Overhauling karma. Replacing with custom made 'Community Respect'

[stonecold]

This system is still going to be abused.  There is nothing you can do about it.

I'd almost argue that in a way, it could be worse.  At least with karma, you could only +/- someone max once per day.

Unless you guys have blocked this, then there is nothing to stop people liking 10 of their friends posts, and pushing up their respect by 2.

I cannot believe something as petty as karma has come to this.  It was just meant to be fun, and people take it so seriously, that it requires a minor overhaul of the site.  This time could have been spent improving the site for much more useful purposes including reintroducing the news board, which could be used to announce the new essay topics are available for the essay writing initiative, give important dates such as UMAT rego cut offs etc.  The admission test board has still not gone ahead.  There are threads discussing LSAT, SAT, GAMSAT, UMAT etc.  I think it is time it was introduced.

Also, I remember the CTO saying that a 1.2 forum upgrade (I think) needs to be done.  It seems a fair amount of time has gone into this new 'Respect' system which I would consider a low priority.

I would have just eliminated negative karma to avoid potential arguments and left it at that.  Also, with no more karma, you could get more 'spam' posts as people can no longer post quick 1 liners to each other.

Oh well, what is done is done.  I agree with Cianyx on this one.  I don't think the site is much better off.  Although the anonymity of the post 'dislikes' is a good way to avoid disagreements.

Considering you have gone this far, I would suggest you keep the ability to rate posts, because I actually like the idea as it gives an indication to forum users about the quality of an individual post, but remove respect or karma or whatever you are going to call it all together.  I believe 'Respect' is not a great name for it either because it sounds somewhat serious, and creates this perception of a hierarchy.

This will stop people abusing the system.  You can roughly tell from post counts how much people have contributed to the site, to me that is enough.

Edit: And I also suggest you create the ability for users to select whether or not their post is available for rating, because some people will not appreciate it when their essay or study score or whatever is disliked.

[Kotza]

You cant, but if you went out of your way to help a fellow VNer and you accidentally made a mistake and was voted down, you'd feel like crap (potentially). Or people with prejudices/grudges would also vote negatively for stupid reasons.

[werdna]

Exactly. And the fact that you can't see who liked/disliked what makes it all seem way too 'behind-the-scenes' and anonymous. Friends could be liking each other's comments and no one would know. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but as stonecold said, it abuses the system and defeats the whole purpose.

[Kotza]

I do like and agree with the point about the anonymity about it avoiding arguments, but i guess when people gave negative karma the recipient would acknowledge the reasons for it.
Ive gotten negative karma for being offensive, and have accepted it because i was a douche. However if i voiced my opinion and a few people of the same views (or similar stupidity) disliked it, then if feel somewhat betrayed by this 'resourceful' and 'helpful' site.

[shinny]

I second likes and dislikes being a bit more transparent. Anyway, is it just me, or am I the only one on the 'Top 10 Most Respected' list? =/ Was hoping to see a list of how well the karma rankings translated into respect but I can't find a working list. I imagine this might just be a permissions thing hence why I can only see myself?

And damn, that ends my karma streak. 530 something positives without a single negative C-C-C-C-COMBO BREAKER.

[burbs]

No, I can only see you.

EDIT: Also, is there a way, once the system has settled in, to see Top Liked posts etc.? We should have that.

[jaccerz]

actually, i just looked around.

what ive noticed is that by keeping a % of karma and transforming it into respect, now means those who abused the system, now have a high repect level, where those who use karma every now and then when its needed, and thus those who get karma every now and then, are on low levels of respect.

so now it makes those who abuse karma look very respectful, and those who dont abuse the system dont look respected.

I'd probably disagree with this actually. Members like Mao have the largest levels of respect, but definitely haven't abused the karma system since they've been long time members.

I wasnt talking about Mao. There are people with legitimate high respect levels. but then there are those(im not naming names) who abused the karma system and thus have hugh respect.

[werdna]

Wow, my previous comment has -6 and the post has turned grey.

[taiga]

My problem with it is that sometimes when someone is asking a question, say in the maths boards, and you answer it, generally you will have only the one person appreciating it, and you used to feel special inside when they gave you karma.

Now it's like, you have to answer the question, compliment another person, and tell a joke in the same post in order to get 0.6 of a point

[TrueLight]

wait so if theres lots of negatives, it doesnt show? can people make it show by clicking on it though?

[jaccerz]

yes, if you click it, then it will show.

[TrueLight]

ok trying it out...im looking for werdnas -6 post but cant find it

[burbs]

How's this?

[iNerd]

ok trying it out...im looking for werdnas -6 post but cant find it

This. I'm lost.

[stonecold]

http://vce.atarnotes.com/forum/index.php/topic,38139.msg404332.html#msg404332