Reactions to revelations . . . blings, dings, wings
 

For the record, I currently have 17 blings, 8 dings, and 4 wings (comments by those with "neutral" reputation scores of 20+ or under 250 posts). It's a good thing dings count less than blings!

There are at least three probable generalized reactions to those who learn the identity of those who "approve" and particularly those who "disapprove" of their posts or themselves:

• hate: anger, grudges, revenge
• love: redoubled effort to seek approval & curry favor
• indifference: possibly sublimated hurt, but more likely simply don't care, consider the whole game trivial, want to avoid time-wasting, or are too independent and self-actualized to bother

Given my prior recorded statement that “I'd give my left ________ for a second green lozenge,” and my apparently high need for approval, you can guess which group I fit into! Also, love is stronger than hate!

Despite posts about conspiracy theories, there really was a concerted salvo fired against me starting with my first two simultaneous dings at precisely 2:44 p.m., Wednesday, 14 April 2004, Chamorro Standard Time (10:44 p.m., Tuesday, 13 April 2004, Mountain Daylight Time) by none other than our Reputation Leader and a comrade in arms, followed up within 24 hours by other members of my favorite clique.

I guess I really am not an honorary member of the COE, as much as I’d like to be. :confused:

Well, you can’t force people to like you! (In high school, though, I did a pretty good job of trying, hanging out during lunch with various groups such as the nerds, stoners, jocks, student government, holy rollers, etc., never really becoming a member of any, though never actively being shunned by them, either.) But no one can stop you from doing your best.

There is a certain element of gamesmanship to this “reputation” business, as is readily apparent to all. Such organizational skills do show the same talent that makes one successful in business. Those who actively chat or make a lot of posts are obviously going to make more friends. I think the system does serve as a crude method of evaluating the “quality” of posts, rather than mere quantity. Sometimes they will coincide. Premex comes to mind. Sometimes they will not, as one banned former college student and CO apologist now knows.

Before I understood how the system worked and how important blings and dings would come to be to some Flyer Talkers, I myself made one or at most two (I don’t think so) dings against a post on ideological grounds, though I honestly don’t recall who received it. If you let me know, I’ll do my best to make it up to you. It was certainly not indicative of a lack of respect for anyone or his worth as a human person.

As you can see, I also gave out plenty of bling to those whose political or religious views are quite opposite my own -- including several members of the Concerted Expression of Disapproval (someone more clever than I could develop an acronym deleting the final word and inserting a new one beginning with “O” between the first and second) who had anonymously dinged me!

Literally repaying good for evil, unbeknownst to any of us. :)

Several of you non clique members (some with your reputations turned off) may also have been very surprised to receive my approval, and I’m glad if I brought a little food for though into your day.

Remember, we can still bestow “approval” while expressing disagreement in our comments.

Prayerful best wishes, everyone!

Indeed, when I look at my feedback, as I've said elsewhere, the negatives are mostly predictable (some even valid), while the positives come mostly from people whom I hardly know or even those with whom I've sparred in the past. I value those most, as they tell me that people respect me and that we can disagree with each other without rancor. :)

But I still think I'm just going to turn it off. Too much bother.

So... Is that Talk Board Member going to get an apology for your cross posting of accusations against him?
Don't you think it would be the 'right' thing to do, now that you and everyone else knows that it was me, not him, who recommended for you to travel to the former Soviet Union?

I guess some people don't have the cajones to admit when they are wrong. Too bad. :(

No. I didn't mention any names here. And as I clearly stated, I suspected but could not prove. In the other thread he in fact did post an almost identical comment, at virtually the same time. Again, unbelievable coincidence (?).

As you are aware, I have not been able to verify any of the reputation left for me. So thank you for fessing up to your gutless, flame-baiting, anonymous ding. ^^ (By the way, how would anyone else know??). I will now ask Randy to review the situation. :)

Have a nice day.

Hey Guys, Guys... easy does it. The ding and bling feature has been turned off. As much as I loved the feature (and miss it) the damage (whatever it might have been) is now moot.

Hey, cactus, are you really from Russia?

You shouldn't be surprised that many on this board feel the same way about your infamous behavior. My comments reflected my personal views regarding your anti-American post. I will stand by my comments.
No problem, and thank's for publishing it in so many places for me!
BTW, it wasn't intended to be anonymous, or gutless. When the 'feature' was first rolled out, I didn't know my comments would be anonymous. As for flame baiting, I knew full well that if you wished, you could 'ding' me back with more of your usual hate filled rhetoric. Instead you published my remarks for all to see. Thank's again. It would have been a violation of TOC for me to post it so far & wide, but you were able to cross post it without even a blink from the mod's! ;)
Because I posted my concerns in several places on FT, after your cross posting about it. I also communicated with a moderator regarding my previous post.
As you wish, but as I've said, it's already public knowlege.
I already have!

Let's Review the Facts
 

The difference being that you were one of only a few that chose to voice your "opinion" via the anonymous ding comment.

Nice attempt to deflect attention away from your TOS violation. :rolleyes:

You didn't know that it would be anonymous? Yet you never brought that to anyone's attention when, after receiving your infamous ding, I thought that it perhaps had come from one of your cohorts? Sure.

"Hate-filled rhetoric"? :confused: You sent me an anonymous ding stating 'Anti-American B.S. Go back to Russia'. And now you accuse me of hate-filled rhetoric? :mad:

And what exactly were your concerns? :confused: After all, it was your statement. :confused: Where was your concern in the first place? Your logic eludes me, but are you perhaps implying that I somehow violated TOS by posting an anonymous flame? :rolleyes:

No, the identity of the author of that gem was not public knowledge until you posted it here in this thread.

If you are looking to fault someone, look in the mirror.

I stated the truth. Believe what you want. You always do anyway. Cohorts? I've neither met nor communicated with spiff aside from what's posted on this board, & I'm not sure who else you would be talking about.
Yes. My comment was in response to your hate filled rhetoric. And thank's for publishing my comments again!
My concerns were regarding your false accusations of spiff.
Better look again. I posted that fact several times over the last week.
As I stated above, I stand by my original comment. No shame, no blame. I REALLY BELIEVE that you shoud go to Russia, or North Korea, or some other totalitarian country, where I'm sure you would be more comfortable, and your anti American sentiments would be more appreciated.
Also, since rep' comments were designed to express negative sentiments, I did so. Not a violation of any kind.

I invite Randy and all other FTers to review the thread HighFlyer alludes to and then draw their own conclusions as to who is behind the name-calling and hate-filled rhetoric:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=311342

Certainly seems like a personal attack to me, as well as being generally disruptive, which in itself is a violation of TOS.

The Truth
 

And this is why we haven't heard from cactuspete for a week? What in the hell is going on with this board anyway?

Yes please. Let's relive history.

I posted an opinion about travel to the former USSR. I offered a suggestion that I thought would make you more comfortable. Not a personal attack, just a friendly suggestion supporting my previously PRIVATE statement to you (which you chose to publish time and again).
This has gone off topic. In the future, if you have a problem with something I post, try the message feature instead of posting this kind of back & forth he-said-she-said playground fodder.

Nope.
 

Reputation: Yea or Nay? Vote here:

ANONYMOUS poll: "Do you favor reintroduction of the reputation system?"
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=318968