Under the current system, the "comments" are viewable solely by the recipient. This provides an excellent opportunity for private feedback not previously available to those who preferred not to publicize their e-mail addresses.

The concept behind your suggestion is good, but it can already be employed publicly in the very thread involved. Of course, if closed in Coupon Connection, you may need to ask the moderator to open it so you can do so.

Well come Monday I hope myself, doc, PremEx, Punki and all the others whom the cowards have left fake signed nasty mesaages are visible to Randy and Admin.

And all get drop kicked to Greenland for their stupidity and malice.

^ Just like ebay. :)

Yes, indeed.

I hope to God that people here aren't really hurt by these "dings". C'mon, do you really care? If somebody doesn't like your post, you get a ding. It's a ding on FT, not a personal character assassination.

For instance, I notice Spiff gets "dings" because he's outspoken about the TSA and defending what he views as our Constitutional freedoms. At least he takes a stand that makes people think and let 'em know where he's at (OK, so some roll their eyes). Personally, I repect a person's willingness to take a stand and speak their mind whether I, in my infinite wisdom, agree or not. There's none of this concern about a popularity contest (which life ain't, boys and girls). Taking a stand on merit and a contrary opinion takes conviction, fortitude and guts (unless merely trolling)...as does voicing one's opinion, whether it's popular or not.

Then there's the extra positive points for folks such as, say, missydarlin and ScottC. Well deserved, as we all know, for their selfless contributions of knowledge, valuable information and kindness on FT, but do we really need to "rate" them? These are already highly respected members of this community and will remain so long after any "ratings" disappear. IMHO, the potential for damage goes far beyond the good that these things do.

FWIW, I'd like to see these little reputation point icons disappear. Anyone who's been around FT for awhile knows who's who and what their "reputations" are...there's really little need for these rating points.

Personally, I don't need ratings to determine whether I like someone or want to read their posts; that is, I don't need my thinking and opinions formulated for me. These icons lend no credibility to the poster but indicate a level of hierarchy, smugness and political popularity, that, IMHO, is not the essence of what this place is all about. Or was before these silly little things appeared and caused such a stir.

Now the system is changing I no longer know who to ping or ding :D

Indeed. One particular FT'er is going to owe Spiff a BIG public apology when he finds out that I'm the one who recommended he travel to the former Soviet Union, not Spiff, as he cross posted all over FT.

:eek: :p

There is an old story about a sea captain who went to his safe every morning, took out a piece of paper, read it, and then locked it back up.

He did this every single day for over 20 years.

His entire crew was curious about what was on that paper and when the captain died, they rushed to open the safe to read it.

On it, was written, "Port, left. Starboard, right."

Perhaps the Omni mods could use as their guide: "Bling, left. Ding, right." :)

Dovster
(Actually, I received a very nice bling from Scott.)

Are you sure it was from me? You won't know till Monday :D ;)

Darn.... I'm going to be at a conference on Monday and on dial-up, that is, unless I can score a communal PC and log in. Should be an interesting day, that's for sure.

I've given 2 dings. Each to a parasite on the community. One on Coupon Connection and the other on SPAM. Both using the good will of people to their advantage. I think they reciprocated, but didn't have enough point power to effect my total. Of course, parasites can & will get more dings than most ;).

This reminds me of the saying "be careful what you ask for, you just might get it."

Why do I have the feeling that one of two repeatedly self righteous people around here are going to get severely embarrassed come Monday?

Hey, if someone is internet-savvy enough to, e.g., run his/her own Internet company or website, he/she might just be internet-savvy enough to know how to raise his/her own rating and give dings or blings or to have plenty of fake IDs like Enquiring Mind or whatever, without it becoming apparent to the administrator of this site :).

Then again, who cares about blings or dings...storm in a teacup :).

Hmmmm. Don't bet your house on it is my advice. ;)

Sorry, the math in my first post on this thread proves you way wrong.

Before I even started this thread - TWENTY times more FT'ers had viewed JonNYC's thread than the previous "most viewed" threads in this Forum, based on Randy's own figure. And it is much higher now. So FT members DO give a large 'rat's behind' about this issue, that much is irrefutable.

As to your other supposition - I replied to an email from Randy about 14 hours back re something totally unconnected with the "reputation" silliness.

That email bounced back. I just sent it again and the same thing occurred. That has never occurred before with email I have sent him. Unless his address has mysteriously changed from [email protected] (which is where it came from April 23) this is definitely occurring. I can only presume Randy's mailbox is very full with "something"?

Perhaps a lot of nervous folks are "confessing" their sins before Monday and asking forgiveness? Who knows. ;)

But as always, I could be wrong.

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Interesting but not workable.