PDA

View Full Version : degradation of "reputation" functionality



TSherbs
April 10th, 2020, 11:44 AM
When I logged on today from a laptop, I received notification that I had a "reputation" score. I clicked the link, which took me to the page, which I don't remember ever seeing before (I usually use Tapatalk, which does not show that functionality).

Well.

I was surprised to see the foul language there, and I was surprised to see so many entries in red over the past 3 weeks! I then looked through the most recent pages, and what became evident is that recently there has been a degradation of the "reputation" board into an extension for taking more shots at people with whom one is disagreeing. I don't know how to enhance or detract from anyone's "reputation," which strikes me as a rather juvenile (I teach juveniles) exercise in trying to hurt (or boost) people semi-publicly. Why someone would ever program that functionality into FPG is beyond me.

Anyway, it is clear that over the last few weeks, some posters have been using it much more often than in the past to make their grievances be known. Several of us who have been here a long time (7 years for me) are ruing the downward turn of tone and dynamic around here, and, sadly, the reputation board reflects that turn also. It seems to have begun to be an amplification of the animosity on some threads. That, I consider, is unfortunate. It, of course, is a silly matter of no consequence in itself. But it seems symbolically representative of what has been going on on some threads here. Sadly.

catbert
April 10th, 2020, 11:57 AM
Likewise. I've never really understood the connection (if any) between thanks, reputation and rep power. I'm mainly here for the pens.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwBtKdXwQS0

fountainpagan
April 10th, 2020, 12:07 PM
Why do you aknowledge itWhy give it any importance?

The button thanks is quite a good thing,allowing us just to thank someone for an information, when we don't have anything else to say.

Reputation board - I can conceive it to express contentement/disliking towards a good seller, or buyer, or a bad one. But people have been using it for something else: mainly when someone else has disagreed with them on a thread, ergo disrupting the primary interest of such a board.
When someone is a bad seller, or buyer, we know it because someone will end up opening a thread about the ill experience/s.

Rep power - just the use of the word power makes me laugh.

Don't give importance to people who do not deserve it. :)

TSherbs
April 10th, 2020, 12:19 PM
I don't personally care. It is silly. I was just struck by its clear negative turn over recent weeks. I likely won't look at it again for years, if ever. It's just the pattern that struck me that correlates with what some long-term members have noted of late.

Sent from my Moto E (4) using Tapatalk

fountainpagan
April 10th, 2020, 12:23 PM
I understand. :)

Well, let's say quarantine hits somme people heads, and heats a few spirits.

KrazyIvan
April 10th, 2020, 12:46 PM
Why do you aknowledge itWhy give it any importance?

The button thanks is quite a good thing,allowing us just to thank someone for an information, when we don't have anything else to say.

Reputation board - I can conceive it to express contentement/disliking towards a good seller, or buyer, or a bad one. But people have been using it for something else: mainly when someone else has disagreed with them on a thread, ergo disrupting the primary interest of such a board.
When someone is a bad seller, or buyer, we know it because someone will end up opening a thread about the ill experience/s.

Rep power - just the use of the word power makes me laugh.

Don't give importance to people who do not deserve it. :)

There is a separate rating system for buyer/seller transactions. It's in the Feedback Score tab under the users profile. Rep power never was taken seriously by anyone on the board, that I know of, because no one understood how it worked.

Brilliant Bill
April 10th, 2020, 01:02 PM
Sometimes I feel like this whole forum is a creepy social experiment run by the creepy guy who controls it. A Howard Hughes like character sitting back and laughing at all that goes on without moderation/regulation.

KrazyIvan
April 10th, 2020, 01:11 PM
Sometimes I feel like this whole forum is a creepy social experiment run by the creepy guy who controls it. A Howard Hughes like character sitting back and laughing at all that goes on without moderation/regulation.

This board is the polar opposite of the control by the administration of another board. I prefer this to the polar opposite but agree that sometimes minor moderation is needed. The question no one seems to be able to answer is how much restraint is enough without going totalitarian governance.

