Reputation is kind of silly

[cybrjackle]

There are good and bad to it, if the feedback was justified, ok, but sometimes people say things that just don't make sense.

example


Horrible advice. You are mixing repositories, and in a test release even! Read up on repository mixing, and read up on what test relaseas are supposed to do.


Response to that, "They shouldn't be asking about MP3 then, huh?


From this thread (http://www.fedoraforum.org/forum/showthread.php?p=105888#post105888)

Now don't get me wrong, I can appreciate that, BUT I"ve been using Linux and Redhat for over 6 years, so don't tell me to read up on anything. I use test release like there the real deal, cause well I can fix most problems or find why/what/when.

Q. Now back to the point of the question, HOW DO YOU GET MP3 in fctest?
A. You can't, it's a test release sorry..........

What kind of crap answer would that be?

Atleast my answer gave a way to do it, I use it just fine, of course I know what i'm doing, and if you don't, guess what your SOL and you shouldn't be using a test release.

Just a guess, it was probably an admin/mod that left back and if i'm wrong, doesn't matter anyway. I still think the feedback was un-called for in a test release.

[james_in_denver]

I have to agree somewhat, I got a "bad" recommendation from someone (not even the original thread poster) when I suggested someone could solve their problem by downloading and installing a newer source code tarball.

Now why would I get a bad "rec" for that if it solved their problem?

[ben_leah]

why do you care ......

[james_in_denver]

Excellent point,

I don't care, as long as I help a fellow Linux user fix a problem.....

[SharedMedia]

I agree too, alot of us are Linux Buffs, most newbies, but we all have the same goal. communicate and distrubute resolutions to a GREAT OS! Sure there will be times where a posting, rep comment, or email will make no sense at all.. enjoy all your responces

[ilja]

Yes the most important thing is not the reputation, but the feeling to have helped. Ok, I have to admit, that the reputation is good for your ego. And I have a tip: dont't give away bad reputation and you won't earn bad reputation.
I never (afair) gave someone bad reputations and also try not to be anonymous on giving reputation. And I suppose that someone, who doesn't get bad reputations doesn't give bad reputations.
So imho if you see someone giving a bad tip, at least you think it is one, it is better to say it in the thread than giving bad reputations away.

Just my 2 cents.

[Dog-One]

The idea of the Reputation score was to provide some sense of credibility of the poster along with the post. There a several folks that love to post one liners just to have some input and other folks that actually attack the original problem and try to solve it in the best way possible. In most cases, the detail of the post and how applicable it is to the problem is what is needed, because it should solve not only the problem at hand but be a good reference that can be searched for later.

So in answer to your original question, the reputation score should be taken with a grain of salt. It's useful in some situations, but certainly not all.

Something I do recommend though, is when you give feedback, include your member name like ( //Dog-One ) at the tail of the comment. That way the recipient of the feedback at least has some recourse. If you feel strongly enough to submit feedback, you should have enough gumption to admit to it.

[ilja]

( //Dog-One ) is not a correct syntax :p
// (Dog-One) or /* (Dog-One */ would be more correct :D

[bunsen]

actually, i find this "reputation-stuff" quite useless. if i am new to a forum, it gives the impression that i am a noob and have to earn my "credibility" first, before any advice is taken as something worth reading. i am a long time user of linux-distros and member of the yoper-team, i have set up numerous machines and solved hundreds of problems, from noob to advanced user-stuff and who will think that a user with 13 reputation (as in my case) does know perhaps more about linux than someone who has 140 reputation but really doesn't know how to edit e.g. a grub or lilo file?

if you say, it is for our ego in first place, then i disagree. most newbies will actually think that the rp points equal to credibility which is nonsense imho. :)

[cybrjackle]

In the end, I really don't care that's why the title said "silly" ;-)

I just thought it was odd....

[sailor]

I am going to agree with Bunsen on this one...the reputation system does tend to give a false impression... and it can be misused, I have gotten bad reputation in the "Wibble" section because someone didn't like my opinion.
Our original intent was to identify those folks who consistantly give out good advice and to somehow reward or applaud their efforts....

