Badges, "expertise", etc

[Emily_MHManager]

Hi there -

As you know, we recently removed the Badges thread after it evolved into a big fight.  However, some good came out of that.  Thanks to Dsrt and a few others' suggestions regarding being "experts" in Hep C, coupled with feedback we've received from some other communities, last night we changed "expertise" to "Top Answerer", indicating the member has answered a lot of posts, not designating them as having a level of "expertise".

Thanks for your constructive feedback, and for bearing with us as we make some changes.

Emily

[GSDgirl]

Wellll, everybody makes spelling errors whether they are in a hurry or hit the wrong key or whatever.  In the scheme of things does it matter?  I have read Elaine's posts and I think she knows how to spell.

There was a girl that I used to work with 20 years ago that corrected everyone's English and I could not stand it (English & Spelling go together).   My husband on the other hand cannot spell for crapola and I do proof read important emails related to business.

That is JMHO
Denise

[child24angel]

Elaine...pity you've done an about-face.  I think you had it very right the first time AND the second.  The fact that many people and their loved ones are still fighting a battle with Hep C ... and the other health issues represented by the other forums .. is exactly why there was the kind of post you originally made and the kinds of reactions that saw MedHelp making a quick change of this on not only THIS forum but all their other forums.  We want the RIGHT kind of support and the RIGHT environment within which people can come to get that support.  And I think your original sentiments were in exactly the right spirit.

Trish, not a pity to me...if I'm wrong Trish, or if I feel I possibly
made a mistake I will apologize Trish.  I felt strongly that the
badges would segregate the forum and they were silly.....maybe I was wrong?

Trinity had posted above and I replied, she is right,
The whole picture
The whole scheme of things

For that I thank Trinity, because Trish, the badge doesn't matter
after all does it? NO, it's not going to change, it is going to stay.

It does not change this disease or those that are fighting this
battle. Does it? NO, if you look at the bigger picture of life
does it really matter ? h@ll no. After losing my brother , son,
a friend last year(of my brother's) and another friend, Wed. and more
friends fighting for their lives's, does a badge matter?
I needed a slap back to reality, and it hurts.  The badges do not .
Does that make sense to you Trish? do you understand?

LL, thanks LL, can you please check my spelling before I post ;) or
give me a red check for misspleed words ? ;)

If I want to apologize, I can Trish

[Emily_MHManager]

Actually, you all were a big part in the decision to change it from "expertise" to Top Answerer.  There were a couple of other forums that had said something similar, but you all were probably the most vocal.  Yes, I know, surprising.  ;)

We really do listen to the feedback, and while we can't change everything, and we will never please everyone, we do try and do what we can.

Thanks for the compliments, and again, just bear with us while new releases come over the next several weeks.

Emily

[Trish77]

"It just doesn't matter in the big scheme of things.  I still get what we need and contribute what I want with or without the stars.  The perception of my disease is no different and nothing has or will change in my life because of the badge system. "

While the stars wouldn't have changed my perception of my disease, neither do the bogus ads for miracle cures for Hep C that MedHelp seems to be okay with but I'd like them to disappear also. Sometimes...it's about something bigger than one's self and what only impacts the person.  If that's not your mindset, that's fine.  It does appear to be the mindset of others.  

"Obsession is a very strange bedfellow and I have many other things to worry about in life then something this juvenile.   Personally I think the quality of the posts has risen tremendously since the system went up and that is what the goal is after all.  

Not everyone is complaining about them at all just a small group of people on this thread.  The new people don't even care and there are a LOT of new people on the forum today that we could be answering instead of rehashing this same old tired issue."

Well, either the "small group of people on this thread" are mighty powerful or you're missing something here.  If you take a quick scan on ALL the forums across MedHelp, they've all been changed to "Top Answerer" and the contentious (and dangerous) "Expertise" notation has been removed.  While the squeaky wheel gets the grease, I hardly think the powers that be at MedHelp adjusted ALL their forums due to some "obsessive" views of a tiny group of people on THIS forum.  However, you're entitled to your opinion.  

The same as you are to the opinion that the quality of the posts have increased "tremendously" since the stars have come into play.  Frankly, if stars are what gets people to not only respond but respond with quality to someone's request for information and support on their Hep C journey and they're not simply moved by the desire to help where they can, stars or no stars, you and I have very different views of what constitutes "quality".

Frankly, I think we had plenty of quality before the stars and that there are enough people who have the compassion and the desire to help others going through the same thing and we don't need no stinkin' stars to do that.  And I personally would not want to get advice or support from anyone who is only doing it so that they can have a star beside their name.

Elaine...pity you've done an about-face.  I think you had it very right the first time AND the second.  The fact that many people and their loved ones are still fighting a battle with Hep C ... and the other health issues represented by the other forums .. is exactly why there was the kind of post you originally made and the kinds of reactions that saw MedHelp making a quick change of this on not only THIS forum but all their other forums.  We want the RIGHT kind of support and the RIGHT environment within which people can come to get that support.  And I think your original sentiments were in exactly the right spirit.

Certainly different strokes for different folks.  As you said, LL ... we'll see what MedHelp does with this, as it's certainly been tackled from every angle and obviously the reactions are NOT only coming from THIS forum.

Trish

[Lady Lauri]

My apologies all, I'm truly sory.........
I think your sight is just fine, tho your spelling needs some work ;)

In the famous words of, well, somebody.....
"let it go"
"move on"
"beating a dead horse"

I think MH has had every input/angle possible expressed in this, let's ride it out, see how it turns out and I'm sure if it goes really badly, it'll be gone.
Remember when they changed the whole page, we were all lost and hated it....all good now.

[nygirl7]

Obsession is a very strange bedfellow and I have many other things to worry about in life then something this juvenile.   Personally I think the quality of the posts has risen tremendously since the system went up and that is what the goal is after all.  

Not everyone is complaining about them at all just a small group of people on this thread.  The new people don't even care and there are a LOT of new people on the forum today that we could be answering instead of rehashing this same old tired issue.