people are abusing the Repping system

[xxPerryPlatypusxx]

I know its no big deal but could a rep please look into my Rep issue
I just joined yesterday and I have been getting red rep all because I posted somewhere under a thread that I believe in god and not eveolution.
I find this pathetic.
someone is abusing the rep system
could a mod please reverse this. it deeply hurts my feelings that I can't even state an honest point without getting heck for it
I don't want people to think I am a bad person :(

[Jess]

I know its no big deal but could a rep please look into my Rep issue
I just joined yesterday and I have been getting red rep all because I posted somewhere under a thread that I believe in god and not eveolution.
I find this pathetic.
someone is abusing the rep system
could a mod please reverse this. it deeply hurts my feelings that I can't even state an honest point without getting heck for it
I don't want people to think I am a bad person :(

If you feel like you got unfair rep, contact ImCoolBeans (http://www.virtualteen.org/forums/member.php?u=23558) or Scarface (http://www.virtualteen.org/forums/member.php?u=19064). There is no guarantee they will be removed, but it doesn't hurt to try.

Also, rep does not define whether or not you're a bad person, although generally if someone has a lot of red blocks they are unpopular. But you shouldn't make a big deal out of it.

[xxPerryPlatypusxx]

ok because otherwise I have been making helpful posts to others since i joined yesterday
but thanks anyways

[Wonder.]

Please also keep in mind that it is fair to give someone -rep if they disagree with what you post. Well, I don't think it's fair but everyone else seems to think so. In the end, rep doesn't really matter anyway so don't worry too much about it.

[PinkFloyd]

You could always disable your rep. That or You could contact an admin if you think you got unfair rep.

[sprouse530]

Just PM an Admin or your local Mod they can take care of it or get you to someone who can take care of it

[Coolguy10890]

U can disable rep as someone said above me. Yea, bad rep hurts my feelings too so I disabled it.

[IAMWILL]

There are sadly a lot of immature people on this site that hate to hear anything against their personal belief. Its sad, but that's what comes when you have teenagers and an anonymous rep system.

[CaliforniaMatt]

Why isn't the whole thing removed?

[Horatio Nelson]

Why isn't the whole thing removed?

Well, that's if you wanna do it the easy way. ;)

[unnamed94]

who cares about rep anyways? its nothing but a arbitrary way to see if someone is helpful or not (or if they agree or whatever) with what you write. if you write what you think is a good opinion, advice,etc. then the fact that people somehow rate what you write should be secondary.

[CaliforniaMatt]

who cares about rep anyways? its nothing but a arbitrary way to see if someone is helpful or not (or if they agree or whatever) with what you write. if you write what you think is a good opinion, advice,etc. then the fact that people somehow rate what you write should be secondary.

It doesn't mean all that much, but people look at it, and it makes a difference on how they perceive you to be.

[unnamed94]

It doesn't mean all that much, but people look at it, and it makes a difference on how they perceive you to be.

sadly, thats what i believe happens in this forums. if people here that come looking for help, advice, opinions, a place to discuss ideas, etc perceive you and what you tell them differently because of a little number under your username then they are just stupid. i dont look at rep of the people who replied on a thread when im reading because it doesnt define how good or useful can the message be and i think people shouldnt either.

[Iron Man]

I only like the rep because it fills that void between posts and those little buttons underneath. Other than that, I couldn't give a lesser shit about it.

People do get quite nasty with rep, and take it so personally. Seriously, is it a popularity contest or something? No. The only thing you're getting is a big ego if you think having the highest rep is the most important thing ever.

[unnamed94]

People do get quite nasty with rep, and take it so personally. Seriously, is it a popularity contest or something? No. The only thing you're getting is a big ego if you think having the highest rep is the most important thing ever.

exactly. i cant remember exactly when (its been a while) but there used to be people asking for rep on their replies or their signatures. its not like having more rep is going to make you better on any level. why should someone even care how much rep they have? i have no idea

[xxPerryPlatypusxx]

well on my other forum they over abuse the rep system majorly lol
so thats why I kind of left there. I came here for a fresh start :)
thanks guys

[Maverick]

Why isn't the whole thing removed?

That's something I really wish I done.

[MuscleTeen98]

Look, a similar thing happened to me... nothing good comes of rep, i disabled mine, maybe you should too.

[Scarface]

That's something I really wish I done.

its being discussed and moving towards action. the reputation system is ridiculous in more ways than i can say. people can't handle it, there's wont be anything replacing it either. there's absolutely no use for it to be on a site like this, it makes absolutely no difference because why would you need a pat on the back for helping people? shouldn't that just be done out of the desire to do good? someones epenis however big or small makes no difference to me because from the amount of pm's i get about it, most dont know how to use it. i'm gonna get rid of it, the first chance i have enough time to do it.

