Reputations!

I've setup a new system to allow us to show a user's reputation over time.

Your reputation is determined by the amount of reputation points that someone gives or takes away from you. If you think someone made a good post with useful information, you can add to their reputation by clicking the scales icon:

http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/images/buttons/reputation.gif

If you think that someone is not supplying good information, you can affect their reputation negatively by doing the same thing. Hopefully, this will show us who is dishing out the good stuff and who is just "adding noise" to the community. It's a peer-based system, so one person can't control things, and the user won't be able to see who is giving them positive or negative points unless you leave a message with the rating.

You'll see your reputation show up under your avatar when you post as a bar of green dots:

http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/images/reputation/reputation_pos.gif

I'm talking to Tony about introducing a monthly reward for the person with the most gains to their reputation - possibly a frag or gift certificate giveaway.

You can view your own reputation by going to UserCP->Edit Options (http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/profile.php?do=editoptions) . You can also select whether you want your reputation shown or not.

I'll update the levels in the next couple of days to be a bit more aquarium related. :)

So everyone start assigning those reputations!

Bad news for me... so much for flying under the idiocy radar.

Glad you posted this, b/c I saw the little icon in the lower corner and never remembered seeing it before. Then I looked on other people's screen names and saw them there too and thought I was crazy for not noticing them before.

Now I can be crazy for other reasons than this.

I also noticed the green dot too and almost posted to ask about it, now I don't have to.

Chris, I just went under my User CP and then hit edit options and I didn't see any options for showing the reputation or not, nor could I see my own reputation. Am I doing something wrong?

Chris, I just went under my User CP and then hit edit options and I didn't see any options for showing the reputation or not, nor could I see my own reputation. Am I doing something wrong?

Sorry- it was a permissions thing. Try it again now.

Much better. Thank you.

How do you give someone a bad comment? Im screwed!

I think this a very fair way to keep things on track and well organized. Great Idea!!!

Hopefully it will work out well for this site and people dont do it to try to tarnish someone reputation because of a disagreement. I used to run a forum where we had the same thing implanted called karma and people would stoop to childish levels and give people negative karma because of an argument in a thread. Not that I am suggesting that this is going to happen here but I wanted to share my experience with it. What we ended up doing was removing the negative side and you can only give karma...basically saying if you are contributing then you have higher karma if not then you dont have karma. People may get offended if people start giving them negative karma. Just my 2 cents

Nice idea, and I can say in my short experience here on the ARC forum that very little "negative" cross-talk takes place. There is a level of respect and shared community here that I have not seen on other boards!!

Hopefully it will work out well for this site and people dont do it to try to tarnish someone reputation because of a disagreement.


Thanks - I'll keep an eye on things for a while to make sure they stay civil. If they start getting out of control, I'll lock things down a bit more.

I think it is a great thing.

Who wants to pharm reputation with me? :D

Hopefully it will work out well for this site and people dont do it to try to tarnish someone reputation because of a disagreement. I used to run a forum where we had the same thing implanted called karma and people would stoop to childish levels and give people negative karma because of an argument in a thread. Not that I am suggesting that this is going to happen here but I wanted to share my experience with it. What we ended up doing was removing the negative side and you can only give karma...basically saying if you are contributing then you have higher karma if not then you dont have karma. People may get offended if people start giving them negative karma. Just my 2 cents

That was one of the first things I thought of when I read about it. Especially after just having the talk about editing your posts after you post them and the reasons why you can't, which I agree with.

I also think it's a great idea to only give people good reps, so that way no one can trash your rep for any reason, people can only help your rep.

It's always the 10% of people that ruin it for everyone else. As was stated above, their are always conflicting opinions on things and I would hate for someone to give me neg. reps just b/c they don't see things the way I do. Then that starts to make me less credible to other people, or new people. Not that I have alot of experience or credibility, b/c I don't, but I work hard at trying to learn as much as I can and then pass on that info where I can and I would hate for someone to look at my rep and then think I didn't know what I was talking about.

Just some things to think about.

Keep us updated on how things are looking Chris.

So what would someone with -100 look like?

I am screwed, because I rarely agree with anyone!!

So what would someone with -100 look like?

Maroons15
:lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2:

Oh lovely thanks Tony I feel really loved now!

I could be wrong, but it looks like I can add to my own reputation (the icon to click is on my own posts as well). I haven't tried it, though. Just wondering if that should be disabled...

David

Lol tried it already! It says that this post has not recieved any reputation points.

I don't understand this a bit..why is this needed? How do I have 10 points? Is that 10 agrees? Now at 9? Someone thinks I am blowing smoke up their butts?

Hell why hide..If you disagree be a man or woman and say so in the forum..Clicking I disagree with what is said and hiding is cowardly...If you disagree say so...

