Rep on this site is out of control

[nick]

I love the rep feature and, in the past, it has never been a problem. But there are people here with crazy rep counts. It really brings the system into disrepute. No one should have rep power of 800, that is crazy.

[StoppingTime]

Then disable your reputation.
It's a meaningless feature for most, but it isn't going anywhere just because some people think it's "crazy." Does it honestly matter?

[Jess]

I honestly don't see why it matters either...it's not like people with high "crazy" rep power are repping other people very often, like abusing it...

[SosbanFach]

I love the rep feature and, in the past, it has never been a problem. But there are people here with crazy rep counts. It really brings the system into disrepute. No one should have rep power of 800, that is crazy.

So what is your proposition for preventing this 'problem', short of removing the system altogether? Honestly, the reputation system is hardly that accurate a measure of... well, anything at all - it's simply a nice means of confidential feedback on the quality of a post or thread. I really don't see that what you have described is such a serious issue as to merit anything more than a passing comment, much less an entire thread. As for 'bringing the system into disrepute', what do you mean by that? I feel that you may be overestimating the importance of reputation somewhat if you think that it is a pure and complete rating of anything and everything a person says. I for one judge posts on their quality, not the number of little green squares next to the name of the poster.

[DerBear]

I don't see the problem with someone having a high rep. Especially if they are earning it through honest and good postings.

[nick]

I honestly don't see why it matters either...it's not like people with high "crazy" rep power are repping other people very often, like abusing it...
Well, yes, exactly that. How on earth do you think someone gets 800 rep power?

[Jess]

Getting repped for good quality posts

[nick]

Getting repped for good quality posts
No, that's how it used to be, but not anymore. These figures are crazy. It needs a fresh start.

[DerBear]

Getting repped for good quality posts

This,

Time, effort and dedication to making good high quality posts. It is more than possible without abusing the rep feature.

[nick]

This,

Time, effort and dedication to making good high quality posts. It is more than possible without abusing the rep feature.
No disrespect, but your rep power would simply not have been achieveable 2 years ago on your post count. Members like Calum and Marcie couldn't achieve that. It's gone mad and needs reigning back.

[StoppingTime]

No disrespect, but your rep power would simply not have been achieveable 2 years ago on your post count. Members like Calum and Marcie couldn't achieve that. It's gone mad and needs reigning back.

This isn't two years ago, I suppose. Things have changed, as with anything.
Some people like the "new VT," others, like yourself, wish things could be "set back to the old times." But it's not the old times, and things change. So, there's really no reason to "reset" the rep count, and that would just cause more problems than needed, anyway.

[Infidelitas]

No disrespect, but your rep power would simply not have been achieveable 2 years ago on your post count. Members like Calum and Marcie couldn't achieve that. It's gone mad and needs reigning back.

Why? Because you're jealous that you don't have that much rep?

Rep is pointless. It's just a number. Stop bitching.

[Thunduhbuhlt]

There is only one person that I can think of that has a very high rep. I won't name names *cough*Mikey*cough* and he is well deserving of it.

[Jupiter]

There is only one person that I can think of that has a very high rep. I won't name names *cough*Mikey*cough* and he is well deserving of it.

deadpie

[dusman77]

Might I just say, it seems everyone here has high rep, so is this an unbiased source of information?

[Jess]

Might I just say, it seems everyone here has high rep, so is this an unbiased source of information?

It's REALLY REALLY high rep, like over....600.

[dusman77]

Oh ok.

[Ryhanna]

Unless there's some sort of glitch with the rep system resulting in unusually high rep, I don't think there's a real problem.

Honestly, I think it's just that more users are aware of and actively using the reputation system. I get reputation are lot more regularly and often now than I did two years ago, whether this is because my posts are of greater quality than they were before or more users are using the system, I don't know. Just taking a guess.

[TheMatrix]

People are using a feature. That's good, isn't it?
Nobody really cares, it seems, besides you, and some newbies who eventually realise that it doesn't matter. So what's the problem?

[Jupiter]

It was going to happen eventually. When people rep each other, their rep gets higher, so when they give rep, others get higher. and.. so on until. it just is natural, in my opinion.

[Professional Russian]

There is only one person that I can think of that has a very high rep. I won't name names *cough*Mikey*cough* and he is well deserving of it.

no tim(Deadpie) has the most on the site i believe

[ImCoolBeans]

I would honestly love to can the entire rep system. It's grossly abused every day and amounts to nothing but people complaining -- whether it be about receiving unfair negative rep or peoples' rep being too high.

