Poll: Rep system...is it flawed?

[Jerhart]

For what it's worth.

2 votes for 'yes'
0 votes for 'no'
5 votes for 'it can be improved'

And a small cow.

Just some site feedback if you wish.

[dr del]

Hi,

I just gave rep out...for no reason...didn't say anything. Because I can. Is the system true? Is it flawed?


I just don't understand how someone who has been on this site for 3 months has 5 green bars and has earned more privileges than an individual who has been a member for 6 years?

Does that seem right...because I just showed that you can give rep out for absolutely no reason at all.


I guess I am just one that, if it is going to be done...shouldn't it be done right?

The thing should just be called the "popularity meter" because really that is all it is. It has nothing to do with being helpful...it can...but it's not the foundation to the system at all.

The system's fine - the people might need work.

We used to require people to leave a comment - that was removed after asking the members about it.

We don't control if you want to give positive or negative or no thanks to anyone else on the site. Why would we want to and what on earth would give us the right to.

We do stop people having fights via the reputation system and the amount of points ( positive or negative ) is set according to a couple of different factors - length of membership being one of them in fact.

But if someone has been here three months helping people as best they can and as often as they can then they should have a higher rep than someone who joined on a whim 8 years ago and has been here about 10 times since without even trying to help anyone.

There are members of the site who I hold in awe for their depth and breadth of knowledge.

But some hardly ever post and most other members don't even know they have an account. If they never post there is no way to give them any rep.

As for the system not knowing if you had a legitimate reason for pushing the button? No button does.

Do you also press the call button in elevators or pull the firealarm just because they are there?

It's not up to the button to make you behave in a sensible manner. It's not up to me either.

I'm just here to disconnect the button if you can't be trusted with it so badly it causes problems for the site.


dr del

[dr del]

Yep,

For what it's worth.

2 votes for 'yes'
0 votes for 'no'
5 votes for 'it can be improved'

And a small cow.

Just some site feedback if you wish.

I was the one who voted small cow so I could see the result without unfairly affecting your poll. I was also the one who fixed the title for you.

And thank you for the rep.


dr del

[Jerhart]

So it measures how helpful you are as a member?

[wilomn]

I don't put much stock in it because of the reasons you've mentioned Jerhart, however, it is a good thing for a lot of people who are not so well versed in forums or reptiles.

It's a nice thing for the newbs, gives some of them something to shoot for. Of course it will be abused but it's not like it has a real meaning, it's just a guide, a who might be worth listening to of having advice of any value. Once you've been around awhile, as you have, you begin to see the drawbacks. You can have your pals hit you, trade with them, and bump up your greenies.

I get pms from people now and then asking if I'll give them rep if they give it to me. I explain that I don't play that game and move along. I would imagine there are some who do give the same answer.

It really has no significant meaning but it is one of those nice things that makes people feel like there is something they get for what they give. There is a LOT of giving here. That does rate a little something which the rep system is; a little something to make you feel good and give a bit of an indication of what, when combined with how long a person has been a member, they may know.

Don't look for fair, it isn't there. It is a nice thing though.

[dr del]

Hi,

So it measures how helpful you are as a member?

It should if used correctly;

The thanks says "The Following User Says Thank You to ........... For This Useful Post:"

And the rep button pop up has the choice " I approve" or "I disapprove"

If you don't want to say thanks and neither approve or disapprove don't hit the buttons.

People are people and some will try and game the system - I can't see any point in it but maybe they do.

I will say it is sometimes a good way to catch duplicate accounts.


dr del

[Jerhart]

I don't put much stock in it because of the reasons you've mentioned Jerhart, however, it is a good thing for a lot of people who are not so well versed in forums or reptiles.

It's a nice thing for the newbs, gives some of them something to shoot for. Of course it will be abused but it's not like it has a real meaning, it's just a guide, a who might be worth listening to of having advice of any value. Once you've been around awhile, as you have, you begin to see the drawbacks. You can have your pals hit you, trade with them, and bump up your greenies.

I get pms from people now and then asking if I'll give them rep if they give it to me. I explain that I don't play that game and move along. I would imagine there are some who do give the same answer.

