Reputation and it's Flaws

Something seems different with some new member's rep, did we already change the system without me realizing? XD

 

I personally didn't change anything, though Derpy or Foxy might have, what's different?

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk

 

When I first started to use the forums, I thought somewhat highly of the rep system,
thinking of it as a guide for ponies that "They've made important, well written, inspiring
posts, and that these gems represent that other ponies think the same", or something
in that aspect.

But reading this forum, other ponies opinions, and all the recent red gems, it's starting
to change my mind on what the rep exactly means...

 

As a Liberal, I'm going to disagree with Fox news on many things because they have a Conservative bias. However, I must say that there are also times when I'll watch a program on MSNBC and think, "C'mon guys, that's not fair." Liberal networks will say just as many things that I think are a disproportionate assessment of Conservative politics as Conservative networks do of Liberal politics. On this, I agree with you. As a matter of fact, your mention of Jon Stewart makes me happy, since I do like him a lot.

However, I find that, since I agree in principle with many of the people the Liberal networks support, I'd say they're less "screwy" (to borrow SnowM's word). And it's not just my own political ideals that motivate that choice, but also my sense of right and wrong. The fact that Fox will endeavor to back groups that go on about things like "The Gay Agenda" and President Obama being a "Muslim Terrorist" just makes me want to vomit. These are things that are not only blatant, undeniable offenses to entire groups of people, but they're also devoid of fact.

When all choices seem wrong, I often choose restraint, yet the way Fox news operates just doesn't sit well with me.

 

My initial thought's aswell. This thread has brought some needed light on the subject, thanks Saikyo. +rep (sarcasm)

 

I must say, the gems didn't strike me as soon as I joined, and I remember making a thread asking what these weird gem-like things were in my side bar. Honestly, as soon as I saw those with the large amount of gems my brain thought "they must be the respected ones". Foolishly, of course, as I am one to pounce on a judgment.
Now? Well, I too have noticed this. I don't give rep out unless I know they deserve it.
But it being there is only a pointless concern to those who are new. They may think that because they only have 2 or 3 purple gems, they are not noticed, nor listened to.

Saikyo, I agree. If the rep system was not here, there would be no concern for those who think that this system forms a hierarchy. The site motto is "Where Everypony is somepony." and I believe that this creates a strong feel of community and most of all, equality. The rep system seems to damage this unintentionally, but it is easily abused, thus destroying it's purpose.

I respect the idea of it being there, but I do not feel it is needed. Therefore, I shall be happy to see it go.
Thank you for raising this point after much thought for it myself.

 

Thank you for giving you view on my point, even if you share pretty much the same views yourself. :derpe:
I'm glad we have an agreement. Now all we can do is sit and wait.
Again, thanks for this thread. It has certainly opened my eyes about the system in general and that I could voice my opinions that match that of your own.

 

Hmm.
Perhaps we could remove the rep system.

Maybe implement a Karma system instead?
Karma would only be given out by mods/admins to particularly
Noteworthy posts (taking one-lines almost completely out of the equation).
Furthermore,
Perhaps include good and bad Karma?
I can't say where to draw the line,
But anything that begins to infringe upon the rules,
But is not severe enough for further punishment might earn users bad Karma.
That would be a slightly more balanced system,
Though not without its flaws as well.

Just an idea anyway.

 

Aye,
Many such things are unnecessary.
Rep, Karma, Post Count, Cutie Marks, Gender/Species definitions, etc.
But they're just things that are nice to have around.
But, beyond all that:
It would be nice to receive good Karma,
Being of some value,
And bad Karma could act as an additional deterrent;
At least on some level.

 

I like the karma idea, because I don't think a mod would troll and if he/she did, the others probably will notice. There should be negative karma too. Now if you really do not like a post or whatever you can't "-rep" it, you can only not "rep" it. Because the mods take care of it there won't be any trolling with people making -rep all the time.

 

Excellent.

As long as the populace of the forum
And the admins are okay with this,
It is a potential system that could be implemented.

 

I think that most people here already know that the rep that people have vs the rep that is shown can vary quite a bit.

I still see no point in loading extra gifs besides knowing someone found this relevant to their interests, which we know about anyways.

 

I like it. It needs to be reworked, but I'd like it to stay.

-- Sent from my Palm Pre using Forums

 

Karma system? I shudder at the thought. I can only speak for myself, but I'm not comfortable with that idea either, even if was only the staff giving it out. Actually, I'm not even sure if we'd use negative karma or not. Being a moderator, I can give out negative reputation (red-reputation) if I so desired, which would subtract reputation points equivalent to the amount of my reputation power. As "tempting" as it is sometimes, I don't use it because I'd feel awful using it. I have never witnessed any other staff member use this ability either. So I wouldn't expect any of us to use negative Karma. Also, it doesn't get rid of the hierarchy impression.

There was something posted recently that I really agreed with:

I agree entirely. The rep system does seem to unintentionally damage this. I even had a member or two come to me in the past that felt they weren't important because of their lack of gems. I'm not comfortable with that at all. It creates the wrong impression. I'm sticking with what I said in my previous post. Trash it, and don't replace it with something that only creates the same problem(s), even if it's moderator and administrator controlled.

Just my 2 bits again.

 

Darn you ePONY, you've swayed me. I can see how this system is going right against the site motto.

I guess just remove it. It would solve a lot of problems.

I still have my rep system in my head, so er'body has invisable pixel head gems.



-- Sent from my Palm Pre using Forums

 

Ok, I think we've discussed this long enough, I've added a poll to the thread - Vote on your favourite option and in a weeks time we'll hopefully have a good idea of what needs doing