Some suggestions for the reputation system
by jsbjsb001 from LinuxQuestions.org on (#5DWY1)
First of all, I understand some here don't think the reputation system has any merit and would love to see it disappear, and I respect that. But the purpose of this thread is *not* to debate the merit or worth of the reputation system. For full disclosure: yes, I do use it and do think it has at least some merit, but also understand like any other system, it's far from perfect. But I do believe there are some potential improvements that can make it more useful and transparent for all concerned. Because as it currently stands, and apart from Jeremy and possibly the mod's, there is no way for anyone other than whoever has given the reputation, and whoever has received it to know who has given it, let alone why. I think that should be changed so people can clearly know exactly who has given reputation to a particular post - not just who's given and received it.
But first let me explain what prompts the following suggestions; all too often I've not only seen posts being given reputation that IMO don't deserve any, and don't have any merit (technical or otherwise), and/or where it's clear to me that it's really just someone hiding behind the reputation system giving reputation as a "F*** you" to someone whom they don't like that said post is responding to. This post by cynwulf describes exactly what I'm talking about, along with an admission here from one of those concerned. I personally think it's nothing but a cowardly abuse of the reputation system. Despite what some here may believe, for one thing, I've been meaning make these suggestions for awhile now, and I would prefer people only give myself reputation if they truly do think I've said something that truly does have merit and/or has truly helped (particularly in technical threads).
Anyhow, and on to my suggestions...
* Have the usernames of those who have given reputation displayed somewhere in posts that have received reputation (perhaps at the bottom of said post(s)).
* Have a link somewhere in said posts that members can click that displays the usernames of those who have given said post(s) reputation.
* Add an extra column to their reputation tab in their user profile page that's publicly viewable that displays the username of the member(s) who has given said reputation.
As I think that at least one of the above suggestions will discourage at least some reputation being given maliciously rather than based on merit. I also understand that this probably won't happen until we actually finally get (if we ever do) LQ 2.0, so I'm suggesting these improvements as future improvements for whatever the new forum software is going to be (and if it still has a reputation system in place of course).
Thanks for reading.
But first let me explain what prompts the following suggestions; all too often I've not only seen posts being given reputation that IMO don't deserve any, and don't have any merit (technical or otherwise), and/or where it's clear to me that it's really just someone hiding behind the reputation system giving reputation as a "F*** you" to someone whom they don't like that said post is responding to. This post by cynwulf describes exactly what I'm talking about, along with an admission here from one of those concerned. I personally think it's nothing but a cowardly abuse of the reputation system. Despite what some here may believe, for one thing, I've been meaning make these suggestions for awhile now, and I would prefer people only give myself reputation if they truly do think I've said something that truly does have merit and/or has truly helped (particularly in technical threads).
Anyhow, and on to my suggestions...
* Have the usernames of those who have given reputation displayed somewhere in posts that have received reputation (perhaps at the bottom of said post(s)).
* Have a link somewhere in said posts that members can click that displays the usernames of those who have given said post(s) reputation.
* Add an extra column to their reputation tab in their user profile page that's publicly viewable that displays the username of the member(s) who has given said reputation.
As I think that at least one of the above suggestions will discourage at least some reputation being given maliciously rather than based on merit. I also understand that this probably won't happen until we actually finally get (if we ever do) LQ 2.0, so I'm suggesting these improvements as future improvements for whatever the new forum software is going to be (and if it still has a reputation system in place of course).
Thanks for reading.