Now who disagree with that......:) Click On!

i think this is a great idea, this way if someone gives you some advice you will have a better understanding of if they actually know something about the hobby or if they just pass on heresay... but im not sure i understand the whole concept... i can only see the scale under my name...

but im not sure i understand the whole concept... i can only see the scale under my name...

Only ARC members can use the reputation system.

this way if someone gives you some advice you will have a better understanding of if they actually know something about the hobby or if they just pass on heresay...
Who's to judge that? Just because some people agree that makes it correct? What about new ideas? That have never been tried? New thoughts? Herd mentality.....

I have been a strong opponent to skimming tanks.. I do not, That makes me wrong? I have an extremely healthy and thriving reef in my living room...I am probably in the heart of the minority.....I would venture 99% of everyone skims. So I say don't, and get hit with 100 negatives. That makes me wrong?

Just playing the devil's advocate here but I see it happening very easily.

Remember, independant thinking is OK...herd mentality is not. Keep the debate in the open. That's how we learn and discuss. That makes the hobby grow and we get to the next level.

The best solution here seems to be to allow a positive-only reputation system...

Do what you feel you need to...But I am still at a loss of the meaning of it? It's obvious (at least to me) who knows the hobby and is a contributor. It's the same people that give their time to the functions and really want to make this a great club. Like yourself, Tony, and the 30 or so others.....

If someone doesn't like my post or my suggestions, I don't take it personally. I don't take it at all....(unless attacked) ;)

I believe we all offer ideas based on what has worked for us. Passing tidbits on that may or maynot work....If someone out there doesn't like it..Tuff s--t!....Respond and contribute...

Noone knowingly would offer bad info..There are enough of us that would state the obvious and respond with our thoughts to allow the original poster to make up his or her mind for themselves.

I am just offering up simple discussion tidbits.

Chris - I LOVE WHAT YOU DO FOR THIS SITE!!!! Repeat it! so this is in NO WAY attacking your thoughts or additions to the site...hell it's great!

Now give me 15 approvals...:)

I have to state my opinion on this one and I agree with Todd. I experience that some people might not like me or not listen to what I say because of my age so therefor they would give me disprovals. I feel that some people hold grudges and they stick to them.

Chris - I LOVE WHAT YOU DO FOR THIS SITE!!!! Repeat it! so this is in NO WAY attacking your thoughts or additions to the site...hell it's great!

Thanks! No offense taken at all - I was simply watching this thread and seeing what opinions and ideas came up. Stroid pointed out that some people may go crazy on the negative points, and could cause problems. I don't see any real benefit of using the negative point system; the positive-only will serve its purpose.


I have to state my opinion on this one and I agree with Todd. I experience that some people might not like me or not listen to what I say because of my age so therefor they would give me disprovals. I feel that some people hold grudges and they stick to them.
If people don't like you or listen to you, it's not because of your age. We have a couple of young members who are very much respected in this club and on this forum. Age doesn't count against anyone; it's how they handle themselves towards others.

guess there are no further comments from the menbership...

Boy, I guess I joined at the wrong time. Is there a reputation level for "Impenetrable wall of incompetence"?

Tough crowd. I can't even get a rep point. I've even seen some new members with single digit amount of post that are doing better than me.

im not sure about how it works, but apparently someone liked what i said in the past, because i hadnt posted since before this was set up and i had 10 points... i wish i knew where it came from

I think that this is a very good idea to use on me. Since Im running a business and I post on here frequently people can judge from what other experienced hobbyist have felt about my posts.
It also works good for when people are giving advice to new hobbyists. Who's advice would you take, the guy with huge kudos or the guy with none? Then again rarely is any bad advice given on here...

Is there any moral scrutiny involved?

If so, can we just put a big X by my name....

So how do you tell how you came by your rep points? I have 3 rep items on my list. One is a little gray box (first one) and subsequent 2 are green. Yet it says I have 4 points. What's the math on the system?

I think regular members can click on "User CP" and it'll show up on the main screen....

This system works in a limited fashion. It is quite like communism in that respect :tongue2: , that is to say, it sounds great in theory, but in reality it is often abused (by immature users). I have been a member of forums that used such a system, and the "cred" often became a popularity contest, and if you disagreed with one of the "popular" posters, you were instantly blasted with negative "cred."

Anyway, what one forum did to try and combat this (and making it available only to ARC members is a good start) was limit the amount of + or - "cred" or reputation a poster could receive for one particular post.

Well, that's all I have to say, as always, thanks for the great site and one of the best reef clubs around, even if you guys only meet on tuesdays when i have class... :confused2:

:yes:

I am offended by the implication that ARC members would ever, in any way, act in an immature fashion or that we would degenerate our boards into a popularity contest.

