Negative rep points - are they really of any use?

[Nuala'sMom]

I'm posting this becuase I'd like to hear what others have to say. Please wait for the poll and vote.


I am very careful about giving them out and yet, the very few times I have goiven them out, the reaction is sometimes waaaay over-the-top. For example, I just gave a Nerp to someone who habitially makes bad posts, posts things that violate the rules and who makes no effort to conform to posting guidelines. Their reaction was a personal attack that was totally uncalled for and they then neg repped me. (I have given the same person many postive rep points, but I won't anymore.)

This is the second time I have been attacked visciously for giving a NeRP. One Noob user who behaved very badly towards another much more experienced User and who shouted 'repost' erroniously got a NeRp from me for that bad behavior and for essentially discouraging other people from looking at the new offer. I was polite in my comment and explained why I gave it. A few days later I got a long scathing PM that was totally uncalled for. I mean, it;s just one neg rep point!

So what I want to know is... Do Users you give NeRps to harrass you by PM or by NeRPing you in revenge?

Are NeRps really all that helpful in your opinion?

It seems to me that the people who deserve NeRps the most are the ones who are most likely to have an extreme and unbalanced repsonse to getting one. If the purpose is to try and teach by giving them, what's the pount if the person is only going to use it as an excuse to have a major temper tantrum?

Or, are NeRPS really just about punishment for bad behavior in whih case, who cares if the nitwit screams and stamps their feet?

You folks tell me.

I will continue to give them to people who post things they know that they shouldn't or who behave in a way that disrupts the prupose of slick deals. I am not affraid of revenge NeRps and will report them to the Mods when appropriate.

[kel_be]

I have never given a negitive rep before. I feel that most of the times, warnings are more effective. I've also learned from another board who had a similar reputation policy, what you give usually comes back to you.

If someone neg rep me in retaliation, I'd just ignore it. If they over react due to it, then let them wallow in that 1 missing rep point. It's just the Internet anyways.

[77Pat]

I wouldn't worry about it. But if they are able to neg rep you that means that they have been around and have contributed a lot. They should understand how the system works and why they are getting the neg rep.

[scottv]

I have never given a negitive rep before. I feel that most of the times, warnings are more effective. I've also learned from another board who had a similar reputation policy, what you give usually comes back to you.

If someone neg rep me in retaliation, I'd just ignore it. If they over react due to it, then let them wallow in that 1 missing rep point. It's just the Internet anyways.
and you have 490 rep points :evil:

[kel_be]

and you have 490 rep points :evil:
She has 229. What's your point?

[Fender_178]

On other forums I have given neg rep points only to spammers.

[scottv]

She has 229. What's your point?
it was a joke...

[twodaparty]

I wouldn't worry about it. But if they are able to neg rep you that means that they have been around and have contributed a lot. They should understand how the system works and why they are getting the neg rep.

Right, I was going to say the same thing. To me at least, it's usually the annoying noobs who don't care about or follow the rules that deserve them. Not people who have the ability to Nerp back. But I'll lay a smack down on a noob if they deserve it.:lmao:

[xcgames]

i ne_rep a person who started a thread about what race of people would be the first in line on black friday. well deserved.

[rayzac]

i ne_rep a person who started a thread about what race of people would be the first in line on black friday. well deserved.
I hope you mod-alerted that as well.

[The Raddish]

I was just going to say that if you Nerp someone that deserves it, chances are pretty high that the post should be mod alerted as well.

[twodaparty]

"Yes, someone I NeRPed gave me revenge Nerps"

Sounds like some kind of std.:lmao:

[bean]

I was just going to say that if you Nerp someone that deserves it, chances are pretty high that the post should be mod alerted as well.
I nerp noobs who like to attack the regs when they post a deal and spout "this wont work..blah blah" Not really needs to be modalterted but a nice little red icon telling them to piss off is good.

[Nuala'sMom]

"Yes, someone I NeRPed gave me revenge Nerps"

Sounds like some kind of std.:lmao:

you have NO idea how accurate that statement is! I wish I could elaborate.:lmao:

Yeah, I don't really worry about revenge NeRps all that much- I only got the one and I had to consider the source if you get my drift. However, I know of someone who neg Repped someone who had friends who could give Nerps and the friend NeRPed the User in revenge. That's even lamer than the original revenge NeRP.

