Reputation question

[flap]

Just wondering what is "Reputation" next to each persons name?I see a number next to it from 1 to 4.Any ideas on who votes this stuff or is it a rating system?

[iacas]

Just wondering what is "Reputation" next to each persons name?I see a number next to it from 1 to 4.Any ideas on who votes this stuff or is it a rating system?

Under each post you should see this image:

. Click it and you can post positive or negative feedback. That changes a user's reputation. Also, the more you post, the better your reputation.

[LarryK]

I figured it was something like this. This seems to be a silly, and needless affectation to a public opinion forum.

How about letting our "reputations" exist solely on what we say publicly and what others say publicly to us in response?

What possible service does any semi-clandestine rating tool provide to either new or existing forum members?

Juvenile! But, hey, I'm only a two.

[iacas]

I figured it was something like this. This seems to be a silly, and needless affectation to a public opinion forum.

I think it's used so infrequently it really doesn't matter what it is. Lots of public forums have them and they allow people to identify the people that commonly make well-reasoned posts from those who post blather time and time again.

[LarryK]

...they allow people to identify the people that commonly make well-reasoned posts from those who post blather time and time again.

And I guess my point was that, knowing most of the posters here as well as you do, would you say the tool is really serving that purpose?

Are my posts (and those of the other low number folks) not well reasoned and merely blather? Gee, thanks. It's not a huge deal. I can ignore the number, as I usually do. But the presumption behind it, in addition to not necessarily being accurate, is insulting on its face. The simple fact that you "agree" or "disagree" with someone else's post should not in and of itself disparage that person's "reputation".

[iacas]

The simple fact that you "agree" or "disagree" with someone else's post should not in and of itself disparage that person's "reputation".

If you would mark someone down for disagreeing with them then

you are the one using the system improperly. First, I don't think I've ever marked anyone down. Second, if I have or if I ever do, it won't be for disagreeing with me. Instead, it will be for using all caps or insulting someone or spamming us or whatever. It will never be because someone makes a well-reasoned argument, regardless of the side they take on an issue.

[Crey23]

OK... so I have been using this forum for a few months now, and I have received two or three "reputation" messages in that time. Some comments have been positive, but most of the time it seems like a nasty remark from someone who wants to remain anonymous.

I hope that an Admin could explain to me, and all of us, the purpose, or rather the intent of “Reputation”. What I can see is it’s used by cowards to make cutting remarks of one’s opinion, without allowing the receiver the opportunity to dispute or clarify the comment.

I thinks it’s a shame that in a FORUM for communicating ideas, people are close minded to other opinion that they have to make nasty remarks. And I’m ok with that (sort of…it’s to be expected), but If you decide to call someone out, don’t do it under the anonymity of the Reputation tools, send a PM, or better yet put it up for discussion

Sorry, but had to rant!

[bogeyhitter25]

Yeah, I get a couple remarks.

I've got reputation deducted for saying that I was listening to Christian Hip-Hop. And also for making a thread stating that I had the round of my life.

[LBlack14]

Same here. I can't post a signature anymore, I can't edit posts anymore, I can't list in the BST anymore. They lowered the boom on me for stating my opinion. It the one BIG B*LL SH*T part of this forum. Hell I even have it listed for all to see. People screw others because they don't agree, I've never given a negative rep to anyone for an opinion or otherwise.

COWARDS!

[LBlack14]

It says I have 4 neg reps and I've lost all those priveleges.

[saltman]

I got a negative reputation comment for expressing an opinion that it was "harder" to make a hole in one than shoot under par. The thread actually asked the question and while I admittedly vigorously defended my position I thought that was the purpose of a message board. I didn't call anyone names or use foul laguage.

I guess I don't understand the purpose.

[LBlack14]

I also just figured out they took away my ability to start a new thread, NICE. Helluva forum you have here.

[jonnythan]

I don't like the reputation system. Some forum have "thanks" buttons, which I do like. Allowing other members to leave potentially flaming and often undeserved "negative" reps doesn't seem productive.

A "thanks" button and a report button. Or just a report button.

[Iowa Hawkeye]

On other VB boards it shows who repped or negged you. And under your avatar it shows your level and points. I think Erik chose to have it anonymous.

