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[PastorDan]

Somehow, I am listed as a "Top Answerer" in "Neurology."  I'm not sure I've ever been in the Neurology forum; if so, it was for a very brief period.  I've spent a great deal of time in the "Multiple Sclerosis" forum, but when it comes to any other aspect of neurology, I would consider myself lost.

I would suggest that the categories be aligned to better fit with the forums.  Do we have a "Migraine" forum?  Then we should have Top Answerers for Migraine.  Sleep Disorder forum?  Someone should be labeled a Top Answerer for Sleep Disorders.  I know something about dogs, but nothing about pot-bellied pigs, so I shouldn't be labeled as an expert in pets.  Someone with a Guinea pig might think I could help them, which I doubt.

Still skeptical over the whole Top Answerer idea, but I'll give it time, I suppose.  It seems to me that it mostly distracts from the forum atmosphere of comraderie and shared experience, and instead ranks people who would rather be thought of as all on the same level.

One other thought (that you might expect from me): how about a "Spiritual Health" section?  Just a thought.  It could get out of hand pretty easily, with competing doctrines & theologies.  Still, it might be manageable with the right setup.  Just a thought.

Peace & blessings.

[Med Help]

Thanks for all your comments and feedback. The badges are assigned at the category level, but if you go into the forum, the Top Answerers should be members who are actually a member of that community. So even though you have a badge for Neurology, if you go to the Neurology forum, you're probably not listed in the Top Answerer panel unless you're also a member of that community. When you're in MS, the Top Answerers listed should be the ones for MS.

We hope that the badges will help our top answerers get recognized for all the people that they help. The difference between the badge levels can change all the time, so I wouldn't worry about how many badges you have. Just earning a 1-star badge is not easy and we have thousands and thousands of users who come by each day that don't have any badges.

We may make changes to the program in the future and we'll certainly consider your feedback. We have also received a lot of positive feedback on this feature and we will take that feedback into consideration as well.

[katarina777]

Good post! Kat

[margypops]

  Thank you Pastor Dan, I agree with the above posts I am listed on forums I do not do or have experience of ..I gather they lump some forums into one catagory but I feel its misleading ...

[Steve_MHModerator]

There is another discussion about Badges over in MedHelp Social that may be of interest (http://www.medhelp.org/posts/MedHelp-Social/-now--about-those-Badges/show/1212536?show_poll_results=true).

MedHelp has spiritual groups. Here's a sampling:

Spirituality - http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Spirituality/show/636

Addiction : spirituality - http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Addiction--spirituality/show/422

Prayer Group - http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Prayer-Group/show/449

[RadioAstronomyObserver]

I agree with Katarina, very well put.  I, however, am not as moderate as you.  A ranking system should never be involved in a support group as it takes away everything what a support group is.  I do like the idea of giving some people recognition for their knowledge of a particular topic... An example, in the heart disease forum, one particular member has done quite a bit of self educating and will give references to all his posts.  He was recently given "moderator" status and I fully agree to giving this to him and others in other forums if they show some education on the topic.  But to setup a gamming ideology to something that is there to help people is just ill conceived let alone just flat out wrong.  It's my opinion someone(s) with no experience in support group workings has taken over and don't see the stupidity of their actions.

[katarina777]

Very good post; I think we all feel the same way but you say it so well. Amazing that you have not received a response. For myself, I am just passing by. best, Kat