Appropriate use of reputation points

[Katie Reynolds]

Originally Posted by Cory

While I agree with some of your points, overall you can tell the reputation system is working.

Look at the top people. Andy Baker, John V Neun, Dave Lavery. All of these people are very highly respected people in the FIRST community.

Keep it how it is.

Cory

Yep.

As with most anything, some people will abuse the system ... giving negative points just 'cause they don't like you or what you've said. And that sucks, but it's just something we have to deal with. I think the vast majority of rep is given fairly.

*shrug*

[Karthik]

Okay, there's a lot of you out there who are upset about getting negative rep. That's great. Instead of running right to Brandon everytime, maybe you should pause for a few seconds, and try and figure out why you received the negative rep. Most people are very hesitant to give out negative rep here, so there's usually a serious reason behind it. If you can't think of one, send a PM to the user who dished the dirt. Maybe you'll be able to have some sort of positive discussion with them, and you'll both become enlightened in some way. If people are giving you negative rep for dumb reasons, maybe you should just leave it as, "that was really immature, I'm going to be the bigger person, and move on with my life".

You really shouldn't have complain to the already overworked moderator of this board over negative rep. Unless some gives you rep along the lines of "you're fat and ugly, so I want your rep to be lower", it might be a nice idea if people try and work these issues out themselves.

After all, it's just a reputation system for an online discussion forum. There's no reason to get this uptight about it.

<Gets ready to whine to Brandon about the negative rep I'm sure to receive about this post... >

[Greg Needel]

I think that rep is over-rated although in my personal opinion reputation should only be given in technical forums and FIRST related conversation. When the reputation system first came out i thought this would be a way for people new to the community to recognize those members with reliable information and not who is most popular/posts the most. But as this is just an internet discussion forum the rating system doesn't really mean anything


on a side note: one of the funniest things I heard are people not posting in topics because they were afraid of bad reputation...

[Bharat Nain]

Originally Posted by Greg Needel

on a side note: one of the funniest things i heard is people not posting in topics because they were afraide of bad reputation...

I admit, I have done that. I did not participate in the Collaboration debate because I was new and didn't know what this reputation thing was, I thought if I got too much negative reputation I'd be kicked of CD or something. BUt yeah I was new then, now I've learnt, a few neg. reps wont do you too much harm, so take a chance and post

[FizMan]

Originally Posted by Greg Needel

on a side note: one of the funniest things i heard is people not posting in topics because they were afraide of bad reputation...

I've heard similar things; not on this board, but afraid of the moderators deleting their posts and warning them; maybe even suspending them. Sad thing is, their fears were justified

[mtrawls]

Okay, there's a lot of you out there who are upset about getting negative rep.

No, not upset at all. Slightly disappointed at the inappropriate use of the rep system by a few members, I would expect more from the CD/FIRST community, .... but the negative rep surely doesn't bother me -- in fact, if I made some silly comment in a post like "Kerry suxors" and just said that, I would be just as dissapointed if I got a bunch of positive rep from Bush supporters.

Originally Posted by Karthik

After all, it's just a reputation system for an online discussion forum. There's no reason to get this uptight about it.

Oh, let me elaborate on what I said, if that comment was directed towards me. I really couldn't care less about reputation points. They are meaningless; and, even if they did mean something, I'm mature enough to look to myself to judge my own worth, and not what other people who I don't know are saying. I'm not trying to be uptight, and to the comments that I talk to Brandon, I'd rather not bother him for something I don't even want changed at all. I just thought some attention on the subject would be a good thing, specifically as to what is appropriate and what is not. It seems there has been some discussion on that, and while I did search, it was late and I came back from a long day at work, ... so I missed some things, for which I'm sorry if I offended anyone.

I'll just say that of course the system isn't perfect, but it does have it's place ... the question is just determining what it's place is, and how to improve it with formal or informal rules. (And even though there were old discussions relevant to this subject, it sure seems that people have more to say.)

[Swan217]

Originally Posted by Elgin Clock

Then again maybe I am in denial that they mean anything because I only have 3 or 4 bars) edit: 8 bars??? whoa. cool...

I am perfectly happy with my 2 dots edit: 4 dots.

[Astronouth7303]

I think altogether, I've gotten 3-4 neg rep. only one of those I feel are justified. There are a few people who obviously mis-use the system, repeatedly.

When rep is abused, it's generally red ones.

[Jeff Waegelin]

Originally Posted by Astronouth7303

When rep is abused, it's generally red ones.

