Negative rating

[szlamany]

Someone actually gave me a negative rating - without even stating a reason!

Having a large debate about a minor issue - I guess my points were too much to take.

That stinks!

[MartinLiss]

I agree. If you are going to give a negative rating there should be a reason and that reason should not be that you simply disagree. Rather it should be because a person gave clearly wrong advice, and, in that case, you should state why you are giving the rating. If you can't think of a reason then perhaps that's a clue that you shouldn't give a negative rating in the first place.

[RobDog888]

Can we change the Reps comment field so that the giver must enter a comment?
It seems that to me if someone is going to give a Rep that there must be a valid reason for it, either way.
Forcing a comment may lead to some insight for the reason?

[szlamany]

I got annoyed and then threw back negative ratings at two people on that thread.

Is there a way I could remove those - or could you Admin types remove those? I surely don't need to get into a pissing contest with other folks on the forum...

[RobDog888]

Yes, only an Admin can modify or remove a Rep. So if your interested you can send Martin a PM of your request.

[Hack]

Can we change the Reps comment field so that the giver must enter a comment?
It seems that to me if someone is going to give a Rep that there must be a valid reason for it, either way.
Forcing a comment may lead to some insight for the reason?

I think this is an outstanding idea and I'm going to give RobDog kudos for it as I was about to suggest the same thing (great minds and all that... )

In fact, not only should it be setup so that a comment must be entered, but the forum id of the person submitting the rating should be included by default. I would suggest the id inclusion be made a part of both positive and negative ratings.


Edit: Sorry RobDog, but I couldn't give you a rating for your suggestion. When I tried I got this:

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to RobDog888 again.

Why? I can see not being able to up the reputation for more than one post in any given thread, but what is the point of not being able to do so against different threads? Does this mean I'll have to rate someone else before I'm allowed to rate RobDog again?

[RobDog888]

Yes, its called the "Spread". Currently the spread is 10. So you need to Rep 10 other members before
you can rep someone again.

The ids of the Rep'er are recorded but they are only visible to Mods and up.

What I do is at the end of my comment is to add a dash and then my user name so they can see who gave them
the rep. Kind of like signing the reps I give out.
Ex.
"Great code example - RobDog888 "

Btw, yes smilies are supported in the comment field

[Hack]

What I do is at the end of my comment is to add a dash and then my user name so they can see who gave them
the rep. Kind of like signing the reps I give out.

Yeah, me too.

Yes, its called the "Spread". Currently the spread is 10. So you need to Rep 10 other members before you can rep someone again.

Ok. I image that is in place so your buddies won't continually rep you regardless of what you post, so upon reflection, that makes sense. However, I do think that as long as the Ids giving the rep are being captured, they should be displayed so the person receiving the rep, regardless of whether it is positive or negative (but espcially if it is negative) knows who gave it to them.

[RobDog888]

I dont have a problem with showing the Rep'er but the real question is if it is possible to modify the control
panel to show the ids for all members.

Usually if its not an involved code hack or interferres with the forum operations, I think it could be
approved by the other mods too.

Maybe they will add their 2 cents here so we can see if its possible?

[NoteMe]

I think this is an outstanding idea and I'm going to give RobDog kudos for it as I was about to suggest the same thing (great minds and all that... )

Heyyy...I suggested that a 2 months ago when reps was turned on.....I have the big head here..
http://vbforums.com/showpost.php?p=1894913&postcount=11


And an other thing. If it is possible it should be a minimum amount of letters added. Like for a normal post. So no one can just write "" or something.




As a note to Marty. It is not only posts that is plain wrong that should get a -ve. Quote from the FAQ:

If someone blasts a thread with an off-topic post or with negative comments, you can give them a negative reputation.

I also like to think that it also counts for unnessesary posts that has nothing to do with helping or saying thanks. Specially if a person does this randomly in many threads. But as you said. Not agreeing with a person is not one of the reasons.



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[MartinLiss]

The person who left the negative points asked me to remove them and I did.

