You would think alanw, that if they are ignored long enough people would let go of their hatred, but sadly that is not the case. There are people whose posts I have not read in years who (I am told) still make hateful posts to and about me. Seems like a very strange use of their time. I almost never think about them at all.

In this instant case, however, signing someone else's name to a negative comment, the potentional for damage is far greater. People will be hurt and think they know who hurt them, when in fact it is a troll. Hopefully, if anyone receives a "signed" negative comment, they will contact the person whose name was "signed" to make certain that they were the author, before they let it affect their relationship.

Fascinating. Can you elaborate this point?

If you chose to, you could repudiate every one of these points without resorting to personal attacks.

Would love to go, but can't

I am flattered, I think :confused:

Oh well, I can't be blamed for not trying ;)

Are you admitting that you are reading OMNI still and dinging people anonymously? ;) :D

Firstly, it would do no good. There was absolutely no personal attack in letter you censored. (If you really and truly want, I still have it and can reprint it here to prove my point.)

Secondly, I think that a person, and in this case I am using that term extremely loosely, who expresses his hope for the nuclear destruction of a country -- not to mention the deaths of American civilians -- deserves a personal attack. There is certainly no point in trying to logically debate someone who displays such a blood lust (yet prides himself on going to "anti-war" demonstrations).

Incidentally, when someone chuckles (he added smiley faces) while hoping for the nuclear deaths of my children, my family, and my countrymen, I tend to take that VERY personally.

I have never denied reading Omni. (Last month, I also re-read Mein Kampf.)

I have made a few dings and yes, they were anonymous. Basically, however, I don't ding as it really serves no purpose. Until last week I used to give positive points anonymously but decided that it also serves no purpose. Now I make almost exclusively positive reps and sign them which hopefully brightens the recipient's day.

This has turned into a highly interesting thread over the last few hours! Just goes to show that controversial topics can be civilly discussed without name calling.
I find the reputation feature to be one of the more fun parts of the new FT....and I only have one lonely green dot. I've yet to receive any negative dings but I haven't given any out yet either. Since you can only give out a limited amount of reputation ratings a day, I don't want to waste any on negatives. Too many people who I want to reward with positives.
More on topic here, I wondered how long it would take until someone started to abuse the reputation system. Sending negative dings and signing someone else's name is about as low as you can sink. I agree, however, that the whole system shouldn't be abandoned just because of a few bad apples. The best system might be one, as has been suggested, that automatically identifies the poster when they issue both positives and negatives.

I agree completely. If this cannot be done - then just turn this feature off. There are apparently some members that just cannot deal with this feature like adults.

^^

Cholula - you've got many reputations points coming to you!! ^ ^ :)

I, too, have not given a single negative point. I agree with Cholula in that there are many people deserving of positive points that a negative is a waste. I have had 1 negative reputation point and that was, .............. surprise ................ , not signed.

I can see where to add to a posters reputation, but I must be denser than the average FT as I don't see how to view reputations - anyone care to enlighten me? or does this post merit a ding on GP? :p

It is incredible, I got dinged for a Happy Easter thread (thanks to those who posted a positive one afterwards ^), and now I got a a ding for a french joke :confused:

I guess I shouldn't be upset about it, just amazing how people use the system ;)

Sad, very sad.