Close Rep System??

[WayzUp]

We know who dinged you, and it's not the same person every time. And this person is not doing it just to make people mad.

I have asked many times not to complain when you get negative reps, and yet someone always feels the need to create a thread and complain. So, since this is obviously how it's going to be, I'm closing the rep system.
We've had this discussion before and it's always the same...more people like the rep system than not; it's been talked about before and it's always come down to Chris jumping in and stating "none of my other sites have it but this one" and ending with "I'll go with the majority" and it's always overwhelmingly (not even close) PRO-REP SYSTEM.

If people just look at it for what it is, a pat-on-the-back or a You're-out-of-line choice and use it as such, it's a hugely popular and useless post reducing tool. Complaining about it is akin to being a 5 year old and complaining that another 5 year old took the Tonka truck you were playing with 10 minutes ago and won't give it back.

Close the rep system if you wish, i bet you at least 10 users that you'll lose 5-10 semi-regular posters by doing so. But let's let the voters decide once again, for democracy's sake. ;)

[fernandomike]

I am getting a little tired of the whole thing. Review the thread, the person who started it actually mentioned in the post that he wanted the system removed. Thus, Dudeman's decision to remove it did not punish him at all for complaining. He got what he wanted. Instead, it punished those who like the system, the same people who were not complaining. This horrible thread that spurred Dudeman's actions had about 5 posts in it one of which had nothing to do with reps. Ignoring it or even closing it would have been much more appropriate. What's the big deal?
Aside from that, what i really hate is that the democratic process that we went through can be so easily ignored. The rep system isn't even the issue. I want to be the member of a site where the members have some ownership. After all, SECtalk or any other message board is only as strong as its members. When, admins chose to remove on a whim things that the members consider beneficial, that is when I have a problem. Especially, when you consider the overwhelming previous vote in favor of it. I am quite sure that those of us who are not children do not appreciate being treated as such. I, for one, am a little too old for these group time-outs and think that the admins need to stop freaking out everytime someone says something negative about the system. That would make it feel a lot more like a democracy and less like a dictatorship.

[Chris]

OK, I am here in Destin Florida getting some much needed R and R (Before Bellsouth sends me away to restore service in Hurricane affected areas), watching Auburn get beat by GT. I decided to hop on the laptop and read some debates and reactions to the games.

Like I have said in the past, the Rep system can be good for a site like this as long as its not abused. Dudeman made a decesion to remove and when I return from Destin, He, Neo, and I will discuss its future.

As for leaving over something like this, I am sorry you feel this way. Honestly, I don't understand how it would affect the sites usefulness. I know this is going to be taken wrong and offend some right now, but heck... nobody here gets paid to do anything here. I have tried hard to make the site as user friendly and peaceful as it can be. Neo and Dudeman have worked hard to get the site active. So, let's review : The members here have a 100% free playground to discuss the SEC where they can put their feet up and relax while several people make sure the site is running the best it can and as friendly as it can be. What else could one ask for? But instead of PMs saying, "Hey man, like the site, thanks for having it" or "Wow, the site is faster after dropping more loot on another server." - I get PMs like, "Dude the site Sux and you are making it worse." and "Take away the rep system and I am gone, and I will take all your members."

Anyhow... The sites here, use it if ya like it - don't if you don't.

To those that are appreciative that the site exsists, sorry for the preceding rant. You are welcome to stay and enjoy the free site.

[fernandomike]

As a whole, I like the site. Many of the members are awesome and a lot of us are becoming good friends. You should be thanked for bringing us all together to discuss sports, politics, or whatever. I have posted 832 times here and about 5 times elsewhere so you guys are doing something right in my opinion. Sometimes though the admins take things too seriously and take a warden-like approach to things. I wish the culprit(s) would relax. That is just good ole fashion honest, constructive criticism. If this stopped, it would make a great site that much better. A change in attitude would definitely beat ignoring those fine posters who help make this site a nice place to stop and chat.

[WayzUp]

92.31% to 7.69%....that's as lopsided as UGA v. Boise State in Athens LOL :D

[rabidcock]

Sometimes though the admins take things too seriously and take a warden-like approach to things. I wish the culprit(s) would relax. That is just good ole fashion honest, constructive criticism. If this stopped, it would make a great site that much better. A change in attitude would definitely beat ignoring those fine posters who help make this site a nice place to stop and chat.