[Donkey]

The simple fix is to remove the ability to negative rep people, rather than remove a system that encourages activity and positive contribution. That is a feature on vBulletin that is often overlooked.

[Rayquaza]

The simple fix is to remove the ability to negative rep people, rather than remove a system that encourages activity and positive contribution. That is a feature on vBulletin that is often overlooked.

Yeah I proposed this idea before. It's called the "Thanks" system and you thank individual members and they have a thank meter. The trouble is, people will still write in signatures "Thank me if I helped!"

[Danny Phantom]

The simple fix is to remove the ability to negative rep people, rather than remove a system that encourages activity and positive contribution. That is a feature on vBulletin that is often overlooked.

This ^^

[Donkey]

Yeah I proposed this idea before. It's called the "Thanks" system and you thank individual members and they have a thank meter. The trouble is, people will still write in signatures "Thank me if I helped!"

No, I am not talking about the "Thanks" system. That is a separate third-party plug-in.

[Wonder.]

I think removing -rep and just keeping +rep is a great idea. Getting +rep is nice, it makes you feel like what you said was actually important. -rep just kinda makes you feel bad.

A "thanks" system like Rayquaza and I have both suggested in the past would also work just as well, but I'd assume getting -rep removed would still keep people's current rep which gets rid of the issue of people complaining that they'd start all over again.

[Erasmus]

I would love if the rep system was just deleted all together.

[Mirage]

Yeah, you can disable your reputation or PM Ronnie or Mike if you feel it was unfairly given.

[Kevin Bacon]

In my opinion the best things you could do are

1) Remove the rep system and have a "Thanks system in place". This is on most forums I use.

2) Remove the Negative Rep and just be able to get Positive Rep. Leave the Negative Rep to the moderators and admins.

[DerBear]

In my opinion the best things you could do are

1) Remove the rep system and have a "Thanks system in place". This is on most forums I use.

2) Remove the Negative Rep and just be able to get Positive Rep. Leave the Negative Rep to the moderators and admins.

Moderators or admins will never issue negative rep as a form of punishment or as a method of moderation. We can give rep out just like anybody else.

I don't like the rep system too much now, seems a lot of complaining over really nothing. I once made threads on the system but its something you learn to accept.

[Kevin Bacon]

Moderators or admins will never issue negative rep as a form of punishment or as a method of moderation. We can give rep out just like anybody else.



Not in a a form of punishment, but when it really needs to be used. They are proven to be able to use it responsibly, as by the positions they hold. Sure, there are members out there, a nice chunk, that can use it responsibly, but, everyone can't.

[Donkey]

Foolish idea. Extra privileges like that for staff only intensify the divide between people [Marx- proletariat and bourgeoisie?] rather than create a meaningful and socially cohesive atmosphere. I would agree that the system should either be deleted (though, this is not the best option) or the scope to give negative rep should be removed (the best option). A thanks system is unnecessary as it has some serious pragmatic shortcomings; rep can be used holistically for a range of different meaningful posts whereas thanks can only be used for those directly responding to a question which makes it a bit of an awkward system.

[CaliforniaMatt]

I personally think it should be removed completely, and a thanks system put in.

[IAMWILL]

its being discussed and moving towards action. the reputation system is ridiculous in more ways than i can say. people can't handle it, there's wont be anything replacing it either. there's absolutely no use for it to be on a site like this, it makes absolutely no difference because why would you need a pat on the back for helping people? shouldn't that just be done out of the desire to do good? someones epenis however big or small makes no difference to me because from the amount of pm's i get about it, most dont know how to use it. i'm gonna get rid of it, the first chance i have enough time to do it.

Thank you.

The simple fix is to remove the ability to negative rep people, rather than remove a system that encourages activity and positive contribution. That is a feature on vBulletin that is often overlooked.

You may be forgetting that a lot of people here rep farm, which is where I see the biggest abuse of the system. People who have never helped a single person have crazy high rep counts, and although to established members we understand it means nothing, to newer members it seems to be a sign of credibility and power.

[Iron Man]

Honestly, if it could be removed for a trial period of say...two weeks or so, to see how things fare out, that'd be great.

[Professional Russian]

Honestly, if it could be removed for a trial period of say...two weeks or so, to see how things fare out, that'd be great.

