Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Wheetsin's definitive thread on Reputation and Rep Power



Recommended Posts

I'm struggling with the reasoning behind this functionality. It makes sense if someone wants to give kudos to a particular poster, but making available yet another way to send barbs or negative remarks to one another personally just doesn't seem like trying build unity to me.

I have to say, I agree with this. I can't think of a single positive effect this function is likely to have. The rationale that it will help people on the forum know who to believe is not very persuasive. And besides, the people here don't have any special knowledge about "who to believe." It's best if all ideas are given equal footing in the "marketplace," and let the best ones rise to the top naturally.

A forum like this is for people to express themselves and ask questions. We can police the forum any way we want by not reading posts from people that annoy us. And anyone who believes medical advice from people on this forum without confirming it with a medical professional deserves whatever happens to them.

I bet if we took a poll most people would be against having this function. But I may be wrong.

In any event, I'm certainly not in favor of it. It's just another way for people to be mean to each other privately. And if someone has something nice to say, it can be done publicly. That's how I see it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'd just like to say that I posted some things while trying to explore this function that I am honestly sorry I posted.

At the time that I was testing this function, there were no user names to identify who posted and I was even unsure as to where the posts went. Over the past 24 hrs, there has been a change to show who the poster was and I keep hearing that others are getting announcements that they have new reputation posts to their account. I have yet to get any announcements, but I have had some other users share with me some of the posts that are being posted. After experimenting with this and seeing those other posts, I'm struggling with the reasoning behind this functionality.

It makes sense if someone wants to give kudos to a particular poster, but making available yet another way to send barbs or negative remarks to one another personally just doesn't seem like trying build unity to me. I'm really thankful that I didn't make long dissertations about how awful a person was, but I am truly sorry that I made any negative remark at all. To those who may have received them, please know that I am sorry and I will no longer be a part of sending daggers indirectly. I'll be glad to send positives, however.

Well, I did the same thing to some people, so I'd be a fool and an idiot not to accept your apology. Look on the bright side, though, I was actually blaming someone else for what you wrote to me. The way I reacted in turn is embarassing, because I usually don't act like that. So, like you, I apologize to everyone I sent an overly hateful message to.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I for one don't plan on giving any negative reputation remarks, because I don't think it's fair to affect someone's reputation on the board just because I happen to disagree with their opinion. I think opinions and reputation should be separate.

There are several people here who I vehemently disagree with on a number of topics, and yet I still feel that they deserve a good reputation on the board. In fact, there's no one here who I feel deserves a bad reputation, except maybe spammers.

That's just my two cents.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I for one don't plan on giving any negative reputation remarks, because I don't think it's fair to affect someone's reputation on the board just because I happen to disagree with their opinion. I think opinions and reputation should be separate.

There are several people here who I vehemently disagree with on a number of topics, and yet I still feel that they deserve a good reputation on the board. In fact, there's no one here who I feel deserves a bad reputation, except maybe spammers.

That's just my two cents.

Exactly. Well said. Consider these comments to be an enhancement to your reputation.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Click on "User CP" and scroll down to the last box you see. It shoudl appear after your list of subscribed threads, and right before the "forum jump" drop-down. It will read "Latest Reputation Received" and display the last 5 reps. This may not show if you haven't received any - I'm still trying to figure that out. :lol:

Well, let me confirm it then. If you don't have rep, you don't see anything about rep in the control panel, lol.

Thanks for telling me where it is!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have to say, I agree with this. I can't think of a single positive effect this function is likely to have. The rationale that it will help people on the forum know who to believe is not very persuasive. And besides, the people here don't have any special knowledge about "who to believe." It's best if all ideas are given equal footing in the "marketplace," and let the best ones rise to the top naturally.

On another board I visit the rep function is only positive--or, I guess, neutral. It's not a way of getting "points," just a way that people can leave little comments for one another. Personally, I like that part, because it's just a private message one sends to another that can lighten a day, and it's a lot easier than sending a PM. I know it's something I use a lot because I don't like to post messages just to say "I agree with so-and-so." Getting those messages is great; it's always nice to hear that someone wants to respond to what you have said, even if no one else knows it. That list of comments is always there, too; it's not like PMs which have to be opened one by one to be read, and need to be managed since there's limited space for them.

So if we could change the functionality to something like that, how would y'all feel about it?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

When I was on here 2 days ago, I could see everyone's rep points as well as my own. Now they've completely disappeared. Are you all seeing them right now? Since the new changes, I seem to have a different technical problem every time I log in.

Anyway, I agree with Sunta and Marjon9. And anyone who spends more than a day in this forum will easily figure out who knows what they are talking about and who doesn't.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

On another board I visit the rep function is only positive--or, I guess, neutral. It's not a way of getting "points," just a way that people can leave little comments for one another. Personally, I like that part, because it's just a private message one sends to another that can lighten a day, and it's a lot easier than sending a PM. I know it's something I use a lot because I don't like to post messages just to say "I agree with so-and-so." Getting those messages is great; it's always nice to hear that someone wants to respond to what you have said, even if no one else knows it. That list of comments is always there, too; it's not like PMs which have to be opened one by one to be read, and need to be managed since there's limited space for them.

So if we could change the functionality to something like that, how would y'all feel about it?

What you describe could be good. I was just put off by the fact that I found a bunch of nasty personal comments on my profile page from people who disagreed with the political views I expressed in a rants and raves column. These people appeared to by trying to damage my "reputation" on the forum because they disagreed with my political views. My thought was "gee, I sure need this."

But the way you describe could be good. I would probably not be inclined to leave a lot of private messages for people but I would not object if people like the idea. I'm obviously just one vote but as far as I'm concerned if people want that system it would be fine with me.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

What you describe could be good. I was just put off by the fact that I found a bunch of nasty personal comments on my profile page from people who disagreed with the political views I expressed in a rants and raves column. These people appeared to by trying to damage my "reputation" on the forum because they disagreed with my political views. My thought was "gee, I sure need this."

But the way you describe could be good. I would probably not be inclined to leave a lot of private messages for people but I would not object if people like the idea. I'm obviously just one vote but as far as I'm concerned if people want that system it would be fine with me.

I agree. Positive comments being allowed, if they were anonymous, would still be great. Like Mark, though, I experienced several people giving me nasty, hurtful comments because they didn't like my views and were apparently trying to harm my reputation. The positive notes are a really good pick-me-up, though, especially when yo don't know who they are coming from. So, if you do bring it back, I think you should make it anonymous again. The anonymous messages (the good ones, at least) were like getting a secret admirer's note. It was nice.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I agree. Positive comments being allowed, if they were anonymous, would still be great. Like Mark, though, I experienced several people giving me nasty, hurtful comments because they didn't like my views and were apparently trying to harm my reputation. The positive notes are a really good pick-me-up, though, especially when yo don't know who they are coming from. So, if you do bring it back, I think you should make it anonymous again. The anonymous messages (the good ones, at least) were like getting a secret admirer's note. It was nice.

Well, there's no way to police the comments, in the same way we can't police private messages. No one knows what's in them except the sender and the recipient. But what I'm describing removes the positive/negative aspect to it--there's no "I approve/disagree" button, just a place to leave a comment.

I don't even know if that's possible, and now I see the whole thing has been disabled. So this discussion is now moot.

Thanks anyway!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×