Poopy head.

I am offended by the implication that ARC members would ever, in any way, act in an immature fashion or that we would degenerate our boards into a popularity contest.

Poopy head.

LOL!

How does it work again? I can see that I have 11 point...What that means? But if It the little scale lets say in Mojo Chris's area......I can Agree or Disagree but I can not see how many points he has?

So what's the point?

STOP THE MADNESS!!! This is hurting my head!

over a longer period of time... those that are getting reputation points above and beyond the average will start to see additional green boxes.

But we will never know the numbers.....Lets say at like 50, you get the second box?.......100 the third? etc

right... but I dont remember what the default "step up" numbers are.

How does it work again? I can see that I have 11 point...What that means? But if It the little scale lets say in Mojo Chris's area......I can Agree or Disagree but I can not see how many points he has?

So what's the point?

STOP THE MADNESS!!! This is hurting my head!

That's actually a really good point. How can you tell how many points someone has? You just have general category groups for a range of points. Right now, most people "Have made a few decent post". I have seen something like "You are on the right road" and others have no points.

Is there anyway way to enable the points, so you can hover over their green dot and have it tell you how many they have?

Probably- I'd have to do some custom coding for that - the groups are a way to make it a little more generic.

has made a couple decent posts > 10 points
appears to know what they're talking about > 20
has been through a lot. Listen to him > 75
knows his stuff > 200
has really helped a lot of people > 500
is an aquatic guru > 1000

Ok- I've looked into a few more things. It appears that everyone has a certain amount of "reputation power" that gets associated with them. This keeps a newly registered person with 3 posts from going through and giving everyone a bunch of reputation points, but awards people for being around and posting a lot.

Basically, the longer you've been a member, the more posts you have, your current reputation level, and some other factors determine how many points you can give to someone else.

I've lowered the requirements, so that everybody will have more reputation-giving power.

As a reminder, be sure you hit the right radio button for "Approve" or "Disapprove" before you submit. :)

I have a couple dings that I'm scratching my head about, one of which has a positive comment to go with it!

So on my original question (which I don't think was answered):

In my profile where I can see my reputation and what others have said about my posts, do the grey boxes mean someone picked "I Disapprove" and the green boxes mean they picked "I Approve"?

It's the reputation of the user that left you reputation. Green = more power, so you get more points.

Ah. So how do I tell the dings from the praise or does it just show praise?

Tough crowd. I can't even get a rep point. I've even seen some new members with single digit amount of post that are doing better than me.

ha ha...I've seen that too. There's a guy on here with 3 posts and >10 rep points. :huhsign: Go figure! I think some people might be making additional identities to give themselves rep points.

Let's see...how many aliases do I need to give myself guru status?

Chris... Just a note after about a month of this new "program" being up. I like it alot!

I completely agree

Agreed as well.

+1 here also. Only prob I have seen and experienced is that I can't give rep points to who deserves it. I get a message stating I need to spread around the points, before giving it to the same person again.

I understand the reasoning behind it, so two friends can't give each other a million rep points, but is there any control over that?

I know I owe Cameron and Brandon and a few others some rep points, b/c I couldn't give it to them, b/c I had given it to them previously for other posts.

Seems like the people who always post good info would get screwed, b/c they wouldn't be able to receive the rep points they deserve, b/c it has to be spread around first.

This is my only prob and it's a small one at that. Other than that, I'm pretty happy with the new feature.

Always good to get feedback. Thanks, guys. More things on their way...

Mitch- I'm open to suggestions. Hard to protect the system but not allow too much power...

Yea, I know. That's a toughie there.

First off, I know NOTHING of software or programming, so excuse my ignorance. Is there a set number that can be changed for how many other people you have to give reps to before you can give it to the same person again? Maybe lower the number down to 2 or 3, before you can give the same person points.

Not sure what it is at now, but I was able to give Brandon rep points for his Ich thread, so maybe it's not too bad.

I know I keep trying to give rep points to the same people, b/c those same people are the ones posting quality info.

Other than that, I have no clue what else could be done.

But like I said, it is a MINOR prob and the only one I have had, so if that's it, I would have to say it has been a huge success, IMO.

There are a couple of built-in options that can be changed from their default setting.

I've updated the user spread option down to 2 - you must give reputation to two others before hitting the same person again.

That sounds good.

Thanks Chris for changing that. I appreciate it. Hopefully, no ill effects will come from this and it won't be abused. I personally, don't think it will. The majority of people here are good and will use it the right way.

Thanks again.

Good now I get my owed rep points from Maveri!!! :D


No I agree, I have been blocked from giving rep a few times when someone needed it. Thanks for the fix Chris, I think it will be used in a good way.