You Should Have Made A Meme. Anyways. This would be a good idea other than the whole place would burn to ground because of people complaning about not having rep. you know how that works

[Infidelitas]

I say, get rid of the system all together. I just don't think it's needed because so many people bitch about it and don't understand that it is just a number with some green blocks under it. We don't even need a 'Thanks' system. I think thanking someone in your reply would suffice.

[RyGar]

I don't really care about my rep, from what I can tell, I got a bunch of negative reps in the last two days, either because they dis agreed with me a lot, or because I curse in my speech and that can make it into my posts in leves some people cannot tolerate. I just disabled mine, didn't feel the need to plug up a moderators box with complaints. I figured, and this vindicates it, that if this had happened to me, it happens to a lot of other people, and eventually the system becomes unsustainable and gets fixed.

[ImCoolBeans]

I think rather than a thanks system, we should use a thanks/like system. You can disable the counting of stats, so there won't be the same type of competition that there is with the rep system and you cannot dislike or leave nasty comments, which is a common gripe with rep. This allows you to thank somebody for a helpful reply and allows you to also like good posts and positively show that you agree with it, support it, etc. There is one that meets all of those specifications.

[unnamed94]

I think rather than a thanks system, we should use a thanks/like system. You can disable the counting of stats, so there won't be the same type of competition that there is with the rep system and you cannot dislike or leave nasty comments, which is a common gripe with rep. This allows you to thank somebody for a helpful reply and allows you to also like good posts and positively show that you agree with it, support it, etc. There is one that meets all of those specifications.

that seems to be able to solve the current problems with it. this thread actually helped convince me that the rep system should be disabled for good.

[Wonder.]

I would like to add that I don't think it should be removed altogether. Just positive rep/thanks system encourages people to be helpful and most forums have something like it.

Also, I don't see rep farming as a big problem. Sure, it's not right but if someone wants to cheat a system that has no meaning, so what? It's not a good enough reason to get rid of rep completely.

[xmojox]

I like the option of doing away with negative rep and allowing only positive.

[Allbutanillusion]

I know its no big deal but could a rep please look into my Rep issue
I just joined yesterday and I have been getting red rep all because I posted somewhere under a thread that I believe in god and not eveolution.
I find this pathetic.
someone is abusing the rep system
could a mod please reverse this. it deeply hurts my feelings that I can't even state an honest point without getting heck for it
I don't want people to think I am a bad person :(

I agree, I think the rep system is flawed. The system, I think encourages people to say what they think the original poster wants to hear or what is popular. It does not encourage people to be themselves and give their own honest opinion. or give honest helpful information. The fact of life is that not everyone is going to agree on every single subject.

I think that the negative reps should discontinued, just because someone has a different opinion than someone else doesn't make that person a bad person and I don't think that someone should have their feelings hurt because the choose to be honest. What is the purpose of giving negative reps? To me that just shows how much of arrogant, narcissistic jerk the giver of the negative reps is, usually a coward too, since many of them fail include their user name when they give negative reps and rude comments through the rep system.

[Apollo.]

I think rather than a thanks system, we should use a thanks/like system. You can disable the counting of stats, so there won't be the same type of competition that there is with the rep system and you cannot dislike or leave nasty comments, which is a common gripe with rep. This allows you to thank somebody for a helpful reply and allows you to also like good posts and positively show that you agree with it, support it, etc. There is one that meets all of those specifications.

Could that not just be disabling neg rep?

[Cicero]

Maybe when any rep is given, their name is automatically left on that rep. Another idea is allowing people to actually turn off their rep system. Not like how it is now. But allow it to be turned off permanently for a set amount of time, like how it is with usernames. Allow a person to permanently turn off their rep system (where they receive no neg rep or pos rep) for like 4 months, then when that time has passed allow them to reopen it if they want.

[DerBear]

Maybe when any rep is given, their name is automatically left on that rep. Another idea is allowing people to actually turn off their rep system. Not like how it is now. But allow it to be turned off permanently for a set amount of time, like how it is with usernames. Allow a person to permanently turn off their rep system (where they receive no neg rep or pos rep) for like 4 months, then when that time has passed allow them to reopen it if they want.

So I could neg rep 15 people for little to no reason at all, then turn off my rep for "X" amount of months. This would actually lead to the rep system being abused even more.

[Troy35216]

ha i have had people give me bad rep when they AGREED with me. they just read it wrong. that was when I stopped worrying about rep. altho i have also learned who not to comment on cuz they give bad rep if you don't agree with them 100% and they use rep no to express opinions but to punish people. like these other people say in the end it doesn't really mean anything but it took me a while to figure that out.

[Emerald Dream]

Could that not just be disabling neg rep?

By leaving the positive rep, it's still a popularity contest. There are groups of people who will gang up and +rep each other over and over again for no reason, whether there is any "help" given or not.

