Original Poster

[Brat]

Can you include an icon in a thread that identifies the original poster? I think that would reduce a lot of confusion.

 

[jazz4cash]

great suggestion

 

[Janet H]

Can you include an icon in a thread that identifies the original poster? I think that would reduce a lot of confusion.

Interesting suggestion

 

[Major Tom]

Interesting suggestion

I listened to a program on BBC Radio 4 yesterday in which German comedian and broadcaster Henning Wehn was discussing the differences between English as spoken by Americans, and by the English. One example he used was that of someone telling you that your idea is "interesting". If that person is an American, it most likely does mean that they find your idea interesting. However, as the English tend to be oblique communicators, this phrase as uttered by an Englishman could well mean the exact opposite i.e. "I find your idea utterly devoid of worth".

I suspect that you meant it in the American sense

BBC Radio 4 - This Is Me Totally Sausage

 

[Janet H]

Lol... I sincerely meant interesting and the idea is being looked at with consideration given to implementation issues, as well as how this might impact discussion 'habit' on longer threads..

 

[pb4uski]

I have always thought that would be useful as I have trouble remembering who the OP is.

 

[latexman]

An Engineering forum I belong to does that. The longer the thread, the nicer it is! They identify the OP as follows:


NSNOSA (Mechanical) (OP)


A graphic icon would be too resource intensive, IMO.

 

[Brat]

It need not be a graphic icon just something that easily identifies the original poster.

City-data does that and appears to be using the same software.

 

[ERD50]

Interesting suggestion

... However, as the English tend to be oblique communicators, this phrase as uttered by an Englishman could well mean the exact opposite i.e. "I find your idea utterly devoid of worth".

I suspect that you meant it in the American sense ...

And then there is always:

Thanks for the suggestion

Note that that response is to the same question, from the same OP, dated 07-25-2013. So hopefully, 'interesting' isn't the same as 'thanks'!

http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f32/original-poster-67633.html << 2013 version

BTW, I agreed with the OP back then in that thread, and I still agree! I have seen it in use in other forums, and it is helpful. Whether this software supports it or not, I do not know.

-ERD50

 

[hurricane harry]

Nope. Can't be done.

 

[Brat]

So how does City-Data do it? Example: Thinking of Moving to the PNW - Portland - Oregon (OR) - City-Data Forum

 

[Sunset]

...A graphic icon would be too resource intensive, IMO.

It would be as intensive as 1 of all the green buttons on the page. They are also gif images.

They are not intensive as they are downloaded once to your computer, then used repeatedly from there as a cached item.

 

[cathy63]

So how does City-Data do it? Example: Thinking of Moving to the PNW - Portland - Oregon (OR) - City-Data Forum

That forum uses vBulletin v4.2 while this one is running v3.8.

Nevertheless, a quick Google search gave a solution. I believe inserting this in the poster's info block near the dryer sheets message would probably do it (you need an op.jpg file though).

<if condition="$thread[postusername]==$post[username]"> <img src="op.jpg" alt="Original Poster"> </if>

 

[ERD50]

...
A graphic icon would be too resource intensive, IMO.

I think the admins here need to make that decision. I don't see how anyone from the outside can know what their resource limitations are. And unless you are familiar with vBulletin administration, I don't know how you would know if that would even be a significant resource hit. Considering all the buttons and icons and such there already, it's hard to imagine that would break the camel's back.

Nope. Can't be done.

And why do you say that? Or is that sarcasm?

-ERD50

 

[ERD50]

Interesting suggestion

A week later, is it still interesting?

-ERD50

 

[Chuckanut]

I would also like to see an icon that indicates if the current response has anything to do with the original question or thought that started the thread.

 

[ERD50]

I would also like to see an icon that indicates if the current response has anything to do with the original question or thought that started the thread.

I like chocolate.

-ERD50

 

[rodi]

I like chocolate.

-ERD50

I like pie.

 

[redduck]

ERD50 likes chocolate, Rodi likes pie...

Here's what I like: (except I don't really like tea)

 

[samclem]

I can see how identifying the OP could be useful, and would be happy to have it. But in my case I almost always enter the site at the "Today's Threads" or "Subscribed threads" (if I'm in a hurry) page, and I note the OP's name as I click on the thread title to open it. But, yeah, sometimes I forget who it was after reading a dozen new posts on a thread. After a few pages of posts, it often doesn't mater because discussion of the OPs question has been finished and we're off chasing another shiny ball--which is part of the charm.

 

[soupcxan]

I would like a gold star, indicating high quality content, to appear next to all my posts.

 

[braumeister]

How about a number attached to each post showing how wise you would be to read it? I was thinking of a range from 0 to 1,000 based on two factors: the overall quality of the poster, calculated by number of posts divided by number of thanks received, and the relevance of the current post to the original thread starter, based on keyword analysis.

Each of these factors would have to be calculated according to an arcane, convoluted formula using obscure functions and highly variable constants. Then they would be combined into a single number for an easy check as to whether it would be worth your while to read it.

In a surprisingly short time, experienced posters would figure out ways to game the system and we would decide it was no longer worthwhile. But it would be fun for a week or two.

 

[Bestwifeever]

Someone needs to do a poll about this burning issue.

 

[soupcxan]

How about a number attached to each post showing how wise you would be to read it? I was thinking of a range from 0 to 1,000 based on two factors: the overall quality of the poster, calculated by number of posts divided by number of thanks received, and the relevance of the current post to the original thread starter, based on keyword analysis.

Each of these factors would have to be calculated according to an arcane, convoluted formula using obscure functions and highly variable constants. Then they would be combined into a single number for an easy check as to whether it would be worth your while to read it.

In a surprisingly short time, experienced posters would figure out ways to game the system and we would decide it was no longer worthwhile. But it would be fun for a week or two.

I'll support this proposal if you involve a logarithm in the calculation somehow.

 

[Chuckanut]

How about a number attached to each post showing how wise you would be to read it? I was thinking of a range from 0 to 1,000 based on two factors: the overall quality of the poster, calculated by number of posts divided by number of thanks received, and the relevance of the current post to the original thread starter, based on keyword analysis.

Each of these factors would have to be calculated according to an arcane, convoluted formula using obscure functions and highly variable constants. Then they would be combined into a single number for an easy check as to whether it would be worth your while to read it.

In a surprisingly short time, experienced posters would figure out ways to game the system and we would decide it was no longer worthwhile. But it would be fun for a week or two.

+1 and excellent idea. I would suggest that you might also include a bit of quantum physics in the algorithm so as to account for people who can have two opposing opinions at the same time.