[pbtpu40]

I am too with Bunsen, I have been working with linux since 1998, and it is my primary operating system, and I have accomplished many things with it that most people dont even know how to do. At the present time of this writing my reputation is something like 16. But this does not actually refelct on my abilities or skill set. I have compliled and setup up linux on numerous devices, including an Arm7TDMI development board, and also found a way to implement microlinux into microblaze and wrote my own drivers for VHDL hardware on chip with microblaze. I'm sure that many other people in this fourm have also done interesting things with linux, and many of them are probably,
A) new to the forum
or B) got bad feed back because someone didn't understand the advice given *even though it was more than most likely valid*
I've noticed that some people give advice, and yeah, it may be a way to do it from the commandline, but one must be comfortable in the command line in linux, and to degrade someone because you dont understand how it is something works, or they didn't give you a gui solution is far from a valid reason to degrade someone. Someone who doesn't use a gui to do system administration tasks probably knows alot more about system internals than one who does.

One thing i think should be done, is to make feedback record who gave it. If you give someone bad feedback, you need to back it up, and stand behind it. But the system is definately flawed.

[ilja]

Ewdi promised to improve it, when he has the time. I think it is a lot of coding, so let him some time.

[jayemef]

What you need to realize too though is that the reputation is a function of the total number of posts you have. Obviously, if you have very few posts, you have had less opportunity to help someone on these forums, which is what the reputation is supposed to reflect. Not actual knowledge. Just helpfulness HERE.

I really like the reputation feature. For those who have a high reputation, you know that they have been quite helpful in the past. Of course though, as has been said, it must be taken with a grain of salt. But it still gives you an idea. Also, aside from an outside perspective, whenever I personally get a reputation increase, it makes me feel good. It's nice to know I helped someone. The only unfortunate part is that often times people don't leave feedback. Users should be adding rep to those who solved their problem. But reputation or not, I'm always glad to help.

As for leaving your name at the end of the comment, that is a really good idea. I'll start doing that.

[Jman]

You can disable showing reputation in your user control panel. Not sure if this disables it completely or not.

Just about any system based on user ratings will have a few issues. Take for example slashdot's (http://slashdot.org/) complicated and sometimes abused moderation system. We rely on people to helpfully rate people's posts, which doesn't always happen.

I think reputation shows how helpful you have been here more than the post count, for example. You can just post lots of unhelpful one liners without contributing anything.

If you like you can put a short resume of your experience and put it in your signature.

[crackers]

Since I'm the one that actually suggested implementing it as a way of showing at least some competency, I'd like to add that it actually does have a tendency to work decently. Anything that relies on user feedback is always subject to the whims of the user - human beings being such reliable and predictable creatures. But statistically, it all tends to even out. We have a decent sample on this thread, so let's analyze... (cracks knuckles):

First, knock off 10 points - those are freebies to get one started.

Second, set an arbitrary limit for the minimum number of posts because you want to get a meaningful cross-section of how much the person posts vs. their points - I'm gonna say 100 (this shows some longevity and, therefore, a willingness to post). Sorry bunsen and pbtpu40, we have some lovely parting gif... oh, sorry, wrong channel. ;)

So, of the remaining posters, we have to calculate (points-10) / num_posts:

Dog-one == 50% (absolutely outstanding and, if you've read his stuff... dude!)
jayemef == 16%
ilja == 12%
sailorsgh == 8%
james_in_denver == 6%

Jman and cybrjackle at around 5% (doesn't look good but then you have to know that Jman was around before the point system was initiated - and, if I remember from Ug correctly, the original posters were doing anything they could to pump up the post count - lots of one-liners).

Now, take into account that there are lots of posts in sections of the forums (like this thread) where one wouldn't normally dole out points, because they're for blabbing, squint a little funny and you'll start to see that anyone with over (as a real rough guess) 10% probably knows something and helps pretty much. Dog, of course, blows the curve completely out of proportion.

Needless to say, at it's simplest, if someone's gotten more than their initial allotment of 10, they posted something useful for someone to go to the trouble of giving them rep points. Any positive is... well, positive!

I would like to point out that I am actually posting this without looking at my ratio - so you can draw your own conclusions as to whether I'm worth a plug nickel or not.

[foolish]

The reputation system is there to seperate the people who give good advice from the people who give not so good advice.

I will keep on giving bad reputiation to someone who gives advice that may be harmful to the user. I know you try to help, and I love you for it, but bad advice is bad advice and if you give bad advice, I will give you bad rep. If you post for the sake of posting, I will give you bad rep. If you post something good, I'll give you good rep. I give a lot more good points than I do bad.

If we're going to have a system that rates the answers people give, we must be allowed to say that we think a piece of advice is bad. Even if the user is a wonderful person and tries to help his fellow users. If you disagree on what's good and what's bad advice, fine. Use the reputation system. Things will even out.