I kind of like the "like/thanks" system where everyone's one vote is counted equally. No negativity, though. If you disagree, then don't "like" it.

[xxPerryPlatypusxx]

wow I didn't expect my thread to turn into a debate
well then guess there are more people then I thought who also dislike the rep system

[workingatperfect]

Maybe when any rep is given, their name is automatically left on that rep. Another idea is allowing people to actually turn off their rep system. Not like how it is now. But allow it to be turned off permanently for a set amount of time, like how it is with usernames. Allow a person to permanently turn off their rep system (where they receive no neg rep or pos rep) for like 4 months, then when that time has passed allow them to reopen it if they want.

First off, "permanently for a set amount of time" Lol, what?

But what's the point of this? Can't we already disable rep?

I'm all for getting rid of it. It doesn't have much of a point. And it is silly how people use it to judge how "good" a member is. I won't name names, but one of the biggest jerks I've seen on here also has one of the highest reps I've seen. And then there are really helpful people who have low reps. It's silly. I do kind of like the thank/like idea though. Or maybe if it was somehow private, so the only people that would know would be the people giving and getting it, and admin. So it would be more geared towards it's actual purpose instead of popularity and credibility.

[Cicero]

So I could neg rep 15 people for little to no reason at all, then turn off my rep for "X" amount of months. This would actually lead to the rep system being abused even more.

Or all their negative reps dont count toward you if you turn it off or no rep in general would count.

First off, "permanently for a set amount of time" Lol, what?

But what's the point of this? Can't we already disable rep?

I'm all for getting rid of it. It doesn't have much of a point. And it is silly how people use it to judge how "good" a member is. I won't name names, but one of the biggest jerks I've seen on here also has one of the highest reps I've seen. And then there are really helpful people who have low reps. It's silly. I do kind of like the thank/like idea though. Or maybe if it was somehow private, so the only people that would know would be the people giving and getting it, and admin. So it would be more geared towards it's actual purpose instead of popularity and credibility.

It doesnt disavle becuase people can still neg rep you


Merged. -StoppingTime.

[StoppingTime]

Or all their negative reps dont count toward you if you turn it off or no rep in general would count.

That defeats the purpose of a 'fair' system. I can guarantee you this won't be implemented.

[Cicero]

That defeats the purpose of a 'fair' system. I can guarantee you this won't be implemented.

We could also leave it the way it is.

[Iron Man]

We could also leave it the way it is.

Or we could just remove it, seeing as people can't be trusted with it, without making it into a popularity contest/rep race.

[Cicero]

Or we could just remove it, seeing as people can't be trusted with it, without making it into a popularity contest/rep race.

What about those people who have worked hard on getting the rep? Im sure theyd care that its just being taken away from them after theyve worked so hard getting it.

[Iron Man]

What about those people who have worked hard on getting the rep? Im sure theyd care that its just being taken away from them after theyve worked so hard getting it.

Really? People have surely forgotten what the system is about, if the only thing that is important to them is working hard to accumulate rep. For fucks sake, it is just numbers on a computer screen, and people abuse it to the point where it is just petty competition, combined with neg repping because you don't agree with their response, revenge neg repping, etc.

And, as indicated before, rep isn't handed out just for just giving good advice. People put in their signatures things like "Rep is appreciated", or "I like rep", or some shit like that. Giving great advice, and then expecting something in return is completely redundant, and pretty selfish. Like, "I'll help you with your relationship problems, but...you know...if you rep me in return".

So yeah, this system is completely dead to me.

[Cicero]

Really? People have surely forgotten what the system is about, if the only thing that is important to them is working hard to accumulate rep. For fucks sake, it is just numbers on a computer screen, and people abuse it to the point where it is just petty competition, combined with neg repping because you don't agree with their response, revenge neg repping, etc.

And, as indicated before, rep isn't handed out just for just giving good advice. People put in their signatures things like "Rep is appreciated", or "I like rep", or some shit like that. Giving great advice, and then expecting something in return is completely redundant, and pretty selfish. Like, "I'll help you with your relationship problems, but...you know...if you rep me in return".

So yeah, this system is completely dead to me.
Tons of things are just numbers on a screen, video games are just numbers on a screen but people care about losing on a video game.

[Iron Man]

Tons of things are just numbers on a screen, video games are just numbers on a screen but people care about losing on a video game.

Except we're not talking about a video game.

[Horizon]

I honestly feel the rep system gets abused way to much.

