Does anyone know what the different symbols mean next to Travel Forum posters?

Indicates the number of responses they have posted to questions. Not sure why they do it since you can look at the last line in the name block and the number of responses is posted there.

The gold stars are the coolest. ;-)

b.s. They are they most verbose.

Frank, I thought the stars meant we were sherrifs of the Forum.

I'm with you Dick, let's hear it for the gold stars!

not barred from being sometimes rude while giving good or bad advice prolifically

but it not obvious to most contributes to the bottom line Rick Steves

And the really odd thing is, my star is one of the secret symbols of my college fraternity and relates to the most learner among us. So I know who the good guys are.

Becky - you have been here for over a couple years and you just noticed the badges?? Scroll to the bottom of this page

https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/about-the-travel-forum

A recognition of quantity but not of quality responses.

True Nancy, but not every Dick (or Tom) is worthy of a gold star.

Hang out here for a few more years and you will all have gold stars. Then when newcomers to the forum ask this question again in 2020, you can tell them why you have a gold star.

going to be a while till I get a star but at least I have moved up one level.Much better that Trip[ Advisor where you get to Level 6 after about a week on the website and once there can go nowhere else.

you get $1000 for each level :)

Brad, from Greeley, has a good point. Rick Steves is a Seattle area business. How dare they make some posters feel bad because they don't get the same participation award ;-)

I'd have double this if I had posted all the times I decided I really didn't have anything to add (present post excluded, of course).

I just want to reply so I am one post closer to that gold star ;)

Honestly tho - it does sometimes help me if I'm scrolling thru a post with a lot of replies (mine or someone else's) and instead of having to look for (as an example) my name - I just look for the orange star, then I can stop and see if that was my reply, or if I need to keep scrolling to the next orange star.

Honestly - I think some people just interject words into a thread to boost their star level...as if the Sneeches on the Beeches need more stars upon thars!

Participants should at least be given a certificate...otherwise egos are crushed. [...and one more post]

Is the triangle supposed to be. - 1/2 a star? :)

Oh my. Was expecting maybe just a couple of replies. Thanks for the explanations.

By the time you have posted 807 times, I would think that you would understand how this site works.

Oh, I really like the answers. The Gold Medal is won by Bruce: "A recognition of quantity but not of quality responses." So this could be the reason why some people are posting double or triple responses. Well, sometimes it happens that it posts twice itself but then there is an option to click on delete and get rid of extra posting.

Brad and I can attest that you must need at least 500 posts to get your first merit badge.

Little did you know your question would evoke so many responses!! I have to post one because i have no idea what my symbol is . . . so once I post I can see it! (yes I know I could go look at another recent comment of mine, but what would be the fun in that?!!?)

Edit to add: OOOH! Orange Star!!

There is actually a list with an explanation. See the bottom of his page: https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/about-the-travel-forum

Badges?
New contributors don't start with badges, but as you post more replies, you'll get a badge that marks you as a frequent forum poster. Badges change as you reach posting milestones:
A green badge for someone with 500–1,000 posts
A light blue badge for 1,000–2,499 posts
A yellow badge for 2,500–4,999 posts
A dark blue badge for more than 5,000 posts
A round badge for Rick Steves Travel Advisors and forum moderators

In my case, its a warning.

Kim: There are a lot of responses because everyone is padding their contribution count.

Let's keep this thread going and gain a notch in our belt.

Bruce, you will soon be yellow.

At this rate, I'll never make the lowest tier until a year or so from now...

I want beads. When I was in Campfire Girls we got colored wooden beads for tasks.

I'd like to see points awarded for number of words per post (aka verbosity). And subtracted for spelling (of English words, let's not go overboard) and grammar errors. Sorry, make that grammatical errors.

@Dick -- then there might have to be special badges for "negative" numbers. ;-)
For anyone whose posts mysteriously replicate, you can remove extra copies by clicking on "edit" and then "delete". And you can do the same if you later decide your posting was unnecessarily snarky or tells too much about your personal life or ....

Yes, I agree with you Dick and Laura B. For double or more posting should be some penalty points which would be deducted from the number of posts; for misspelling and other mistakes, too. And each post should be checked if it contains facts or alternative facts.

This will be my 2500th post. I think with this one, I earn my star. Let's see...

Gold Star!

Those with over 10,000 entries are in therapy wondering why they don't have a Shooting Star :)

Congratulation Emily! Now another 2500 posts and you will have the blue badge with gold star.

One more for me!

Brava Emily!!!

he he he he he

Ahhhh, dreaming of a gold star! As for inflating post counts, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDntnp4SSFE.

Badges? We ain't got no badges. We don't need no badges. I don't have to show you any stinkin' badges!

Yes .... so a friend tells me.

I wonder how many current users have more than 10k posts ?

djp_syd, Just looking further up this post, we have: Frank at 16749 posts and Nigel at 17506 posts.
Thee and me still have some way to go.

I think Ken is the winner at 27,840. I can't think of any others that are still posting here, but I'm sure someone will.

27,840 and not a one removed for snark or meanness!

And every one thorough and thoughtful and kind, you're right!

It is time and only time. But I go big chunks of time not posting - rare to post while traveling -- and then it is dozen or so during a week so am not intentionally trying to build big numbers. To quote Dirksen, "Million here and a Million there, and pretty soon you are talking about a big number." My first response was in March, 2007. I think I was posting prior to Ken and pretty sure I was ahead of Nigel.

Frank - my first posts were also in 2007, but clearly I'm much posting much more irregularly than you! I've gone huge chunks of time without posting! I've pretty much only gotten on the forum when I have a trip in the works. I feel a bit guilty about this as I should be on here regularly to help others - not just selfishly for myself:(. I'll try and do better and maybe eventually I'll earn a star also!

Oooh, I just hit the 10,000 mark. I want to lobby for a PURPLE badge (I'll settle for shocking pink) to mark my new achievement (???).

Just upping the count by saying "hi" from Chiang Mai, Thailand where it's going to be another warm sunny day when the sun rises in a few minutes. I watched the fulll lunar eclipse from the rooftop bar of the Raffles Hotel in Saigon last week (which may speak to those of you old enough YIKES to remember the war years).

Yes, Frank, I believe that you and Lee and several others have quite a few years on me. I'm just the new kid on the block compared to you originals.

how about a badge for longevity and self-restraint? I've been a forum member and very occasional contributor since 2009. Haven't hit 500 posts yet...I try to only post personal experiences, since I got smoked a few times early on for posting my web research in response to others' questions. Thanks to everyone who does post suggested itineraries, looks up flight and rail schedules for others etc. I've learned a lot from those posts. Just don't often make 'em myself.

Like Nelly I looked at my profile and according to it I posted first time in 2007. It seems to me that I have been with this Travel Forum longer. I try to go with Bruce from Montana wisdom: Quality over quantity.