Reputations

[Amrod the Hunter]

The only reward that you will get is the inner pleasure.
I can't get more than one green box,so I wouldn't worry about that.
BTW:How could you get 11 boxes in the name of God!?

[Mithalwen]

Well you may need to make a few more posts ... it is possible for people to make very rapid progress now that so many of the old lags have so much "weight" and often like to encourage new talent .... but as you so rightly say the inner pleasure is what counts..

[Formendacil]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

Well you may need to make a few more posts ... it is possible for people to make very rapid progress now that so many of the old lags have so much "weight" and often like to encourage new talent .... but as you so rightly say the inner pleasure is what counts..

*Deadpan voice and face*

Example?

[Saurreg]

Originally Posted by Amrod the Hunter

The only reward that you will get is the inner pleasure.

That's very true. Your best posts aren't those that get the most rep but those that you feel good/proud that you've uploaded.

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by Formendacil

*Deadpan voice and face*

Example?

Sorry I have no idea what I meant then ... or indeed who..

[Boromir88]

Saureg, I think it can work both ways. Some of the posts that I was really proud of, got me a lot of reps, and it only means more to see that other people enjoy what you posted. Where other posts I've really enjoyed got me little or no reps, but I'm still proud of them .

[Amanaduial the archer]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

Sorry I have no idea what I meant then ... or indeed who..

Liar

[Ainaserkewen]

So, I've been Frodoed and that makes me really happy, not just because an extra greed...I mean green box has been added under my name, but because I can now easily find myself on the Reputations List, third Page. Amazing what little boxes can do.

And I am happy to see that no-one gives me reps without signing anymore. I hope that's become everyone's habit.

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by Amanaduial the archer

Liar

!!! Outrageous - do I still have custody of Fordim's Gauntlet?

[Mithalwen]

Woo-hoo!

The cardinals are still voting in their conclave and the UK is blissfully MP-free but no such power-vacuum exists at the Barrow Downs. We have a new leader - with a modest number of posts but clearly and deservedly well received Lalwende is the Downer with the highest reputation!!!! Laughter in the higher echelons of the barrow - superb .......

(And maybe davem will just have to get used to her having the upper hand )

[Evisse the Blue]

It's very nice and refreshing that this a family-friendly forum but I think receiving an (anonymous, mind you) bad reputation because I used the word 'damn' (which you can see the board does not censor) is a little over the top. Especially since the term was not used as an insult but in a humorous manner (see post 86, page 3 of this thread). This is not to argue with the personal beliefs of the reputation giver - if he/she thinks I deserved a bad rep, so be it, they're exercising their board-given right. This is just to bring once again to the attention a problem that has been brought many times since the rep system was made, but never, to my knowledge has it been eradicated: that of NOT signing negative reps. No one hesitates to sign positive reps, but most negative reps are left anonymous. Hmm. A not so flattering appelative comes to mind, and one that is not a swear word.

Not that I mind bad reps. It's quite interesting to get them, because they became so rare. And a difference has to be made, or else we'd all be heading for the Straight Road sooner or later, and what would be the fun in that? I for one am happy to be at Aragorn's court for I am enjoying myself immensely and do not wish to leave.

[Mithalwen]

I think cowardly may be the word you are looking for.....

I finally cracked and gave a negative rep for a post I felt was quite malicious. But I signed it...

I suppose the only thing worse than not signing would be to sign with someone elses name... but perhaps I shouldn't give folk ideas...........

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

I'd actually wondered about that, Mith... If some mischief-maker with a bad sense of humor decided to neg-rep somebody and sign it The Barrow-Wight, or Esty, or... davem. The only way you could tell is if the points you receive don't correspond with the points they have to give.

What got me thinking along those lines was the Crystal Heart fiasco and how we don't really know who anybody is at any given time, but for pure trust in words. Is there any way for our beloved Higher Ups to moniter rep-giving? I don't remember if that has been mentioned before. I know that most of my reps come from the real deal Downers, because they have cute personal references and such, but how can you really tell?