What IDIOT blew it for us. I swear, I have talked 'til I am blue in the face regarding this. It was obvious that a certain admin. was looking for an excuse to "axe the system" and even STRONGLY INTIMATED (yeah!) that if there were any more threads of this nature, he would carry out his threat.

So what do we know: we know that contrary to the average intelligence on this site, we have at least one with a sub-90 I.Q., whose widdle baby sensitivities would not allow him to keep his mouth shut, thus ruining it for the 90% of us who like it the way it is.

Perhaps this idiot should be "axed"!

Hopefully, clear heads will prevail when you guys get together (hopefully, SOON). Why don't you include some of us in your discussion on how this should be handled; I'm SURE we can come up with a better solution than getting rid of a system that 90% of us LOVE! :mad: :mad: :confused:

[rabidcock]

I've an idea! How about the admins. not allowing negative rep if the culprit doesn't sign his/her name?! It would make it invalid. This would stop negative rep unless it was absolutely warranted, because we know that these neg reppers are a bunch of cowards, anyway. :mad:

[WayzUp]

I avoid it at all costs but the ugly hate-filled Yahoo boards have a "Recommend This Post" link that you can mash if you think it's a good post.

Do away with negative reps & keep the positive, allow users to turn in rep points for CASH (joking), change reps to RECs (recommend this post counter)...SOMETHING. To not allow for some sort of feedback on posts takes away any incentive for those of us who put time & thought into our posts. I know I get long-winded sometimes (ok, all the time--shaddup! :D) but judging by a lot of feedback I've received, I make more good points than bad. Without some sort of rep or rec or feedback of any sort, I may as well post on Microsoft Word.

I enjoy this site, the class and intelligence of the people who post here will keep me coming back regardless. It's just more enjoyable for me personally when I know at least some people out there agree with what I'm posting.

Look at the poll results for crying out loud....ONE PERSON wants it axed (gee I wonder who that could be... :rolleyes: ) and whaddya know, it's gone. whatever.....

[allaboutavol]

Hey guys, I like rep points, I mean I it is kinda boring being on the same distinguished road I have been on for a year...I was really hoping to make it to really nice person, or coolest girl ever would have been nice, but I am ok with where I was. ;) I know that we will all disagree sometimes, this wouldn't be half as fun if we didn't. I always leave a note when I give rep points, positive or negitive. Because I disagree with your arguement, doesn't mean I disrespect you as a person.

[rabidcock]

I always leave a note when I give rep points, positive or negative. Because I disagree with your argument, doesn't mean I disrespect you as a person.

Right! And negative rep shouldn't be given, in the first place, if it's only a disagreement in one's argument. Negative rep should only be given if the person is being really foul. And a signature should always be left, in any case, or the rep, positive OR negative, should not be allowed. [This would cut out 95% of neg reppers, GUARANTEED!]

[dudeman0501]

For the official record...

I like the idea of a rep system. I agree with other that it can be a useless-post reducer. But, I don't like this rep system. There's too many things wrong with it, and not enough options to customize.

To say it yet another way, I would be 110% for the rep system if we could modify the way it works.

I voted for #3.

[rabidcock]

I'd like to personally thank all you insensitive ***holes (I can say that now, since I can't be given negative rep) that took it upon yourselves to soothe your sorry wounds by (again) complaining about the beloved rep system. I hope you are happy. [I won't mention your name, as I generally have respect for your posts, but I am so upset with you know---CRIMSON. Wow, I never noticed before that it sounds so much like Clemson. Just a coincidence?]

And to all you *****foot neg reppers: the admins. know who you are. They could deal with you if they so desired, and I hope they decide to, because 90% of us would like to kick you cowards OFF THE SITE!!! :mad: :mad:

P.S.- I really do like you (you know who you are), and I think you were just temporarily deranged when you complained and caused the loss of our reps. I hope you will help us in our attempt to retain it. :(

[WayzUp]

I like the idea of a rep system. I agree with other that it can be a useless-post reducer. But, I don't like this rep system. There's too many things wrong with it, and not enough options to customize.

