Enhance
Administrator
Hey all,
So I noticed in another thread on the Feedback forum that negative reputation can possibly affect starting new topics, being able to edit posts, etc. I don't if it was looked at by the mods or not, but I have a suggestion to prevent any issues like this.
I was a MOD on a Steam forum for two years (for those of you unfamiliar with Steam, it is an online video game program that houses games such as Counter-Strike and other vastly popular online computer games). While I was a MOD, we did not allow users to give other users negative reputation. The only thing the average user could do was add to a posters reputation. Subtracting from a users reputation was only allowed by Admins and Mods.
Right now, it doesn't appear that the reputation bar is becoming a big issue. Most of the people on this board are intelligent, mature, and understand how it works. Plus, the reputation issue was much worse on the Steam forum because things could get much more heated there and we had many different ages posting. Most of the people on this board are (by my guess) 18 and older, so maturity levels generally aren't an issue.
However, I would say the best thing about taking away the users capability of giving negative rep could prevent a couple of things.
1) People who have dissenting opinions won't be cast down quickly by majority posters. Sometimes, posters just have a bad/misinterpreted take on something and it isn't overly fair to downcast them so quickly. For example, one poster a week or so ago started a topic saying he didn't think true Husker fans could like any other football team, and he was pretty passionate about his stance. Needless to say, I'm pretty sure the last time I checked he was in the way negative in reputation. All because of one take? Doesn't seem right
2) It will prevent rep police. I know some posters try to lobby others to add reputation back so they can get out of the negative. I've seen it plenty of times in our status updates with things like "Don't worry JohnDoePoster, you're back up in the positive rep."
So, as far as I can tell the reputation system hasn't become a major issue. But if it ever does, this is the suggestion I would give to you MODS: take away the user capability to give negative rep and just allow the issuing of positive rep. Mods can become the sole proprietors of giving negative rep.
Hope this helps with any future issues. :koolaid2:
So I noticed in another thread on the Feedback forum that negative reputation can possibly affect starting new topics, being able to edit posts, etc. I don't if it was looked at by the mods or not, but I have a suggestion to prevent any issues like this.
I was a MOD on a Steam forum for two years (for those of you unfamiliar with Steam, it is an online video game program that houses games such as Counter-Strike and other vastly popular online computer games). While I was a MOD, we did not allow users to give other users negative reputation. The only thing the average user could do was add to a posters reputation. Subtracting from a users reputation was only allowed by Admins and Mods.
Right now, it doesn't appear that the reputation bar is becoming a big issue. Most of the people on this board are intelligent, mature, and understand how it works. Plus, the reputation issue was much worse on the Steam forum because things could get much more heated there and we had many different ages posting. Most of the people on this board are (by my guess) 18 and older, so maturity levels generally aren't an issue.
However, I would say the best thing about taking away the users capability of giving negative rep could prevent a couple of things.
1) People who have dissenting opinions won't be cast down quickly by majority posters. Sometimes, posters just have a bad/misinterpreted take on something and it isn't overly fair to downcast them so quickly. For example, one poster a week or so ago started a topic saying he didn't think true Husker fans could like any other football team, and he was pretty passionate about his stance. Needless to say, I'm pretty sure the last time I checked he was in the way negative in reputation. All because of one take? Doesn't seem right
2) It will prevent rep police. I know some posters try to lobby others to add reputation back so they can get out of the negative. I've seen it plenty of times in our status updates with things like "Don't worry JohnDoePoster, you're back up in the positive rep."
So, as far as I can tell the reputation system hasn't become a major issue. But if it ever does, this is the suggestion I would give to you MODS: take away the user capability to give negative rep and just allow the issuing of positive rep. Mods can become the sole proprietors of giving negative rep.
Hope this helps with any future issues. :koolaid2:
Last edited by a moderator:
