... now, about those "Badges"

[iam1butterfly]

Okay... so, what do you all think about those badges (stars) that have been assigned next to our user name(s)?

[margypops]

haha Stars not starts ..

[margypops]

heres what I see when I go to my profile , that I have a load of starts something about top answerer on forums I have never been on , relationships, diet and exercise, anxiety, this is not true I know nothing about them ..so regardless of who thinks its okay I do not like it, if I am stuck with it, is there any way I can get the real forums I can help with up there instead of the stuff there now ...Can I get it changed ?

[wonko]

I'm an approval seeker by nature, so I feel disappointed that I don't have the highest ranking.  

My ego and feelings aside, I see the merit in the system and think that it's an interesting addition to the site.

[mammo]

I ignore them as well, and think we must just continue to help when and where we can.  It's not a popularity contest.

[margypops]

I ignore it aswell but I can see that some folks maybe sensitive to the Best Answer part .not good MH you dont get my vote on that ...

[specialmom]

You know, I just do what I always do and ignore it.  It isn't bothering me.  I'm genuinely trying to help someone and hope that when I post it does.  The rest I don't worry about.  Just my feelings.  

[redheadaussie]

Yeah, I noticed it when I went to check on someone I had answered in a particular forum and mine was Best Answer...with a big green tick..I was thinking, HUH? This person only had ME answer...I couldn't figure it out. I haven't seen it on any other posts I have answered, so got me wondering! Medhelp is certainly changing..not necessarily for the better!

[Jade59]

I think this "best answer" vote can ultimately cause some hurt feelings...

[trish934]

Honestly i don't agree to the Badges(stars) and Best Answers at all because I think this can cause one to be very bias with who they direct questions to and receive responses from. When that's not the case at all! Now one can be very decisive rather than open minded to who answers their questions. Huh!
In my humble opinion this is one of the best! medical support community if not already that I have ever came across. I love our uniqueness and our approaches in helping others. Now I am feeling the main emphases of this community which is to openly help and support others can be taken away before we even know it.

[swampcritter]

Here is how best answer works now. If you write a new post, you have the opportunity after there are comments to designate one answer the best. For some posts, "best" means "give you the information you wanted". For other posts, it may be a "thank you" to the person who best understands and supports you.

Best answers show higher on the page.

Medhelp likes to release large features in phases, so it is likely that what you see now isn't all that is planned.

[April2]

There's a "best answer" now? How does one determine what the best answer is? I don't think I like this at all! It will make some people competitive and some afraid to say anything because they will think they can't offer anything, especially if their answers are being watched and graded.
Will this take the focus off of just answering someone's question just because you care or want to help? I hope not.

[margypops]

A best answer Wow that like a competition ..

[mammo]

I deleted all my forums to rid my name and stars from the forum, but as soon as I posted, it all came back.  Personally, I can ignore it, but I do worry that someone posting a question may feel that the people with stars are the best to direct their question to.  I feel it's good for someone to get different ideas and advice from others experiences, isn't this what the forums are all about?

To redheadaussie:  I know who and what you mean, and this is wrong.  I have let people know that they can PM "anyone" they want to if they want to speak privately, but not just myself.  I think we can deal with it, I can.  My concern is only for the person looking for help.  So, I think the best way to handle it, is for us to respond regardless.  We all have something positve to add, and should.  If it gets down to "Best Answer" then that's a whole new ball game!

[redheadaussie]

I just noticed there is now a BEST ANSWER in my forum.....This is starting to turn in Yahoo Answers! I'm not sure I like it!

[margypops]

If the posters want experts they can always go to the expert/doctor forums, most times it is our opinions it says at the top that these are the opinions of other members , but I know what you mean some do come on to outdo you ,or contradict even if its simply your own opinion ...they have to be right .Well I say those who like the Stars all is cool.

[turkee23]

i dont care either way but i agree with zodiac.... its like a little thank youf rom medhelp for taking the time to answer people post.....

[teko]

I dont think it matters one way or the other unless the poster is doing the grading, and even then it will simply be based on what they want to hear and not necessarily that it was best advice given. I post my answer and frankly if it helps them great, if not, oh well. If it doesnt help them it may help someone else reading thru the posts that may have a similar issue. To look at the stars as a division among us is not good.

[redheadaussie]

There is one particular forum I am on and there is one particular person, who is always trying to outdo me...having their name and their many  stars is really off putting and also not to mention the fact they are gloating about it! I know for a fact this person has a kind of psych problem and this is only feeding it!
  I reckon they ought to get rid of them. As mammo above says, often the most posters are not always the most knowledgeable. Gives a false impression.  The person I am referring to often has the people they post to come to me on private messages saying they think the other persons info is way off. One actually said, that had they done what the many starred person said to do they would have died!!!!

[mammo]

The stars only tell who is the busiest, not the most knowlegeable or even caring.  People who have been here forever will have more stars, I see no rhyme or reason to it.  I deleted all my forums and re-joined just so my name didn't appear next to the stars.  It will mis-lead people into thinking that the ones with the most stars are the better ones to address their question to, and we all know this is necessarily the case.  

[SophieShine]

Yes I did Margypops..........

[PrettyKitty1]

I still don’t like the stars. Me no likey…………….for now.

[twehner5]

ME, TOO !  Oh, YAY....I can cancel that appointment with the optometrist......and I tried to vote for some people on here......but that swamp-thing is correct...  Oh, well.

[Lonelymom]

Thanks! I finally saw the stars you are talking about! I will wait and see how it goes before I vote!

[swampcritter]

The stars are a part of a new feature, they have only existed for the last few days. Only some support forums have them, not journals, not user groups. Look on the right hand side and in these forums you will see a "top answerers" box.

The rankings were assigned automatically, no human was involved.

There is no way, right now, to see on your profile what your expertise is and how many badges you have, but if you mouse over yourself you'll see it.

Medhelp usually releases features in phases, so its safe to say that the feature will changed and refined over the coming months.