I have given so very few of these (4 or 5 total and I give out about ten to 12 rep points a day) and I don't plan on making them a frequent thing because they don't seem to accomplish what they are intended to accomplish, ya know?

That's why I asked - are NeRPs of any use at all?

People were so gun-ho to get the NeRPs way back when and now that we can use them, the very people who deserve them the most are the ones that go off the deep end when they get one. So, what good are they?

As for that "what you do comes back to you".. well, pleeeez. NeRPing somebody for a making a nasty racist comment doesn't earn ME any bad karma.

[kel_be]

As for that "what you do comes back to you".. well, pleeeez. NeRPing somebody for a making a nasty racist comment doesn't earn ME any bad karma.
That's different though. It should be something that is brought to a Moderators attention as well (and that person isn't comming back either. I wonder why :rolleyes: )

But like someone said, most of the people who are able to give Negitive Rep points have been here for a while & know their way around the board. They've earned this privilage.

[serra]

looks like more and more users are turning bold. some noobs get lucky with one good post and BAMN....overnight sensation with no real SD experience.

[Nuala'sMom]

looks like more and more users are turning bold. some noobs get lucky with one good post and BAMN....overnight sensation with no real SD experience.

yes RickySlicky - that's exactly right. Some people who haven't been here very long do have the right to give NeRPS and technically they did earn them, but if they are constantly making bad posts, referrals, nasty comments etc, they deserve the NeRP and should take it like an adult. Problem is they don't. That's again why I asked..... are NeRPS worth the trouble?

Mods really don't need them since they can warn a user. However, there are some Users who seem to get away with all kinds of bad behavior for whatever reason. We can't Mod Alert one person every time they do something stupid or violate some rule. That has proved problematic in the past. So, every once in a while when they really step in it and don't care, give 'em a NeRP, right?


I asked before.. do any of you think they actually accomplish something?

[twodaparty]

yes RickySlicky - that's exactly right. Some people who haven't been here very long do have the right to give NeRPS and technically they did earn them, but if they are constantly making bad posts, referrals, nasty comments etc, they deserve the NeRP and should take it like an adult. Problem is they don't. That's again why I asked..... are NeRPS worth the trouble?

Mods really don't need them since they can warn a user. However, there are some Users who seem to get away with all kinds of bad behavior for whatever reason. We can't Mod Alert one person every time they do something stupid or violate some rule. That has proved problematic in the past. So, every once in a while when they really step in it and don't care, give 'em a NeRP, right?


I asked before.. do any of you think they actually accomplish something?

It can work if we form a coalition against the kind of people you are talking about. If the situation your described happens to you again, PM myself and others who have the ability to neRP and we will get that sucker who disrespects you.:nod:

[violetdawson]

Not that I can give them out yet, but judging from Ebay's similar system, when I've given negative feedback to non-paying buyers, things have just escalated from there and it's hurt my reputation.

[kel_be]

However, there are some Users who seem to get away with all kinds of bad behavior for whatever reason. We can't Mod Alert one person every time they do something stupid or violate some rule. That has proved problematic in the past. So, every once in a while when they really step in it and don't care, give 'em a NeRP, right?
Who was able to get away with anything in the past?? If you are referring to who I think you are, that member was delt with, no longer posts in freebies, and I was blammed for not doing anything when I was on vacation.

Like Raddish said, if it's something worth a neg rep, it may also be worth a Mod Alert.

[Copperblade]

i don't think there should be negative rep points (except that moderators may give them). Any problems should really go through the moderators.

[Copperblade]

Not that I can give them out yet, but judging from Ebay's similar system, when I've given negative feedback to non-paying buyers, things have just escalated from there and it's hurt my reputation.

Yeah the eBay system is far from perfect. I wish they would split the buyer and seller feedback ratings into their own category because it's too easy for bad sellers to get good feedback ratings by buying a bunch of $1 items (a lot of them are things like recipes that you get over the net, so no shipping either).

[XXnarg]

i don't think there should be negative rep points (except that moderators may give them). Any problems should really go through the moderators.Real problems are still handled by the moderators with warning points and bans. Rep points are much less significant than warning points.