-Conspiracy Theory Fea

[Mithalwen]

But does neg rep have the same weight as positive? I think I just lost one point each time but since it was anonymous there was no way of telling if that was their "weight" or normal.....

Unsurprisingly it was that unfortunate business that prompted my neg repping - not the incident itself but a response to it which was too full of schadenfreude...

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

(And maybe davem will just have to get used to her having the upper hand )

I spoke too soon methinks.. clearly there is a fine balance of power!

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

I spoke too soon methinks.. clearly there is a fine balance of power!

It certainly beats arguing over the remote control, anyway! Or the ironing.

But about getting a negative rep and it being 'signed' with a false name - surely if you got one you might want to PM the supposed giver and ask about it, especially if they were someone well-known? If so, then the culprit might soon be found out, as no doubt it would end up going to a mod or to The Barrow-Wight who must be able to trace such things?

[Boromir88]

I know that most of my reps come from the real deal Downers, because they have cute personal references and such, but how can you really tell?

Good question Fea, I think most downers do use some sort of stamp, or repeated sign to sort of show that that is them. For instance I use the §, thingy's....the one's I've gotten from Eomer says "sincerely," and others always use abbreviations. So if it's something that's sort of a way to tell if that's the real person or not, but of course it's not concrete.

Originally posted by Mith: I finally cracked and gave a negative rep for a post I felt was quite malicious. But I signed it...

Good girl.

Not that I mind bad reps. It's quite interesting to get them, because they became so rare. And a difference has to be made, or else we'd all be heading for the Straight Road sooner or later, and what would be the fun in that?

I see where you are coming from Evisse, and it's quite sad people don't have the "guts" to put down their name. But I would have to disagree with you on this, I am not one who likes to see bad reps, I find it troubling to give one, but the ones that I do give, I assure there is no remorse in it. Eventhough if we would all be heading for the "straight road," I don't see a reason for people to hand out more bad reps, I think blatent personal attacks against others, or a disobeyal of forum rules are just grounds for bad reputations, maybe just being ignorant...on top of some other bad qualities. Instead of giving more bad reps, I think we shouldn't be so "rep happy" anymore, and to rep them post that are absolutely fantastic/thoughtful/insightful. Or ones on the lighter side that just gets you to crack up laughing you choke on your tea and crumpets (or muffins whatever you prefer). I mean laughter is the biggest easer of stress, and I think should warrant a good reputation if someone gets you to bust up laughing.

[THE Ka]

This is just to bring once again to the attention a problem that has been brought many times since the rep system was made, but never, to my knowledge has it been eradicated: that of NOT signing negative reps. No one hesitates to sign positive reps, but most negative reps are left anonymous.

Ehk, I absolutely detest that... Especially when people make it a habit, or have special way of compiling information into a rep that gives it an obvious mark. I just feel like I wish I could track them down and say: " Look! If you're trying to be 'mysterious' add some variety! Don't be a square... "

But, there are sometimes when I find that after giving a positive comment, I forget my name... or, my personal mark of ~ ( incert mood or ideal here) Ka. Hopefully the person is able to tell. Sorry for those times, I was being a buckethead.

As for identity-theft used on reps... Identity-theft is for pickeled herring-bellied cowards... and for ANYONE with such a notion, THE Ka will track you down and eat you... Because fish are tasty twice boiled...

~ memorative Ka

[The Barrow-Wight]

Over the last 90 days....

New posts written: 14,449
Positive reputations given: 3446 (98.7%)
Negative Reputations given: 48 (1.3%)

This is a fantastic statistic! It shows that only a tiny fraction of what is written on the Downs is considered substandard by the community at large, and it is proof that our members can govern themselves into continued excellence. The reputation system is not responsible for our excellence, of course, but it is another testament to it.

However....

Negative reputations without signature: 25 (53%!!!!)
Negative reputations without comment: 6 (13%!!!!)

