The "24 hours" - How is that figured?
 

Dan, thanks very much for setting it so that we can give "reputation" points three times per 24-hour period. I for one really appreciate it (even though I don't always use all of them).

While I have posted at all hours (particularly on weekends), generally, there is a narrow window of time when I can visit FlyerTalk. I try to give blings when I run into a post worthy of one, so they are given scattered throughout the period. Sometimes, though, it seems that I get the box that says


when according to my recollection (earlier) and records (lately), the 24-hour period should have run, at least as to some of my earlier ratings.

So - my question: How is the 24-hour period calculated?

Let's assume hypothetically that I gave reputation points today at the following times (24-hour clock): 1030 hours, 1440 hours, and 1810 hours. When can I again give reputation points?

I can see three possible ways of calculating:

1. The straight-forward (or "running count") method. You can give up to three ratings in 24 hours, so the next rating would be allowed at 1031 tomorrow, since at that time I would have given only two ratings (the 1440 one and the 1810 one) during the prior 24-hour period starting at 1031 hours today; I could thus give one rating at or after 1031 tomorrow, the next at or after 1441, and the third at or after 1811 hours tomorrow.

2. The "telephone billing" method. Under this, the time of the rating is rounded up to the next whole hour. In other words, the 1030 rating "used" the hour 1000 - 1059, so the 24-hour period since the 1030 rating (where the 1030 rating would drop out of the count for "three within a 24-hour period") would end at 1100 tomorrow; I could give one rating on or after 1100 hours, the next on or after 1500 hours, and the third on or after 1900 hours tomorrow.

3. The "24-hour rest" method. Under this, once you give the third rating in a 24-hour period, a flag goes up and you are barred for a full 24 hour period from the last rating no matter when the earlier two ratings were given. Under this hypothetical, the answer is that I cannot give more reputation points until 1811 hours tomorrow, but at that time I can give three ratings immediately.

I'm not sure which the answer is, except that it does not seem to be #1.

Could you clarify, please?

Thanks,

From experience, I think it is #1, but by the time I've found the post of the person whom I want to and am allowed to rate (and getting lots of "you must spread some Reputation around" messages :o initially), it's often a while later than exactly 24 hours after the oldest of my last three reputation ratings. I can see that it might also be #2, but it's certainly not #3.

FewMiles..

Since 26 April 2004 I have been keeping a record of my bling bestowal, and I concur with FewMiles.