While it's not a bad idea, the "force a comment" suggestion will probably not happen because it would be a software hack and we normally don't do those. In any case a "comment" could be just something like "fsdfddffdfds" or "" or "......".

[MartinLiss]

...As a note to Marty. It is not only posts that is plain wrong that should get a -ve....

Yes, I know. I just didn't want to complicate the issue. BTW it took me a minute to figure out what -ve was.

[RobDog888]

How about just showing the username of the person who gave the Rep then?

[NoteMe]

The person who left the negative points asked me to remove them and I did.

While it's not a bad idea, the "force a comment" suggestion will probably not happen because it would be a software hack and we normally don't do those. In any case a "comment" could be just something like "fsdfddffdfds" or "" or "......".

I thought about that. And if you combine a comment saying "fsdfddffdfds" or "" with your comment:

If you can't think of a reason then perhaps that's a clue that you shouldn't give a negative rating in the first place.

I think personaly that should qualify as a something that should be altered. But then yet again there is the question about how much the Admins want to work to fix up errors like this, and so on. I guess you (Marty) would get a LOT of PMs asking about getting points fixed if that was the way we handled it.

Maybe if it is possible you can promote a Super Moderator or someone to take care of it, if that is possible? Unless he has to be a Admin to do it. Then I guess it would to much to ask for.


ØØ

[NoteMe]

Yes, I know. I just didn't want to complicate the issue. BTW it took me a minute to figure out what -ve was.

OK, just wanted the rest of the readers here to understand the whole consept...


Ohhh and I think it was Woka that started the -ve and +ve writing. So blame him..


ØØ

[Hack]

How about just showing the username of the person who gave the Rep then?

Yeah, that is what I meant....like automatically appending" - Hack" to every rep I post.

[MartinLiss]

The number of negative ratings given is pretty small and so far at least it has not been a burden for me to handle them when necessary.

I don't think that automatically adding a name to the comment is a good idea for two reasons. One, it might lead to retaliatory negatives, and two, it might deter some people from legitimately giving negatives.

The system isn't perfect but I'm not going to push for any changes now.

[RobDog888]

Good point Martin. I think leaving it up to the member to add their username would be best then.
Eventhough the negative reps are low in volume.

[dglienna]

I think that if you want to give someone a negative rating, that you should at least have to post a comment in that thread. Have it so you cannot randomly pick a thread and zap someone unless you make a comment.

I always post my initials when I give a rating. I didn't always, but i do now.

I don't see a problem with turning on the field that shows who have a rating.

Anyone making retalitory ratings would be violating the AUP.

[szlamany]

Anyone making retalitory ratings would be violating the AUP.

Well, I'm still sitting with a negative rating for that thread - you were involved in that thread - do you think I was out of place?

It really bothers me a lot that I spent the time to work up a timing sample for something I believe in and then get knocked down for my opinion.

Oh well - what can you do.

If I knew who gave me the negative shot, I would avoid threads with that person. And that's a shame - because I've learned a lot from this Forum and also hopefully have given back a good measure.

[RobDog888]

The person who left the negative points asked me to remove them and I did.

szlamany, I think its been removed. Have you checked it lately? If not you did send Martin a PM?

[szlamany]

szlamany, I think its been removed. Have you checked it lately? If not you did send Martin a PM?

No it hasn't - I was thinking that Marty was trying to teach me a lesson for having negative rated two people as a reaction to me getting a negative rating...

And I was at 74 - one point away from being 75+

[Shaggy Hiker]

I've been thinking about that a bit.

I notice that Parksie is slowly moving up in reputation. Therefore, a few people have decided to search for his posts, and give him a rep, kind of as a memorial. That's cool. However, somebody else could do that in a negative fashion.

I have given people +ves in threads where I didn't post, just because I liked their answers (I haven't given any negatives, and may not). However, suppose you got all pissed at somebody because of their views in some other area....like World Events, you could track down one of their posts in another forum, and give them the big -ve, just out of spite. I can think of one person on this forum who could be controversial enough to get such a thing.