These numbers are terrible. Even though they represent only a miniscule amount of the total reps given, they are entirely unacceptable, more so in that several had values higher than -1, which means they weren't given by new members.

There is nothing wrong with giving a negative reputation as long as it has a valid, constructive comment and a clear, uncoded indication of who wrote it. If it's not worth signing, it's not worth writing.

[alatar]

Just wanted to note that the 'best' rep that I have received was exactly two characters in length - "OK". Probably thought more about that one rep than any of the others that I'd received. It was positive, so the sender wasn't saying "okay - enough already!" but was he/she agreeing with me, or was it something deeper...

And I wish that I could get rep points at work - it would definitely make me more productive.

[Mithalwen]

Very interesting stats. I assume that the no comments are in addition to the no sigs? IE that only 34% of neg rep is a signed comment?


** BW's answer **
Actually, the blanks are part of the no sigs group, thus 25 total without sigs, of which 6 were blank

[Encaitare]

It's not as though if you sign a negative rep the recipient is going to hate you forever and plot your downfall every time s/he turns on the computer... at least, I hope not.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Ah, but Encai, you forgot to take into account the incredible revenge-plotting skills of us 'Downers. We're a miserably petty bunch, we all.

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by Boromir88

Instead of giving more bad reps, I think we shouldn't be so "rep happy" anymore, and to rep them post that are absolutely fantastic/thoughtful/insightful. Or ones on the lighter side that just gets you to crack up laughing you choke on your tea and crumpets (or muffins whatever you prefer). I mean laughter is the biggest easer of stress, and I think should warrant a good reputation if someone gets you to bust up laughing.

I have to disagree with this. I don't think it is a problem it lots of people end up bound for the straight road or even on Taniquetil (which I imagine is as far as it goes...) . While the weight of established downers may speed their passsage, by the time they get there, they should have still got the benefit of the system (you learn what sort of posts are appropriate and have become sufficiently established for your exact status to be less relevant [unless it has sparked a strong competitive streak as with some who shall remain nameless ] ). While I think there mightbe an argument for capping the rep-weight of downers, it smacks of "pulling the ladder up behind you" to change one's criteria for rep because you have more to give.

As someone who benefitted from the encouragement of some high rollers as a newcomer, I will not grudge the points I have to give to those who interest or amuse or provoke thought. I do try to rep a wide range of people though, while there are downers who deserve rep for more or less everything they post, I fegard it as a failure if I get the "spread it around message too often".

As for the anonymous, commentless neg rep - I guess it could be demonstrated by a Venn diagramme ( Barrow Downers who idle as well as cowardly ).

[THE Ka]

Negative reputations without comment: 6 (13%!!!!)

How did they do that?! Fall asleep at the keyboard? Total waste of time if you don't specifically state why that post was not approved... and of course it doesn't make sense at all...


That's sad... <--- proving it again in pixels...


~ Disappointed Ka

[elronds_daughter]

Those are frightening statistics. Though, I must admit, that I have left unsigned positive comments--but only because my pinkie finger has reached over and pushed the "Enter" button on the keyboard before I was finished!

[Mithalwen]

I left unsigned positive rep when I started since I didn't realise it was an anonymous system and assumed the sender would be identified - and sometimes I am just ham-fisted and hit the wrong key. But thereis a world of difference between anonymous positive rep and anonymous neg rep ( unless you are stalking someone of course!!!). It is the difference between the door bell ringing and opening the door to find noone and opening hte door to find a bunch of flowers on the step

[ElementFire]

Originally Posted by THE Ka

How did they do that?! Fall asleep at the keyboard? Total waste of time if you don't specifically state why that post was not approved... and of course it doesn't make sense at all...

I've had those too... *sniffles*
-EF

[THE Ka]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

I left unsigned positive rep when I started since I didn't realise it was an anonymous system and assumed the sender would be identified - and sometimes I am just ham-fisted and hit the wrong key. But thereis a world of difference between anonymous positive rep and anonymous neg rep ( unless you are stalking someone of course!!!). It is the difference between the door bell ringing and opening the door to find noone and opening hte door to find a bunch of flowers on the step

Is May Day then considered stalking?

