Originally Posted by SPN Lifer
Actually, while that is how it came to be used on Flyer Talk, the point of the software indeed was to rate a particular post -- addressed to the poster. An individual's reputation was to be the sum of his posts. As currently set up, rating a thread says nothing about any individual post on the thread.
As proof, click on the scales on one of your posts in this thread. You will get a response, "Your reputation on this post is Positive," or "Your reputation on this post is Even," etc. If any comments have been made on your particular post by anyone, they are listed for you.
The problem with that analysis is that you (the poster) are the only one who can see that information; it is wholly worthless as guidance to others.
They do not know whether your peers have judged that post to be pearls of wisdom or mere arrant nonsense.
No, if the intent is to create a system that rates posts, then that can be done with existing software (similar to that used for rating a thread). No need to castigate the individual for the content of his post (or his belief).
Actually, if I recall
Randy’s explanation, it was not intended to reflect judgments of individuals’ use of grammar or their political astuteness or their general bonhomie or even the adequacy of their toilet training, but rather was (solely?) intended to be used in relation to Coupon Connection, to allow others to have additional information in deciding whether to enter into a trade with (or gift to) a particular individual.
In that respect I guess it was to be similar to the system used on e-Bay, which shows who issued each individual rating, what the rating was, and any explanation the rater felt should be provided. This is useful both as feedback to the person rated and as specific information to the reader who might be interested in the reputation of the person being rated.
And we can implement such a system – at least, the software exists. In that way “reputation” might have some value rather than, as now, being a simple grade-school-clique type of popularity contest.
Originally Posted by SPN Lifer
It bears repeating (sorry for those who have read this several times), but one can express disagreement in the comments while "approving" of the poster. Happily, this seems to be happening more and more.
If indeed the purpose of the “reputation” system was to “rate” individual posts, what you’re suggesting totally perverts that purpose. This seems to be nothing more than an attempt to beg for “plus points” to enhance reputation (as though they were baseball cards, or the like -- I think on another thread you rightly referred to those who continue such shameless solicitations as "Bling Whore").
Seems to me the solution is simple: Fix the system or turn it off.