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

[AB Editor]

"I'm surprised buildersmate has only one badge and that's for debating rather than his expertise on HR and planning issues"

This is because we don't have any badges in H&G yet. He certainly will in the next batch.

[factor-fiction]

Thanks, although i was thinking more about his answers in Law and Jobs& Education rather than H&G. I suppose we should probably wait a week or so until it settles down.

[MarkRae]

Obviously it's just a bit of fun, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't matter if it works correctly or not!

Can't you hide the "badges" tab on profiles until everything's been fixed...?

[AB Editor]

How would we know if it was broken if you couldn't tell us Mark?

We might do a google and stick the words "beta" on it :)

The feedback is really important and we do really appreciate it.

[MarkRae]

> How would we know if it was broken if you couldn't tell us Mark?

Testing?

[NoMercy]

I think these badges are causing too much fuss.

[Lie-in King]

Afternoon Ed -

"You mean going to this page: http://www.theanswerb...uk/badges/quick-draw/ crashes the site for you?"

Yes.

[Baldric]

LiK
I just tried it (IE9) and yes it did.

[Lie-in King]

Hi Balders - I'd forgotten about IE! I crashed with Firefox & Chrome.

[AB Editor]

The link LiK produced is broken. Please test again with this link:

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/badges/

[DTCwordfan]

ditto Chrome

[Lie-in King]

Apologies, Ed - that page has always worked for me, I meant I crash when clicking "Quick Draw". I haven't tried any of the others, to be fair...

[Baldric]

(12:32) Worked for me Ed.

[Mick-Talbot]

mmmm , now if I try to say ....... gobshite .....?

[DTCwordfan]

working here and the site response speed has gone up.

What about a badge for 100 best answers?

[AB Editor]

The solution might be to paginate those long pages.

[AB Editor]

Like a "100 club"?

[DTCwordfan]

Exactly Ed - with 200 = 100 Club with Bar. (when/if I get there, mine's a Sipsmith on the rocks, twist of lime).

[wolf63]

If I opt out of the 'Badges' can I just get a bar of Galaxy chocolate sent to me instead?

[vivandorron]

Hi B00....It's only now that I have read your posting to me. All I can say is "Fair comment" Viv would be really upset if we fell out of friendship; and I would as well.

Boxtops....I concur with your view and, if it is possible, the Ed should have a special medal for Diplomacy.

Ron.