People constantly "rep farm" (as it is now being called) to gain more and it's really just become a massive ego competition. Another grievance of mine regarding rep is the fact that members now post extremely rude and nasty comments to each other via reputation comments. These abuses defeat the purpose of rep altogether; but my real problem with this is the fact that members are flaming and bashing each other in an area that may be thought to be unnoticed. I can assure you that I am in fact aware of you guys' attempt to make a loophole and that you are not being sly whatsoever. Now that doesn't apply to everybody, but if I'm talking about you, you know who you are.

High reputation levels are unavoidable over time and it was only a matter of time before it happened. I remember a time when people with 100 rep power were seen as users with a high rep; but those days are over now. I think the only solution to this, if you believe that it needs to be solved, is to get rid of the system in it's entirety. However I don't see that happening in the foreseeable future as the majority of the site likes and uses the rep system frequently. Despite it's flaws it's a popular feature and I wouldn't want to take it away when the general consensus says "no, keep it."

[nick]

I would honestly love to can the entire rep system. It's grossly abused every day and amounts to nothing but people complaining -- whether it be about receiving unfair negative rep or peoples' rep being too high.

People constantly "rep farm" (as it is now being called) to gain more and it's really just become a massive ego competition. Another grievance of mine regarding rep is the fact that members now post extremely rude and nasty comments to each other via reputation comments. These abuses defeat the purpose of rep altogether; but my real problem with this is the fact that members are flaming and bashing each other in an area that may be thought to be unnoticed. I can assure you that I am in fact aware of you guys' attempt to make a loophole and that you are not being sly whatsoever. Now that doesn't apply to everybody, but if I'm talking about you, you know who you are.

High reputation levels are unavoidable over time and it was only a matter of time before it happened. I remember a time when people with 100 rep power were seen as users with a high rep; but those days are over now. I think the only solution to this, if you believe that it needs to be solved, is to get rid of the system in it's entirety. However I don't see that happening in the foreseeable future as the majority of the site likes and uses the rep system frequently. Despite it's flaws it's a popular feature and I wouldn't want to take it away when the general consensus says "no, keep it."
Thanks for a considered answer and for not taking my comments personally, they were never meant that way. I love the rep system and would hate to see it go. But all the same I feel rep power in the several hundreds is too much, no one should have that much ability to boost or condemn fellow members.

It's the noobs I worry for, someone with even 300 rep power can zap them to -150 in one easy move and that could take them months or even years to recover from. Would they even want to?

Equally for someone to be able to boost another users rep by 400 points is crazy, no single post can be worth that much, it's out of proportion.

[Origami]

Is there no way to 'repair' the rep system and allow each member the same power in giving rep?

Such as,

User A has 300 rep and User B has 5 rep. User C gets repped by both A and B and receives one point from each instead of 150 from one, and 2.5 from another. Thus both users are of equal influence and if C gets neg repped, they aren't instadoomed.

[IAMWILL]

I just don't understand how people can say the rep system isn't completely abused today. 3 years ago I believe Ant had the highest rep around 130. Today its over 800. The supposed reason that people are making more helpful posts is just false. If anything I've seen the amount of quality posts decrease in the last 3 years. Does anyone honestly think that the posts today are worth 5 times more than what they were a few years ago? Its not like everyone here is a God of advice and knows exactly what to say all the time. A few years back I watched a member counsel another member out of suicide. It was completely real, he even called the other member's local police station to get people over to his house. He didn't get rep for it, but believe me his contribution to the site was worth much more than some green blocks and a big number.

Personally I don't care about the rep system, but I don't mind it being here. If people want to believe its an accurate measure of a person's post quality, go ahead, but there is just no good reason today to say it is.

[Sugaree]

I love the rep feature and, in the past, it has never been a problem. But there are people here with crazy rep counts. It really brings the system into disrepute. No one should have rep power of 800, that is crazy.

http://i3.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/002/686/Deal_with_it_dog_gif.gif

Seriously, if you don't like it, disable it. No one cares about it that much anymore. It's not 2009 anymore Nick, it's time to move on.