The reputation system isn't there to rate you as human beeings, it's not there to sort out the users we really don't like. It's just there so that if a user is provided with two or more answers, the user can choose to go with the advice of one user who have a history of giving good advice. Don't go mad over bad reputation points. I don't.

[bunsen]

Sorry bunsen and pbtpu40, we have some lovely parting gif... oh, sorry, wrong channel.

*rofl*

foolish, i do understand your point of view and i do understand why you give "bad reputation points", but i doubt that those who get bad reputation points do give "harmful" tips because they want to. linux is about learning, so is giving advice in linux. assuming one person gives a bad advice there will surely be someone else who will correc his fault, giving a deeper insight to the problem that arose for someone. on other forums, we do not blame people for giving bad advice because we believe that this might upset some users so they will never again give any advice. and some people are technologically more adept than others and there is nothing wrong with that imho.

when i started with linux, i knew absolutely nothing. but i went to the forums and read other persons advices and after that i was enthusiastic about giving advice to everyone on everything. call it naivity or "childhood mistakes". :) i do know that my first "help suggestions" were not really a big help but i was enthusiastic and people treated me with respect and explained to me why they do not believe that my solution might work. that way i learned a lot and i was not smacked in the face with something like "your advice was horrible, you evil git, get outta this place". my impression is simply that the rating/reputation system will frustrate some users and thus undermine what is commonly known as a community spirit.

uhh... i guess i will get some bad reputation now... :D

[sailor]

Crackers and Foolish both have given good reasons for having the reputation system ...it is up to the users to use it correctly and fairly.
You don't have to give or take points on every post unless it really moves you. I don't like giving bad rep points and I can only think of 2 instances where I have done that, I am far more interested in giving positive feedback.

[Pegasus]

I simply ignore the reputation system. From my point of view, it doesn't matter, how many points a user have when giving an answer. Or first look at the points and then decide to read the answer or not. (ironic - please dont get me wrong)
Other users only see the points - not the message behind this points. It's better to answer the post if it worked or not - so everyone is able to accept it as a solution...

Best example is the "Mime types and file association How-To": One reputation (and i don't know who wrote them) , but NO response in the Howto - nor works or works not. 239 Reads since creation...
So me as creator has to think: Better delete it, because 238 Users are not able to work with this!
No, i dont want 238 reputation points. Not 100, not 10, not 5 ... not even one: I want FEEDBACK - readable for everyone! This is a forum, not a counter...
Because - from my point of view - open feedback is the best reputation you can get... and one positive answer in a thread like "that solved the problem, thanks" is more than simple points ...

Just my two cents
Pegasus

[cybrjackle]

I simply ignore the reputation system. From my point of view, it doesn't matter, how many points a user have when giving an answer. Or first look at the points and then decide to read the answer or not. (ironic - please dont get me wrong)
Other users only see the points - not the message behind this points. It's better to answer the post if it worked or not - so everyone is able to accept it as a solution...

Best example is the "Mime types and file association How-To": One reputation (and i don't know who wrote them) , but NO response in the Howto - nor works or works not. 239 Reads since creation...
So me as creator has to think: Better delete it, because 238 Users are not able to work with this!
No, i dont want 238 reputation points. Not 100, not 10, not 5 ... not even one: I want FEEDBACK - readable for everyone! This is a forum, not a counter...
Because - from my point of view - open feedback is the best reputation you can get... and one positive answer in a thread like "that solved the problem, thanks" is more than simple points ...

Just my two cents
Pegasus

I agree with you, I posted this in how-to with over 1100 views and like 2 feedbacks.

http://www.fedoraforum.org/forum/showthread.php?t=26925

Of course I have all the available repo's in there so I don't understand why I didn't get dinged for that one foolish? ;-) anyway I think it might because the "user" needs to decide what he/she wants to do. LIke I said, I've been using Fedora/rh for 6 years and I learned on my own what would/could mix.

[Jman]

I think most of us can agree that your reputation score is a measure of how highly people think of your posts. Whether you believe it or not is up to you. When evaluating other people's reputation, cracker's system of maximizing the reputation/post ratio makes sense to me.

As to the comments people make, that's their opinion. If you consider everybody's opinions you will be able to evaluate what other people think of what you're doing. Then you can make conclusions based off of that.