[albatross]

+1 on being able to leave positive reputation but not negative. The moderator should decide whether or not someone deserves to be penalized or is making negative comments. I would agree this is the 1 weakness of this otherwise great forum.

[iacas]

OK... so I have been using this forum for a few months now, and I have received two or three "reputation" messages in that time.

No you haven't. You've gotten one, total, for -1. Then you got a +1 for THIS thread.

Some comments have been positive, but most of the time it seems like a nasty remark from someone who wants to remain anonymous.

But to be clear, you're not complaining about the anonymous positive one you got, right? Bah.

I hope that an Admin could explain to me, and all of us, the purpose, or rather the intent of “Reputation”. What I can see is it’s used by cowards to make cutting remarks of one’s opinion, without allowing the receiver the opportunity to dispute or clarify the comment.

Or you could do a search, and view the many threads already posted on reputation.

http://thesandtrap.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1550 And from what you can see? Based on, what, your ONE reputation comment?

I thinks it’s a shame that in a FORUM for communicating ideas, people are close minded to other opinion that they have to make nasty remarks. And I’m ok with that (sort of…it’s to be expected), but If you decide to call someone out, don’t do it under the anonymity of the Reputation tools, send a PM, or better yet put it up for discussion

That's the preferred method, sure.

If I had the option to disable anonymity, I might. But no such option exists. The vBulletin developers decided, clearly, that the reputation system should be anonymous. Reputation is capped at +/- 2. Anonymity guarantees people won't get into a "retribution" sort of thing, but again, since there's no option to disable anonymity, I really haven't given it any thought. It is what it is.

They lowered the boom on me for stating my opinion.

That's not entirely accurate. You didn't have to make your opinion

while swearing and calling people names ("honkers" isn't too likely to be a positive name). Simple answer: here's how reputation SHOULD work: - Give positive rep when someone offers a good post. A good post isn't a post you agree with, but one that's helpful, thoughtful, well reasoned, etc. - Give negative rep when someone is misbehaving, not for a disagreement in opinion (unless the person expresses their disagreement by calling you a "stupid ****ing asshat" or something). Some people abuse this. If you get rep for something that's inappropriate, let me know and I'll have a look. Beyond that, if you feel as though anonymity is bogus, include your username in your rep comments - I can't turn off anonymity, but you can on the ones you leave. Note also that a lot of people complain about comments that are worth zero rep. I periodically clear zero-rep comments from the database, so learn the difference and don't complain about the zeroes.

[iacas]

It says I have 4 neg reps and I've lost all those priveleges.

Incorrect. You have 15. Three were positive, 12 were negative. Your first negative goes back to

this .

Some forum have "thanks" buttons, which I do like.

Some forums use different software. This is the one we've chosen.

I also just figured out they took away my ability to start a new thread, NICE. Helluva forum you have here.

You DID manage to lose 10 points of reputation. Everyone starts with 10 - you accumulated more than -10 to put you where you are now.

On other VB boards it shows who repped or negged you. And under your avatar it shows your level and points. I think Erik chose to have it anonymous.

I don't think that's accurate at all. I don't have the option to turn off anonymity. I even installed a plugin because some people were getting too much reputation power. It limits, again, to +/- 2.

Here's the thing guys: it is what it is. I'd turn it off, but nobody's managed to make a convincing argument why that should be. Positive - and negative - reputation helps to maintain privileges. FWIW, I rarely leave reputation. I'm personally much more likely to send a PM to someone. I also don't think it's quite the problem you seem to think it is: people rarely behave like you seem to think they do, running around scurrilously giving negative rep to everyone just to be a jerk. Positive reputation seems to be handed out quite a bit, too. In fact, positive reputation has a total count of 3221, while negative reputation has a count of 1526. If you want to continue the conversation, send me a PM.

[iacas]

I don't have the option to turn off anonymity.

Did some research, turns out I was wrong about this (it doesn't help that the settings for this are not anywhere near where you'd expect them to be - they're in the usergroup settings, not the general options). I'm now debating whether to turn this off, or even to turn it off for only specific user groups.