[kenoloor]

I just don't understand how people can say the rep system isn't completely abused today. 3 years ago I believe Ant had the highest rep around 130. Today its over 800. The supposed reason that people are making more helpful posts is just false. If anything I've seen the amount of quality posts decrease in the last 3 years. Does anyone honestly think that the posts today are worth 5 times more than what they were a few years ago? Its not like everyone here is a God of advice and knows exactly what to say all the time. A few years back I watched a member counsel another member out of suicide. It was completely real, he even called the other member's local police station to get people over to his house. He didn't get rep for it, but believe me his contribution to the site was worth much more than some green blocks and a big number.

Personally I don't care about the rep system, but I don't mind it being here. If people want to believe its an accurate measure of a person's post quality, go ahead, but there is just no good reason today to say it is.

This (^) is seriously one of the only posts worth reading in this whole bloody thread.

If you're butthurt about the rep system, get over yourself. It's devolved to a state where it is purely a popularity contest. The idea that someone's rep is directly proportionate to the quality of their posts is buffoonery (yes, that's a word). Stop bitching about it. If you use the search feature, you'll find that there have been plenty of campaigns to reign in the rep system. The problem is that the circlejerk of the bigdick rep-kings isn't going anywhere.

[andrewhaas]

Well good for you.

[NSoKShannon]

I think everything is fine. there isn't really any reason to change anything.

[Magus]

You know, there are some sites where people has a rep power of: 45864516864. While some people have a huge long bar of red, as soon he disagree with the people of the higher reps.

[Donkey]

It's a natural issue that occurs in any economic system. We have quite a modest situation compared to Zimbabwean hyperinflation :P If you think about it, inflation in even the UK means that each successive generation will have a pension that visibly appears much larger, however is actually the monetary value. You could argue, from this, that this hyperinflation of the reputation system is an incentive for users to stay active so they don't fall back :P

My point is that Zimbabwe would never consider taking everyone's money away and starting again. It is just something natural that is always going to happen. To be honest, the greater use of -rep would help ease it a little - and making -rep worth the same value as +rep, however I don't imagine this would be a popular suggestion. The easiest thing on a personal level is just to rise above it and take the moral high ground.

[The joker.]

I have a red rep, xD, but i cant private message people and that annoys me a bit :D

[StoneColdNicky]

I've looked into Rep before, but still don't exactly get how it works, how to give it, or how to use it. Is there a guide to using the system somewhere on the site? I've looked before and come up empty handed, but I see people asking about it and think I'd like to know more.

[Mortal Coil]

It's just something that happens. I'll admit, rep does mean a little to me, but I don't see the issue. Those with ridiculously high rep like Damien and Mikey deserve it in my opinion, and when it comes down to it, rep either doesn't matter to you or you get a little ego boost when you see that number go up. The rep that others get doesn't really impact me and I don't understand why it impacts you so much.

Additionally, what do you propose as a solution?

[Magus]

Additionally, what do you propose as a solution?Make a thank you button as way to increase rep, rather than having a neg rep and pos rep.

That way, we will avoid having all of this.

[The joker.]

Someone asked over a red rep, why i cared about PMing, its because i acctualy get some, and i cant answr, so i have to contact them on steam, wich is a lot of work :D
:i was very new when i posted this didnt know that you had to have 100 posts too, sorry bout that

[CyanideGoodnight]

Would resting the system work? I don't know if it's been suggested, but what if we "reset" everyone's reputation is reset? That way everyone starts equally, if it's such a problem to some people (Which it obviously is to others)

really though it's just a number :P

[Rayquaza]

Would resting the system work? I don't know if it's been suggested, but what if we "reset" everyone's reputation is reset? That way everyone starts equally, if it's such a problem to some people (Which it obviously is to others)

really though it's just a number :P

I agree.

At the moment, we have this massive contradictory arguement;

"No one cares about rep."

Yet the same people who say that exact statement respond with

"Why would I want to remove my 'hard earned' rep? It took me ages!"

Hypocritical you say? Hmm, yes. But I'm all in favor for a reset. Rep was never this much of a problem, that there have been threads every 5 days or so complaining about it. Something ought to be done.

[UnknownError]

or we can just leave it the way it always has been and move on with our lives.

[PerpetualImperfexion]

I have noticed an increase in the number of posts related to the rep system though... I wonder what that means.

[kenoloor]

I have noticed an increase in the number of posts related to the rep system though... I wonder what that means.

It means bitches are getting bitchier.

[deadpie]

No, that's how it used to be, but not anymore. These figures are crazy. It needs a fresh start.

YES! NICK IS BACK IN STYLE! Back to the website to complain about every little thing. I think you enjoyed rep when you had the highest rep, lol.

