Hello MadridMan:

What's the point of the member rating system? What exactly is it and what is the criteria? I have received three votes already, and not sure from who? Just wanted to know a little bit about it... I have been voted or rated with four stars, but how would someone feel if they were rated with one or two stars? I think that we would lose them from the site.

-roses

I agree, roses. The same thing has happened to Wolfgang and his four stars, who, as well as helping everyone where he can, is also rivaling CaliBasco for the funniest and most entertaining poster on this board.

I don't see we can fail to rate EVERYONE who contributes with full marks, unless they are rude (rare) or people who throw jamones and park on top of lunching couples in the Retiro park (now he DID deserve a no star rating!).

Can you disable this feature of the otherwise perfect board?

Okay everybody. THIS is where your opinion counts. SPEAK UP with pros and cons. If we have more cons than pros I'll be happy to disable the rating system (if I can, that is -- and I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...).

The rating system feature came with the software and really doesn't serve any important puprose, more of a merit system to designate particulary helpful/knowledgeable members.
******
Here's what it states and our choices:

Display Member Ratings?:
Registered members may rate each other on a scale of 1 to 5. Individual members may elect to hide their ratings from public view, even if you activate this feature.

*Yes, permit member ratings. Show all ratings.
*Yes, but only show ratings for top-rated members.
*No, deactivate this feature entirely.

*********
I agree that some people with less than 5-stars (because you know, hehe.. we can't ALL be perfect. ahem! hehe... ;)) might feel slighted, embarrassed, or unapreciated (what, isn't anyone married here? hehe..) so let me/us what you think! Now's your time to speak up (not that any of you held back before. ;)).

Your vote counts here! (unlike during election day. DOH!)

Saludos, MadridMan

[ 04-17-2001: Message edited by: MadridMan ]

I don't think very much of the new system. I see regular contributors like Anchovy,Wolf,Nicole Calibasco,MClarke,Cantabene and of course Antonio who to me make up the backbone of this site.These people deserve the 5 star ratings they recieved. Then I see some people who have offered information twice or asked 3 questions and they are now wearing 5 stars. Who voted for them other than themselves and that is ludicrous.Get rid of the system or revise the voting procedure to reflect the effort and knowledge offered altruistically by specific individuals.Thanx to these legit 5 starrers this site is a sucess.Rethink ,Revise or Revoke.

Mhm, now it gets tricky if we start to differentiate between worthy and not worthy "5-starrers", such kinds of lists would necessarily be arbitrary and leave out other persons who have tried to provide all the information they have, I could add quite a few more persons such as for example rgf who has provided so much useful information in the past, and there are many, many others, too many to name! I would have no problem if everyone had 5 stars, except for -as anchovy says- people who file strange comments just to confuse others. And I would think that the persons you mention neither feel insulted about being thrown into the 5 star category with other people. I would be more concerned if some weirdos would use that function to spoil this board's atmosphere and give unfair and insulting ratings just for the sake of it. So maybe that is a point to bear in mind...

[ 04-17-2001: Message edited by: connie ]

Hey thanks for those nice words, Connie, espec. since I've been short on advice recently. I DID post something on the Galicia thread today, tho! And only two people rated me. I guess we aren't into the star system, eh MM? MM, speaking of travels.... um... speak to me.

First, let me say thanks for the supporting words...I'll make sure my wife knows that there are people in the world who find me entertaining...

My suggestion is that, if possible, we open the rating system only to those who are full-fledged members. I realize that this may skew the "rating" to those who've spent the most time on the board, but perhaps it would deter the casual voter with an agenda. You really only need post 20 times... so maybe it would also coax those "observers" to become more active.

Even if I got one star, I'd still post...I'm sure that for those who really know and care, the only rating you care about is the personal one you have for each member.

I was kind of curious about the value of the rating but really didn't give it alot of thought. I try to read all new posts and wouldn't not read something because a member isn't rated 5 stars. For one thing I'm new and inexperienced about Spain travel so my Spain comments may not rate 5 stars, but oh well, I'm still going to participate when I can add/ask something. To be honest..I have seen this on other websights and thought it tacky but MM has been so valuable and interesting..I don't see the stars!