[crackers]

Also, consider this:

95% of the "views" are drive-by readers. They're not registered users and have absolutely no intention of participating. A lot of registered users may not even read any given post/thread because they don't have any interest in it. Or, if they did read it, it may only have been marginally interesting/helpful and not "quite worth" giving reputation points. It's all a matter of gross statistics. And, as you can see from my post above, you can jiggle numbers all day long to make them look like they make some kind of sense.

"Lies, damn lies, and statistics."

[SharedMedia]

"We make our own History..."

After my Wife went shopping I have 2 cents left... good spot to use them...
DANG, They're Canadian too.. ok so I only have 1 Cent...

I like the REP's, Good AND Bad... Gives me an Idea on what level I am writing to..
and hey, If I receive a "Bad" rep.. Ill post it :)

KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK Fedora Keepers of the Wild Penguin!

[imdeemvp]

I personally dont like but I can live with it. Instead of really giving bad reputation WE should be able to say something like this:

1. suggestion does or did worked
2. suggestion does or did not work
3. needs follow up

[LinuxNewb]

i like the rep system, and i have used it accordingly, if sumone gives me great advice ill rep them, and ill say why too, or if they go above and beyond what i was asking ill give em a rep to :) its good to let them know that they are giving good advice to us new people that have so many questions

[imdeemvp]

One more question, are we saying reputations measures one's IQ? My linux IQ can be of a normal user that can troubleshoot and fix problems to a limited knowledge. I recently migrated to linux. I minimized the use of windows to learn more. I am not a programmer. I never went to school to learn about computers and yet I build them and have made money from it.

Everything I know as many others was by reading books only. Some of you guys did go to school and may have a degree on computers or programing. I dont consider myself an expert because I play with computers as a hobby. Computers do play a part in my job but to a minimum and in others view I have lots of knowledge.

Now how many of you here in America have seen a doctor and was given a written prescription for medicine and when you see it YOU do not have a clue what it says. BUT I can because its part of my job. Should think of you as an ignorant person or as some one that does not have the same training as I do?

Linux is trial and error, in pharmacy errors are not tolerated and can be costly to someone's health.

and in a remark from crackers:
(absolutely outstanding and, if you've read his stuff... dude!)
my supervisor thinks I am an outstanding employee and I have my awards to prove it.

[foolish]

For heavens sake: The reputation system is in no way intended to judge you as human beeings, your IQ or your will to help others. It's simply a method for users to give feedback to the people who respond to their questions. It's just an adition to the number of posts! Don't make a big deal of it. I don't!

[bunsen]

The reputation system is in no way intended to judge you as human beeings, your IQ or your will to help others.
if this would be the case, i would have a lower IQ than a leaf of bread... :D

[crackers]

if this would be the case, i would have a lower IQ than a leaf of bread... :D
Yup - and flunk typing tests, too! ("loaf of bread") ;)

[bob]

Wait a minute.... there's no PRIZES involved? No one gets voted off the Island? Heck, I'm gonna check out Slackware's forum....

[radu5er]

Yup - and flunk typing tests, too! ("loaf of bread") ;)


Geez, last week I studied all night for a blood test...just barely passed :)

[bunsen]

Yup - and flunk typing tests, too! ("loaf of bread") ;)
oooops.... :eek:

:D :D :D

[pbtpu40]

Hey, if my rep score makes my IQ, maybe thats why my midterms Friday kicked my butt, and last night I was confusing copyright and patents :o. Amazing what sleep deprivation, a lack of IQ, and a 5 1/2 hour drive does to one's body and mind. :D ... Explains why I cant spel too. :)

Now after poking fun at my self, I ignore the reputation system, its a good idea, and it works well when you also compare it to the number of posts. The only serious flaw, and the reason I don't really pay attention to it is because feed back can be done anonymously.

Instead I read the post, look at the content, and look at how it is written, and whether the idea makes sense. If I think the idea may be wrong or flawed I post a reply, stating what I feel is wrong, and what my solution would be. I have yet to dish bad reputation points to anyone, and I think it would take a lot to get bad points from me. Looking at the post and thinking about it is the best way to look at the content of of any post. Its there to read and think about. You shouldn't ignore it because they don't have a high number of rep points.

Thats just my two cents though.