To say it yet another way, I would be 110% for the rep system if we could modify the way it works.

I voted for #3.
What are the options available, if you don't mind my asking? Granted, we'll never be able to make everyone happy but it's worth throwing all the options on the table and getting feedback from the community as to what could and couldn't be used to make it better....

[dudeman0501]

What are the options available, if you don't mind my asking? Granted, we'll never be able to make everyone happy but it's worth throwing all the options on the table and getting feedback from the community as to what could and couldn't be used to make it better....Most of the options in the Admin CP relate to display settings, initial user rep points, and the things that make your rep power go up.

As I see it right now, we have a few choices on what can be done with the system:

Leave the system open in it's current state.
Close the system.
If I had access to the server, I might be able to edit the file to make it to where you can't leave blank reps and/or make it sign your name automatically.
Spend $100's of dollars to hire a PHP programmer to write us a new rep system.
But even those choices won't take care of the abuse problem. The only way to prevent reps like "Don't give me neg rep points you coward" is to close the system.

Opinions? Comments? Questions?

[JerryBeeds]

Make another post Dudeman. Your post count is at 666. That can't be a good thing. :p

[dudeman0501]

Make another post Dudeman. Your post count is at 666. That can't be a good thing. :p
lol

I didn't even notice it.

[Jordan]

Most of the options in the Admin CP relate to display settings, initial user rep points, and the things that make your rep power go up.

As I see it right now, we have a few choices on what can be done with the system:

Leave the system open in it's current state.
Close the system.
If I had access to the server, I might be able to edit the file to make it to where you can't leave blank reps and/or make it sign your name automatically.
Spend $100's of dollars to hire a PHP programmer to write us a new rep system.
But even those choices won't take care of the abuse problem. The only way to prevent reps like "Don't give me neg rep points you coward" is to close the system.

Opinions? Comments? Questions?
I agree with that, dudeman. It's either going to take time or money on someone's (probably Chris) part to make changes to the rep system. Even at that point, it still won't prevent people from getting upset about it at some point or another. At any site I've seen that used rep points, it always has created more trouble than it's worth. While it's been pretty isolated issues right now, as the site continues to grow it will only get worse. I mean, what if there's 10,000 members here at some point in the future? The more people that come on board, the more complaining there will be about rep points. Just my opinion on it anyhow... :cool:

[allaboutavol]

I am still really sad that I was never "really,really nice"...I had 119 rep points....I don't know exactly what that means....but thats what it said

[WayzUp]

Most of the options in the Admin CP relate to display settings, initial user rep points, and the things that make your rep power go up.

As I see it right now, we have a few choices on what can be done with the system:

Leave the system open in it's current state.
Close the system.
If I had access to the server, I might be able to edit the file to make it to where you can't leave blank reps and/or make it sign your name automatically.
Spend $100's of dollars to hire a PHP programmer to write us a new rep system.
But even those choices won't take care of the abuse problem. The only way to prevent reps like "Don't give me neg rep points you coward" is to close the system.

Opinions? Comments? Questions?

No biggie...I didn't realize it was that involved. It's really not that big a deal, I like the system not because of the reps I get but how easy it made it to give those "pats on the back" to those who put time/effort into putting a good post out there. Funny, insightful, intelligent, observant, informative, thought provoking...the list goes on...when I see a post that stands out from the rest, I enjoy letting that person know without having to take the time to go through the PM process. 1) Cuz it takes much longer to PM and 2) PM's have this odd way of making a person feel like they have to respond back & reps don't.

Put me under the "I don't care" category that I probably should have included in the poll....but that's where my Pro-Rep stance came from.

[HSVTider]

I'm sorry if I caused a problem. Dudeman, you said you know who dinged me and it wasn't the same person. I got dinged for just posting a link to an article about Bama's backup QB. That's what I was upset about and I know that 99.9% of the posters on this board wouldn't have dinged anyone for just posting a link to something. I know that ding had to either be either accidental (like clicking "disaprove" instead of "approve" or it was the random dinger.

That's what I got upset about.

[RW13]

I think me and the admins finally agree on something, after this week I recieved alot of neg rep points (behind Col. Kurtz I'm the most hated person on this website) so I wasn't sad to see it go, that being said, I didn't lobby for a change....