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santaman2000

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Jan 15, 2011
16,909
1,114
67
Florida
You think? Look here....

http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21172

The first post has a half screen sized list of names and pretty much every post in the thread has a sub-post thanking that too.

Are peoples ego's really so fragile that they need this? Thank you ....no thank you ....no really, thank you. Can I thank you too ...I'm Spartacus! :rolleyes:

I agree that the section showing the thanks takes up space. But the point is....think just how much space would have been taken up if each of those names had been an individual post instead. Even if that post had been nothing more than, "Thank you" or "+1" it would have been an entire 4 or 5 pages of posts instead. Posts that added nothing to the thread.
 

Martyn

Bushcrafter through and through
Aug 7, 2003
5,252
33
58
staffordshire
www.britishblades.com
I agree that the section showing the thanks takes up space. But the point is....think just how much space would have been taken up if each of those names had been an individual post instead. Even if that post had been nothing more than, "Thank you" or "+1" it would have been an entire 4 or 5 pages of posts instead. Posts that added nothing to the thread.

You are assuming that each of those names would have posted a normal post if not for the thanks button. That's a fallacious assumption. Your argument is based on content being condensed by this hack, when in reality it doesnt do that. I would argue that the threads would contain the same number of posts, saying the same things with or without the thanks button. Which means that the those lists of names are all additional content.
 
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santaman2000

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Jan 15, 2011
16,909
1,114
67
Florida
You are assuming that each of those names would have posted a normal post if not for the thanks button. That's a fallacious assumption. Your argument is based on content being condensed by this hack, when in reality it doesnt do that. I would argue that the threads would contain the same number of posts, saying the same things with or without the thanks button. Which means that the those lists of names are all additional content.

That's certainly possible. However a more likely scenario is that the number would be somewhere in between. In any case there's no way of actually knowing either way. But as I and others have suggested, a format that didn't actually show up on screen unless called for/clicked on would easily solve the problem.
 

Martyn

Bushcrafter through and through
Aug 7, 2003
5,252
33
58
staffordshire
www.britishblades.com
That's certainly possible. However a more likely scenario is that the number would be somewhere in between. In any case there's no way of actually knowing either way. But as I and others have suggested, a format that didn't actually show up on screen unless called for/clicked on would easily solve the problem.

I agree, both points are based on assumptions to some extent. But there is evidence that the wider community thinks this hack is ultimately detrimental. The hack was originally released for vbulletin 3*** some years ago. When it first came out, I did consider installing it on BB, as on the face of it, it looks like a cool alternative to the rep button. However, some forum owner that were quick to install it, started to report issues of clutter and misuse by cliques and quickly uninstalled the hack. You can see here [thanks hack on vbulletin.org] that the hack has been downloaded 13,000 times, but only 2,500 currently have it installed. That means 11,000 forum owners have tried it and then binned it for whatever reason. Also note, that the hack has not been supported by the developers since Jan 2010. There are lots of reasons why a coder stops developing a hack, but it often happens when the coder stops believing his hack is of real benefit to the software and communities that use it.
 

santaman2000

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Jan 15, 2011
16,909
1,114
67
Florida
All valid concerns Martyn. I brought this question up in another thread a month or so ago and it's been well discussed in this one (with opinions going both ways) Perhaps the next step should be to put up a poll asking for votes and see what the numbers are (for or against)
 

Martyn

Bushcrafter through and through
Aug 7, 2003
5,252
33
58
staffordshire
www.britishblades.com
All valid concerns Martyn. I brought this question up in another thread a month or so ago and it's been well discussed in this one (with opinions going both ways) Perhaps the next step should be to put up a poll asking for votes and see what the numbers are (for or against)

Yes, it's actually impossible to predict for sure how it would work one way or the other, but I'm not sure that "we dont know till we try it" is a valid reason for giving it a go. I'm also not sure the process is actually so democratic that it can be decided by a poll. I suspect Tony might want the deciding vote in the matter. I suppose a straw poll wouldn't hurt, I just worry that folks might get dazzled by the glint of a shiny new button before realising that all that glitters isn't gold.
 

santaman2000

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Jan 15, 2011
16,909
1,114
67
Florida
Yes, it's actually impossible to predict for sure how it would work one way or the other, but I'm not sure that "we dont know till we try it" is a valid reason for giving it a go. I'm also not sure the process is actually so democratic that it can be decided by a poll. I suspect Tony might want the deciding vote in the matter. I suppose a straw poll wouldn't hurt, I just worry that folks might get dazzled by the glint of a shiny new button before realising that all that glitters isn't gold.

Of course I agree Tony's vote is the one that counts. Just think the straw poll might give him (and the rest of us) an idea what the membership thinks. Assuming it doesn't come up a dead heat. LOL
 

Martyn

Bushcrafter through and through
Aug 7, 2003
5,252
33
58
staffordshire
www.britishblades.com
Of course I agree Tony's vote is the one that counts. Just think the straw poll might give him (and the rest of us) an idea what the membership thinks. Assuming it doesn't come up a dead heat. LOL

Yeah, I think that would be the right way to approach it ....I'd be sure to include an abstain option too, so Tony can also judge the level of apathy to the proposition. :)
 

santaman2000

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Jan 15, 2011
16,909
1,114
67
Florida
LOL. Now if only someone knew how to set up the thread. Wayland? You started this one.
 
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Toddy

Mod
Mod
Jan 21, 2005
38,937
4,570
S. Lanarkshire
How about folks try using the "Rate Thread" button that we already have ?

I think that if that that were more used then perhaps we might already have some thanks/rep/ system already in place. Could that then perhaps be made a little more visible without adding screeds of names to the thanks ?
Just a tally number of people who bothered to rate the thread and the star value ?

Would that suffice ?
As it is many folks pm quiet thanks anyway.


cheers,
Toddy
 

santaman2000

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Jan 15, 2011
16,909
1,114
67
Florida
Toddy, I don't know to be honest. Obviously the rate button would need to be more visible, yes. I don't even know where to find it.
 

Toddy

Mod
Mod
Jan 21, 2005
38,937
4,570
S. Lanarkshire
Look at the bar just above your last post.

It's anything but obvious when reading down a thread, I have to admit.

The only way I can see the results are if I go into the forum for a particular topic.


cheers,
Toddy
 

santaman2000

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Jan 15, 2011
16,909
1,114
67
Florida
Toddy, the bar above my last post only has the post # on the right and the date/time of post on the left. Nothing more.
 

santaman2000

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Jan 15, 2011
16,909
1,114
67
Florida
Above that one. Look higher.

Above that one (what looks to be the lower bar of the next post) there is an exclamation point (!) on the far left in a triangle, then on the right there is the "reply" option, next is the "reply with quote" option, and finally there isthe icon for multi quote.

Wait I do see it but it's only at the very top of the thread, not at each individual post.
 

JonathanD

Ophiological Genius
Sep 3, 2004
12,809
1,479
Stourton,UK
Above that one (what looks to be the lower bar of the next post) there is an exclamation point (!) on the far left in a triangle, then on the right there is the "reply" option, next is the "reply with quote" option, and finally there isthe icon for multi quote.

Wait I do see it but it's only at the very top of the thread, not at each individual post.

Your post is actually at the top of the thread for us. You must have a slightly different view. I appears at the top of every page, not individual posts. It would be better if it was in bold or coloured differently to make it stand out.
 

Toddy

Mod
Mod
Jan 21, 2005
38,937
4,570
S. Lanarkshire
Yep, that's what we're saying about it not being obvious, or being easily accessible if reading further down the page.

cheers,
Toddy
 

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