Abstract: A method for navigating within a message thread on a computer system having a memory and a display, includes the steps of displaying a message on the display, displaying an icon on the display, the icon including a first portion and a second portion, receiving a selection signal of the icon at the first portion of the icon or the second portion of the icon, performing a navigation function within the message thread when the icon is selected, and performing a rating function of the message when the first portion of the icon is selected.

Abstract: A system and method of authenticating and acknowledging, for each user among a group of users, that the user's behavior is a positive contribution to a context. The authentication of positive contributive behavior is based on feedback from other users of the system. The system and method facilitate such user feedback. In one embodiment, the system and method use user feedback to selectively recommend messages in an electronic bulletin board system. In this embodiment, each user acknowledges positive contributive messages authored by other users. The system validates the acknowledgment by checking its consistency with feedback on the same message received from other users. If the acknowledgment is determined to be valid, the system acknowledges the user supplying feedback by awarding value units (points) to the user. To the extent that the author's message is well received, the system acknowledges the author by awarding points to the author.

Abstract: A method for controlling an electronic network of a plurality of users includes the steps of creating a group of users from the plurality of users, determining a policy for the group of users, the policy including decision criteria and directive actions, receiving input from at least one user within the group of users, determining whether a decision criterion is satisfied in response to the input, and performing a directive action when the decision criterion is satisfied.