Meetup forces us both into an awkward position with the seemingly innocuous star rating system. As a teacher I always wanted feedback. However, I did not want the feedback engraved in large letters on my forehead, nor posted via a big sign on my classroom door. As a student you would never want your GPA posted on your forehead. That would be crazy. However, the situation with Meetup is actually worse, because Meetup via the star rating system broadcasts ratings WORLDWIDE.

The people being rated, the organizers, do all the work for little remuneration! When is the last time you volunteered for 100 hours of service with the result being open to a global type of criticism. I should add that the Meetup people forcing this rating system on us do not allow us to rate them, nor display the rating they would receive on the top of every meetup page.

To better understand why this rating system is so unusual, we need to talk about web hosting companies. Meetup.com is basically an enhanced web hosting company that charges 2-5 times as much as a regular web hosting company for the use of their unique setup and software. [ FYI: A web hosting company is paid to maintain the computer files for a website on a server (fast computers connected to the net). ] If you had a business or personal website, what would you think if your hosting company required you to take criticism on your home page and/or other pages of your website via a star rating system and unchecked comments. Ridiculous? Absurd? It does not happen on the internet, except for Meetup.

And of course, this rating system is not needed. You rate Hiking Around Philly by joining, remaining, and signing up for events. Any potential member can read the home page, home page extended, event write ups, event comments, see thousands of photos, and talk to folks who belong. The meetup sites are superbly designed for users.

Unfortunately while we are stuck with this system, you need to rate each event as 5-star or 0-star (no rating). Eventually I hope Meetup modifies this system realizing their big mistake. (They just significantly modified it on 1/29/11.) If you have a problem following this system, then you need to let me know or just leave the group. If being a critic is more important than enjoying the events and people, then this is not the group for you.

A Sensible Rating System That Does Not Encourage, Nor Allow, Criticism
If a rating system is needed, here's a simple one that does not encourage criticism. Have one rating: really liked the event. If 10 out of 30 people at an event responded that they 'really liked the event', then this could be posted. If only 3 responded this way, any prospective member using ratings would get the idea. I am using this system with my group now: those who really liked an event use 5 stars; otherwise do not rate the event. Most people do not want to be bothered rating an event even if they liked it.