[fjleal]

I tend to find any system that creates a rank on a community of people that are supposed to be all treated as equals a bad thing. If we consider that everyone in this forum is here for his/her free will to learn and share, and everyone is equally eager to contribute to the community, then a ranking system is a bad thing, for it promotes inequality amongst people. Of course some are more skilled than others, some are veterans and some are newbies. But that is easily understandable by each one's posts. I really don't care if my problem is answered by a pro or a rookie, as long as it helps me, I'm grateful to him/her. On a similar way, I'm happy to help anyone I can. Assuming from the start that everyone shares this same spirit, I think no artificial rank should be established to divide the community. Noone should be a "second-class" citizen.

It's just my (humble) opinion. But I can live with the reputation system as it is. It's just the political principle that I dislike... ;)

[crackers]

You read into it whatever you like. It's not "political," it's not a measure of IQ - what it represents is the willingness of the community to express itself in a positive/negative manner. Think of them as "attaboys" - there is no "artificial ranking" involved, especially since it's entirely self-selecting (those registered members who actually use the system).

[fjleal]

Please allow me to disagree with you on this subject. Every decision that tends to somehow create a rank among the members of a group is a political one. Either you treat'em all as equal, welcoming newcomers just as well as old pros, or you don't - you tell them "you'll only have some recognition after you've earned xxx points". It's the same principle of ranking people as "novice", "regular" and "veteran", for instance, acconding to the number of each one's posts. I find this unpleasant.

But, we're just talking about it, right? I really don't ming the systsem as it is, if you think it's useful. I'd prefer to see those who help others the most, like you, crackers, and foolish, and many other, get their public recognition from those they help. Isn't a post saying "thank you <user_x>, you've been a lot helpful" enough? I soon found out who the more skilled person were shortly after registering in this forum, and I didn't need a ranking system to realize that. After all, if the system was one that people would spontaneously use, there wouldn't be so many users asking and remembering each other to use the system with a phrase in their signatures, would it? ;)

But it's ok with me. We're just expressing opinions here, right? :)

[Pegasus]

Hmmmm... i think the rep-system is buggy, too ....
Description of the attached file:
-> Firefox Repo (Good Guide) -> 1 Point
-> Mime Types -> 4 Points ??
-> Firefox Repo (simply amazing) -> 4 Points ??
... at this point i've hat thos 19 Points as shown in the reputation part (if you're logged in) ...
-> Java 5.0 -> nothing
-> Search engines -> nothing
... still 19 Points ... and the rep-system is enabled...

[Ug]

Pegasus: the amount of feedback you recieve, depends on the amount of feedback that the user has who gives it to you.

If its just a standard user you get 1 point for instance, but if an Admin gives you feedback you get 10.

[Pegasus]

Pegasus: the amount of feedback you recieve, depends on the amount of feedback that the user has who gives it to you.

If its just a standard user you get 1 point for instance, but if an Admin gives you feedback you get 10.

Ok ... and how do i realize a reputation with NULL points? (see the two blue reputations...)

[crackers]

It's the same principle of ranking people as "novice", "regular" and "veteran", for instance, acconding to the number of each one's posts. I find this unpleasant.
That's why we got rid of the old "ranking" system where you got a "higher rank" with the number of posts. Personally, I don't find it "political" because folks aren't (generally) canvassing and pleading for points - they just "happen."

But, we're just talking about it, right? I really don't ming the systsem as it is, if you think it's useful. I'd prefer to see those who help others the most, like you, crackers, and foolish, and many other, get their public recognition from those they help. Isn't a post saying "thank you <user_x>, you've been a lot helpful" enough?
Sure, that's pretty good - if I bother to check the thread it's posted in... :D

I think it's a more useful tool for those reading the offered solutions - there's a little bit of a gauge as to how the community perceives the poster.

I soon found out who the more skilled person were shortly after registering in this forum, and I didn't need a ranking system to realize that.
That's because you're not a total novice?

After all, if the system was one that people would spontaneously use, there wouldn't be so many users asking and remembering each other to use the system with a phrase in their signatures, would it? ;)
Touche' - but I do that, not for myself, but for others new to the forums and because the rep system isn't immediately obvious.

The other system in operation that I've seen that's like this is the one on the Java forums (which I've stopped reading for the third time in 6 years) - a poster will offer up "Duke Dollars" for solutions to their problem and award them to the "best" one. I think this one is a little better in that other people decide whether or not the poster has more than two brain cells to rub together, not just the one who posited the issue.

We're just expressing opinions here, right? :)
Quite, quite!

[Ug]

Ok ... and how do i realize a reputation with NULL points? (see the two blue reputations...)
Because their reputation is too low in comparison, for them to be able to give your reputation.

