Reputation Redux

[Bêthberry]

A timely, reminder, Mithalwen that the rep system is intended to reflect the quality (or lack of it) in discussion rather than agreement or disagreement. Even people with whom we disagree might still, because of the nature of human conversation, enable us to see something new, something interesting, something well done, something that lifts us out of the mundane and ordinary.

I've always thought that neg reps were to be used in cases where posters have, repeatedly and obstinately, after polite requests and several warnings, refused to follow the Downs' rules about courtesy and respect in online discussion--flames, personal attacks, spam. Maybe add to that overbearing insistence upon stating , restating, and restating again one's position ad infinitum, without ever listening to other points of view, and possibly baiting people with the apparent intent to ridicule. Really,with the option of posting to refute or using PM, what's the point of anonymous negative reps?

Originally Posted by davem

The odd thing is getting a pm from someone thanking you for giving them positive rep - it brings home to you how significant it is: if someone will go to the trouble of writing to thank you for positive rep you get an inkling of how much it must hurt them to get negative rep - the main reason I've always avoided doing so.

I suspect people have any number of reasons why they send thank you PMs to people for positive reps. For some, it could simply be a matter of courtesy and politeness, an acknowledge of kindess. For others, it could be a means to open up further areas of discussion. There could be as many possible motivations as there are people. I don't think it's necessarily odd at all.

[Ibrîniðilpathânezel]

Since I'm new here, this is obviously just me tossing in a general opinion/observation of my own. I've been a participant on a lot of boards that use a rating/rep/mod system, and it seems that on all of them, sooner or later, it becomes an issue (usually not for the better. Actually, I can't recall a single site where, when it DID become an issue, it wasn't in a negative way). I'm given to understand that this feature is used as means to allow the active members of the board to have input into moderation, but sometimes, I have to wonder if it's more trouble than it's worth.

Now, that said, from what I've seen here, both during my lurking phase and as a participant, this is one of the most well-behaved, mature boards I've ever seen. I don't know what's going right in the Downs (stability of membership, perhaps?), but it's a pleasure to see. And a commendation to site owner, the moderators, and the members all. Bravo (and brava)!

[davem]

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

I suspect people have any number of reasons why they send thank you PMs to people for positive reps. For some, it could simply be a matter of courtesy and politeness, an acknowledge of kindess. For others, it could be a means to open up further areas of discussion. There could be as many possible motivations as there are people. I don't think it's necessarily odd at all.

I should thank people more for the positive rep I get - sadly I'm always seem to be too busy particularly at the moment (well, the reason I'm busy isn't sad, but....you know what I mean). My biggest fault at the moment is taking ages, or even forgetting, to respond to PM's! Talk about 'One thing drives out another.' - try becoming a father for the first time at 47

[alatar]

Originally Posted by davem

I should thank people more for the positive rep I get - sadly I'm always seem to be too busy particularly at the moment (well, the reason I'm busy isn't sad, but....you know what I mean). My biggest fault at the moment is taking ages, or even forgetting, to respond to PM's! Talk about 'One thing drives out another.' - try becoming a father for the first time at 47

That all said, but you only have one! Can't understand what you're doing with all of your free time.

Think that the PM responses to rep also help to build the community - slim ties maybe, but better than nothing.

[Ghazi]

Originally Posted by alatar

That all said, but you only have one! Can't understand what you're doing with all of your free time.

Agreed. Would you like some cheese with that wine?

[alatar]

Originally Posted by Ghazi

Agreed. Would you like some cheese with that wine?

I will take all of the wine you've got as well, along with the cheese.

And note I remember (vaguely) what it was like to be a parent of one, and now that I have four, think back to those times and wonder why I was so spastic...it was only one, before the time of zone defense.

And that's why you should rep people when they do make a better than average post - you don't know what it took them to even get fingers to the keyboard that day.

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

I suspect people have any number of reasons why they send thank you PMs to people for positive reps. For some, it could simply be a matter of courtesy and politeness, an acknowledge of kindess. For others, it could be a means to open up further areas of discussion. There could be as many possible motivations as there are people. I don't think it's necessarily odd at all.

I think that there is a lot of truth in this - and in Alatar's suggestion that it is a way of forming community links.

Given that "social discourse" has usually been stamped on pretty hard, a rep is a way in to PM communication on a topic. Most of my friendships and acquaintanceships here have started through such conversations. Since I am now so used to the place it is hard for me to judge if the Downs is as daunting as it was when I joined (with the Canonicity debate in full steam) and despite not being in the first flush of youth and having many years of Tolkien reading (and a Literature degree) behind me it took me quite some time to dare to post in "Books". Receiving rep was very encoouraging and saying thank you was a way of meeting people you might not have pm'ed on spec.

