I just noticed that an average thread gets three stars, a bad one gets two stars, and a terrible one gets one star. Unrated threads get no stars. I would think that a star or two stars means that a thread has a few votes and it's probably pretty good. I don't know much about vBulletin hacking, but I would suggest using a different icon for bad or terrible threads, no icon for average, and a star or two stars for highly rated threads. I can go with the current ratings, now that I understand what they are, but it would have been easier if I realized that a two-star rating meant that a thread was not liked by the community.
In general, most forum members don't bother with rating threads. In my experience, threads are usually rated initially either because members thought it deserving of 4-5 stars or someone is trying to draw attention to an underserving thread (again, for 4-5 stars). Threads that show 1-2 stars have usually been heavily voted down to counteract the latter case. YMMV.
I dunno nevetS, I've been an internet junkie and the vbullitin convention is understood by those who visit a lot of forums. Maybe it's just you. I guess it was confusing at first, but you have to think of it like a movie rating. If there are no stars, "this film has not yet been rated." Just like in the movie industry, some threads were just released, don't deserve to be rated, or don't need to be rated.
Well maybe Shawn should develop some custom code that will not allow threads to be rated until they have 10 posts or so. Next a pop up/under could be developed that could ask the reader to rate the thread automatically if they read the entire thing. PS: Please send my payment for the above suggestion by PayPal
I like how this thread got 1 star... I guess it's a terrible idea LOL. Like I said, I could get used to it pretty quickly, just confusing at first. I wouldn't spend much time on this idea, but if it was as simple as changing an image referrence, then I'd do it. (I don't know if a five star thread is a separate image or five images repeated)
Looks like it has 3 stars now and as more folks vote it will go up, don't lose hope, it is a good thread and TOPS and some others have been asking members to use the system so they can spot good threads quickly.