Reputation: (was: The Scale & Little Green Dots)

[JustAskJulie]

Originally Posted by JustAskJulie

Here it will be "Thumbs Up / Thumbs down". This should be used to rate posts, if you see a post you think is a really great contribution to a thread, or a post that is exactly the opposite click the scale you see on the left side of the post under the posters username, from there you can give the post either a thumbsup or a thumbs down.

Just a reminder that this system is not here to be used as an agree/disagree for the post itself. If you disagree with a post then say so in the thread. The fact that you do not particularly agree with someone's POV does not mean that they should get a negative mark on their reputation because of it.

This system is not for rating the CONTENT of a post, but the quality (if that helps).

[50sLady]

Julie,
I have 3 reputation ratings on my User CP. Two are green, and one is blue. Is there really a blue, or am I going color blind? They all seemed positive comments to me.
Also, is there a connection between the number of ratings on my User CP and the number of green dots showing under my avatar?

[JustAskJulie]

Blue dots are from people who don't have the power to actually affect your rating yet. (see first post for info on what affects the amount of reputations someone can give)

[sweet_tna]

Originally Posted by 50sLady

Julie,
I have 3 reputation ratings on my User CP. Two are green, and one is blue. Is there really a blue, or am I going color blind? They all seemed positive comments to me.
Also, is there a connection between the number of ratings on my User CP and the number of green dots showing under my avatar?

I have the same thing going on my CP, too. I figured as long as it wasn't red, I was doing okay. Thanks for asking the question I never quite got 'round to.

=)

[JustAskJulie]

I've had several questions lately about the reputation system, so I wanted to bump this thread.

[WeUse]

Originally Posted by LikeMinds321

. . . My concern is that when I can't give that person a thumbs up on a post [Immediately] that I found particularly good, I'll forget . . . by the time I'm allowed to give them a rating. . .

This is my concern precisely. It's like rewarding or punishing a kid next week for something they did or didn't do three weeks ago. As a "learning device" it seems problematice at best. As a "leadership move" I question the prudence such an expo facto system. Now, do I get a red dot?

I’m not trying to be a wise-ass! Rather, just not real big into any (direct or indirect) censorship without good cause, even if fairly innocuous as we are all adults with more important things to consider/contribute. For anyone who isn’t sufficiently adult, that will become apparent real soon anyway. Over time, we all produce our own public identity.

Also, having a “rating system”? Why?

If we were so insecure as be particularly concerned with our “ratings”, I suspect we’d be cruising the religion and fashion sites as opposed to the less traditional swinging community. Without more of a developed standard criteria for assessing “value” of a post, I just find it some what of a slight incongruence with a core value of this community that brought us together in the first place. Lets admit it, we are a little “off beat” whether we want to admit it or not.

What am I missing? I’m definitely interested your input on this assessment.

[JustAskJulie]

The main purpose is as a way to allow users to let others know that their posts are approciated (vs just a bunch of responses that say "I agree" or "good post"). It also helps new users identify what users may be most helpful to them in gaining answers that they seek... and what users other users have found to be unhelpful.

For example if a user has 300 posts a new user may assume that they know what they are talking about because they have a lot of posts and / or are really active around here. But that may not be the case. Whereas if other users have found their posts to be helpful it will show in their overall rating (or more importantly if others have found thier posts to be very unhelpful it will show as well).

In a way it is also a reinforcement tool, for those users who tend to not think before they speak, when others see this and give them a negative 'reputation' with a solid reason behind it, it can be an easy anonymous way to let someone know they might need to rethink how they answered something (it's not about what you say but how you say it).

The upside that I have seen that I think is a positive tool is that it is a great way to let new users know that their well thought out posts are appreciated (as you have seen).

To answer the why of not allowing users to repeatedly leave rep on the same person, it's simply because doing so tends to result in the same people getting rep over and over again. If you want to leave them rep twice in a row then chances are they will post something else you'll want to leave them rep on shortly anyway. It also forces people to look beyond those handful of people that they might want to constantly throw rep at and really look at the posts of other users and perhaps learn to appreciate new people (something that I have seen happening).

Obviously, not everyone is going to agree with it and that's fine. I don't expect everyone to agree with everything we do around here.

[JustAskJulie]

There have been a couple of issues lately of misuse of the rep system. They have been dealt with, but I do want to post a reminder to all.

The rep system is not there to say "I disagree with you". If you disagree with what someone is saying then post your disagreement (or discuss it with them privately), but discuss it.

Also, please keep in mind that you should use negative reputations sparingly and judiciously. It is easy to just click the button on the fly and not really think about it. Maybe you were in a bad mood and read something into what someone else posted. But, try to really put some thought into it before you leave a negative rep and make sure you really feel they deserve the negative rep for the tone of their post or because what they said was an attack on someone personally, not just because you don't agree with them.

I do monitor the reps, specifically the negative ones. And if I don't feel they are deserved they are removed. I remove a very small percentage, but I've removed more in the last week than I've removed in a very long time.

It's springtime. Let's try to put a smile on our face and in our heart and spread some love instead of the negativity I've been seeing of late.

[Babysteps]

O-M-G!! I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE THIS FEATURE EXISTED!! I have read soooo many worthwhile posts that I would have LOVED to rate! I'm still a little "fuzzy' on the whole thing.....but I'll go back and read it all again.....and learn how to use this feature. Ohhh, and the SCALE icon......I thought it was a snowflake.

[JustMrJ]

And if you feel like telling people who gave them the positive or negative reputation, go ahead and put your user name at the end... I always try to do so now.

It's nice to see who gave you the reputation... oh, and always try and say WHY you are giving them a reputation plug.

Cheers!

[NCfuncouple98]

Exactly Mr. J. I've left probably 15-20 positive reps I think, and I always try to remember to put a comment, and I do always put our name so they know that we felt it was something outstanding. And those are the ones I rate, the outstanding ones.

I think we've only left 2 negative to the 20 positive, and only because we felt it was so out of line that they needed a "nudge".

We think it's a good system.

[Just Passing By]

Ok, I'm guilty. Even though I had been read periodically for many years I hadn't read all the details in site anouncements. Hadn't realized there was such a thing until receiving a "reputation" , albeit a "positive". Then I read up on the subject.
It's not a question of how well it is set up, its that it exists at all.
Circa 1980, in the middle phase of my checkered higher education career I had an instructor who graded the students on both the quanity of comments in class discussion, and on the percieved quality and relavence. It made my skin crawl. Before making a comment it had to be thought thru to its reception and ramifications. At the same time, the comments that were heard often were blatently tailored to echo the target position to simply score a check mark.
Ironically the underlying topics were truly earthshattering, and lead to a revision of my whole outlook on life and personal philosophy . But the classroom atmosphere was so upside down , it lead to a failing grade.
In a forum of responsible and serious adults, free speech and thoughtful opinions should both stand on their own, and be their own reward. Not be a means to an end to play to a percieved peanut gallery, or earn ego points.
Truly toxic posts can be removed. Truely idiotic members or trolls can be banished by an owner ( assisted by trusted moderators) ,functioning as benevolent dictator, as soon as they show their stripes. This places a burden on our Administrator , but in long run is less than administering a popularity contest.
I'm probably burning the door behind myself, but that's how I feel, and what I see on the few forums that I bother to follow. (totally unrelated subject matter )