Dreck
April 10th, 2020, 01:35 PM
This has undoubtedly been a time of considerable fear, disruption, and uncertainty for everyone. When stressors run high, so do tempers and reactions. I would ask that we all please take a step back, unplug for a while, and try to focus on something else for a bit.

FPG is clearly an important place to many of us, but the direction it has taken during this crisis highlights the uglier, baser side that prevails on so many social networks. This is heartbreaking. We have already seen some members distance themselves from this beloved nook in the worldwide web because of heated exchanges and the uncomfortable atmosphere that has permeated the forum. There are currently no less than three separate threads in The Lounge on COVID-19 in some way, shape, or form. Regardless of why any of them may have been started, every one of them has degenerated into something toxic, malicious, and nasty. I believe this has occurred, to a large degree, because of the overall lack of moderation here at FPG. While this freedom has made FPG a great place, it also provides the opportunity for FPG to become an ugly, hostile, and extremely unpleasant place.

I’m certain that none of us intentionally or overtly want this to happen, but every one of us must also be careful to prevent it from degrading in this way.
We have a dedicated area for topics concerning inflammatory subjects. If you must discuss the pandemic—including theories, models, projections, or perceptions of political failings—or anything else that may become objectionable, provocative, or incendiary, I would ask that you take—and contain—the discussion to the “Politics, Religion and Society” area. Let the current, out-of-place threads die. Enough damage has been done. Enough finger-pointing and accusations have occurred. Enough words have been said.

I would also ask that each one of us act to self-moderate by not engaging in or responding to these threads or discussions outside of the forum dedicated to “Topics pertaining to politics, religion, philosophy, and social issues.” Without Eric swooping in to take broad actions and correct our current path, we have only ourselves to make FPG the great, friendly, fountain-pen place we all want it to be.

Chuck Naill
April 10th, 2020, 01:47 PM
I've been impressed with the forum, but I interests are fountain pens, pencils, communicating, and repair.

Pterodactylus
April 10th, 2020, 03:13 PM
You have company, I also received several negative feedback through reputation, not that I really care.
What disturbs me is the abuse of it, it is ok to disagree and express this disagreement also with this reputation system.

But it was/is used to insult anonymously, an action of cowards, at least I canˋt see who did it.
At least the name of the person should be shown, and a possibility to report vulgar insults.

Something like that I never observed on FPG in all the years before.

TSherbs
April 10th, 2020, 03:48 PM
Ptero, you did it three times yourself. The list is there for all to see, and the accompanying message. It is not anonymous or hidden.

Sent from my Moto E (4) using Tapatalk

Pterodactylus
April 10th, 2020, 04:14 PM
Ptero, you did it three times yourself. The list is there for all to see, and the accompanying message. It is not anonymous or hidden.

Sent from my Moto E (4) using Tapatalk

I used the system as also others did, this is not forbidden, but I never insulted somebody.
Can you please tell me wher you can see this info?
In my list in “Settings” no names are shown.
I also can’t see it inside the thread.

TSherbs
April 10th, 2020, 04:19 PM
Ptero, you did it three times yourself. The list is there for all to see, and the accompanying message. It is not anonymous or hidden.

Sent from my Moto E (4) using Tapatalk

I used the system as also others did, this is not forbidden, but I never insulted somebody.
Can you please tell me wher you can see this info?
In my list in “Settings” no names are shown.
I also can’t see it inside the thread.Under the Community tab. Then Reputation.



Sent from my Moto E (4) using Tapatalk

Pterodactylus
April 10th, 2020, 04:29 PM
Ptero, you did it three times yourself. The list is there for all to see, and the accompanying message. It is not anonymous or hidden.

Sent from my Moto E (4) using Tapatalk

I used the system as also others did, this is not forbidden, but I never insulted somebody.
Can you please tell me wher you can see this info?
In my list in “Settings” no names are shown.
I also can’t see it inside the thread.Under the Community tab. Then Reputation.