[Pegasus]

Because their reputation is too low in comparison, for them to be able to give your reputation.

Ah ... so a user with 21 points (sharedmedia) is not able to give me (19 points) a reputation ....
Hopefully i'll find a handbook - written in human language - to understand the full workflow of this system...

Please don't get me wrong, Ug. It's not a flame against you and your good work here. But maybe there are more ppl like me in this forum didn't get the full logic and workflow behind the system. And maybe thats the point why the reputation system isn't that powerful as it could be.

Or it might be helpful to explain it. And if some readers think: "Why didn't Pegasus get it?" Ok, fellow, be my mentor and explain it with all facts, because it seems that Pegasus is - according to this reputation system - an idiot...

[SharedMedia]

I laughed, I cried, I gave a Rep to be kind...

Hehe, funny thread this is.. a feature in VBulletin getting screened.. I gave Pegasus a Rep to see if it would bump them up..( oh, thanks for the Name Boost :) ).. Rep increase may work, may not. Guess I'll keep concentratin' on Linux Help and not Forum Features..

Where are my manners..... Thanks for the feedback on my current HowTO's, I enjoy writing them as you do reading them!!

[Jman]

And if some readers think: "Why didn't Pegasus get it?" Ok, fellow, be my mentor and explain it with all facts, because it seems that Pegasus is - according to this reputation system - an idiot...
But reputation doesn't mean that. For heavens sake: The reputation system is in no way intended to judge you as human beeings, your IQ or your will to help others. It's simply a method for users to give feedback to the people who respond to their questions. It's just an adition to the number of posts!

[bunsen]

hmm.. final statement:

"the reputation system was implemented with good intentions but it can be misused/misinterpreted by almost anyone if he really wants to. there will never be a perfect system that suits all users. those who do not like the system can and should ignore it, because they know of their abilities and should not giving a dime on others false interpretations. everyone else is free to think what he wants."

[imdeemvp]

Meaning of the word reputation:

Definition: \Rep`u*ta"tion\ (-t?"sh?n), n. [F. r['e]putation, L.
reputatio a reckoning, consideration. See {Repute}, v. t.]
1. The estimation in which one is held; character in public
opinion; the character attributed to a person, thing, or
action; repute.

The best evidence of reputation is a man's whole
life. --Ames.

2. (Law) The character imputed to a person in the community
in which he lives. It is admissible in evidence when he
puts his character in issue, or when such reputation is
otherwise part of the issue of a case.

3. Specifically: Good reputation; favorable regard; public
esteem; general credit; good name.

I see my reputation is at stake. --Shak.

The security of his reputation or good name.
--Blackstone.

4. Account; value. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

[/Christ] made himself of no reputation. --Phil. ii.
7.

Syn: Credit; repute; regard; estimation; esteem; honor; fame.
See the Note under {Character}.

[fjleal]

That's because you're not a total novice?
Maybe you're right. But how do you think will a "total novice" understand the system? Won't he/she presume a certain idea about the forum regulars based on that criteria? That's precisely the "first-grade"/"second-grade" citizenship I dislike.

Please don't get me wrong. I really appreciate this community and the efforts that the most participative (and most helpful) people put into it. Of course I agree that such help deserves recognition. But I also think that the forum spirit should be such that anyone willing to help his fellow "GNU/linuxer" should do that with honesty and humility, not because he may get a higher rank of any kind, but because he truly believes in sharing knowledge ("join us now and share the software - you'll be free" - rms). And may it be as such, then I don't see a need for a ranking system of any kind. (I hope I made some sense - still struggling with my bad English... ;))

Touche' - but I do that, not for myself, but for others new to the forums and because the rep system isn't immediately obvious.
Hehehe... Very weel remarked! Touché, indeed. But in a good sense... ;)

[crackers]

Your English is just fine - but if you keep quoting RMS I may have to slap you with a codfish or something. He's got some good ideas, but is just a bit ... extreme in most of his views. I'm a bit more pragmatic in my approach to FOSS.

[fjleal]

Your English is just fine - but if you keep quoting RMS I may have to slap you with a codfish or something. He's got some good ideas, but is just a bit ... extreme in most of his views. I'm a bit more pragmatic in my approach to FOSS.
:D
/* TODO: find out exactly what kind of fish a "codfish" is... Bad dictionary, bad! ;) */

It may well be. Still I find a nice philosophical background behind his ideas. And that's because of such extremism we have GNU, right? A kernel wouldn't do us much good without the rest...

