Commenter Level - either make it fixed or separate it from Accolades

1. 86

   Marisa Wrightposted 9 years ago

   An Accolade is an award for an achievement.  But Commenter Level isn't an award for achievement - it's just a measure of your commenting activity at that point in time.   In that sense, it's more like Hubber Score. 
   
   The trouble is that people think it is an award for achievement and they're surprisingly devastated when it drops.  Personally I don't care, but it's obvious that it's deeply upsetting to some of our most active Hubbers. 
   
   So, I'd suggest that Commenter level should be removed from Accolades, especially as it's already displayed elsewhere. Some people will still be upset if it fluctuates, but at least they won't think you've snatched a statuette unfairly from their cabinet. 
   
   Alternatively, if it's to stay in Accolades, it should be a one-way street - once you've achieved a certain commenter level, you can't drop back.  That makes some sense - after all, if you're good at commenting and then are unable to do it for a while, that doesn't diminish the quality of your existing comments.

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   1. 0

      calculus-geometryposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Doens't the "Helpful Hubber" accolade also disappear if you haven't been helpful in a while?  Might as well make that permanent too.  Or it should instantaneously convert to a frowny face "Unhelpful Hubber" accolade.

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      1. 86

         Marisa Wrightposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         The other Accolades can change too - but the others aren't subject to daily fluctuation, as Commenter Level and HubberScore are.

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   2. 78

      LuisEGonzalezposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Amen to that!!!

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   3. 70

      Matthew Meyerposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      There is an explanation in the FAQ regarding which accolades are permanent and those that are not.
      http://hubpages.com/faq/#accolades
      Other Accolades celebrate different ways people contribute to the site. These Accolades come and go depending on how active you (and your Hubs) are on the site and include:
      Great Commenter
      Popular
      Great Discussion Starter
      Great HubPages Citizen
      Engaging Writer
      

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      1. 86

         Marisa Wrightposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         I know they are explained, Matt, but how many people read all the FAQ's before they start?
         
         I'm making the point that of all the Accolades, the Commenter level is by far the most volatile.  If it upsets people, the best you can offer is "it doesn't matter" which sounds unbelievably feeble!

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   4. 86

      bravewarriorposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Marisa, why are you duplicating my forum question? I think this issue has been exhausted on the forum I posted a few days ago. I don't know what you're after, but this issue has already been addressed - by me!

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      1. 86

         Marisa Wrightposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         No it hasn't.  You posted in a community forum. If you want something changed at HubPages, the correct procedure is to post it in the Suggestions forum - that is the only place where it will be formally considered.     I was trying to be helpful so that people like yourself would not be needlessly upset in future.  Pardon me for trying to be helpful, I will not bother in future.

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         1. 86

            bravewarriorposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            I wasn't trying to change anything. I was looking for an explanation and whether or not other hubbers' commenter status had been reduced. You began this forum with the comment you left on mine almost verbatim.

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            1. 86

               Marisa Wrightposted 9 years agoin reply to this

               Yes, that was inevitable since that was what I wanted to say. I'm afraid I don't see your problem.  You got an explanation on the other thread and still continued for several pages to complain about it - and others expressed their unhappiness with the setup of this accolade too. 
               
               Given that, it seemed only sensible to make the suggestion formally, and therefore avoid a repeat of that situation, which would benefit everyone.  I am not a believer in sitting around moaning about something, but doing nothing about fixing it.

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2. 85

   rebekahELLEposted 9 years ago

   I never pay attention to my accolades.  I don't understand why people get hung up on commenter level.  I'm not even sure what mine is without checking.

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   1. 86

      Marisa Wrightposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Neither do I, but it's like Hubber Score - there always seems to be a group of Hubbers who set great store by it, and who get extremely upset when it falls.   The moderators' response is usually to reassure people it's not that important (which is what I'd say, too) - but that's not a satisfactory explanation for those people - they would say, if it's not that important why have it?

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      1. 0

         calculus-geometryposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         I think management has a naughty streak and they like making a certain type of hypersensitive person get upset about meaningless and confusing metrics.
         
         On the one hand I find it very unprofessional of staff to toy with these brittle people and their emotions.  But on the other, these hypersensitive people really need to grow up and get some perspective in life. Maybe I'm also naughty for laughing when I read their unhinged rants about accolade trivialities.

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3. 85

   rebekahELLEposted 9 years ago

   When I first joined, I used to comment more frequently.  At that time there wasn't a commenter level that I can recall.  I've never thought too much about it.

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4. 79

   LeanManposted 9 years ago

   The accolades are there to drive behavior just like the gold stars in primary school. HP want people to comment on hubs and do other stuff on the site so by giving awards they ensure that a percentage of the people here will do just that.
   
   The hub score is the same, people will add extra capsules and make longer hubs just to try to get higher scores - the thinking being that google will approve of longer richer hubs......
   
   The trouble is some people get fixated on the stars and lose the big picture. Remember the kid in class that would cry if they did not get a star for everything that they did?
   
   There is also the problem that like most of the "scores" on HP there is no clear understanding of what you need to achieve to get a specific score so in many ways the scores are more able to demoralize people than inspire them.
   
   Personally I really don't give a flying tom tit about the scores - as many of the experienced hubbers will tell you - its visitors and $$$ that count.....

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   1. 91

      Jodahposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      There appear to be two separate groups of hubbers here. Those who's main purpose is the community fellowship here, exchanging comments and writing for pleasure and the personal development of their writing (these people are concerned with their Hub and commenter scores), and those who are more concerned with the money making aspects and not concerned with commenting or the levels and accolades associated (other than keeping their Hubber score above 86). I agree with thee proposal put forward by Marisa.

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5. 85

   DzyMsLizzyposted 9 years ago

   I agree with Marisa.
   
   As one of those who personally does not give a rat's patoot about such fluctuating and fickle "scores," I prefer to spend my time having fun exchanging comments with other Hubbers, and spending social time in the forums, as well as offering what meager help I am able.
   
   I know there are others who have been here far longer than I, and whose advice is superior, so I'm not always in the best position to offer help.
   
   Goodness knows, I've had to ask for plenty of help myself.  But, what I have learned, I am willing to share, and if that helps any of my overall 'scores,' so be it; but that is not my goal.
   
   (Although, I do notice that every time one of these threads pops up, the response of staff is simply to refer the questioner to the FAQs page, which, IMO, rather evades the issue.  They seem unwilling to acknowledge that there may be a problem with the concept, and that perhaps they should agree to have a meeting and re-think the various malleable 'accolades,' instead of just saying, 'read the FAQs.' )

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   1. 70

      Matthew Meyerposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      We are trying to concentrate our engineering efforts on new features that help authors publish better content more easily. Accolades have little impact on new viewer engagement (a Hub finding readers), traffic, or other critical functions and as such are not currently a high priority for feature development.

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6. 72

   relacheposted 9 years ago

   Those of you who keep insisting you don't care, why are you driving this discussion then?

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   1. 85

      DzyMsLizzyposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      perhaps to try and rid HP of things that "don't drive viewer engagement," and are rather useless, and cause these issues to continue being raised....

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