Negative Rep?

[dee-u]

What the.... Somebody gave me a negative rep in this thread...

How on earth did that person come up with the idea of giving me a negative rep on that?

[dee-u]

Darn, I still couldnt believe it! Did I asked stupid question? As a noobie in .Net dont I have the privilege to ask things I dont know?

[dglienna]

Which post does it point to if you click on it in your CP? You will have a negative reptutation for the thread that got nixed. Don't make much out of it, you have plenty of points, so one or two doesn't hurt you.

[RobDog888]

Is it from post #5 like your link points to?

[dee-u]

I dont know what post # it is, I just linked the url of that whole thread. What can I do about it? The one who rep. me didnt give any remarks or his/her username.

[dglienna]

Click on the link next to the rating, and it will point to a specific thread. If you try to rate yourself on that post, you will see the red (or green) gem along with any comments. That's how you tell which post got nixed.

[RobDog888]

Well like the usual VBF form letter states, "you got to take the bad with the good".

Now if there was some pattern or other history behind the member showing negligence or some vendetta against you then you could bring it up to Martin.

[dee-u]

I hope Martin would really look into it, I think it was really unfair, I'm just asking questions, since you are one of the one answering my questions in that thread did you find any "offensive" question I asked?

[RobDog888]

Thats just it, Reps are subjective (+/-) and depends on the members point of view as he/she was
reading your post.

[dee-u]

I didn't know that asking questions would get a negative rep. also. If that's the case then i maybe tempted to register another username for the purpose of just asking question to be safe from those unfair members.

[RobDog888]

Well now we wouldnt want to start going around creating multiple user accounts. You would end up getting
yourself in trouble.

Dont worry, allot of members know just how helpful you are and you will recover quite quickly.

[dee-u]

If it were some post which I replied with some "silly" answer then it might have been acceptable to me... It was just plain asking question the I've been 've rep'd? Darn, isnt this community is for?

[dee-u]

Thanks fella, you know who you are.

But I believe this should be addressed properly to clarify the issue. I'm waiting for an Admin's response.

[dglienna]

Unless the nix'er specifically asks that it be removed, due to a mistake or something else, then nothing will be done about it. I've been told to just forget about it. It sucks, but there is really not much that you can do about it.

Did you figure out which post they nixed?

[dee-u]

Nope, is there a way to determine that?

[dee-u]

Is it from post #5 like your link points to?

Since I'm redirected to it then it means I was nixed in the post #5?

[dglienna]

If you click on RATE THIS POST for any post in the thread you reply in, you will see the result (a red gem) if that was the thread that got rated.

[RobDog888]

Yes, whichever post your rep link takes you to is the post that received the rep'ing. Then you can verify like dg posted in #17. .

[MartinLiss]

I'm looking into it.

[dee-u]

Yap, it was post #5... So Martin, what will happen now? Was it justfied for that fellow to rep me negatively? He/she may disagree with me on that aspect but does it mean he/she has to disapprove it?

[dglienna]

see post #14

[penagate]

Was it justfied for that fellow to rep me negatively? He/she may disagree with me on that aspect but does it mean he/she has to disapprove it?

I think it was pretty unfair to give you a negative rep for that thread. It's not like you posted rubbish, they were all fair questions. I don't really see how someone could disagree with you when you are asking a question. But as Dave has said unless it was a genuine mistake the probability is it will remain. I wouldn't worry about it.

[dglienna]

I've looked at the times each person was logged on in the thread, and how many points were taken, but found out that the one I suspected didn't do it. It could have been anyone that just happened to be browsing that particular forum.
PM everyone that you think that did it, and they *might* tell you they did it.
The problem is if they say they didn't.

It's not worth losing sleep over. I should know. I have collected a few red ones in my career. It used to upset me, but now, I just forget about them, usually.

[RhinoBull]

People,
stop making a big deal out of this nonsence - get rid of this damn system and all your "troubles" will go away. I tried to warn "the creator" of this monster when "monster" was born but he wouldn't listen ... nobody would ... now it's your turn if you wish ...

[MartinLiss]

...PM everyone that you think that did it, and they *might* tell you they did it.
The problem is if they say they didn't.

That's bad advice. If someone is upset enough about a negative rep so that they want to see if it can be reversed, they should just PM me, and I'll contact the person who gave the rep.

[dee-u]

So Martin, any action on this?

[brad jones]

I'm going to step in on this thread.


no, there will be no action on this. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and in this case, someone didn't like your post. Who knows their reason, I don't and we will probably never figure it out. Maybe it was the color of your font. Regardless, it was a single lost point that on average shouldn't be noticed in your ovall reputation.

The advice of PMing people was very bad advice and deserves a negative reputation point or two thrown at it. I know who did the negative rep and I will only tell you that it was nobody that posted in the thread. As such, you'd have to PM everyone on the forum to figure it out who it was -- and such PMing would be considered spam and would immediately get you banned.

Reputation is a system for people to subjectively show their opinion towards a post. There will be negative ratings along with positive. That is how life works and it is how the reputation system works. If someone abuses the negative ratings, then we will adjust it and deal with that person. Abuse, however, is not a single rating on a single post, it is a lot of negative ratings or a pattern of negative ratings (or postive ratings). In this case, the negative rating was unique and so again, no action will be taken.