Well, that, and people usually don't complain when users "abuse" positive rep

[Swan217]

Originally Posted by Jeff Waegelin

Well, that, and people usually don't complain when users "abuse" positive rep

I hate how positive reputation points are abused all the time. I've seen positive rep given for a reason no better than people like my hair or my smooth dancing skills. I know of people much more deserving than me that have one, maybe 2 bars at most. Come on people! Show these people some respect! I'm sick of people giving out positive rep to any ol' person that pops up on a thread, such as a John V-somethingorother or that dude, what's his name, the guy who wrestles pigs...
Oh, and another thing, there's nothing worse than posting a comment about having 4 bars, and SOMEBODY just having to prove me wrong by making it 5.

Say "no" to positive rep abuse!!!

[dez250]

Originally Posted by Dan Swando

I hate how positive reputation points are abused all the time. I've seen positive rep given for a reason no better than people like my hair or my smooth dancing skills. I know of people much more deserving than me that have one, maybe 2 bars at most. Come on people! Show these people some respect! I'm sick of people giving out positive rep to any ol' person that pops up on a thread, such as a John V-somethingorother or that dude, what's his name, the guy who wrestles pigs...
Oh, and another thing, there's nothing worse than posting a comment about having 4 bars, and SOMEBODY just having to prove me wrong by making it 5.

Say "no" to positive rep abuse!!!

Finally someone else that sees wat i see. Yes these are only little green dots and i can give a hoot (thanks homer) about them really, but one thing to go along with Dan's comments is about the Chit Chat forums. I think that Rep coming from the chit chat forums is pretty much a joke, espically when its negative rep. I posted for the first time in the political debate in the chit chat forum and was slammed by people thinking what i posted was not appropiate. I mean isnt the chit chat suppossed to be where you can speak your mind and not be judged for it really. Also something i noticed recently at an off season event is how much rep means to some people. I mean come on people when your at an off season and someone tries to talk to you and then you blow them off cause you have more "rep" on cd then they do... Maybe you should examine the terms Gracious Professionalism.

[JVN]

Originally Posted by dez250

Also something i noticed recently at an off season event is how much rep means to some people. I mean come on people when your at an off season and someone tries to talk to you and then you blow them off cause you have more "rep" on cd then they do....

Really?
That is just silly.
Where the heck did you see that?

I don't believe that ANYONE takes the reputation that seriously.
I certainly don't.

[Corey Balint]

Rep should just be used as a an entertainment tool, it really shouldnt matter. I mean why would you not talk to someone cuz they have lower rep, or not post a reply in a thread, because it was started by a guy with one rep bar.
Ive got 2 rep bars, and im not a famous/important person in first, but i could be important to someone on my team or to people on other teams, thats what really matters. Not a bar of "reputation" on a, hate to use this word but makes point best, stupid little forum.

[Mike Ciance]

here is what i give positive reps for:

• good ideas
• helping me
• good jokes
• any other good, well thought-out posts that warrent attention

i give negative reps for:

• attacking or insulting other people without good reason
• use of bad language
• unnecessary complaining
• off-topic/pointless posts

i don't give bad reps often, i'd say 90% of the reps i've given have been positive

i do agree that the reputation system is not perfect, but it is way better than not having one. as long as everybody uses it somewhat responsibly, it will show who is nice and who bothers people. i find it very useful. when you see 10 squares, you know that person has to be pretty nice/smart/etc.

i'll talk to anybody and treat them with respect no matter what their reputation, even if they have red squares. because some people don't use the rep system correctly, some pretty unfair reps go out. and about treating people badly in person because of their rep on here, thats rediculous. somebody could post stupid stuff and get people mad on the forums, but really be nice in person, you just can't judge by this. it rates how well they use message boards, not how good of a person they are, at least not to the extant that you should ignore them or anythign like that.

[Andy Baker]

I too think that the rep point system is over-rated. It has some merits, but it also gets too much attention. People joke about it, complain about it, and debate it. We all are guilty of giving it more credit than it is worth.

As for abuse of positive rep or negative rep, I don't understand. If you are free to say what you want, then someone else is free to give you negative or positive rep about it. If they are being a jerk about it, then they have to deal with the ramifications. How is that abuse? We're all supposed to follow an outline of how to give positive and negative rep? I know how I give rep points, but that is just me. I don't worry about how everyone else is giving them. Nor do I tell others how to give our their rep comments. Do what you want. Deal with the results.


Andy B.