VBForums FAQ

Here you can find answers to questions about how the board works. Use the links or search box below to find your way around.

What are reputations and how do they work?

The VBForums site allows for a number of different ratings. You can rate a thread by selecting a number of stars, or you can rate a single post by selecting the scale icon () above the post .

Reputations are the total of the points gained or lost on individual posts within the discussion forums for each single member. Because these are tied to individual posts, they reflect back on the person who made the post, thus giving them a reputation.

Your reputation can have positive and negative changes. As a member of VBForums, you maybe able to add to others' reputations. If someone gives you a great answer, you can give them a postive rating — and thus positive reputation point(s)— as a thanks. If someone blasts a thread with an off-topic post or with negative comments, you can give them a negative reputation. With time, these reputations will help the "star posters" rise and the people who only provide noise to become visible as well.

Is it possible to cheat the system? Yes, but the forum moderators and admins are aware of many of the ways to cheat the system and will take appropriate actions. Additionally, a few safeguards have been put into the system to help make it more difficult to cheat.

Reputations are indicated by a small graphic. The more positive your reputation, the more visible the graphic will become. This will be displayed by all your posts and in your profile. To add to someone's reputation, you will click a small scale graphic on the upper, right area of the post. It looks like a scale or balance. This will result in a pop-up window as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: The Reputations window.

In this window, you can either give a positive point (approve) or negative (disapprove). You should also add a comment on why you approve or disapprove. If this is your post, instead of rating the post, you'll be able to see the reputation points you have received.

Note that if you leave a negative rating, you should leave a comment as well stating why you disapprove. If you do not leave a comment and the member being rated questions the negative rating, it may be removed because it is not substantiated. Even with postive ratings it is nice to leave a comment.

Reputations come with rules. You can only give a certain number of reputation ratings in a single day.

Additionally, there is reputation POWER. Power is the number of points you give each time you rate a post. This starts at 1 point, but increases based on a number of criteria such as posts, tenure, and your own reputation. Additionally, when you give negative points, they are at half of your power level.

Here are some other rules and settings for reputations(which are subject to change):

  • You must give reputations to 10 different people before you can come back to the same person again. No giving just one person all your points!
  • For every 4000 counted posts — so not including chitchat — you get an extra point of reputation POWER.
  • For every year you have been with VBForums, you get an extra point of reputation POWER.
  • For every 1000 points of reputation you receive, you get an extra point of reputation POWER.

In addition to the above rules, you must also meet certain criteria before you will be able to start giving points. Until these criteria are met (or any time they are not met), then you will have an effective power of 0:

  • You must have at least 20 counted posts.
  • You must have 5 points of reputation yourself (everyone started with 5, so you have to lose points in order for this to impact you.

Please be aware that leaving reputation points may not be anonymous.

How can I see what reputations ratings I've received?

The most recent ratings will be displayed on your User Control Panel page. This was set to the lasttwenty-five (25) reputation, but may be more or less if the settings have changed.

What do the little green/gray/red squares mean?

You can see a member's reputation easily by the number of "gems" that are displayed below their avatar, on each of their posts. The Green gems indicate a positive reputation, the gray gem indicates an unknown reputation, and red gems indicate a bad/negative reputation.

How does the number of gems reflect the member's rep point count?

Each rep gem represents one "level" of reputation. The list of levels is below:

  • User has reputations disabled. Only admins can do this.
  • 0 - 99 points
  • 100 - 199 points
  • 200 - 299 points
  • 300 - 399 points
  • 400 - 499 points
  • 500 - 699 points
  • 700 - 899 points
  • 900 - 1099 points
  • 1100 - 1299 points
  • 1300+ points

If you hover the mouse over the rep gems you will see a tooltip showing their number of points (to the nearest group).

It is also possible to see someone with a black gem. This indicates that their reputation score has been disabled. Generally this applies only to admins.

I wanted to rate a post but there was no link!

Some forums do not allow for rating individual posts. These include the Chit Chat, World Events, and Forum Test Area sections. In general, the forums that don't count posts also don't allow for reputation ratings.

I tried to rate someone and it said "You must spread some reputation around before giving it to xxxx again".

There is what is known as a reputation "spread" in effect. This is a minimum number of members you must give reputation to before you may rate the same member again.

At the time of writing the spread number is 10. This means that you must rate 10 people before you can come back and rate someone again.

At the time of this writing, you are also limited to rating only six people in any 24 hour period.

How can I determine who rated me?

This is now shown in the User CP.

I disagree with a reputation rating. What can I do?

If you disagree with a reputation rating you received, you can send a Private Message to an Administrator or moderator. They will review the rating and help determine whether it was unfounded.

In general, we will not remove or change reputations. There are some exceptions. Negative ratings may be challenged for removal if no comment is included.

How can I see who has the most reputation?

You can sort the Member List by reputation.

Click here to see the sorted Member List.

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