Re: Appropriate use of reputation points
 

I agree with many of the comments that have been posted above me ... but one of the points that I find to be most truthful is this one:

The reputation system does serve its purpose and I for one don't mind that it is here nor would I mind if it wasn't ... I think that Chief Delphi is great overall!!
Personally, i'm not a fan of giving out too many rep points but if I really find or read something that captivates my attention and that I think deserves rep points ... then I will award them (regardless of the topic). I don't like to give negative points either because I am a firm believer in that everyone is at free to say what they wish and I'm not a judge to be judging anyones words or ideas! Unless, I read something that is truly offensive overall (not just because I seem to think so) then I will award negative points!

Which is what brings me to my point ... EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT ... and therein we all think differently ... so judging someone elses posts on our standards is not what I believe should be done! I think we should all view posts as exactly what they are -- individual posts from individuals who have their own ideas and personalities! And again when and if a post is truly offensive then measures should be taken!

Second thing, someone who has a few bars (perse 2 or 3) should not be considered someone who's posts are not AS GOOD as the posts of someone who has a lot of bars. Which brings me to my next quote:

Altough, I repsect your opinion, I don't agree with it ... there are many reasons why this could happen. And to not forget that whenever there is some kind of reputation or point system ... there's a margin of error due to popularity. I've seen it happen many times, to put an example not related to this forum ... students in club's vote their friends as officers. This means that although we'd like to think that all of this points are given out solely on the post and its content ... there is still the possibility that someone gives their 'friend' points just because!

We shouldn't fret over this subject, instead we should think this way:

We shouldn't be worried wether we get good points or negative rep. points ... to me (and I'm sure to most people) what really matters is to be able to have a place where we can talk and share ideas with other people whom have likewise interests (perse FIRST)! In the end they are just dots and if we all have enough confidence in ourselves and stand by what we say ... it really will not matter what others think or say about it, life is about being able to express yourself to the fullest and to be comfortable with that!

Ok, this is long enough so I will end it .. but just remember: Wether you have many green dots or few green dots ... the real represantation of you is what you think of yourself and who show it!

I hope not to have offended anyone with MY ideas :D and I hope nobody thinks that I took their ideas with the quotes used above!

Re: Appropriate use of reputation points
 

I try to abuse the rep system to it's fullest, you know, giving random points to all my friends, that sort of thing.

Errmmm... did I say abuse? I meant use. Those two are kinda confusing, y'know? :ahh:

Cory

Re: Appropriate use of reputation points
 

Yes, I a resurrecting an old thread, but I have a reason:

It seems like some new users are getting red dots quickly these days. I can understand if this user is being blatantly inappropriate and they deserve to get some negative rep. However, I see some new users who are getting slapped with negative rep for making a the typical newbie mistakes, such as not searching before they post or not paying attention to out-dated threads.

So... users, I ask you to give these newbies a break. Although you crusty vets see these mistakes happen often, new members still need your patience. Before whacking them with some negative rep, send them some neutral rep or a PM to give them some advice. Then, if they don't listen to you, you can be more blunt by giving them your negative rep rating as you wish.

Of course, how you use your rep points is up to you. Consider this a simple request.

Andy B.

Re: Appropriate use of reputation points
 

I forgot how wise Mr. Baker really is. I, too have noticed this trend. You so called CD veterans: take a good look at how you give out rep. I say that if you have given negative rep to more than 5 people, then you may be a bit judgmental. If you have given negative rep to more than 10 people or a total of more than 20 times, then I say you need to look inward and stop being holier than thou.

Negative rep should not be used as a training method. If I gave everyone negative rep that asked a technical question that I had answered on CD 2 or 3 years ago, then I definitely would have violated my criteria above. Newbies need to be taught, or dare I say ... mentored and not smacked upside the head with red dots.

Carnegie is not just a guy's name. Look it up ... study the methods. It works.

By the way, I have negative repped two times since the system has been implemented.

Re: Appropriate use of reputation points
 

Doing some quick looking, here is how I have given out rep over the past couple of years:

952 individual positive rep clicks given
5 neutral rep
18 negative rep (about 12 different people)

So, I am somewhere between being judgemental and holier than thou. That works for me.

Andy B.

Re: Appropriate use of reputation points
 

I haven't been nearly as active as I probably should be in giving rep points. But I have noticed the high rate of negative reps among newbies lately.

I award these people positive rep points anytime I see them doing something remotely worthy. Just to reinforce good behavior.