I will also say that complaining about the negative ratings after being told nothing is going to be done, could quickly result in additional negative ratings on the thread and posts complaining about the ratings -- so if there are further issues, it is recommended that people consider PMing a mod or admin since PMs are not rated.

Brad

[dglienna]

I started out saying to forget about it, then posted my own experiences.

I also stated that it had no effect, as you still don't know who it was.

Sorry if I implied that he should do that. It isn't what meant to say.

Not to mention, even if you know who did it, there's nothing you can do to change it.

[RhinoBull]

I have recently recieved a neg rep for my post in this thread ( I think it's #24).
Here is what the comments say: "We've heard your view of the ratings over and over...."
You know, perhaps that is the case but no-one would ever stop me from expressing my personal opinion and that's exactly what that rep was given for ... (actually this isn't nthe first time it happend to me).
According to the time frame and power of the poster (it "cost" me 10 rep points) I believe it was done by Brad and appologize up front if that was sombody else. You have no idea how little I care but the real problem is that "rep system" is so subjective so it takes you nowhere but to a more problems as you go along.
I know Brad, you will defend your creation as much as you can but you must realize that VBF is not your private place - it's a public site and people shouldn't be "rated". The whole purpose of public forum such VBF is to help people or get helped. I may disagree on certain things but over all I think I'm doing a good job on helping ( I hope I do) ...
If I'm looking for a help all I care is some pointer(s) to answer my question(s) and least I would ever care is number of green blocks next to someone's name or number of posts ... How many times did it happend that "newbies" (with all do respect) give the most efficient solution - I think many many times and will be happening in the future.
I would say it once again - make it optional and you will see how many people really like it (or dislike it if you will).
I am not upset with neg rep - not at all - I just want you guys to realize at last how inefficient the system really is.

My very best regards to all.
Also, I meant no disrespect in any way so if anyone took it offencively - my appologies.

RB

[dee-u]

Is this problem escalating already?

[RhinoBull]

I don't think it's escalating but rather on-going ...

[dee-u]

Superb "re-terming" there.

[visualAd]

If you don't like the rep system then you know what to do. Don't use it

In my opinion someone who devotes a lot of time to helping other people out on a forum deserves some recognition. post count is one such recognition, however, it is a little inaccurate as it does not distinguish between those who ask loads of questions and those answer loads of questions, it also tells you nothing about the quality of the posts. Reputations are more accurate because one can express their opinion on the quality of a post, if indeed they have one and someone who posts a lot of helpful responses will get a higher reputation.

However, Like post counts that are not entirely accurate. Just more accurate. If Bill Gates were to sign up on the forum tomorrow he would not have any reputation or posts but that doesn't mean he doesn't know anything about VB. We all start off with a reputation of 5 and a post count of zero and for the most of us we sign up to the forum for some help ourselves and express gratitude for the help we have received by helping others out in our own field of expertise.

I actually don't think reputations are subjective. When someone first signs up they probably don't even realise that the reputation system exists, or even care about its existence, they are just interested in getting their questions answered. Used in conjunction with post counts you can see a newbie who is helpful because they will have a reputation which isn't very far from their post count.

[RhinoBull]

If you don't like the rep system then you know what to do. Don't use it ...

I agree, but there is no way of turning it off unless you are ADMIN (some of them do have it OFF) ...

... In my opinion someone who devotes a lot of time to helping other people out on a forum deserves some recognition ...

... but is it (recognition) worth anything - I don't think so ... Ordinary "Thank You" is more than enough fo me.

[RobDog888]

I agree, but there is no way of turning it off unless you are ADMIN (some of them do have it OFF) ...

Only one member has Reps disabled and he is an Admin (JPnyc).

... but is it (recognition) worth anything - I don't think so ... Ordinary "Thank You" is more than enough fo me.

But thats what a positive rep also stands for - "Thank You"

[RhinoBull]

Only one member has Reps disabled and he is an Admin (JPnyc). ...

Enough for me to recognize that it could be optional, though.

[color=navy]... But thats what a positive rep also stands for - "Thank You"

I don't see it that way ...

[RobDog888]

Enough for me to recognize that it could be optional, though.

Yes, but only for Admins.

I don't see it that way ...

I know but thought I would put it out there anyways.
Its your opinion and your entitled to it.

[RhinoBull]

Yes, but only for Admins. ...

Only one more comments: that's what I call "unfair" - it must be available as an option to everyone on the borad regardless og who you are, period.

Best regards.

[visualAd]

Admins also have the ability to delete reputations and make new forums, moderators have the ability to delete posts and edit posts which they didn't make. Should we just make every member an admin just to make it fair?

The adminsitrators have decided that no one should have the ability to hide their reputations. As the administrators are the only people who can reverse reputations the only people it can have a negative effect on is them, if people keep complaining about negative reputations.

[RhinoBull]

Admins also have the ability to delete reputations and make new forums, moderators have the ability to delete posts and edit posts which they didn't make. Should we just make every member an admin just to make it fair?

The adminsitrators have decided that no one should have the ability to hide their reputations. As the administrators are the only people who can reverse reputations the only people it can have a negative effect on is them, if people keep complaining about negative reputations.

I wouldn't want to go through any debate with you visualAd as it is really pointless: I'm talking about the moon and you're about the lunch ...
This would my very last reply to this thread, though ...