Of course, that would be pretty low. Tracking someone down to give them a compliment is a nice gesture, but tracking someone down to moon them certainly isn't. Still, it could be the case that a negative has nothing to do with any post in any given thread....unless it is signed.

[dglienna]

Well, I'm still sitting with a negative rating for that thread - you were involved in that thread - do you think I was out of place?

It really bothers me a lot that I spent the time to work up a timing sample for something I believe in and then get knocked down for my opinion.

Oh well - what can you do.

If I knew who gave me the negative shot, I would avoid threads with that person. And that's a shame - because I've learned a lot from this Forum and also hopefully have given back a good measure.

Nope. I would have initialled a -ive rating (nix) if I thougt the post was out of place.
I posted my comments, and that was it.

[visualAd]

Its a shame that we are letting reputations mask the purpose of the forum. Aren't we here to help other people solve their problems?

• In my opinion a the members "reputation" is something that is built up over time, like a kind of trust and should be used as such. When a new member joins the forums they have a reputation of "5". Does this mean that we take no notice of a helpful post he/she makes? Does it mean there answers are wrong? Does it mean they are new to programming and know nothing?
• There are a very large number of active members on this site, old and new and if in general you are a helpful member, given time your reputation will reflect this. Yes there will be times when another member disagrees with you and gives you a negative rating, or maybe someone who doesn't like you. But, overall your reputation reflects everyone's general opinion of you as a member and not just a single person.
  
  So I say, if you get a negative - let the person who gave it to you have their tantrum, if it is justified then take it. If you retaliate then that just shows immaturity.
• Avoiding threads just because you do not want to get a bad rating actually negates the whole idea of reputations and to see good/helpful members taking this action would be a great shame as it goes against our ethos "to help other people". Again though, this need not be the case if people were not to put so much importance on it.

While we are all fighting over reps, there are members here who need genuine help. So let us get back to what we do best and rise above this pathetic bickering. If you get a negative rep take it like a "man" / "women" and get on and help the next person.

[MartinLiss]

No it hasn't - I was thinking that Marty was trying to teach me a lesson for having negative rated two people as a reaction to me getting a negative rating...

And I was at 74 - one point away from being 75+

Nope, wasn't trying to punish you for anything, but at this point I'll say to you what I've said to other people and that is that you have to take the good with the bad, so unless someone who left a negative asks me to remove it, 99% of the time I won't.

[NoteMe]

I notice that Parksie is slowly moving up in reputation. Therefore, a few people have decided to search for his posts, and give him a rep, kind of as a memorial. That's cool. However, somebody else could do that in a negative fashion.

I must admitt that I have given Parksie a rep point once. Not because I searched for any of his posts. But I had a problem. And I did a search, and the first post that solved my question was his post. And I have done it with a couple of others persons too. A helpfull post is still helpfull even if it old, and there is nothing wrong about giving them a +ve point for it.

The same goes threads that I am not in. I saw JR making a thread. And Hack had a really good reply. Even if I wasn't in that thread, I rated Hack for it. And I will keep on doing it. This is because this is a forum, and old posts and threads that interests me, and teach me things are still valuable knowledge, like an old book you are reading. And shouldn't be treated any other way then a new post/thread.

[brad jones]

I don't think that automatically adding a name to the comment is a good idea for two reasons. One, it might lead to retaliatory negatives, and two, it might deter some people from legitimately giving negatives.

I agree with Marty on this.

I was thinking that Marty was trying to teach me a lesson for having negative rated two people as a reaction to me getting a negative rating...

And as surmized in this thread, this is why we won't display names.

As VisualAd stated, it is best to let the reputations just happen. A few negatives won't matter to anyone who gets lots of positives. In the end, someone that is helpful will have a strong postive reputation that will override any negatives they get along the way. Reputations are still new. In a year, they will mean a lot more on this site. For now, focus -- as suggested -- on the forum and let's answer (or ask) technical questions.

Brad!

[szlamany]

Brad - nice to see you back - hope the twins and everyone are doing great!

Getting any sleep yet? I can barely remember the first year - my guys are going to be 4 in May...