ChrisH

Re: Appropriate use of reputation points
 

I absolutely agree with Andy and Paul with regard to some of the "rep-bombing" of newbies that has been occurring. But my engineer's instincts kick in at some point, and I would like to suggest a minor modification to Paul's heuristics (the philosophical heart of which are right on target). Rather than holding to a hard and fast number, I would suggest that you might consider an upper-bound on the ratio of negative/positive rep that is given out. If you have given ten negative rep hits out of a total of twenty reputation allocations, then perhaps some adjustment of your understanding of the purpose of reputation points might be in order. Conversely, if you have issued ten negative rep hits out of 1000, then that is probably within a range that most would consider acceptable (let's face it, every now and then there are posts that really do deserve negative rep - ones threatening the life of the President [even if you don't respect the man, respect the office] and ones promoting intentional group violence on an opposing team as retribution are examples that come to mind).

We can quibble over the specific number of the ratio (what is OK? 1%? 4%? 0.5%? I don't know). Everyone may have a different view of what is a reasonable negative/positive ratio. But in the end, each time you consider issuing a negative (or for that matter, positive) reputation hit you must be comfortable with your own answers to three questions:

- Given the roles of both the poster and myself (as student, mentor, parent, teacher, team member, engineer, or whatever), is changing the reputation of the poster an appropriate response to their post?

- If all the reputation allocations were made public, and not kept private, would I still be comfortable in making this reputation allocation?

- If I had made this post and then recieved a negative reputation hit for it, would I feel it was deserved?

Unless you can answer "yes" to each of those questions, then you might want to think a little more about other ways to get your message across to the poster before you hit the "add to reputation" button.

-dave

Re: Appropriate use of reputation points
 

I'm not worthy...
I'm not worthy...

Thanks to all three - Andy, Paul, and Dave - for this reminder. The bottom line is that we want more and more people in FIRST so they have a chance to be inspired and understand the culture-changing mission. Our primary role should always be to educate and mentor those that come after us. Both patience and persistence are necessary. As my good friend Paul Kloberg (NJ Sr. Mentor) says, "Fun Is Required, So Tolerate."

Re: Appropriate use of reputation points
 

Just added up my reps given. I gave 104 positive 3 neutral and 1 neg to a member of my own team that stepped out of line. I do regularly pm people that I might have bad repped rather than give neg points. I have found that most people take positive to this approach. We are here to both learn and teach. Let's try to be positive.

Re: Appropriate use of reputation points
 

I would say that instead of giving out negative reputation points for newbie mistakes, give neutral reputation points or PM the user instead. That way, the message comes across, but it is constructive instead of demeaning. However, if somebody who has been here for a while and steps majorly out of the forum rules (IE Spams, trashes another member, etc), then I think it is okay to give negative reputation. That's how I go about it, anyways.

-Daniel

Re: Appropriate use of reputation points
 

I would also like to make a plea for mercy when a rookie makes an inappropriate comment and then evrybody piles on them and their rep is left in the trash heap. If I come across something like that I do not give them negative rep. I dispute thier claim or scold them but they don't deserve a blleding red dot becasue of their lack of judgement. Wouldn't it be just better to simply correct them instead of everybody administer a poison pen beat down on them?

Re: Appropriate use of reputation points
 

I was under the impression that negative rep from a well known poster was frowned on so I don't remember giving any negatives. I have taken the "PM a nice message first" approach and give the abuser a chance to clear it up privately. I have gotten a little harsh on occasion in a PM and luckily the victim responded by PM and we came to quite a good rapport after that. There are those occasions where even the PM doesn't work. I advocate disconnect (virtual excommunication) for those that don't start to get it on the first message.

Re: Appropriate use of reputation points
 

I dont bean someone with a negative rep hit unless they are breaking the serious rules of the forum (like posting masked profanity) or being abusive

on many ocassions I have used the rep points to send a note to someone, telling them I dont agree with what they are saying, but I give them positive rep anyway, because sometimes it takes real guts to say what you want to say knowing it might not be popular. If someone is speaking their mind, they might be wrong, but I dont want to discourage someone from speaking up.

I have gotten the most red hits from people who dont like my sense of humor. How ironic is that? Would you really want someone in the FIRST community to have a 'bad reputation' because you dont get their jokes, or you dont think they are funny?

There is a golden rule I learned several years ago for reviewing someone elses work. For each negative thing you have to say, you must say three positive things first. People get demoralized quickly if you only have negative things to say to them, esp when it comes from a supervisior, manager, team leader or a mentor.

Re: Appropriate use of reputation points
 

OK, I'm a complete ninny and I need to ask andy and Steve...
Where's the info to add up your own rep given??
I really need to know if I'm a jerk or not ;)

Re: Appropriate use of reputation points
 

Your User CP lists all the rep you've given. It only gives a total number, but you can count smaller of the three colors and subtract to get the larger.


Wetzel
*Edit* Whoops, wrong user again. :rolleyes: