BKF new feature - Experience for points/levels/ratings

[mrskal]

I too must say, thanks for this board, I would be lost without it and all the posters. I hope you can get it out to the rest of the BK'ers in the world, they probably need it just as much as the rest of us!

[Freddy03]

I will say this - I LOVE THIS BOARD!!

I was a frequent poster on another board (mainly for fighting credit card lawsuits) and this board is so well organized & the posters here do NOT judge anyone. I have been so much happier since I've found this board.

I have passed this site along to everyone I know who is thinking of filing BK.

Welcome back Spam Queen (Tobee).....LOL

[tobee43]

Our ultimate goal is to grow the Bankruptcy Forum ten fold.

There are over 1 million people filing for bankruptcy every year, yet we only have 30,000 of them. That means hundreds of thousands of people do not know even know about this valuable resource. I see no reason why we can't have 300,000 bankrupt fellows getting together every day.

Times of blindly hiring a lawyer, paying him, and being ignorant about everything are gone. In this day and age people must become part of the online community, join the online conversation; even if you have a lawyer, knowledge is power.

I am looking for ways to not only encourage lurkers to participate but also to motivate the old timers to stay with BKF, as they have the most insight about everything.

I can see now that general consensus is that the experience info is valuable (thanks for speaking up), I will be turning it back on soon.

In the meanwhile, if you guys have any idea on how to go from 30,000 members to 300,000 members, please let us know here.

thanks so much laz for all your efforts! i also am really hoping this great site continues to grow.

also thanks for giving me back my jewelry...i look so much better now..

[AngelinaCatHub]

Our ultimate goal is to grow the Bankruptcy Forum ten fold.

There are over 1 million people filing for bankruptcy every year, yet we only have 30,000 of them. That means hundreds of thousands of people do not know even know about this valuable resource. I see no reason why we can't have 300,000 bankrupt fellows getting together every day. This will probably be a self fulfilling prophecy the way the economy is going.

Times of blindly hiring a lawyer, paying him, and being ignorant about everything are gone. In this day and age people must become part of the online community, join the online conversation; even if you have a lawyer, knowledge is power. You got that right. Cost me an unnecessary $10,500.00 for my ignorance and an incompetent lawyer.

I am looking for ways to not only encourage lurkers to participate but also to motivate the old timers to stay with BKF, as they have the most insight about everything. We who are here, and have actually learned the secret to the "new start" will be here. This has become a "FAMILY".

I can see now that general consensus is that the experience info is valuable (thanks for speaking up), I will be turning it back on soon. I a bit ashamed to admit miss the 'junk'. I did like the proficiency rating, some (not all) the awards, the bars NOT AT ALL, the achievements some but "friends?" as an achievement? NO.

In the meanwhile, if you guys have any idea on how to go from 30,000 members to 300,000 members, please let us know here You can bet on it. We love this place. .

LAZ, you indeed have a wonderful place here with wonderful people. I have "lurked" in others and find them to be very superficial if not rude to many. It is not my nature to be that way, and if ever I am (and I have been in error and apologized.) I want to be corrected. Thank you for your Forum and your good business decision that have made this what it is today. It will get that 300K. Suggestions coming (you asked for it.). 'Hub

[ccsjoe]

Laz, maybe some better exposure on search engines would help with the goal. I think that can be done fairly inexpensively. I tell you though, that, for me at least, when I dscovered this forum I was reluctant to sign up thinking I was probably gonna get spammed to death like many other sites out there. Maybe attempting to distinguish the site from other, more commercial sites, will encourage more people to register....something like "A no-spamming, no-solicitation community of bankruptcy resources and research"....I don't know, just ideas, but it would have made me register sooner I guess.

EDIT-Missed the for suggestions click here section of your last post, sorry. Clicking there now!

[backtoschool]

Thanks for listening Laz!

[laz]

most of the credit goes to the community and our moderators

[free2breathe]

Thank you, laz, for everything you do. This forum is indeed invaluable, as is the feeling of acceptance when a newbie comes here looking for information, help, a shoulder to whimper on. I know that running a forum is time consuming and can be very frustrating. So again, thanks!

[laz]

Our ultimate goal is to grow the Bankruptcy Forum ten fold.

There are over 1 million people filing for bankruptcy every year, yet we only have 30,000 of them. That means hundreds of thousands of people do not know even know about this valuable resource. I see no reason why we can't have 300,000 bankrupt fellows getting together every day.

Times of blindly hiring a lawyer, paying him, and being ignorant about everything are gone. In this day and age people must become part of the online community, join the online conversation; even if you have a lawyer, knowledge is power.

I am looking for ways to not only encourage lurkers to participate but also to motivate the old timers to stay with BKF, as they have the most insight about everything.

I can see now that general consensus is that the experience info is valuable (thanks for speaking up), I will be turning it back on soon.

In the meanwhile, if you guys have any idea on how to go from 30,000 members to 300,000 members, please let us know here.

[tobee43]

if i wasn't so tired i would surely say something very profound.....other than... ( we didn't get back from the airport until 3 am this morning YUCK!)...and, let's make this perfectly clear.........MY necklace was the biggest...period. LOL!!!!!!!!!!

and although i have my cute 90 plus old parents that just arrived from san fran last evening with me for the next week...i'm so GLAD i will not have to rush and get my posts quota up for the say....LOL!!!!!!!

once again honestly, i joked about the trinkets, but there was a bit of fun to it. either way, i hope the forum just continue to be an informative and "safe" place for those to come that need some advise, or just need a hand held.

personally, i met some of the nicest people ever, i have learned so much...and for that i'm very grateful!!

[AngelinaCatHub]

Maybe Laz can give people the option of having the "rewards" (for lack of a better term) and experience bars. That way those that want the bells and whistles can have them, and those that don't have the option to turn it off if they desire. I dont necessarily agree with the way the "experience" part was/is calculated because its purely based off of the number of posts and activity - not the actual content therein - so I'm not sure how anyone can surmise expertise vs. activity the way it was set up.

At any rate - if its possible to do (I dont know - I've never created a forum so I dont know how it all works when it comes to formatting, etc.) I think the option of having an "on/off" capability would be great compromise to all. I'm all about just ensuring the forum stays - "jewelry" or not - doesnt matter to me - so long as everyone stays put

???

I agree Pandora, and my necklace is still bigger than yours. Anyway, there is a way. I'm not familiar with this forum software, I used another brand and you can do an awful lot with the software.

Your and my profile is not private. Put the awards and stuff there. If you are "befriending" a member, you are likely to visit their profile and I do often and view peoples friends list and stuff. That is where you could see peoples "achievements".

Like you, this place means so much to me and Mrs. C. It has become an integral part of our lives, and we have well recovered from the trauma of bk. We do remember it VERY well and all the more reason to wish to help those who are hurting.

I kinda regret putting my Thread up as LAZ changed the forum about that time. I pray it was coincidental as I have no pull stronger than any other poster here. LAZ is LAZ and will do what he thinks is best for this place. He sure hasn't been wrong often as it is the best and most civil bk forum on the Net. Check most others out and you will find Trolls and scrappers all over them. Here is true help and good people helping future New Starts, get by their pain.

Just my take. 'Hub

[Pandora]

Maybe Laz can give people the option of having the "rewards" (for lack of a better term) and experience bars. That way those that want the bells and whistles can have them, and those that don't have the option to turn it off if they desire. I dont necessarily agree with the way the "experience" part was/is calculated because its purely based off of the number of posts and activity - not the actual content therein - so I'm not sure how anyone can surmise expertise vs. activity the way it was set up.

At any rate - if its possible to do (I dont know - I've never created a forum so I dont know how it all works when it comes to formatting, etc.) I think the option of having an "on/off" capability would be great compromise to all. I'm all about just ensuring the forum stays - "jewelry" or not - doesnt matter to me - so long as everyone stays put

???

[Freddy03]

Here's the funny thing, and I don't know if this is even possible, but I agree with both you AND 'Hub. I kinda liked being colorful and sparkly (sound like my 5 year old speaking now). But I also had concerns about the type of activity the gathering of the sparkles would generate. So, um, yeah, I'm going to take a bit of an unpopular position here. I'm pretty bland looking right now folks.

Bottom line for me: The functionality here. As long as people continue helping and being helped, hey, the rest is bells and whistles. I like my bells colorful though.....lol.

Agreed

[AngelinaCatHub]

Here's the funny thing, and I don't know if this is even possible, but I agree with both you AND 'Hub. I kinda liked being colorful and sparkly (sound like my 5 year old speaking now). But I also had concerns about the type of activity the gathering of the sparkles would generate. So, um, yeah, I'm going to take a bit of an unpopular position here. I'm pretty bland looking right now folks.

Bottom line for me: The functionality here. As long as people continue helping and being helped, hey, the rest is bells and whistles. I like my bells colorful though.....lol.

OK, OK, Joe, if it weren't for two great poster I have just come upon, while "enduring" election results, I have to agree that seeing all that colorful 'junk' is kinda naked in my corner too.

My main concern was simple: Not to inspire people to post for "prizes, or rewards". That makes for busy posts not productive information or 'first aid'.

If a compromise would be a bit more, err.... delicate, regarding "rewards" by raising the limits, I could see a healthy middle. My biggest objection was and is, not the point system but the bottom line of "what have you done for us lately" bar. If I can't post because I'm out of town, I'm zero. If I set at 79 and am 90% to become point 80, I don't want to post to "fake it" to get my 10% to become an 80. I don't want to compete with my peers. Not for points or prizes. I want those who have their heart in this forum as so many of us who have been here far beyond our discharge, to just help people. I was proud of my award and do miss it. I didn't earn it, I deserved it as my heart was in it. That is what I am saying.

If I seem to be backing up, I am. Not completely, but I honestly regret posting my opinion, and I sure do not want that to happen as it would harm our "home". I have a right to rethink this and again I've said it before, it is not my decision and I am not the engineer of this train. I know LAZ reads this. He is a wonderful person with good managerial ideas as there are other bk forums out there, none as fine or as successful as this one.

I vote for a compromise. If I knew how to put a poll up, I'd do that now. I'm only a computer expert, but I'm a tired one. So you all get my feelings on this bit of controversy. 'Hub

[ccsjoe]

Here's the funny thing, and I don't know if this is even possible, but I agree with both you AND 'Hub. I kinda liked being colorful and sparkly (sound like my 5 year old speaking now). But I also had concerns about the type of activity the gathering of the sparkles would generate. So, um, yeah, I'm going to take a bit of an unpopular position here. I'm pretty bland looking right now folks.

Bottom line for me: The functionality here. As long as people continue helping and being helped, hey, the rest is bells and whistles. I like my bells colorful though.....lol.