Also, the new admin, Mike, he's pretty fucking awesome. That's why he has that much rep.

I personally just don't neg rep users much anymore unless it's an insanely stupid offensive troll like post. If anything of course something like this would happen on the site and the only difference is that instead of a user joining the site taking a year to get a 100 rep it takes a year to get 150-200 rep now. I think high rep isn't based on how smart or how awesome you are, but about attitude and caring for others on the community.

These (http://www.virtualteen.org/forums/search.php?searchid=3863056) are posts qualified for neg rep for example.

If anything, I think people should +rep more users that give advice on VT in the depression forums. It bothers me seeing users give long advice and have only 50-150 rep. That's some true caring and good attitude for the community of this site! That's what deserves rep yo.

You know, there are some sites where people has a rep power of: 45864516864. While some people have a huge long bar of red, as soon he disagree with the people of the higher reps.

Pretty much this. Sites that grow older and larger with reputation abilities eventually get users with over 1,000,000+ rep at times and like a the "newbie" amount of rep goes around one to two thousand rep.

[Jess]

You know, there are some sites where people has a rep power of: 45864516864. While some people have a huge long bar of red, as soon he disagree with the people of the higher reps.

This is true. Some sites use rep a lot more than others, others barely at all. I was member of a few forums where you can easily get a hell a lot of rep pts and power. It's all up to the forum admins, really.

[ackmedsgirl666]

I hate the rep feature
My boyfriend wrote one post because another member was bashing and he stuck up for himself and somebody with a high rep count docked him 40 points and now he's in the negative. I only just disabled mine and I will only re-enable it when I see some maturity on here. So I agree it's out of control. I hate it. So I'm not gonna bother with it anymore

[TheMatrix]

You know what I suggest?

A spectre is haunting VirtualTeen -- the spectre of communism. All the powers of the internet have entered into a cyber alliance to exorcise this spectre: Admin and Global Moderator, internet user to internet whiz, troll and flamer.

Where is the party in opposition that has not been decried as communistic by its opponents in power? Where is the opposition that has not hurled back the branding reproach of communism, against the more advanced opposition parties, as well as against its reactionary adversaries?

Yes -- you read it right -- that was a modified version of the first few lines of the Communist Manifesto. I suggest making a sort of mini-communist society.
Instead of "Admin", "Moderator", "Global moderator", and the various user titles(bourgeoisie) as well as the "new users" and users with negative reputation(proletarians), we will all just be "Comrade". "Reputation" is like the titles of old Europe: I will no longer be the Tsar of High Reputation, and neither will you.
Post count is like money: we will all have an equal amount of posts, all of which will be communal property.
Private Messages will be abolished: we can't have any Enemies of the State plotting any moves.
You aren't banned: you are simply sent to the mines, never to be seen or heard from again.
Avatars will all be the same: a hammer and sickle on a red background.
There will be an introductions forum: You repeat the chant 3 times, "Hail, the People's Republic of VirtualTeen!".

The bourgeoisie, wherever it has got the upper hand, has put an end to all feudal, patriarchal, idyllic relations. It has pitilessly torn asunder the motley feudal ties that bound man to his “natural superiors”, and has left remaining no other nexus between man and man than naked self-interest, than callous “cash payment”...It has resolved personal worth into exchange value, and in place of the numberless indefeasible chartered freedoms, has set up that single, unconscionable freedom — Free Trade.

So I say: Working users from all forums, unite!

[Magus]

Where is the party in opposition that has not been decried as communistic by its opponents in power? Where is the opposition that has not hurled back the branding reproach of communism, against the more advanced opposition parties, as well as against its reactionary adversaries?[/SIZE]

Viva La Revolution, Tovarisch!

Let us strive for a stateless, classless society based on mutual understanding!

[Iron Man]

Here is something that I wish would happen: How about, you know, everyone just shuts up about rep, and we can go about our lives? Of course rep has inflated since 2009, but that was 2009. Its not like rep can be used as currency here. To some, it is like having a chest full of medals. To others, they are just green blocks under your details. If someone gives you neg rep for a stupid reason, ignore it. There will always be people in your life that give you a hard time. Letting it get to you just gives them ammo.

[UnknownError]

I have noticed an increase in the number of posts related to the rep system though... I wonder what that means.

i think people with low rep are just mad or something idk but its not working.

fun fact my rep is 420 smoke weed everhyday i am laughing ty tom hanks omfg

[nick]

I think you enjoyed rep when you had the highest rep, lol.
I've never had the highest rep, I was probably in the top 10 at the time I stopped posting regularly but not in the top 3 or 4.

