New ABJD Links Directory now open!

[Admin]

Hi everyone!

We're pleased and excited to announce a new addition to Resinality - a Links Directory (http://www.abjds.com/links/)!

We felt that an organised, categorised directory of links was something that was really lacking in the BJD world.. so we've added one. :D

Anyone can browse the directory, visit the links, read the comments, etc, whether they're logged in or not. You need to be a registered member of the forum in order to add links or to comment, but there's no post requirement; this is merely to cut down on anonymous spammers or trolls putting useless links in the directory.
(And just like the rest of the forum, you can use the report button http://www.abjds.com/forum/styles/resin/buttons/report.gif to report inappropriate links, just in case spammers or trolls do get in.)

The directory has a commenting system that works similar to posting in threads on the forum. Using this, you can leave further feedback or information for a link than is just in the initial post. For example, if you wanted to discuss your experience with a certain company or seller listed, you could post it there. If you had more information or advice about services, informational sites, or forums, you could write that in the comments too. This makes the link directory more useful for everyone.

We've added some links to get you started, but we're a long way from done -- we need your help to fill it out and make it a truly useful resource! So please take the time to look through it and add any links that you can think of. And feel free to leave more information for links already added if we've missed anything, so that we can flesh them out as needed.

We'd also love your feedback -- if there are any categories you can think of that might be useful, we'd love to know. If you think the categories or descriptions we've added aren't obvious enough, we'd love to hear what you think would be more suitable.

There's also one feature we're not 100% sure on and we'd appreciate your advice. The links directory has a 'ratings system' built in to it that we can enable, which allows you to rate sites from 1 to 5 stars. Then a total from all ratings will be calculated for each site and shown next to it.
We think this could be a useful feature but we can also see the potential for abuse. So we thought we'd ask what you think. Do you think the ratings feature would be useful or not? Would you use it?
(Keep in mind that, like adding links and commenting, only registered users can rate sites and only once per site.)

Overall, we really hope that the links directory is useful for you and we'll be very grateful to you all if you can help make it even bigger, better and more useful. :D

[nikita]

We really want some feedback on this new feature so please let us know what you think! :dance

[Melaidhrin]

I would find a ratings system useful. If a site looks great and has fantastic things but has a one star rating, a little research would be in order to see if that rating is deserved, and if so why. I can see how such a system may be abused, but that's where doing your own research comes in. I would view the stars as a quick, at-a-glance, feedback kind of thing. :oops

[sgtgeorgecarter]

Well my only thing is that it weren't a 4+ star experience shopping at a site, I wouldn't recommend them in the links because I wouldn't use them ever again.

Do people actually list sites they have had bad times with?

[Sol-leks]

Being able to rate shopping sites based on users' past experiences would be very helpful. But for personal sites, I think it would be a bit... awkward to say the least. :sweat

[Cloud]

I love the links directory! I can finally find what I'm looking for all in one place.

[Karhys]

I would find a ratings system useful. If a site looks great and has fantastic things but has a one star rating, a little research would be in order to see if that rating is deserved, and if so why. I can see how such a system may be abused, but that's where doing your own research comes in. I would view the stars as a quick, at-a-glance, feedback kind of thing. :oops

That was largely my thoughts on the matter too, but we really wanted to hear what other people thought. :) Obviously we're hardly the end-all and be-all of what makes Resinality tick, so we'd rather know what the rest of you think as well! Thanks for the feedback!

Well my only thing is that it weren't a 4+ star experience shopping at a site, I wouldn't recommend them in the links because I wouldn't use them ever again.

Do people actually list sites they have had bad times with?

I tend to agree -- but there's also sellers that seem to be good for some people but totally screw others over. Just look at the infamous Kakyuu for example, who had stellar feedback despite all the bad things she was doing. Or BJDollarama (or whatever name she goes by this time) who has had countless dreadful deals, but still plenty who will vouch for her. In those sort of instances I think the 'comments' section which will allow more feedback will be more useful than the ratings system.

Being able to rate shopping sites based on users' past experiences would be very helpful. But for personal sites, I think it would be a bit... awkward to say the least. :sweat

Yes, I totally agree with you on that one, and thank you; that is a very pertinent point. Thankfully, we can turn on the ratings as a per-category thing. So we could easily turn it on for the shopping sites but not turn it on for personal sites. :)

I love the links directory! I can finally find what I'm looking for all in one place.

Thank you! I'm glad that it's helpful to you. :D

[bunnyscotch]

It would be very helpful especially to newcomers (like myself) to have as much info as possible when wading into the deep waters of BJD. I am all for it!