It's looking pretty unanimous, but will give it until the day to "get all the votes in" and then will "take action"! This message board is more YOURS than mine, afterall. And as we all know, the mob rules. hehehe.. But you are a wonderful mob and I wouldn't trade any of one you for 1,000 ham-leg-swingers or Retiro-Park-car-parkers!! (I can only imagine what the new members must thing of these older references).
Keep those votes/opinions coming!!!!

Saludos, MadridMan

Well if this is the time to add my two cents... I am not too keen on the rating system either...I agree with some others that it may dissuade some new members from posting comments, and to tell the truth, I was a little self-concious about my comments after the rating system was installed, (remember how sensitive I can be MM )
Anyway, I feel everyone here is invaluable, whether you are asking the questions or giving the advice, we all learn something, don't we(?), and you can't beat the entertaiment value!!

one more thing to remember... i love this site because people are so helpful and friendly. i have planned a wonderful trip to madrid this summer thanks to everyone (and i will check out the camino when in madrid, calibasco). i think the site should remain as it is (if it ain't broke, don't fix it). once you start judging people, the site becomes a popularity pool and not a site for information and people that share a common interest. to avoid people feeling as though they are not good enough to receive five stars or that the information they are providing (which is the best they can provide)is not good enough, i would recommend disabling the rating system. in my eyes, you guys are all five stars. we don't need a rating system to show that...roses.

I, too, support the disabling of the ratings. I don't think they're really very helpful. Actually, I find them distracting - I wonder why certain people have certain numbers of stars, how many people have rated them, who I should give 5 stars to (I wouldn't dream of giving fewer)... And that has nothing to do with Spain! If someone posts information that is wrong or misleading, many fine members correct it politely and immediately.We don't need ratings. Let's get rid of them!

Well, I've not been on the board for long, but so far I wouldn't rate anyone at under 5 stars. Everyone's been extremely helpful and (generally) polite. I don't see the point of rating the members.

I agree! Let us not fall into the so-called rating. We are all members in good standing. Without this board, my recent Spain escapades would not have been magical and memorable. To MM's members who took time to share their experiece and impressions, GRACIAS!
Viva to all MM's members.

Okay folks! The masses have spoken. I don't need to wait until tonight after hearing from all of you, our honorable and -oh-so-wise members. (okay. It's getting a little deep in here. hehehe..)

BE GONE, CLASS-DIVIDING RATING SYSTEM!!!!! You have spoken!! Be gone! Be Gone! (Did I tell you I was trying out for an Off-Broadway play? I'm acting as a tree stump. Hahaha.. Just kidding)

Thanks for your input!!!

Saludos, MadridMan

Thanks, MadridMan and to everyone for posting their thoughts about the subject... no more discussions about stars, on to items involving only MADRID!!!

... well....yes. Madrid and ALL of Spain!!! NO MORE STARS!

This is starring to sound like the Sneetches!

Oh dear.......here we go again! First it was speedos, then capris.....where IS that Anglo-American dictionary?? What are the Sneetches? Oops, rambling again....I didn't mean to get sidetracked, I just wanted to give a cheer for mob rule!

Hi all,

Anchovy - Dr. Seuss from the Sneetches.

Now, the Star-Belly Sneetches
Had bellies with stars.
The Plain-Belly Sneetches
Had none upon thars.

Straight from the Seuss's mouth I guess

They sure are ugly looking critters! Remind me of the first girl I dated
------------------------------------------
Thanks everyone for the kind words. I know that the rest deserved them, along with many that weren't even mentioned, but I'm still kind of new to these boards, and I do have a somewhat "wry sense of humor (Anchovy: humour)" Not everyone likes that.

As far as ratings go, I remember P.T. Barnum, who said;

"You can please all the people some of the time, some of the people all the time, but never please all the people all the time."

Just remember, on a personal note;

"To thine own self be true."

I'm always reminded that one of the longest running, and read items in the Readers Digest is the section called, "Humor is the best medicine." If you keep that in the back of your mind, and laugh at the misfortunes you have along the way, you'll wake up with a smile on your face, have a few belly laughs during the day, and go to sleep with a smile on your face.

If it gets any better than that... I don't know. Anyway, that's my philosophy on life.

Wolf :p

Thanks for clearing that up, Wolfgang. I thought that ........... MY GOD!! I'VE JUST REALISED!! You are the reincarnation of MunchiMike!! Remember him? This should jog the memories http://www.madridman.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=17&t=000127 It's all coming back to me now. He was the chap who wore the wooly sweaters, wasn't he, so I suppose that makes you a Wolf in sheep's clothing?

