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

[vivandorron]

Debator, Newscaster.....It's a fix.

Ron.

[jno]

are the AB bots awarding Best Answers retrospectively and at random? I never knew about most of the ones I've got and I can't believe some of them

http://www.theanswerb...9.html#answer-7209028

[joggerjayne]

But that was an excellent answer, jno.

A pithy masterpiece of social commentary.

[joggerjayne]

... if somewhat brief.

[joggerjayne]

Will there be a badge for "Perseverance In The Face Of Overwhelming Indifference" with a little picture of a netball player on it?

[jno]

very true. I just thought Baldric might have grounds for protest

[jno]

You could be awarded a Jock, JJ.

You may have to gets lots of porridge in for him.

[Hopkirk]

http://4.bp.blogspot..../s1600/it1vntjmob.gif

[joggerjayne]

baldric's answer was also excellent, but not as a stand alone piece of creativity.

Without the "snap", the "crackle and pop" would not have made sense, so I think the original "snap" deserved recognition as the creative foundation stone of the work.

[Baldric]

jno,
85 best answers, am I bothered?
as a matter o fact............

[AB Editor]

"Ed - can we go back through all our own OP threads and select "Best Answer" now? I have never selected one, but I see how important this is to some ABers and I would hate them to miss out on a badge because of my laziness! :)"

Yes you can :) There will be (in the future) a badge for 100+ best answers given.

"I've not got any, I might go and test the deactivate profile button in protest ;) "

If you must protest please protest with Mr. Litoris. I'll only go and reactivate you if you flounce :)

"sounds like a gremlin, Ed?"

Gremlin - or the process of allocation has not finished. Will do in-depth rummaging later.

"You just know that back at AB Towers, Ed now has his head in his hands and his 15th coffee bemoaning "Now WHY did I think this was a good idea..." ."

LOL. This is worse than when I upset everyone - it's like I've given you a Christmas present you don't want! :(

"RE Puzzler badge.Does Quizzes and puzzles include Crosswords?"

Certainly does!

"The Alan titchmarsh award for plant identification and the Bill oddie for bird Identification.. And there should be something for services to the FCOAB"

Next round of badges includes green fingers and twitchery! The acolyte badge should be in your profile Rowan - and I hope it will be later.

[AB Editor]

"are the AB bots awarding Best Answers retrospectively and at random?"

That's probably Ann Jno :)

There's no accounting for Best Answers !

"very true. I just thought Baldric might have grounds for protest"

There is a "quick-draw" badge for those who offer the first answer which is also the best answer. So he might protest rightly!

[Baldric]

No!

[Baldric]

The "No" was following on from my 10:15 post.

[vivandorron]

If the number of Best Answers is being recorded by Computer then we might all qualify for an award. Just go through all our past questions and award ourselves the accolade by pressing the button in our own favour.

Ron.

[AB Editor]

And then you'll get the "LOSER" badge and everyone will know :)

[maggiebee]

Invisible again!! Story of my life.

[Tilly2]

So, no crackerjack pencil then?

[AB Editor]

Do you mean you want the "lets see how far this goes" thread brought back from the dead?

[joggerjayne]

I have 43.

Wasn't that the answer to life, the universe and everything?

Oh, apparently I gave one of those to myself, so I guess it's really 42.