I feel it's almost as if it's just an ego boost for some people. Like yeah, it feels good to people think you have good posts and what not.
But it's not really like that anymore. People positively rep each other just for the sake of repping each other, which I don't personally feel is a good reason. They also do something like rep farming, which is self explanatory.

Or they go and neg rep someone to the point their bar is all red, which is bad because neg rep most of the time now is just used to target each other. I think maybe removing the rep system might be a better idea for VT because it creates a lot of extra drama that isn't needed.

I am a part of other forums, and have seen other forums, with rep systems that don't get abused and they have no issues with it. But the original point of the rep system was to help define how good a person posts. Now its just if your my friend, I am going to rep you, or if I hate you and I going to neg rep you.

I don't think it's unfair to take the rep system away either, because it's not getting used for what the staff had intended it for. I think it's unfair that the mods now have to constantly remove rep because people are abusing it so much now.

[Donkey]

I think rather than a thanks system, we should use a thanks/like system. You can disable the counting of stats, so there won't be the same type of competition that there is with the rep system and you cannot dislike or leave nasty comments, which is a common gripe with rep. This allows you to thank somebody for a helpful reply and allows you to also like good posts and positively show that you agree with it, support it, etc. There is one that meets all of those specifications.
I like the idea taken alone. however, on VT where rep is as integral as P101 or oppressive administration (kidding!), I don't think it's appropriate. I think it would only be appropriate to adjust a very popular system rather than replace it.

[Maverick]

I think the entire system should be removed and within a couple days nobody will miss it.

[Erasmus]

I think the entire system should be removed and within a couple days nobody will miss it.

Please. This would be amazing.

[xxPerryPlatypusxx]

yes I agree with ^this comment
I think mods should do a test trial where we go without the repping system for a few days and see what people think without it there
its worth a try I mean.

[StoppingTime]

It's been stated by our administrator that the system is being removed - why is there still back and forth about it?

[xxPerryPlatypusxx]

I didn't read this comment?
sorry

[StoppingTime]

its being discussed and moving towards action. the reputation system is ridiculous in more ways than i can say. people can't handle it, there's wont be anything replacing it either. there's absolutely no use for it to be on a site like this, it makes absolutely no difference because why would you need a pat on the back for helping people? shouldn't that just be done out of the desire to do good? someones epenis however big or small makes no difference to me because from the amount of pm's i get about it, most dont know how to use it. i'm gonna get rid of it, the first chance i have enough time to do it.

Right here. :P

[Donkey]

It's been stated by our administrator that the system is being removed - why is there still back and forth about it?
Because this is not some autocratic place where what ronnie says goes.... it is his job to act in the users best interests, and hence listen to them. the removal of the reputation system was miscalculated, in my view. We will see a less dynamic and personal community.

[Hyper]

And I think we will see a few less attention whores with their fan clubs... Or they will be less noticeable.

The entire rep thing was skewed since the beginning. Immedieately people started rotating positive rep with a group of friends and people started complaining about that or their negative reps making unnecessary workload for the VT staff.

If rep is personality then I woud gladly be a Dbag.

People giving advice should do it out of their good will, which they did years before prior to rep and I am sure will keep doing for years to come.

People had diaries, made friends, chatted and so on before rep and will after it.

For me someone messaging me and saying thanks for helping me outweighs 10 000 rep points any day.

[kryptonite]

I think rather than a thanks system, we should use a thanks/like system. You can disable the counting of stats, so there won't be the same type of competition that there is with the rep system and you cannot dislike or leave nasty comments, which is a common gripe with rep. This allows you to thank somebody for a helpful reply and allows you to also like good posts and positively show that you agree with it, support it, etc. There is one that meets all of those specifications.

I thank the admins for getting rid of it. As others have said, it's just a way to boost your epeen, ego, or whatever else you think needs fed.

I have seen a system where users can only affect by one, mods by five, global mods by ten, and admins by twenty. Even if that was here, plus making people click through to the profile page probably wouldn't have worked.

I have also seen a system where you can "like" each post individually, similar to our old rep system, but at the bottom of the post, it says "User 1", "User A", "User 2", and "JimE" like this post. You get a number on your profile which equates to the number of likes, but no green dots.

As far as disabiling rep, that only goes so far. AFAIK, mine was disabled, but I could still see the comments (good and bad). IMO, if rep truly was disabled, you would have to be out of the rep game. No one could leave you rep...but, to make it fair, I don't think you should be able to give it, either. I mean, why should I disable it so that they can't leave me rep, but then go around leaving "you stink" messages on posts I don't believe in.

With all that said, and I realize I'm repeating myself here, I do thank the bosses for getting rid of the old system.

I'd rep them if I could. (Insert smiley here.)