AnswerBank Badges: An Update

[AB Editor]

Good morning.

As some of you may be aware we have a new badge system implemented in The AnswerBank.

See full feature list here: http://www.theanswerb...Question1166360-9.htm

We closed the site for around 4 hours last night to try and get it all up and working - we've managed part of that!

* Badges can be found on your profile under the badge tab.
* You can see the badge of others on their profile - just click their avatar!
* Best answers can now be seen on public and private profiles

For example, see my two badges here: http://www.theanswerb...ers/ab-editor/badges/

The script which runs to generate all badge instances is still running, so expect some fluctuation regarding the number of badges you have gained!

Until the script finishes this page will be empty: http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/badges/ but when it has completed there will be a list of all badges available and how to achieve them.

Here's the short version of how to get each: (NOTE: some of the numbers required have changed)

Definitions:
Debate Topics: News, Society & Culture, Religion and Spirituality
Long Thread: any thread with 60+ answers

Single Case Badges: (Badge with no bronze/gold/silver rankings)

Acolyte: made 100 posts to this thread: http://www.theanswerb.../Question1066858.html
The Motson: 20+ best answers in Football
The Delia: Achieved by achiving both The Motson and any level Michelian star
O.B.N. (Order of the Brown Nose): 15+ best answers marked by AB Editor
The Alan Shearer Punditry Trophy: 200+ answers in Sport and/or it's subsections without recieving a best answer for any of them. (Should this be taken away once a best answer is achieved)
Quick Draw: 10+ best answers which are also the first answers of the thread.
Gobshite - > 99% of posts in Chatterbank

3-Tier Badges: (Badges with bronze/gold/silver rankings)

Debator: taken part in 20/50/70 "Long Threads" in Debate topics
Great Host: Provided 33% of answers on 10/20/50 "Long Threads" they originated
Michelian Star: 10/20/50 best answers in Recipes
Newscaster: Posted 50/70/150 questions in News and/or Current Affairs
Chatterbox - More than 500/1000/5000 posts in Chatterbank
Healer - More than 10/20/50 best answers in Body & Soul (and its sub-topics)
Puzzler - More than 20/50/100 best answers in Quizzes and Puzzles
Legal Eagle - More than 10/20/50 best answers in Law
Agoniser - More than 10/20/50 best answers in Relationships & Dating
Nerd - More than 10/20/50 best answers in Technology (and its sub-topics)
1337ist - More than 10/20/50 best answers in Gaming
Jock - More than 10/20/50 best answers in Sport (and its sub-topics)

In short - we know it's not perfect - but we'll get there sooner rather than later. In the mean-time please:

1. Report any issues you're having here
2. Ask any questions about the upgrade here
3. Hurl general abuse at me here

[LoftyLottie]

I haven't got a chatterbox badge either. Very strange. I have one for debating - perhaps my chatterbank offerings are long winded!!

[sir.prize]

Mark - you are correct. Some people DO care about badges - especially by the dominant scribe on the site that shall not be mentioned.

[missprim]

How many badges do I need before I get a certificate?

[Mick-Talbot]

I'm just glad I haven't got one for being a wobble gob (chatterbox)
imagine the shame ........

[RATTER15]

Ed, are you looking for a "longest thread" badge with this thread?

[AB Editor]

"He's just off to his pit, having found he hasn't got his Quick Draw badge"

I guess the process isn't finished yet. You really ought to have one!

What we're doing is running the allocation process for EVERYONE (our entire 300,000+ database) - once this has happened once we'll look for ways to speed the process. For example we'll only process users who have bee active within the last day. This will mean there will be a smaller delay between earning a badge and seeing it in the profile.

[AB Editor]

"-2- some of these badges are for large amounts of posts etc, therefore only AB'ers of several years will get them .. is that not fair to those with shorter time spans?"

Depends if we're rewarding positive contributions or if everyone needs prizes?

[MarkRae]

> I guess the process isn't finished yet.

That might explain it. I thought that if I was going to get a badge it would be for something related to crosswords or computers, not for participating in long debates which I do only very occasionally...

[Fibonacci]

As I haven't got a badge yet and must confess not sure I'm not really sure I see the point of them in much the same way as I don't really see the point of "best answer" option. Both seem unnecessary additions but I'm sure others find them entertaining.

I, for the moment, will align myself with the following.
http://en.wikipedia.o...ning_a_British_honour

Although I couln't find the AB badge honours listed !.

[AB Editor]

Honours can be found here: http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/badges/

And those who have recieved can be seen by clicking each badge.

[Fibonacci]

er.. ? Ed
"Honours can be found here" - meant listed on the link I gave - I can find them on Ab. !

[AB Editor]

(I know that's not quite what you're suggesting - but it's nice to look at them all together)

Regarding the stuff for newer members - we will think of something which newer members can achieve fairly easily.

[2sp_]

Can we have a pomposity badge, please...

[Bazile]

How about an honour for gaining membership to the clique club ?

[MarkRae]

Don't be daft! The clique doesn't exist. We all know that... ;-)

[vivandorron]

Bev.....Not only can you answer your own question; you can also award it 'Best Answer'. In fact, at the moment, anyone can go through all earlier postings and, providing they have commented in the thread, Click their comment as 'Best Answer'. It will really cause problems to AB's Computerised Programme and could result in an award for 'Best Answers'.

The whole system could be open to abuse and needs to be re-programmed.

Ron.

[mazie]

I think it's just a bit of fun Ron x

[MarkRae]

> The whole system could be open to abuse and needs to be re-programmed.

Honestly, Ron, if this is the biggest issue facing you at the moment, you are a lucky man indeed! It really is just a bit of fun on a Q&A website and of no real-life importance whatsoever...

[ummmm]

You get a special badge for awarding your own answers as best.

[mccfluff]

where is the cake eating badge


don;t tell me Boo's probably eaten it