Red dots

[JVN]

Originally Posted by Ryan Dognaux

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19rVKy_pfFU

You agitating my dots?

JVN doesn't agitate the dots.

[vivek16]

Originally Posted by Ryan Dognaux

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19rVKy_pfFU

You agitating my dots?

I knew this guy, who knew this guy, who knew this guy's cousin, who knew this other guy that agitated the dots. Yeah... You do NOT agitate the dots.

-Vivek

[lukevanoort]

Personally, I have never given out negative rep, but like some others I have come pretty close in a few circumstances. To me, it just doesn't seem like that useful of a tool; many of the posters on CD are intelligent people who will take constructive criticism if it is provided. It also seems to me that someone is more likely to take advice as constructive criticism and follow the advice if it is offered neutrally, instead of being accompanied by negative rep, which is part of the reason why I use neutral rep to convey a message that otherwise would have been accompanied by a red dot.

The other major reason why I don't give negative rep is a matter of scale. Many posts that are, in my opinion, candidates for negative rep come from newer users with smallish rep totals; my rep power is high enough that if I gave a newer user negative rep, it would represent a significant portion of their overall total. Wiping out 10% of someone's rep for a single mistake is not particularly high on my list of things to do, and is, in my opinion, disproportionate to what they actually did. Personally, I would like a feature that would let you choose to give someone just a single negative rep point instead of blasting someone's rep total, but I might be the only one.

On the other hand, I think the green dots are a very good feature to have. They give new members a positive incentive to make polite, helpful posts, which is always a good thing.

[Alivia]

I like the green-dot system very much. It definitely helps people new to CD feel more comfortable posting. It's a little nudge; a way-to-go-chap-your-post-adds-flavor-to-the-mix. It's nice to get feedback that your thoughts can be insightful.

The negative rep points have their pros and cons. One of the bigger pros I see is that it lets the people of CD inform others when they might be a tad out of line, and should maybe reconsider their actions. However, a PM could do the job just as well, I suppose. The red dots should definitely be used sparingly, as I believe they are.

Anywho. From a [relatively] new user...all you Chief Delphi-ans: Keep on, Keepin' On!!

[Molten]

my thought is that if they do something as awful as you have given reasons for, why not just boot them? they usually are only around for a short time anyway.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Molten

my thought is that if they do something as awful as you have given reasons for, why not just boot them? they usually are only around for a short time anyway.

Professional...but I'm not sure it's gracious.

One time I thought about giving red, there was a member who had only been around a short time. He'd started just fine, but then got really obnoxious. Later, he was helpful again. Turned out that someone had gotten on using his account, which... was frowned upon by this member. If he'd been given the boot, would he have been around to help others?

[Molten]

Originally Posted by EricH

Professional...but I'm not sure it's gracious.

One time I thought about giving red, there was a member who had only been around a short time. He'd started just fine, but then got really obnoxious. Later, he was helpful again. Turned out that someone had gotten on using his account, which... was frowned upon by this member. If he'd been given the boot, would he have been around to help others?

First off, I'm tired of the GP comments. If I say it or do it, I obviously believe it to be GP.

Secondly, accounts are easy to make. If mine got deleted, I'd make another and attempt not to get deleted next time. Besides, I'm not saying that this power should be given to everybody. Just to a few of the head moderators. If he made a second account, his friend or foe(not sure which) would not be able to get the password again. Also, he would still be able to do just as much good with the second account as he does with his first.

[Stephen Kowski]

ugh are we talking about this again?!?....

I'm sorry if this doesn't sound sympathetic, but it seems like a few people on this forum need to get a thicker set of skin and not take everything so serious (like this comment for example). These are words on a computer screen, please stop giving the text on this screen such incredible power over how you feel. If red dots or someone disagreeing with your ideas is the worst thing that happened today....consider yourself lucky.

[vivek16]

They are just dots. They might not feel too great but if they really are for a petty reason, don't even bother.

I agree with stephen. Sticks and stones, my friend.

-Vivek

EDIT: Don't get me wrong, they are quite useful but don't give them too much power over you.

[Carlee10]

I don't even know how they really work, nor did I know they exsisted until I accidentally clicked on the user cp button. It was a pleasant surprise. The only red dot I've gotten was from a disgruntled teammate for personal reasons.
They aren't really bad. They're like weapons; depending on whose using them, they are useful and protective. Alas, many tend to misuse them, the same as the red dots.

My .02