It really has no significant meaning but it is one of those nice things that makes people feel like there is something they get for what they give. There is a LOT of giving here. That does rate a little something which the rep system is; a little something to make you feel good and give a bit of an indication of what, when combined with how long a person has been a member, they may know.

Don't look for fair, it isn't there. It is a nice thing though.

Well said.

-To the rest (mods)-

If the system is being abused, that is what I am reading (and have illustrated), on your next go around of modifying the system perhaps consider limiting the number of 'reps' you have to give out a week, month. etc. I can think of some quick flaws to this per the situation you use up your "monthly rep" and you have just read an outstanding helpful post, but can't rep them. But maybe it's along those lines, so when individuals such as Wes are encountered by those looking to trade rep, it MAY be less desirable. Perhaps this won't skew who is someone you may look up to as pointed out by Wes.

[dr del]

Hi,

Well said.

-To the rest (mods)-

If the system is being abused, that is what I am reading (and have illustrated), on your next go around of modifying the system perhaps consider limiting the number of 'reps' you have to give out a week, month. etc. I can think of some quick flaws to this per the situation you use up your "monthly rep" and you have just read an outstanding helpful post, but can't rep them. But maybe it's along those lines, so when individuals such as Wes are encountered by those looking to trade rep, it MAY be less desirable. Perhaps this won't skew who is someone you may look up to as pointed out by Wes.

Well unless we changed that in the last revamp ( I can't remember - it's 5am over here and I'm getting punchy ) then we have always had limits on rep use.

I remember at one point you had to give rep to ten other people before you could give it to the person you just gave a rep point to.

The thanks sytem I don't think has the same restrictions - but it also gives less points. Both of them require you to have made a post.

But if only two people are involved in kiting their rep they aren't going to get anywhere fast.

The quickest way to get rep is to actually make a good helpfull post on a regular basis - because at that point then every member can give you rep for it.


dr del

[Royal Morphz]

Well said.

-To the rest (mods)-

If the system is being abused, that is what I am reading (and have illustrated), on your next go around of modifying the system perhaps consider limiting the number of 'reps' you have to give out a week, month. etc. I can think of some quick flaws to this per the situation you use up your "monthly rep" and you have just read an outstanding helpful post, but can't rep them. But maybe it's along those lines, so when individuals such as Wes are encountered by those looking to trade rep, it MAY be less desirable. Perhaps this won't skew who is someone you may look up to as pointed out by Wes.

We do currently limit the times you can rep any given person. Say I give Wes a good rep and the right in the next thread he make one of his awesome posts I try to give him another good rep and it says you have to spread rep around before giving this member more good rep. I am not sure of how many you have to spread around.

[Aes_Sidhe]

If I good remember Thanks wasn't use before as reputation buster..
That was changed some time ago..
For example i was thanked (at the time of this post) 202 times in 190 posts... but my reputation points are only 147... and my reputation power... (displayed on your start page after log in) is 1...
If I good understand that my green bars (i have 2) Show How helpful (a people was thankful for my help) I'm in the community but this is not clear because thanks from before dont count in reputation... and they are not included...
Because My Reputation Power is only 1 if I give somebody reputation instead of thanks.. I raise his reputation points just by one...

I believe that people with higher reputation power can give You more reputation points (I was rewarded once in the past with 10 rep point from one user)...

I dont know that Thanks with people wit higher reputation power are more valuable but I thinks that they are set to give You just one reputation point.


For example at the Time of writing this post Jerhart have 272 Thanks and only 2 green bars and this indicate his rep points between 100 and 150 or 200 (i dont remember now exactly the threshold values)....

In the same Time User Royal Morphs Have 2 Green Bars (so rep points between 100 and 150 or 200) as well but 1466 thanks... just Because thanks before rep system was changed are not included...

I think after admins changed than thanks can raise reputation points..... thanks from before should be added to overall rep point of that user to reward they help for community in the past...

Because that wasn't done new users who was for example more active that you after that change appear like they have bigger reputation and contribution to this community...

Is that fair... Probably not..

But is a fixable ???
I dont think so...

I don't expect that with so many Users on the forum our few moderators will go thru everyone account try to fix that ..
I dont even know that is possible... (Is forum software even allow that change).. so If you really care about this little flashy green stuff next to Your nick...
Just be Yourself... be helpful and with time you see progress....