Re: Reputations. Do they deserve more careful thought?
 

Brandon,

I think this might be a good idea, but only if the comment portion is left out (I'll explain this below.) This way, the people can still see what posts someone is getting good/bad reputation for (i.e. they can click on the post and say "hey, that was a good post", or "what was this bozo thinking giving him reputation for THAT garbage"). This will keep it in check somewhat.

I don't like the comment portion (at least not at this stage of the game), since I have put some side messages in the comments that probably wouldn't be appropriate for others to read (I know others have done the same thing). If we want to make comments readable from this point forward, that is one thing - but I wouldn't suggest making them retroactive.

Re: Reputations. Do they deserve more careful thought?
 

I think the reputation system works pretty well, I've been around for a while and read the forums for 4 years, but never got around to actually signing up and replying till now. There are always a few problems with any system but I think this one works as good as any other. Chief Delphi has done a good job of creating a great community and a place for us all to share thoughts and ideas and also some other things that can't quite be considered a full thought. :p I'll stick with it at least through college even if I'm not on a team anymore, despite the reputation system or anything else that might have some minor flaws.

Re: Reputations. Do they deserve more careful thought?
 

I personally like the idea of this. Since reputation points can be given for any type of post, not just technical, it would be helpful to someone like myself who only knows of the "big guns" around here (in spite of roaming the forums for several years) to determine if the person giving requested advice knows what they are talking about.

For example, I noticed one post a while back that was asking about the author being a 16 year old engineer. The response was that the person was the "engineer" for his team because he designed various parts for the robot. Since the respondent had "engineer" under "Team Role", I would have no way of determining if any future advice from this person was worth adhering to without being able to see other people's comments about previous technical advice given.

For those that have said "I've made comments that I don't want posted publicly," my response is to start using the PMs again or think about how you can constructively criticize the person.

indieFan

Re: Reputations. Do they deserve more careful thought?
 

Oh dear god... that would reveal just how many points I get for making fun of Dave... :eek: er... not that I get that many for that... not really...

I suppose it wouldn't be that revealing if it didn't say whom the comments were from, but if it doesn't say who made the comments, it wouldn't do anything to stop people from giving negative rep based on spite or something like that.

Brandon, I hope you don’t ever feel unappreciated when people complain about things like this on this site. What you have is good. Sure the system can be improved, almost anything can be, but I just don’t think there is any way to make everyone happy. And thank you for caring enough about everyone’s happiness to want to improve it.


Heidi

<=============>
Now going back to taking life less seriously.

Re: Reputations. Do they deserve more careful thought?
 

You are right. We would need to start using PMs again. But that was my point: we need to use them again. I wrote some comments knowing that they were only going to be read by the person that received them. I don't want those being opened up NOW. If Brandon decides to show the comments, I would just hope that they would only show comments from that date forward. Once that happens, I'll gladly start using PMs again, but it's not right to tell someone that something is confidential and then say, "sorry, we lied about that." (That was my point.)

Re: Reputations. Do they deserve more careful thought?
 

Point well taken on the issue of comments currently considered confidential.

And, something that I probably should have added to my previous post: Would it be possible to eventually modify the hack to only include comments from the technical forums (or whatever the CD community deems important)?

indieFan

Re: Reputations. Do they deserve more careful thought?
 

I think it's a great idea, maybe it would help better the reputation system. More importantly, you could check a consistent positive poster's post to see exaclty what makes a great poster.

I also think you should also add some information on reputation to the FAQ. Questions I have:
1.) How many positive points do you need to reach a new level?
2.) Explain the quato on reputation points.
3.) Explain what a grey dot means.
.... That's all I can think of now. Thanks for the consideration Brandon.

Re: Reputations. Do they deserve more careful thought?
 

It's been a while since I actually sat down and read one of these long threads. In just two days there have been 112 (now 113) posts and after reading it all I don't feel like I've wasted my time at all (for once).

Now I want to skip past flattering you all and make my few comments. I think that the people on here who feel there is something not quite right about this system have information or opinions about someone and they just aren't saying it. I would guess in most cases it's for obvious reasons. We don't like to bash people on these forums - we follow (or at least try) the concepts of gracious professionalism. With no exceptions, I believe everyone has been gracious here. Sure, there have been some posts that weren't, but please don't let that disrupt your train of thought. No one is out to get anyone (with the exception of John's friend :) ).

Popularity does play a roll in this system. Now I have many people on the edge of their seats, ready to post or send me a good/bad rep. Let me continue: I'm not trying to say that anyone on the top is there because of popularity. I don't feel that way at all. However, popularity inevitably plays *some* roll in this. I think that's just a fact of the way we are and it's nothing to get upset about, be ashamed of, or attempt to fix. Don't let that diminish you in any way. If you are feeling envy then admit that to yourself and work on dealing with it or fixing it. (And please don't assume I'm saying anyone here is envious!)

