terratogen wrote:
] How about a significance rating system. One set of radio
] buttons for significance (Impending, Important, Neutral,
] Trivial, and Personal).

As with many options, this data can be useful, but it should added only if it can be integrated with the reputation agent. That is, the system (the agent, specifically) must behave differently on the basis of this significance attribute.

Also, entering the metadata business risks getting mired in endless incompleteness. One can never have enough options to suit every occasion. Just as with the existing topics system, an entry will often fit partially into several topics.

Finally, there must be a careful balance between sophistication for the power user and simplicity for new and casual users. My feeling was that a two-level system achieved the goal with minimal additional complexity. A N-level priority scheme could very much put the system's ease of use at risk.

RE: On The Relative Importance and Urgency of Memes, and a Modest Proposal