This may seem a bit demented to people who are more confident..(or not British !) but I seldom bother to visit another board anymore because all serious discussions are dominated by two old timers who seem to delight in smacking down newcomers. Either what you say is wrong or what they have said already....

[Estelyn Telcontar]

An excellent reminder, Mithalwen, and good points, especially those added by Bêthberry and alatar. Yes, positive feedback is encouraging, and I think it is important to give newcomers and shy posters that kind of reassurance. The community aspect is certainly an important one. I know that it makes my day (and I'm no newbie around here, nor am I shy!) when someone gives me a positive comment after I've made an effort to post well.

Look closely at the words in the box when you click on the rep icon:

I approve
I disapprove

Not, "I agree" or "I disagree"!

I can recall giving a positive rep and comment (signed, of course) to someone with whose posted opinion I did not agree, but it was stated so thoughtfully that I thought it deserved to be rated positively for that reason.

I have also given a negative rep with comment (signed as well) to a post with which I basically agreed, but it was stated so aggressively that I did not approve of the manner of posting.

Yes, I do give negative reps, but only when I feel that the poster has expressed his/her opinion in an inappropriate manner, or when the same opinion has been stated so repetitively that it is exceedingly boring. However, most members here on the Downs post enjoyably, so the positive reps I give are certainly in the majority!

[Mithalwen]

than to let this thread disappear into the depths as completely irrelevant but seemingly it is time to bump it up again.

It seems that someone is playing silly beggars again, so time for a Captain Obvious moment.

Anonymous neg repping is cowardly

Neg repping under an assumed name is really deeply unpleasant.

It also raises the possibility that some despicable person could cause a lot of mischief by signing neg rep with the name of a bone fide Downer. This would be a lot easier to do now that we are all rep at about the same weight.

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

It also raises the possibility that some despicable person could cause a lot of mischief by signing neg rep with the name of a bone fide Downer. This would be a lot easier to do now that we are all rep at about the same weight.

I don't mind receiving bad reps when they make sense; however, I got a rather rude one from a person named Angrist the other day. I looked up the name in the member list, but to no avail. Gutless.

P.S. By the way, i-n-t-e-l-l-i-g-e-n-c-e is spelled with 2 L's, Angrist.

[the phantom]

It also raises the possibility that some despicable person could cause a lot of mischief by signing neg rep with the name of a bone fide Downer.

I'm ashamed to admit it, but I've been signing all of my neg-reps "from Esty". Sorry.

But seriously, yes, if you're going to neg rep give your name. If it's not a criticism that you feel you can attach your name to then it probably doesn't need to be given.

[Morai]

I think the only neg rep I got was blank. So I have no idea why they didn't like my post, only that they didn't like it. A name would've been nice, so I could pm them and pursue the issue a little further and perhaps resolve and/or improve it.

[Gwathagor]

Originally Posted by Morthoron

I don't mind receiving bad reps when they make sense; however, I got a rather rude one from a person named Angrist the other day. I looked up the name in the member list, but to no avail. Gutless.

P.S. By the way, i-n-t-e-l-l-i-g-e-n-c-e is spelled with 2 L's, Angrist.

Wow. What a huge scumbag.

I only got one neg-rep, and it was unsigned, but I think it was from a new user who probably had yet to "get" the whole rep "thing". It was for a post with which the neg-repper simply disagreed, though he/she/it didn't actually dislike my tone or style or something neg-rep worthy. But, because I'm relatively sure it was a newly dead Downer, while the disagreement should have been addressed through a responding post rather than a neg-rep, I don't actually hold any hard feelings about it. Though...I have some Sicilian cousins who do little jobs for the family, and they may be taking a plane trip when I find out who it was...

[Groin Redbeard]

Originally Posted by Morthoron

I don't mind receiving bad reps when they make sense; however, I got a rather rude one from a person named Angrist the other day. I looked up the name in the member list, but to no avail. Gutless.

I got one from the same guy! It said: "Please try and use inteligent speech like Morth and Gwathagor! ~Angrist" At first I thought it was Morth or Gwath under a disguised name, but I guess that I was wrong.

[Gwathagor]

Originally Posted by Groin Redbeard

I got one from the same guy! It said: "Please try and use inteligent speech like Morth and Gwathagor! ~Angrist" At first I thought it was Morth or Gwath under a disguised name, but I guess that I was wrong.

If it wasn't a ne'er-do-well talking (Angrist, that is, not Groin), I'd take that as a compliment.