I guess I just don't see the big deal about getting or losing rep points.

With regard to the eBay rating analogy, no money is changing hands here, so rep pts have no real monetary impact.

[Schooby]

you mean we DON'T get paid for rep points?!?! :doh: :lol:

I wouldn't feel right giving a nerp yet. If I see someone being obnoxious I try explaining why they need to change their attitude. I suppose if they then didn't change and gave me attitude back I might nerp them.

[stimpy]

Not that I can give them out yet, but judging from Ebay's similar system, when I've given negative feedback to non-paying buyers, things have just escalated from there and it's hurt my reputation.
:iagree:
In fact someone has told me that they can't wait to see me get to 100 just to see who I NERP. I really don't understand that, since there is no one here on SD that I can't stand. I know that from time to time I tend to tell people in Hot Deals: "if you're going to knock this deal, post a better deal or STFU!" But nailing somebody with a NERP for flaming ... my guess would be that it's not worth the effort.

Sometimes I'd like to NERP a certain PW, but he's already got NERP powers and would prolly just NERP me back into non-NERP status before I even got to enjoy it. ;)

[jorberg]

If you go bold, and then someone nerps you, do you lose your ability to neg-rep?

[Nuala'sMom]

Not that I can give them out yet, but judging from Ebay's similar system, when I've given negative feedback to non-paying buyers, things have just escalated from there and it's hurt my reputation.

What Violet said about Ebay mirrors my own experience here with NeRps. In short - the people who deserve them the most are exactly the type to seek revenge and make matters worse.

I've come to the conclusion that NeRPs were a great idea in theory but in practice they don't really work. That won't stop me from giving them to people altogether, but if the user has a history of being vengeful or has a posse that will do their bidding - well, they have effectively insulated themselves from NeRPs.

Oddly enough - I gave 3 NeRps in the past 24 hours and all were for people who posted Referral links. I also gave out over 30 rep points. If anything, this thread has made me more likely to Rep people than NeRP them!

I appreciate all the feedback and comments.

[PottyMouth]

Do any of you REALLY care what a bunch of people you don't know, on a shopping site, think about you? Who cares if you get pos or neg points. Big deal.
ebay is different because dependibility and honesty matter. Here...who cares? If you're worried about your standing with anonymous shoppers on SD, you need to get some real friends...

[XXnarg]

... Oddly enough - I gave 3 NeRps in the past 24 hours and all were for people who posted Referral links. I also gave out over 30 rep points. If anything, this thread has made me more likely to Rep people than NeRP them!...I thought referrals deserved warning points from a mod?

[bolland99]

I received one nerp on here that was completely unjustified and you can bet I won't forget who gave it to me. I'm not planning any big revenge, but I certainly won't ever help the person.

I think the nerps are worthless and just cause problems. The mod warning points are there and they should be used for those purposes. I just feel the nerps are abused too much and are applied sometimes in an arbitrary and unfair fashion.

[bolland99]

Do any of you REALLY care what a bunch of people you don't know, on a shopping site, think about you? Who cares if you get pos or neg points. Big deal.
ebay is different because dependibility and honesty matter. Here...who cares? If you're worried about your standing with anonymous shoppers on SD, you need to get some real friends...

Well, I like seeing my rep points go up because it points out that I've taken the time to help people on here. Each point represents someone appreciating what I've posted. So I care about the points for me, not to impress anyone else with them.

[bean]

I received one nerp on here that was completely unjustified and you can bet I won't forget who gave it to me. I'm not planning any big revenge, but I certainly won't ever help the person.

I think the nerps are worthless and just cause problems. The mod warning points are there and they should be used for those purposes. I just feel the nerps are abused too much and are applied sometimes in an arbitrary and unfair fashion.
I really was gonna nerp you for that thread, and I might still because you really deserved it after the 4 pages of you arguing with the OP.

[someone28624]

I'm wondering, if once i get 100 points, can someone who also has over 100 nerp me and put me under 100 so I can't nerp them back? Just curious.

[stimpy]

I'm wondering, if once i get 100 points, can someone who also has over 100 nerp me and put me under 100 so I can't nerp them back? Just curious.
Sounds good. Race ya. ;)