re: Forum Enhancements

#25 2007-01-08 02:20:27

Re: Forum Enhancements

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