I like in principal the reputation feature-- but the "comment" portion is already being used to take anonymous pot-shots... a recipe for trouble, obviously. Can the "comment" portion of reputation be disabled? I definitely think the "comment" feature is a fire-starter.

The weird thing is most users I've checked say "xxx will not re-qualify for the next elite level.." does that mean that these comments are actually generated automatically rather than actual user comments? I saw one comment on the AA board that said "xxx has a dubious reputation" (actually I'm paraphrasing-- it was something like that though.) It did seem like it was a targeted comment.

BTW, This is from another site-- http://www.mini2.com -- that also uses vBulletin-- but it's an interesting "design" as it were, lot of factors, some pretty interesting when you think about it-- I wonder if FT's system is the same or similar? Is there a a FAQ for same?


How does Reputation work?

Many have asked how the reputation system works. Below you will find the guidelines used to determine how many 'points' of reputation are awarded or taken away by each user.

Register Date Factor
For every X number of days, users gain 1 point of reputation-altering power.
182

Post Count Factor
For every X number of posts, users gain 1 point of reputation-altering power.
500

Reputation Point Factor
For every X points of reputation, users gain 1 point of reputation-altering power.
100

[Administrators give or take 50 points of reputation unless their calculated reputation-altering power is greater]

Minimum Post Count
How many posts must a user have before his reputation hits count on others?
100

Minimum Reputation Count
How much reputation must a user have before his reputation hits count on others?
30

Daily Reputation Clicks Limit [Administrators are exempt?
How many reputation clicks can a user give over each 24 hour period?
10

Reputation User Spread [Administrators are exempt]
How many different users must you give reputation to before you can hit the same person again?
20

Any user can let you know whether they approve or disapprove of one of your posts by clicking the ? button associated with the post. They should also provide a short comment as to why they approved or disapproved.

If you look in your User Control Panel you can see the last 10 reputations given to you. There will be a little dot next to each reputation:
� A ? dot means the user approved of your post, and as a result your reputation has grown,
� A ? dot means the user disapproved of your post, and as a result your reputation has "taken a hit",
� A ? dot means the user giving you reputation has not yet met the minimum qualifications to do so, and you will have to read the associated comment to determine what they thought.

I don't see the "comments" portion to which JonNYC refers. Unless he is talking about the "Report Bad Post" feature, which is probably an excellent idea, if it's a shortcut to obtain moderator intervention.

As for the reputation square, I think it's an unfortunate mistake. Do we really need FTers evaluating one another in such a manner? Do we need some FTers giving each other a pat on the back, while others are left in the cold? Let's not create further class division within FT.

As far as reputation goes, I think most of the regulars can make their own subjective determination by looking at a user's tenure, post count, and by using the search feature. And the real FT diehards probably already have a fairly decent appreciation of the reputation of their friends and acquaintenances by virtue of having read many of their posts. To me, the explicit reputation thing, however it's calculated, will likely open up a Pandora's Box. So I suggest jettisoning it before the problems arise.

Other than that, the new FT looks great. I can't wait until its back up to speed.

The comment is visible if you "hover" (or sometimes click) on the little gemstone next to your post count-- your's is a positive comment-- different that 90% of the "boiler-plate" comment that appears next to most users already.

I think the "xxx is an unknown quantity at this point" and "xxx will not re-qualify for the next elite level" and the others are generated by the system itself-- not actual user comments?? Just a guess-- it can't be the same for everybody otherwise?

One can always edit one�s options in the MyFlyerTalk area and disable the Show My Reputation Level function.

Thanks Canarsie for pointing this out. Your entire experience on FT is now in your hands and once that is learned, this will likely to be less of a factor.

May we first explain why we have engaged that particular feature: We really only wanted to engage it for The Coupon Connection forum and I'm sure you can guess why. Similar to the same reputation systems on very popular exchange or other commerce Web sites like eBay and even Amazon to some degree, we wanted a way to give members, especially the newer ones, something to know more about a member whom they may be considering an exchange. Over time we're likely to figure out how to isolate this to that forum. The messages you currently see are defaults, the system provides them and it's likely that all of you will soon with your normal participation develop systematically, the fine reputations you already enjoy. Remember, just like changing frequent flyer programs - you are starting with no miles and no elite status.

As for a concern above about other members spamming your reputation. Well, on the back end, we have the ability to look at the comments when called to do so and more importantly to trace the voter. If a member thinks they are being singled out in an unfair way, we can easily track that and deliver the "evidence" to the offender if necessary. But again, the goal and only goal of this implementation is to provide tools for the member to use. If someone on TCC rips other members off, their reputation will suffer and the members won't have to worry about not seeing a post among the tens of thousands that warned others....

Hope this helps understand this and while quite natural, we're really not interested in being your "Big Brother."

Thanks flyertalk for the explanation-- I've just left you positive reputation feedback.

I wonder what my reputation was on the old FlyerTalk. Then again, who cares.

flyertalk: I understand and appreciate what your trying to do in increasing confidence levels among Coupon Connection mates, but unless and until the software is tweaked to limit this new reputation feature entirely to that purpose, I still have my concerns. I agree that weeding out Coupon Connection delinquents is a great idea, but hopefully we don't wind up with a reputation caste system that transcends The Coupon Connection in the meantime.

Guess what? I am "an unknown quantity at this point". So much for 5,000+ posts. [Someone dinged me.]

This is going to be a vehicle for vendettas (including some from OMNIites), and, as such, unless and until this feature is limited exclusively to Coupon Connection, I have disabled this feature's public viewability in relation to moi and will abstain from using such feature toward others.

I've never used ebay etc, but have heard about the reputation type things on there & guess that makes sense, and possibly for Coupon Connection. But - I'm adamently against it in the other forums - there is the potential for abuse. I don't want to have folk assigning or taking points on my reputation & I'm not going to do it to others. I think most of us can figure out from handles, posts, styles, # of posts, what a person is like; there's no need to rank their reputation. And if someone doesn't like someone then there's always the new ignore user feature. And if they're being totally out of line, report to moderator or Randy. As w/ someone above, I'm going to take mine off public display & I won't be ranking anyone else. And I do think that until it's limited to just CC, then it shouldn't be enabled. I haven't seen the potshots that I've hard are occurring, but I can imagine that they do exist, knowing some of the folk on FT.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but the administrator can choose not to let users hide their reputation rating.

FewMiles..

What option is this? I looked on the Admin control panel (different board, not this one, but also running this version of vBulletin) and don't see where we can find a log of reputation comments.

But we don't get to see what comments left about other posters. In other words, one can affect the reputation rating of another member, but in a totally anonymous way.

FewMiles..

I've already had the cowardly clique that is obsessed with me ding me on a post from weeks ago.

This has widespread abuse written all over it.

I think we have non-partisan agreement. How do we find out what we got dinged for?

I posted in another thread that people who have issues with someone else should bring it up with them directly as opposed to acting like a guerrila engaged in a hit and run campaign.

Somebody dinged me too. So what?

It may be someone who is out to "get" me or it might have been someone who honestly feels that my post was badly written. Either way, it doesn't really cause me any problems.

I don't think that the ratings really add anything to Flyer Talk but I don't see where they cause any real problem either.