Thread: Reputation frustration

mparker, I tried to rep you for that but was disallowed by the rep system.

Anyway, I think I agree with what you said

Originally Posted by mparker762

Back in the day we used post count as a proxy for knowledge, and liked it.

That may have been the case Matt, but by that token I should put more weight in what Lee says than what you say.

Which I dont.



Only joking Lee.

Let's be real here for a minute:

-Rep and thanks is also given in the conversations forums.
-Moderators have had free rep points.
-Many newbies thank everyone that answers to their threads.
-Most longtime members who only weigh in when necessary will never catch up.
-Contributing to the Wiki earns no rep, but linking to an others article often does.
-Old inexperienced posts of now high rep members gain false weight.
-There's no +1 functionality as originally asked.

Conclusion: reputation system is worthless.

That said, it has been heartwarming to receive 5 rep digits.
At the same time, I find it highly disturbing. I can't help myself checking if I harvested more rep, every time I log in. That is not a good evolution. I catch myself feeling slight disappointment if a particular "well-crafted" post receives no thanks or rep. That is not a good evolution.
You all may think I am a nutcase, but I assure you: this rep thing may turn me into a rep-addict. I may be the only one stepping forward, but I'm surely not the only one that's feeling slightly humanly compromised by it.

What I would like to propose:

That the rep & thanks scores are moved out of sight of everyone, including the member himself.
Change the ThankYou button into an anonymous +1 button, so that important posts gain weight.
Keep the rep score behind the scenes, based on the +1 button. Based on that score, and a voting by a board of veterans, let us donate each year a number of members that showed expertise in a certain field and have been helping others with it, the title "veteran". It grands no further rights, other than that those members receive one (1) star (or another appropriate symbol) next to their post count, and may vote each year for the new "veterans".
It already exists for "blabbermouths" so it would not be very difficult to implement.
That will help newbies, it encourages active members to stay active, and it honors those that have an exemplary state of forum service, without bringing primal human tendencies to the surface.

Bart.

While I agree with some of those ideas, some I do not. I personally think any system that seeks to "tell" people who or what is worth listening to and who or what you can take with a grain of salt is not only divisive, but also crosses the "nanny state" line and encourages lazy and lackadaisical thinking.

Newbies aren't stupid, they are just inexperienced with straights. If you cannot tell, after hanging out here for a few weeks who knows their stuff and who does not, then you have more to worry about than just cutting yourself with a razor, in my opinion.

Just as you must work on developing your technique with a straight, so too must you work on developing your reasoning and social and community involvement skills. I foresee a dash and grab culture developing if we are not careful - run in for info, never to be seen again afterwards, and leaving the diehards to hash out the same tired old debates ad infinitum.

In addition, I would like to point out the micro peer review process that develops within a thread. The cut and thrust of healthy debate. The dawning of realisation. The development of a clear and concise argument. The freedom to read varying points of view, critique them, and develop you own ideas on the matter. I can see how a "+1" could point the way in some cases. However, I can also see it simply stifling original thought and debate in the best case, alienating and discouraging a questioning mind in the worst.

That's my 0.02AUD = 0.0128 USD.

James.

It's easier to click a "I agree, well said" button than to type it.

I agree, well said. We don't need any of these rewarding systems that have their place in elementary schools.
But I understand that not everyone, in particular those that make such calls, agree with that sentiment. It is opted that we need a system to artificially lend some members more street-credibility than others.
The current system is rather childish and in complete dissonance with the gentlemanly atmosphere that's usually found on the forums.
So let's try to constructively come up with something that suits us better and find out if anyone's listening.

Bart.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Newbies aren't stupid, they are just inexperienced with straights. If you cannot tell, after hanging out here for a few weeks who knows their stuff and who does not, then you have more to worry about than just cutting yourself with a razor, in my opinion.

James.

Says it all really.

I think most form their opinions in spite of green chiclets or whichever system might replace them...
I just see them as a variant of 'post counts' so quite innocuous.

Maybe there is a better system but I'm not fussed whether they stay or go & btw, Charlie, a beer sounds good !

I still post +1 when I feel the desire. I agree with Jimbo among others that if you're around awhile it will soon be plain to see who is posting valid info and who is not. If they can't figure it out yet someone will call BS.

When I first came around I listened to Lynn, Randydance, Glen, AF Davis, mparker, ChrisL, Kaptain Zero, Bart, Utopian and I could go on. There was no chiclet thing and sometimes I think it is bizzare that I have more of the greenies then some of the forementioned members among others but I don't make the policy.

I have given out rep to many of the old timers who don't have as much rep as I think they ought to (they certainly should have more then I have) and the window pops up telling me that "You must spread some reputation around before you give John Doe more rep". I wait a week and then when I click on it and the rep button allows it.

has anyone (site owners/admin/staff) said what the intent of the rep system is?

Is it: as a newbie you can pretty much figure this guy has been around a bit and some people respect him?

Or is it: This is how this guy ranks amoung his peers in the context of this forum.

??

Thanks to this thread I started working on my reputation..I'm getting addicted to getting thanked..

When I was new to this site and wanted to know somebodys rep I looked at the number of post and the number of thanked. I didnt even notice the green dots til a lot later.

I still have only one dot... that is frustrating..

Maarten

Originally Posted by mlangstr

Thanks to this thread I started working on my reputation..I'm getting addicted to getting thanked..

When I was new to this site and wanted to know somebodys rep I looked at the number of post and the number of thanked. I didnt even notice the green dots til a lot later.

I still have only one dot... that is frustrating..

Maarten

Sounds kind of analogous to illicit drugs the first one is free, but you have to work for it when the craving starts.

Charlie