Who has used the "Rate Thread" option?

[Castlemaid]

The new forum software that came into use a couple of years ago has a "Rate Thread" option on the upper right-hand side of the black menu bar up above the first post of a thread. Click on the Rate Thread text or the drop-down menu arrow, and you can vote to rate the thread from 1 Star (Terrible) to 5 stars (Excellent).

I've never tried to rate a thread ( I think all the threads started by members are EXCELLENT and that goes without saying!) but curious as to how some of the threads on the forum obviously have been rated 5 stars by some members.

Who has rated threads, why? Have you ever rated your own thread? Just curious - thanks!

Edit: I just rated this thread "Excellent". Curious if everyone else would rate it bad (i.e. one star) if the board will count the average votes and rate it down (don't worry, won't hurt my feelings. ).

And for newbies who wonder "How does a moderator not know how to use the forum options?" Remember that the software for this forum is new to many of us, and I'm a brand-new moderator still wet behind the ears, and love it that the membership can help us out like this!

[GSDGunner]

Didn't even notice it before. I'll rate it bad. It should average it out.

[GSDGunner]

Haha, I gave it a 1 star.

[ShenzisMom]

Noticed the stars and knew what they were for, but I think all threads have some merit...and who am I to judge? Just because I've seen 'How to trim my dogs nails and not cut the quick' a million times, doesn't mean that a new member will have a new and possibly better explanation than what is currently there.

Edit: Aww, this thread is only 'average' now at 3 stars. Maybe this is something I will use against the trolls. LOL

[sagelfn]

I have. Iceberg Breeders thread got 5 stars from me I think a lot of those threads with in depth discussion on the breed should be required reading. If it has 5 stars on it, it sticks out on active topics and maybe someone will give it a read.

I don't think I have ever rated my own thread. I have noticed sometimes someone will be a jerk and rate a thread 1 star so I will rate higher to bump it up. I think it is mean to do that unless it is a troll or something. There is always something to be learned

[GSDGunner]

If it has 5 stars on it, it sticks out on active topics and maybe someone will give it a read.

Where do you see the rating? I always click "new posts" and don't see any threads with stars.
So how does one know what a thread is rated without clicking to open the thread?

[Castlemaid]

If you click on a forum forum it lists the threads in that forum, and that is where you see the stars. For example, go to Breeding-General, and you get this page:
Breeding - General - German Shepherd Dog Forums

and the Iceberg Breeder thread is showing with five stars.

[GSDGunner]

Oh, I see! I usually just click on new posts, so I don't see the ratings.

[LisaT]

Originally Posted by sagelfn

I don't think I have ever rated my own thread. I have noticed sometimes someone will be a jerk and rate a thread 1 star so I will rate higher to bump it up. I think it is mean to do that unless it is a troll or something. There is always something to be learned

I do the same thing. There was someone, that always rated another poster's posts as 1 star, regardless of the thread that was started. For that reason, I always rated them 5 stars, just to even out.

I think on the other software, you can't rate your own posts?

[chelle]

Wow hadn't noticed the rating thing, but I think it's good and will use it.!