I'm baaaaaaack!
A great improvement to the forum would be the ability to rate individual posts within threads (thumbs up/thumbs down), and then be able to sort posts by ratings. That way, we can "weed out" the useless posts within threads and find the more useful/helpful ones.
Thoughts?
Sounds like Fat Wallet.
Ouch. They did it before us? I was really thinking about Digg's (and now YouTube's) commenting systems.
clothos1964
08-24-2007, 04:24 PM
Ouch. They did it before us? I was really thinking about Digg's (and now YouTube's) commenting systems.
Oh, yes, dear, Fat Wallet certainly did have that option. Don't know if they still do or not. Don't really care.
SD's rep system may not be perfect but at least it's a "positive" way of giving your input on a users comments or post. It isn't used for negative comments because in doing so one would, of couse, be giving free rep points at the same time as getting in a shot. Most really nasty folks want the other members knowing you're hated, ( not saying you are, of course, but just using "you" as in "any" of us ) so they would just love your suggestion of the ability to vote down a mere "post", not just a thread, as it stands now. The way it is now, they can comment in the thread and if they are liked by the mods, the post will stay if it doesn't set one's ears on fire or cause too many mod alerts. If the poster is not liked by a certain mod, it will get deleted, regardless. ( which is not much of an insult to SD mods as this is pretty standard on most all forums ). If the member who dislikes you doesn't want to chance public censure by commenting on your post right there in a thread, or is unsure if they will get deleted, they just instead use the dreaded " Virtual Nasty PM."
Remember, too, the rep system here also has the option to be kept private, so that people who may agree with your comments don't have to fear showing their support in the open. More than half of my reps, I believe, come from people who like something I've said but probably wouldn't appreciate other people here knowing they agree with me. Sad, but quite understandable. I don't fault them for it. Nobody really wants to be tarred with the same brush as me and can't say as I blame them.
As to getting a system similar to Fat Wallet's, or any other site's, in which one could vote a positive or negative on a simple POST........are you quite sure you really want someone ( and their alts ) being able to thumb down EVERY SINGLE THING YOU SAY, even if it's just your opinion or just a question?? :eek:
I would think very hard about that if I were you. :D
If you can behave in a sheep-like manner, baaaah on cue, ( and occasionally pucker up when necessary ), witlessly agree with those members who act like VIP's and shamelessly shine on the mods ( even when you know they're playing games or playing favorites ) ...........or just in general say absolutely nothing without thinking about it 50 times and changing your mind for fear it may make you "unpooopular".....then this option is harmless for you. :nod:
HOWEVER, if you have strong, but not always popular opinions, and are not afraid to voice them, or in general are just not one of the "in-crowd" and don't crave to be "beloved by all", but prefer instead to be respected, even if only by a few, and still able to speak your mind......... ( even being willing to walk away completely and forever, just on principle alone, if necessary ).........think especially hard on how well that option you're suggesting would work for you here. :D
Unfortunately my online life span on any forum is very limited. Plain and simple, I would make waves, even when standing in a barrel of poop up to my chin, if something didn't seem fair. Just how I am. Too old to change now. If SD decides to allow what you're suggesting and people can vote down even my opinions, then I might as well find the exit door sooner, rather than later.
( This may be another overly long post, complete with run-on sentences, but it works for me. :lol: )
...
It seems like you're applying this to the Podium and the other non-deal sections. I am suggesting that this be implemented in the Deal forums. Good insight though. Maybe if there was a way to sort posts by reps then?
clothos1964
08-24-2007, 07:02 PM
It seems like you're applying this to the Podium and the other non-deal sections.
Nope. I seldom visit the Podium. I think I've been there and posted maybe 4-6 times at most in the year I've been here. Likewise for The Lounge. I ran a few trivia type games at one time that were popular with some, but dumped on by a few troublemakers and occasionally I answer a question there, but not very often. I would expect to get some down votes, especially in the Podium. ( if they were allowed there ) The Podium area is considered controversial and disagreement is therefore expected and quite frequent, and the Lounge is mostly frequented by younger people and the Lounge regulars, so it's more difficult to fit in quickly and be welcomed.
I was speaking of the freebie forum ( where most of my posts are) and other sections where one can now rep a thread, ( such as Deals ) and where one could conceivably vote on an individual "post", rather than just on a thread, as I believe you're suggesting.
You may think people would not vote negatively on a mere post in those areas unless it was honestly and truly and absolutely a problematic one, but from experience on another forum where it was allowed ( *cough cough* ) I can tell you they assuredly would. Once an enemy is made, they aren't picky about which posts ( or how innocent the words are ) that they crap on. Just as long as they have the chance to stick it to you.
"Useful and helpful posts" are subjective and are judged by the eye of the beholder. Sometimes that eye is an evil one.....heehee.
Sorry if I sound jaded. :D
Aluvus
08-24-2007, 11:59 PM
Fat Wallet has such a system. One of the major complaints about that system is that low-rated posts are hidden, which means that any sufficiently dedicated group could completely silence posts they don't like.
FWIW, Slashdot had a post-rating system before Digg even existed. Slashdot's system is based on giving a limited number of users "moderator points" to spend, and involves a number of rules and back-end complications. It works moderately well.