Can we have a [star] emoticon, pretty please?

What BoF said. I can't really understand how it would be used except in an odd showyoffy kind of way.

What next? [Rainbow]? [Sprinkled Glitter]? Sorry, not keen either. This is a site for grown ups.

I don't want to sound hard-nosed but part of what great about this place is the accepted intelligence of the vast majority of the posters. Generally, we're also a pretty articulate bunch and able to express cheers and well-doneness.

The fantastic work done by posters (e.g. amazing contributions towards blankets and other appeals) is understood by everyone to be important, useful, pride-inducing and so on. The posters who do this work don't need gold stars. They have satisfaction instead, and the true appreciation of their peers.

You have my vote! The blankets really show the best of MN, truly lovely.

But, BOF, as an emoticon as opposed to award, it couldn't really be used like that. I quite like it.

I know what Lebojof is saying - and things could get out of hand if there started to be effectively icons by names for different things. We might end up like other forums with avatars and sparklies and things . You'd have a skull and cross bones for those on knitting threads, and a dog or a cat (or a fish etc) for the pet contributors... not quite sure what the TTC people would have . Tech would have a fit! Probably better kept to the individual threads.

Or everyone could get a star, just for loveliness sake.

I think BOF makes a really good point. There's a lot of genuine kindness on here.

I don't think it'd be used like that though.

it's not an award certificate, it's just a star for posters who have been kind.
it can be secret like we said, or public.
does it matter if it gets overused?

I'm voting for the
:)

Hmm, I'm not really keen if I'm honest. I know of LOTS of acts of off-board kindness that go on (one incredibly generous gesture last week from a stranger with her own serious troubles, to an MNer having a hard time, for example, which everyone else will be unaware of) without wider recognition, and in anonymity. I think that institutionalising "medals" in effect, is too close to the previously rejected idea of MN awards "Most X Poster" etc, and could be off-putting or breed resentment in some circumstances.

This is difficult to argue without appearing to denigrate the contributions of posters to the blanket campaigns etc, so responses on the thread may turn out to look more in favour than not. But the OP mentions "supporters" as well as contributors being thanked in this way: how do you know who supported the bereaved MNers? There could be hundreds who haven't posted, but may have been remembering the MNers in their prayers, making private donations to cancer research, even just holding their loved ones extra tight and perhaps changing how they relate to their families out of respect for the MNer's story they have been touched by.

I am concerned that a formal recognition system will undermine the freely-given small gestures that happen every day here, and encourage an 'earning your stripes' attitude, and perhaps, at worst, a 'hands-up' culture which will alienate many.

So while I absolutely support helping fellow MNers and pulling together at special times when appropriate, I feel rather uncomfortable about the idea of 'awarding' stars in connection to any kind or charitable act. Sorry.

Some mad knitters might then decided that as they've knitted 10x the squares of another person that they should have 10 s so you'd need to make sure any rules were well established before it started

If its going to be only for blanket projects, you could have a ball of wool with crossed needles......

Another yes vote here I support the completely - it would be a fab-u-lous thing to have, so come on MNHQ, we need it for amazing people on amazing threads.

So yes please. A [Star] please.

Or keep it next to their name permanently? Would go some way to curtail name changing too (serial namechanger here)

or even 6 months! Lol

Is there a way that MNHQ could add the stars to appear after the person's username for a temporary period, of 6 weeks say,

ie

pinkthechaffinch*

• = gold star

I would like that very much.

It's a lovely idea but I can see it being abused or at least mis-used which would detract from it's meaning

What do we want?

A star

When do we want it?

Now!! (or as soon as you can please thank you very much MNHQ)

What Thumbwitch said.

Can we have a nice, plain, no nonsense one like they have on skype? Don't need a fancy one.

I've even got used to the canabis leaf on the mug by now....

etoile, sterne, astra, stella, hoshi, estrella, najoom, hvězda, tähti stjärna,
zvezda, mga tala, but a gold STAR would do just fine