Sent from my Moto E (4) using Tapatalk

Thanks, found it, of course it was dneal, which is already on my ignore list.

To disagree is ok, but insulting people not.


Tell you what, maybe taking a break from the board is a good idea, it just isn’t enjoyable and fun to participate here anymore in the last weeks, especially in these times.
To interact on this forum should be fun and relaxing, but currently it isn’t neither the first nor the latter for me.

TSherbs
April 10th, 2020, 04:37 PM
Peace, brother. Be well.

Sent from my Moto E (4) using Tapatalk

guyy
April 10th, 2020, 04:59 PM
Ptero, i’ve enjoyed your MB pictures in the MB corner thread.

carlos.q
April 10th, 2020, 08:39 PM
After 7 years on this board I finally found the "reputation" page. Well, 73 pages to be exact. IMO seems to me a pretty useless and unnecessary part of FPGeeks.

Finally, I have a question: if someone can give positive or negative reputation, why go thru all the trouble just to give a "0"? :noidea:

mhosea
April 10th, 2020, 09:03 PM
Finally, I have a question: if someone can give positive or negative reputation, why go thru all the trouble just to give a "0"? :noidea:

Can you control that number? It's been awhile since I used the rep system. I do know everybody starts out with 0 rep power, so they can use the system, but it doesn't really have an effect. I remember a troll trying to give negative rep awhile back. Because he had 0 rep power, it had 0 effect.

Yeah, I just gave catbert some. It didn't ask me how much, just used my rep power as the number. Maybe if you disapprove it's half your rep score rounded down? I'm not going to play with that. The only time I've given anybody negative rep was Ging Ging (the troll of which I spoke), and that was a long time ago.

INeedAFinancialAdvisor
April 10th, 2020, 11:37 PM
After 7 years on this board I finally found the "reputation" page. Well, 73 pages to be exact. IMO seems to me a pretty useless and unnecessary part of FPGeeks.

Finally, I have a question: if someone can give positive or negative reputation, why go thru all the trouble just to give a "0"? :noidea:

I think the reason they gave a 0 is that their "Rep Power" was likely a 0 (as is mine)
I just tried to give someone reputation points, and it awarded them 0 points. I strongly suspect it is because I have none to give.

Chrissy
April 11th, 2020, 12:01 AM
Ptero, you did it three times yourself. The list is there for all to see, and the accompanying message. It is not anonymous or hidden.

Sent from my Moto E (4) using Tapatalk

I used the system as also others did, this is not forbidden, but I never insulted somebody.
Can you please tell me wher you can see this info?
In my list in “Settings” no names are shown.
I also can’t see it inside the thread.
That's only a question of scale: You called VertOlive "foolish" and myself "inappropriate and pretentious". I feel insulted.

Dreck
April 11th, 2020, 05:51 AM
Please. I'm begging everyone. Please don't feed in to this more than has already been done.
https://media.giphy.com/media/igR5863TALcSk/giphy.gif

Sailor Kenshin
April 11th, 2020, 06:41 AM
Finally, I have a question: if someone can give positive or negative reputation, why go thru all the trouble just to give a "0"? :noidea:

Can you control that number? It's been awhile since I used the rep system. I do know everybody starts out with 0 rep power, so they can use the system, but it doesn't really have an effect. I remember a troll trying to give negative rep awhile back. Because he had 0 rep power, it had 0 effect.

Yeah, I just gave catbert some. It didn't ask me how much, just used my rep power as the number. Maybe if you disapprove it's half your rep score rounded down? I'm not going to play with that. The only time I've given anybody negative rep was Ging Ging (the troll of which I spoke), and that was a long time ago.

