Adding ratings

1/2 star.

Now that I've said that, let me explain a little. What would the rating be based on? I might like something that you can't stand so our ratings would be entirely different. The way it is currently a user makes their own choice about downloading a file and if it could be useful or not and is not swayed by the opinion of others.

it would never work.

wow... I love an open mind. I did not say I had the specifics worked out. I was solicitng feedback on the concept.

If you visit hundreds of websites, there are ratings that are based on "peoples opinions". They are always subjective.

But thanks for the feedback anyway.

rate POIs. For the legions of people who have compiled POIs, taking so much time to crawl a company's web site, making sure that the coordinates are not too far from the right location (given the multiple coordinates that different web sites give when you enter street addresses), ensuring that it is reliable for users and keeping tab of changes on those companies web sites etc, it would be not too encouraging for someone to come to this site, download it and then with some subjective thinking rate it as s/he sees fit. Even when the coordinates are way off, people on this web site take their precious time to give the right coordinates to those who compiled the POIs (a better way to "rate" in my view); when the location changes, the same thing happens. Mere downloading and rating would not do enough justice to the many who do a heck of a job to keep these things updated/correct. These are things that people do not as full time vocations but just to make driving easier for their fellow human beings. To subject them to the scrutiny as one would do to Toyota or Apple or other "manufacturers" would not encourage many POI makers/compilers here. To a great extent here, quality is assured by the constant editing, addition, removals and corrections that take place all the time. A look at the POI files page would show that much.

When I usually try to decide what to use or not, I usually go by the number of downloads and how active/up-to-date the item is. I would have a hard time rating a McDonald's POI as a 10, even though it might have everything anyone would want, just because I hate fast food. But if someone posted a POI that I would use daily, but only had what is needed to work, then my rating would probably be higher than someone else who has little use for it.

I go along with jfulton.The number of downloads and how updated the file is gives me a good idea on it merits.Once I open it up and see what data is included then I make the choice to download it.This grading system that is suggested is used on another site I use to visit.I found that most users didn't take the time to rate a file and some ratings very questionable.It did show number of downloads to any one interested in downloading the file which I did like.Would hope we see some other new features for the site right now.Like page showing all of our custom pois we are responsible for and list would included the ones we have downloaded from other file owners with time stamp showing last update on each file.