Why do I have the feeling that if we continue to discuss this theme, this thread may lead us far, far away?... :)

[Pegasus]

You might kill me for this post, but i've found answers to given questions...
Of course, i didn't found a handbook in human language for this systen - this would be too easy...

Reputation system for vBulletin boards

What we know so far:
Settings of fedoraforum.org
While taking a close look to the existing reputation points inside this forum (Memberlist -> sort by reputation) we come up with the default settings for the reputation levels:

X is infamous around these parts -> -99999
X can only hope to improve -> -50
X has a little shameless behaviour in the past -> -10
X is an unknown quantity at this point -> 0
X is on a distinguished road -> 10
X will become famous soon enough -> 50
X has a spectacular aura about -> 150
X is a jewel in the rough -> 250
X is just really nice -> 350
X is a glorious beacon of light -> 450
X is a name known to all -> 550
X is a splendid one to behold -> 650
X has much to be proud of -> 1000
X has a brillant future -> 1500
X has a reputation beyond repute -> 2000

In addition to this, we know: new registered users will start with 10 points.

Workflow of the system or - who is able to USE it!
As told some posts before, the reputation from sharedmedia didn't work. Also he has more points then me, he is NOT able to use the reputation system. And while searching the net, i found this:

To be able to use the reputation-system with success, you need:
-> a POSTCOUNT of 50+
-> a reputation of 0+
In addition to this, you have a MAXIMUM of reputations limited to 10 per Day!
If you give a reputation to a user, you MUST give points to 20 DIFFERNT users, before the FIRST user is UNLOCKED for a new reputation from you!

SharedMedia has - by writing this post - a postcount less than 50 -> reputation didn't work with success (will be NOT counted). @SharedMedia: also the last one you gave me ;)


Who is able to give how many points?
Ug told me that admins are able to give ten points. I have two reputations with 4 points. Where did they come from? Here is the answer:

Useres are able to give a DIFFERENT number of reputation points. This depends on:
-> number of POSTS ( +1 point per 1.000 posts )
-> being in this forum ( +1 point for each year )
Example : User X, registered 1 year and 5 days, 1.001 posts -> 2 reputation points
-> rank of user (if ADMIN, the number of rep points are: rep-points normal user value x 10 )
I don't know it exactly, but maybe moderators might have the calculation multiplied by 2.

This might explain the 4 point reputation... Otherwise it was a user who has many posts to be able to rate with 4 points...

These facts might help the reader to understand the system...
I know, these facts might raise new questions ("Why is it possible then...") - still answer them yourself...

[Mat]

what I don't understand.. if the rep is to show your (hopefully useful) helpfulness, it makes no sense to ignore the rep given by newcomers.. if someones comes here and posts a problem for the first time (so in his 1st post) and I am able to help him.. the rep he tries to give me is not recognized...

so in the end, nobody can see that I could help him with his problem.. and that was the point of the whole rep-system, wasn't it?

it's totally okay, that peeps with higher reputations dish out more points, but that people with no rep (or just the 10 'starting points') can't give rep... they would need to become experts themselves (in order to get rep by 'more advanced' users (in terms of rep) before their help is mirrored back from the reputation system.

so basically, I too think it's flawed ;)


Mat

[ilja]

The problem is:
I can register 1000 users, whose only goal would be to give me reputation points.
If the newbies can't give reputation away, I won't be able to.
Ok, one can argue, whether 50 posts are not too many.
(This the way I think it works, no official oppinion ;) )

[Mat]

The problem is:
I can register 1000 users, whose only goal would be to give me reputation points.

that would definitely be a sign of you having too much time on your hands :)

[SharedMedia]

Blue VS GREEN!!!

Whoo hooo I got my first BLUE dissagree, from a person too shy to leave a comment and/or name... :) Too shy to present themselves I guess..... It was for RPM's where do they go :)

My last posting on this thread... too boring reading this one... FEDORA TEAM, Yu ROCK with this forum!

[ilja]

Blue VS GREEN!!!

It was for RPM's where do they go :)
Some Gentoo/Debian guys? :D

[SharedMedia]

Some Gentoo/Debian guys? :D

WHAT? hehehe I though RedHat was the One n' Only Distro.. others are just clones like Windows is to MAC
:)

[SharedMedia]

Some Gentoo/Debian guys? :D

LMAO... "Whats a Gentoo??" KIDDING, last I need is a Noob telling me what it really is!.. hehe.. All in good FUN! :)

Thanks!