Just checking so I don't have any doubts about my May 1st practices...

~ May Day Ka

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by THE Ka

Is May Day then considered stalking?

Just checking so I don't have any doubts about my May 1st practices...

~ May Day Ka

Sorry, I have no ideas what you mean .... the only Mayday practices I can think of involve either Eastern European tank parades, choirboys up towers, and prancing around a pole clutching a ribbon - and balls of course - all of which may be dubious in their own ways but nothing to do with rep... :S

[THE Ka]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

Sorry, I have no ideas what you mean .... the only Mayday practices I can think of involve either Eastern European tank parades, choirboys up towers, and prancing around a pole clutching a ribbon - and balls of course - all of which may be dubious in their own ways but nothing to do with rep... :S

You have to know! Does the practice of placing flowers on stoops, doorsteps, and thresholds, ringing the door bell or knocking then disappearing from sight ring a bell?

my mum once told me it was a 'dead celebration...'. Meaning that no one ever does it anymore. Tis' sad...

Hope this helps. Maybe we should have one at the Downs... It would be a great way of keeping up the kindness between older members, and welcoming new ones.

~ It be Ka

[Ainaserkewen]

Not only did I just recieve my first negative rep for a Crazy Caption, but the author of said rep signed it with a "hehe" and a ": )" (this is not my emoticon, I boycott them). What's up with that? Oh, and they didn't leave a name either. I guess that maybe it was a mistake, but I still think that's kind of rude.

[Anguirel]

I receive quite a lot of unsigned neutral reps, which have dark icons next to them and don't add to my points or, as far as I can see, subtract from them...very odd...

[Bêthberry]

Reputations that don't add (or subtract) any points from your standing are from very new members who have not yet posted enough to earn status as a giver of reputation points. They should still be able to include comments and their name, though. LIkely they are so new they don't realise we have a form of etiquette which suggests we prefer signed comments. Strange, though, that they have learned about the rep system without learning that.

So, to all you newbies who read this thread, please as a courtesy include a comment or two explaining why you have repped a particular post and include your nick as well. People here appreciate feedback!

[Mithalwen]

What I want to know, is do you have the same weight in neg rep as positive? There has been a post that I have been tempted to neg rep both times I read it but held back because it was a newbie and I thought it might be an excessive punishment for a first offence!!!!

[Formendacil]

Originally Posted by Ainaserkewen

Not only did I just recieve my first negative rep for a Crazy Caption, but the author of said rep signed it with a "hehe" and a ": )" (this is not my emoticon, I boycott them). What's up with that? Oh, and they didn't leave a name either. I guess that maybe it was a mistake, but I still think that's kind of rude.

It's possible that the person repping you (and no, it was not me) had their settings set to "negative" because the last person they repped was negative. From the comments, it would appear that they liked your caption.

So, as a note: if you don't re-click on positive rep after giving someone bad rep, all the rep you give will be negative. The default setting is whatever you did last.

[Ainaserkewen]

So, as a note: if you don't re-click on positive rep after giving someone bad rep, all the rep you give will be negative. The default setting is whatever you did last.

See, I didn't know that because I've never given a negative rep. Thanks, it all makes more sense now.

[Formendacil]

Originally Posted by Ainaserkewen

See, I didn't know that because I've never given a negative rep. Thanks, it all makes more sense now.

Actually, neither have I, but that's what I've gleaned from reading around here. I suppose it's possible that I'm wrong, but given the evidence I'd rather think not.

[Encaitare]

So, as a note: if you don't re-click on positive rep after giving someone bad rep, all the rep you give will be negative. The default setting is whatever you did last.

That doesn't happen to me -- the default I get is always positive, no matter what the last rep type was.

[Formendacil]

Well, I could well be wrong (see last post of mine in this thread for reasons why). However, that was what I was given to understand from others.

Or maybe YOU were the one who repped Aina!!!