reputation

[Hooahguy]

in the FAQ (or something like it) it talks about how theres rep on these forums.
out of curiosity, why was it taken away?

[Ser Clegane]

I do not think that we ever had a reputation system - if we had one during the last 5 years it must have been short-lived enough for me to miss it...

[Hooahguy]

apparently there was

[Ser Clegane]

Seems more like a feature that could be enabled on this board if we wanted to - I do not think that it was ever activated.

[Ludens]

The FAQ is mostly the standard FAQ of vBulletin forum software. Not all the features it discusses have been enabled on the .Org. We never had a reputation system during my time on the .Org.

[Martok]

Yeah, I've never been aware of the Org having a reputation system in place. Even when I was lurking around the boards for a good couple years before I signed up, I don't ever remember seeing one.

[Togakure]

I've been around since 2003 and have never seen this active.

[TosaInu]

Hello,

It's never been activated.

[InsaneApache]

Will it be?

[Beskar]

I hope not. It is abused on many forums I have seen it on.

[Whacker]

It's a very, very, very bad idea. Forums become popularity and pissing contests, and add lots and lots of totally unnecessary drama. Not that Tosa doesn't cause enough as is.

*whistles cheerfully and walks away*

[Hosakawa Tito]

Adjusts Whackers secret reputation score to 000. *whistles dixie*

[Togakure]

Iirc, we had a big discussion about this a few years ago and it was quite clear that the majority of patrons and staff agreed it would be a very bad move. I'm of the opinion that anything which fosters a caste-like mentality is bad news. This is part of the reason I stopped using my old account, which bears a HoF award.

[pevergreen]

MULTI ACCOUNTER! BANNNNN

[Togakure]

MULTI ACCOUNTER! BANNNNN

I realize you're kidding, but for sake of conversation: it was after several PMs with TosaInu that I decided to create a new account. He was fully aware of my intent. The only time I have accessed the old account after creating the new one was by accident, after an extended Total Vacation from the Org. I reflexively logged into the old account. At first I was puzzled because everything was different from what I expected, and I had a PM in my in-box from an old acquaintance from the STW MP days. Good thing I made that mistake, else I'd never have known he'd tried to contact me. Alas, it had been a couple of months since he sent it and I never did reach him despite answering his PM and informing him of my new account. Apparently he rarely visits the Org.

[Askthepizzaguy]

There's reputation down at TWC and I do have criticisms of it.

1. It does create a caste-like system. They even take it one step further and they have different rankings where you have to become a citizen, and then you advance further by popular vote. That honestly smells bad to me. I don't feel included at all and I'm reluctant to go through all that just to become included. Also I have to believe that mods would be more reluctant to ban someone with a "rumored to be immortal" reputation. So it probably affects the moderation practices.

2. People spam threads just to add reputation points to all their friends. They even mass-rep people in return for being rep-ed back. Even I do this because I have basically no rep and I feel like I have to compete, and I don't even know why.

[Hooahguy]

i agree with you ATPG. after almost every thread the posters say "please rep."
its annoying.

[Hosakawa Tito]

There's reputation down at TWC and I do have criticisms of it.

1. It does create a caste-like system. They even take it one step further and they have different rankings where you have to become a citizen, and then you advance further by popular vote. That honestly smells bad to me. I don't feel included at all and I'm reluctant to go through all that just to become included. Also I have to believe that mods would be more reluctant to ban someone with a "rumored to be immortal" reputation. So it probably affects the moderation practices.

2. People spam threads just to add reputation points to all their friends. They even mass-rep people in return for being rep-ed back. Even I do this because I have basically no rep and I feel like I have to compete, and I don't even know why.

Sounds like highschool don't it?

[caravel]

Iirc, we had a big discussion about this a few years ago and it was quite clear that the majority of patrons and staff agreed it would be a very bad move. I'm of the opinion that anything which fosters a caste-like mentality is bad news.

Agreed completely. Awards are ok, but personally I'd prefer if they weren't always on display. Being visible in the profile is enough. Other badges, ranks, rank symbols and other regalia are just toys IMHO and do encourage a "caste system". It's worth noting that .org has none of these.

I would not really be comfortable displaying some of the ridiculously over the top pomp that you see on certain other forums.

Even I do this because I have basically no rep and I feel like I have to compete, and I don't even know why.

Reputation is a vBulletin feature that can usually be disabled by the user.

[Askthepizzaguy]

Maybe so, but unless I have that long string of crowns under my name, I feel like just some no-name schmuck, in spite of my awesome Little Caesar's avatar.

[Andres]

Maybe so, but unless I have that long string of crowns under my name, I feel like just some no-name schmuck, in spite of my awesome Little Caesar's avatar.

Are you asking those of us with a TWC account to give you rep over there

To me, the rep system seems like a pointless and unnecessary feature. We don't need it and apparently, many members won't like it. There's nothing to gain by implementing it

[Askthepizzaguy]

Are you asking those of us with a TWC account to give you rep over there

No, just admitting I am a junkie. My name is Askthepizzaguy and I want approval. Won't you add me to your friends list and shower me with rep? Soon, you will see me out on the streets in tattered rags with a long billowing beard, holding a sign that says "rep me and I'll rep you back"

I need help, doc! The whole reputation system is both addictive and evil!

[Togakure]

You seem to be doing just fine here, Askthepizzaguy: 156 friends--a better indication of reputation than any "system" would provide. Good character and behavior reap rewards without need of such things.

It's not an issue with me, but I was thinking along the same lines as Caravel, above, in regard to awards--that patrons who have not yet earned an award might feel more at home and "one of the crew" if awards weren't displayed on every post that a notable patron makes. In addition to being seen on their profile, a Hall of Fame page, linked from the main page, could be used to honor our great ones without potentially alienating newcomers. But as I said, our current method seems fine.

Edit: after posting this I looked and found the link to the awards area. In my musing above, I was thinking something more prominent, like a small HoF banner on the main page of the forum that linked to a more aesthetically appealing page, showcasing those who have been honored over the years. As it stands, the award page is hard to find, a choice on a list of choices, and the page looks like a simple SQL result set (I would guess it actually is, heh). Great for maintainability, but not much of a visual. A small banner with HoF on the main page would enable one-click access to a nice, artistically designed page listing all the award recipients and their accomplishments. I'd guess that board performance would improve at least a little, as the award icons would not have to be loaded. Anyway, just some thoughts.