Anchovy,

Actually, I'm allergic to wool

He's an interesting person, but I'm not him, and he's not me.... I'm the reincarnation of Peter Sellers

Wolf

Drat! I was just going to ask to trade in my 5-star (DeLuxe?) rating for a PG-13 or at least an'R' rating.

First-timers or occasional visitors to the forum should be able to gauge the quality of information or advice they get from a member by the amount of time that member has been
'on board.'

What I would like to see is a little more
'Jaleo'in the discussions. I tell people, for example, that Andalucia gets very hot in the late Spring and Summer, and that Galicia or Cantabria are much more agreeable. We stopped a weekend in Sevilla last September and I couldn't wait to head north. It was just unbearably hot! Tuesday, I was in the Mar Cantabrico at el Sardinero and I was happy. Wednesday we day-tripped to Fuente de in the Picos de Europa.

Let's hear some negative feedback!

I have to agree with Eddie somewhat as far as some negative feedback. I have visited other boards (fodors-they say don't even go to Spain right now.) and appreciate some negative comments, to be able to gauge what some may like and dislike. However, I hate mean comments. But, I do think it is helpful to know if something didn't meet your particular tastes and why. I didn't like the ratings either. But I do like to know if someone has a lot of experience on this board, as some of you do. Such as the jr members and members system. I have planned my entire trip from this board. I'm meeting with so many people when I arrive, I hope we keep it all straight. One of the suggestions,I have is that when people talk about neighborhoods, talk about which direction of the city it is in, and how far away it is from a particular spot, such as the Plaza Mayor. Which seems to be a spot that everyone knows. This way, for people that have never been, the streets and locations won't seem so foreign. I really don't know if some of you are talking about neighborhoods, or suburbs. I feel that I am writing places to go down, but will never find them once I get there, because, I really have no idea where they are. Maybe MM can figure something out that links places with a map? But, thank you all for your advice, and I'll let you know all about my trip. I leave on Tuesday!!

Nic,

Most travel sites rely on the State Department & CIA version of what is and is not safe for travel. Although they offer great information, they are very cautious in their approach because they are specifically selling travel packages. Since you and I live in, or near Chicago, we know that there's more violent crimes that occur in northern Illinois in a week, than there is in Spain, during an entire year.

Of course that doesn't mean you should be any less vigilant during your trip. It just means that your risk of being involved in a violent crime is higher than what the government sees as "normal risk," based on a criteria that I have yet to figure out.

Here's the link to the Canadian advisory: http://voyage.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/destinations/menu_e.htm
and the link to the US State Department advisory: http://travel.state.gov/spain.html

Now here are the US Travel WARNINGS: http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html#s

These are the ones we shouldn't take lightly. I'm always reminded that the sites that post "warnings" when they should be posting "advisories" often do so because they don't know the difference between the two terms, or may even be trying to steer people towards other vacation options for some reason. Although I can't say it is intentional on the part of any site, it does lead to some frustration for anyone who has already began to make their plans.

As for me, I feel safer anywhere in Spain than I do walking from a Chicago area Mall to my car at night.

I hope the three links help you to understand that the scare isn't as bad as some people imagine.

Wolf

Thanks Wolf,
I have been pickpocketed in Chicago. It was a miserable experience, but I have also lost my wallet with money in it for a vacation and had it returned to me with everything in it. MM posted the article that I read from the UK. I've also traveled to Costa Rica, with warnings(much more serious)and had no problems. But, I do know MM well enough, even though I am not a member yet, to know that we are getting off the subject and should be on a different thread.

[ 04-18-2001: Message edited by: MadridMan ]

Hahaha.. You made me laugh out loud, Nic! You WERE reading my mind today. Let's all head over to the Safety & Security Issues forum to continue this, shall we? There's plenty of existing threads which could benefit from this discussion. Thanks!

But to finish out this thread, I'll assume we're all MUCH happier WITHOUT the rating scheme.

I am glad that the rating system was done away with. I have to admit (embarassingly enough) I was a little offended after some people with 20 posts had five stars next to their name because to me it was like saying, nothing I had expressed was of any value after 100. Maybe that still is the case but at least I don't have to think about it everytime I want to put up a post.