[Wonder.]

Why doesn't this site just switch to a "thanks" system where it just shows how many times you were thanked. No positive or negative, no weighted system, just when you're thanked, the number goes up by one. It's probably the best option if you want to keep a system in place without people complaining.

[Iron Man]

Why doesn't this site just switch to a "thanks" system where it just shows how many times you were thanked. No positive or negative, no weighted system, just when you're thanked, the number goes up by one. It's probably the best option if you want to keep a system in place without people complaining.

There will always be someone that complains about "Making helpful posts and not getting credit for them". So, when someone with 5 thank you power comes along and sees someone with 150 thank you power, if they really are that immature, they are going to bitch and moan about it.

[Magus]

There will always be someone that complains about "Making helpful posts and not getting credit for them". So, when someone with 5 thank you power comes along and sees someone with 150 thank you power, if they really are that immature, they are going to bitch and moan about it.

Not at all. I haven't seen this with forums that has the 'thank you' system.

[Rayquaza]

Not at all. I haven't seen this with forums that has the 'thank you' system.

I also agree with this.

XDA Forums have the thank you system, and it works really well. Of course you'll get people saying "Dont forget to press thanks", which is just as desperate as the people on this forum writing stuff like "I love rep" or "I will rep back" in their signatures. At least it means no one can have minus of it, since a lot of people complain about how it's hard for them to recover from minus rep.

Here is something that I wish would happen: How about, you know, everyone just shuts up about rep, and we can go about our lives?

So you're willing to tell every single new member this? Besides, you're adding fuel to the fire by posting here too.

[ImCoolBeans]

Being nasty and sarcastic isn't helping the situation at all, so I ask that you stop. Telling people to "shut up" and "get over it" is not how we go about things here. There is clearly an issue and it is not being ignored -- I just ask that we all go about it maturely.

[Human]

I don't think having high rep is as important a problem as abuse of rep

[Mirage]

I don't see the problem with someone having a high rep. Especially if they are earning it through honest and good postings.

Exactly. That's because there is no problem at all.

[Carlyle]

I'm really unsure of what the rep situation was before I joined last year (holy fuck, over a year already), but I feel like it's been a joke since then, maybe even before that. All it is anymore is a popularity contest for most people, but there are a few people here on the site that I feel do have their rep well deserved. Mikey, for example, does have some very quality post and does a lot of work for the site (He made it from mod > gmod > admin in approx. 1 year, that has to count for something), then there's deadpie, who is possibly the biggest ass on the site itself, who has his rep so high for lord knows what reason.

Honestly, its not what it use to be back before my time, now its just a number. Its nice to see go up, but its not like you're a legend for having a huge amount. That is, until someone hits 1k rep for the first time..

[nick]

I'm really unsure of what the rep situation was before I joined last year (holy fuck, over a year already), but I feel like it's been a joke since then, maybe even before that. All it is anymore is a popularity contest for most people, but there are a few people here on the site that I feel do have their rep well deserved. Mikey, for example, does have some very quality post and does a lot of work for the site (He made it from mod > gmod > admin in approx. 1 year, that has to count for something), then there's deadpie, who is possibly the biggest ass on the site itself, who has his rep so high for lord knows what reason.

Honestly, its not what it use to be back before my time, now its just a number. Its nice to see go up, but its not like you're a legend for having a huge amount. That is, until someone hits 1k rep for the first time..
I didn't foresee this thread turning into a who deserves what thread and don't think that's particularly helpful or appropriate.

Being nasty and sarcastic isn't helping the situation at all, so I ask that you stop. Telling people to "shut up" and "get over it" is not how we go about things here. There is clearly an issue and it is not being ignored -- I just ask that we all go about it maturely.
I haven't been bothered or upset by any of the responses made to me here in the thread. I'm glad you acknowledge there is an issue, that's really all I wanted to raise so in that sense this thread has served it's purpose. Given that it seems to be descending into discussion of individuals merit I'm happy for this to be locked before it goes further downhill.

[ImCoolBeans]

Given that it seems to be descending into discussion of individuals merit I'm happy for this to be locked before it goes further downhill.

Due to that, this post was going to bring that result anyway.

This thread was not made to single people out and pick them apart -- and I'm not too thrilled that it has turned into just that. You guys are well aware of the rules here; there is no excuse for it.

As nick has requested, this will now be locked.