Testimonials

[vickyblueeyez]

Title:
Testimonials

Area:
Posts

Summary:
Testimonials, the ability to leave comments on a users profile, approved by the user.

Description:
Greatest Journal had an interesting feature called Testimonials. With this feature, users commented on communities and user profiles. They would leave feedback such as 'highly recommended,' 'I love this place' or in user profiles. The comments had to be approved by the user. This isn't something that needs to be required. I just liked the feature and wanted to see it here.

Poll #6526 Testimonials

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 81

View Respondents

This suggestion:

View Answers

Should be implemented as-is.
16 (19.8%)

Should be implemented with changes. (please comment)
2 (2.5%)

Shouldn't be implemented.
38 (46.9%)

(I have no opinion)
23 (28.4%)

(Other: please comment)
2 (2.5%)

Comments

[stormy]

I'm torn. I think testimonials are super cute, but I don't think Dreamwidth should need to write an entire code to add them into the profile page (unless one exists out there that's open source). Most of the time I see these just plopped into an entry or pasted into the profile from an entry asking for them.

If you did have this sort of feature, you'd definitely have to add a 'Mark as Spam' option to the approval page.

[eva]

And it would need security levels - something like "Accept Testonials from: Everyone - Members of your circle - No one". Also, it'd need to respect bannings, preventing banned users from contacting you in that way.

[pauamma]

Handling them as comments (except on the profile rather than on an entry) would allow commenters to delete them and edit them, which (I think) would be good if this feature is implemented at all. But if that specific variant isn't desired, I agree that just editing the profile may be enough.

[vickyblueeyez]

Personally, if someone asked to leave a testimonial on their profile, I wouldn't have a problem if they asked or are just fishing for compliments. In addition, the way GJ handled it, I believe it was an opt-in (it's been so long) and even then, you had the ability to approve or deny content before posted.

[marahmarie]

I would vote "implement with changes" but I can't since there's nothing to change in the OP - but something that could be added to it, which might actually change my vote from yes to no on this: if there's a Testimonial spot on a Profile page but no one leaves that Profile owner a testimonial, it could leave the owner of that journal feeling slighted and/or envious of others who do get testimonials. It will be obvious who has them and who doesn't, like how on LJ, there's a Games spot on the profile page, and it's obvious if anyone has games or not just by looking.

So my thought is, if implemented, to save harsh feelings, the Testimonials part of the page could be hidden by default unless someone wants it to show and/or unless someone gets a testimonial they want to add to that part of the page. That way, it looks like you simply may not want to show Testimonials, but doesn't give a clue as to whether you actually received any or not.

[cheyinka]

This would make me feel a little better about Testimonials if they were implemented.

[briar_pipe]

If people want this, it wouldn't bother me that it existed. I do think there's the usual potential for fallout due to relationships imploding or wank, so an editing or deletion option by the original poster would be good. Of course, if a testimonial were edited and there was moderation, the testimonial should probably have to go back into the queue to prevent abuse.

Would there be a timestamp on these, so it's clear when they were posted?

implement with changes

[stephenie_n_lamaina]

Testimonials should be screened. Should be able to have a choice of the limits on who can post them (circle, everyone, etc). Maybe add a rating system instead or with it (*****highly recommended to *not highly recommended).