Is that how it works? I've never understood about the numbers that show up.

catbert
April 11th, 2020, 07:05 AM
Finally, I have a question: if someone can give positive or negative reputation, why go thru all the trouble just to give a "0"? :noidea:

Can you control that number? It's been awhile since I used the rep system. I do know everybody starts out with 0 rep power, so they can use the system, but it doesn't really have an effect. I remember a troll trying to give negative rep awhile back. Because he had 0 rep power, it had 0 effect.

Yeah, I just gave catbert some. It didn't ask me how much, just used my rep power as the number. Maybe if you disapprove it's half your rep score rounded down? I'm not going to play with that. The only time I've given anybody negative rep was Ging Ging (the troll of which I spoke), and that was a long time ago.

Is that how it works? I've never understood about the numbers that show up.

Just gave some reputation to mhosea. Same deal: the amount automatically corresponded to my rep power, which corresponds (I think) to my years of membership, though this does not seem to be the case with everyone. Perhaps the other points accelerate the rep power clock? Dunno.

I like the absence of flags here and the absence of points in the other place.

jar
April 11th, 2020, 08:08 AM
Interesting discovery. Now back to most anything else.

catbert
April 11th, 2020, 09:23 AM
Couldn't resist.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvoV2Lfk7Qg

mhosea
April 11th, 2020, 11:48 AM
Same deal: the amount automatically corresponded to my rep power, which corresponds (I think) to my years of membership, though this does not seem to be the case with everyone. Perhaps the other points accelerate the rep power clock? Dunno.

The vBulletin reputation feature is somewhat configurable.

https://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/main/vboptions_reputation

You can see that the admin has some knobs and switches that allow years of membership, reputation points received, and even post count affect the "reputation power" if they choose. I will resist the urge to guess at the current settings.

Waski_the_Squirrel
April 11th, 2020, 03:26 PM
Until I stumbled across this thread today, I had no idea that it ever existed. And I didn't know what the star thing under people's posts actually did.

I like the "thanks" feature, and I've used the "report post" feature a few times with spambots. I'm not sure how this option does anything other than create unnecessary forum drama.

mhosea
April 11th, 2020, 06:46 PM
I'm not sure how this option does anything other than create unnecessary forum drama.

I'm not entirely convinced, from an empirical point of view, that forum drama is unnecessary. :)

At any rate, it would be a sad thing to care very much about ones reputation points on a forum like this. Imagine having worked tirelessly to win points and "rep power", to bask in the glory of having advanced to the top echelon of a forum, only at some point to see the admin simply turn off the feature, the forum software change, or the forum disappear.

Chuck Naill
April 12th, 2020, 05:45 AM
I'm not sure how this option does anything other than create unnecessary forum drama.

I'm not entirely convinced, from an empirical point of view, that forum drama is unnecessary. :)

At any rate, it would be a sad thing to care very much about ones reputation points on a forum like this. Imagine having worked tirelessly to win points and "rep power", to bask in the glory of having advanced to the top echelon of a forum, only at some point to see the admin simply turn off the feature, the forum software change, or the forum disappear.

I agree with you that it should not matter.

I've been a member of several forums for 15 years. I've noticed that some members on other forums collect a status that allows them to be snarky and condescending to new members. When the new members decide to give it back, the moderators react negatively toward the new member. A sample response might be, "don't you know who you are talking to?" "They are an expert!!!" This says if you have attained a measure of status you can be unkind and get by with it.

I am not coming to anyone's rescue or defense, but I know who has been helpful to me and who has posted remarks that are useless. If those helpful folks are run off, the usefulness of any forum is diminished.

If the present global situation says anything, it says we desperately need each other.

ilikenails
April 14th, 2020, 07:59 AM
I don't use this site much. But I'm curious: does ANYONE actually think the reputation system is helpful? My bet is that most people don't what it is or don't care about it, and that the people who do are against it...

Sailor Kenshin
April 14th, 2020, 08:06 AM
I don't use this site much. But I'm curious: does ANYONE actually think the reputation system is helpful? My bet is that most people don't what it is or don't care about it, and that the people who do are against it...

Will work for Reps! ;)