I think the system could be improved. I am all for requiring a comment. As for showing others these comments, I have a twist to add. What if I was able to go into my profile and check off the comments I want others to be able to see? Of course, your first thought is that they will just show the positive. But don't forget this is FIRST. I'm willing to bet that a great number of people would be willing to show their negative comments. This could also potentially solve the problem of repeated negative points for one post because users could look at the negative replies that have been made public for that post.

Am I making sense? I hate to bring back the fight of spelling and grammar, but I'm in a typing mood, so I will. Of course the way someone communicates with you affects your perception of them. This is true by definition because the only way to communicate with someone is through your senses (i.e. you see them, hear them, read their words, etc) (unless of course you're telepathic like me!). As for how much you take that into account in a first impression or with someone you sort of know - that's all up to you. I make the worst first impressions. They aren't always bad, but my friends tell me of their first impressions of me which are so far off from who I am that I can't stop laughing. I guess because of this I give others a lot of slack. I'm not a very formal person, but I try to show respect for those who prefer formality. I guess what I'm leading into is a general statement which is a play off of what others have said. You don't know the tone of voice someone is using and sometimes it's hard not to read into someone's words. I suggest just not taking offense in what someone says. If you disagree, you could (and should) post your opinion. That's one big reason for having these forums, right?

I should also say directly how I feel about the reputation system since I've gone this far. I don't know how many dots or points I have. I never pay attention to it. Once in a while I remember that the system exists and I go to my profile and check to see what people have said about my posts. When I get a negative reply, I PM them and ask to discuss the matter further (unless their comment was clear). Maybe they are just being sour and there's nothing to talk about. But maybe, just maybe, they will be professional about it and talk about why they gave that reply. The result is positive.


I almost want to say that in a perfect world we wouldn't be having this discussion. Then I remember this is a perfect world because it's not perfect.

Re: Reputations. Do they deserve more careful thought?
 

Those questions (and more) will be answered in the in-progress reputation system FAQ. Should be done tonight or tomorrow, I hope.

Re: Reputations. Do they deserve more careful thought?
 

The Reputation System FAQ is up now. It is still being edited & added to. PM me if you have any additions, corrections, etc.

(this thread is a great example of why I love vB3's 'Search this thread' functionality)

Re: Reputations. Do they deserve more careful thought?
 

That is an excellent FAQ. It should clear most doubts that people have. Also, I like the fact that now if you are given a negative reputation point, for no apparent reason, it can possibly be changed. Some Justice... :)

Re: Reputations. Do they deserve more careful thought?
 

I like the idea, but maybe without the comment. Same reasons as Chris and something else. Some comments can be revealing about who the person is, just because of some characteristic 'style' they use when on the boards. For instance, if you had the comment with ":^)" in it, you would know (at least I would) that it was KenWittlief. :)

Re: Reputations. Do they deserve more careful thought?
 

I like the idea of showing other people the latest reputations. Personally, I have had some harsh negative comments, which were made totally out of somebody being jealous or whatever. I just like to be a good sport and let go of such things, but I don't think everyone on this forum would have such patience(and they should not). I can see that if you do show the comments, some people will be forced to behave well so they don't get bad comments. Some people would be forced to rate well, so they don't get a bad reputation for rating out of jealousy or whatever. It is an excellent idea, and should work out well if you do put it.

Getting to the spelling, grammer issue. Yes, I personally do agree that people who intentionally or unintentionally, don't put in the effort to write the best quality they can in writing decently on the forum, should receive bad reputation. However, sometimes judging this might be hard. Some people just don't speak or write good english. A good example is my English. I agree that I don't speak or write that great English, but I do put in my best efforts in it. I feel that's what really matters. As long as a person puts in a good amount of effort, its good. Otherwise, being lazy, and doing things just for the "heck of it", it's just not right.

ChiefDelphi is a wonderful online community. Most of the people on this forum follow the idea of "Gracious Professionalism". Some don't, but those who do stand up as a good example for others to follow. Without CD, I don't think its possible, that I would have gotten as much out of FIRST as I have. Thank You CD. Special thanks to Brandon, who is always working hard to make this place better :)

Re: Reputations. Do they deserve more careful thought?
 

hey! I have a design patent on that emoticon - if you want to use it you have to pay me a $5 royality for each copy :^)

Re: Reputations. Do they deserve more careful thought?
 

That's patent, Ken ;^P