[Pegasus]

LMAO... "Whats a Gentoo??" KIDDING, last I need is a Noob telling me what it really is!.. hehe

You are crying for bad reputations, arent you? :D

[crackers]

FEDORA TEAM, Yu ROCK with this forum!
We (the owners, administrators, and moderators) are not on the Fedora team - we're just a bunch of folks who like and use the Fedora distribution. Oh, and we got here first... :D

[SharedMedia]

We (the owners, administrators, and moderators) are not on the Fedora team - we're just a bunch of folks who like and use the Fedora distribution. Oh, and we got here first... :D

Opps, You know what I meant :) lol

[kf6kmx]

Yes the most important thing is not the reputation, but the feeling to have helped.

Just my 2 cents.

Feel the same way.. in fact i hadnt even paid any attention to the 'reputation' spot until I noticed this thread..

I admitedly havent played with it much, but I see how to leave one, and see the 'total score', but how are you reading what people have left? I didnt see thoat option anyplace..

[LinuxNewb]

on the main page of User CP is where comments are listed, ive given you a rep point to show you what i mean. just click on User CP on the menu bar

[kf6kmx]

on the main page of User CP is where comments are listed, ive given you a rep point to show you what i mean. just click on User CP on the menu bar

ah..cool.. thanks, now I see.. I kept looking for a menu option someplace :)

[Dog-One]

Before I became a moderator, I got lots of points from the existing moderators and administrators and now...

...all I get is razzed. :D

[sailor]

i got razzed before and after...:p[

[crackers]

You poor, poor babies.

Oh, sorry, that's razzing, isn't it? :D

[Dog-One]

See! See what I mean--he's doing it again!

:D :D :D

[Dog-One]

At least foolish let me off the hook with the ugly signature line--that's cool now that I know how old he is. :)

Hey, I posted a really great How-To, you all should read it. ;)

[sailor]

sharedmedia was talking about "blue vs green
Doesn't green designate admin/mod ?
and blue is regualr fourum members?

[Pegasus]

sharedmedia was talking about "blue vs green
Doesn't green designate admin/mod ?
and blue is regualr fourum members?

Nope ...
Green - reputation is POSITIVE AND COUNTED
Blue - reputation is "just for fun" and NOT COUNTED
Red - reputation is NEGATIVE AND COUNTED
... all regardless number of reputation points ...

[sailor]

well ...I did not know that. ..but I guess i should :p

[Pegasus]

well ...I did not know that. ..but I guess i should :p

I don't think so ;)
Guess there are more ppl, regardless which rank, walking in the dark - concerning the reputation system ...
Same to me, until i found the facts :p

[Woad_Warrior]

as far as the reputation thing goes, yes, it's definitly nice to get feedback good or bad about any posts one makes. but if you are going to give someone a bad reputation, the very least you should do is leave a comment as to why. that way the person will have an idea as to why they recieved a bad rep. (and that should always be done by anyone on staff) so far i've had 5 reps given 3 green with no comment, 1 blue with a thankyou, and finally a red with no comment other than a moderator closing a thread after my reply to a post. (post was closed for "massive multipost") and considering the number of points that were deducted, it couldn't have been a "plain registered member"
a suggestion: make all fields required when giving a reputation whether they're good or bad. giving someone a bad rep without a reason given will only create bad feelings. plus if the bad rep is undeserved, the person recieving it might be able to get it nullified. (assuming any of the staff would care about it)
sorry about the rant, but if someone is going to give me a bad rep, i want to know why so that i may avoid it in the future.

[jim]

Nope ...
Green - reputation is POSITIVE AND COUNTED
Blue - reputation is "just for fun" and NOT COUNTED
Red - reputation is NEGATIVE AND COUNTED
... all regardless number of reputation points ...

When i try to give feedback to someone I only see

I approve
I disapprove
A message area

No color indication and yet in the user control panel i see the greens and blues
Someine explain this to me?
Thanks

[bob]

Fedorajim, that's what we all see on the sending end of feedback. On the receiving end, if someone's new the positive feedback will show up as blue and have no affect on the receiver's rating. It's only after someone's had a significant number of postings that their feedback adds or subtracts from the receiver's score. From what I understand too, if you've given feedback to a person already, you've got to give feedback to 50 other people before you can return and give more points to the first guy. Perhaps it would keep people from bumping up a buddy?