Karma on Astral Pulse

[personalreality]

I've noticed lately that there has been some heated debate going on here and there and it seems like every time I look at a post, peoples' karma keeps going down. 

I'm not saying that someone may not "deserve" to have their karma knocked down a peg, but I feel like we might be getting a bit too willy nilly with our smiting. 

If you feel like I'm out of line in saying this, I'm sorry, please ignore me.

If on the other hand you feel that smiting should be used when someone is out of line, not when they disagree with you (even in a heated manner), then unite with me in an effort to be more conservative with your smiting.  We're all smart people with interesting things to say and I think we're capable of being civil and not getting petty. 

[Xanth]

I'd love to see these karma numbers disappear... but apparently that's up to the mods and Adrian to make the final call.
It's a subjective number that's relatively useless.

[personalreality]

I worry that it could cause newcomers to shy away from members with negative karma.  I don't want people with questions to doubt member's knowledge.

[Tiny]

The problem at the core isn't that useless karma system but when you care about how someone else thinks of you.

I don't want people with questions to doubt member's knowledge.

Doubting another's claims and all that theoretic dogma is exactly what people should do.



kind regards,

Paul

[cpt. picard]

The only mod I ever see active anymore is Stookie. What's up with that?

[Athymari]

Er, yes.

I have to agree.

I was quite shocked when I saw my karma had changed and does make you think ' what did I do?'

[personalreality]

I'm not saying people shouldn't be skeptical of what others say Tiny.  You should be cautious in what advice you take, but Athymari makes my point well.  I'm not worried about people believing "theoretical dogma", I'm worried about people doubting sincere advice for the actual practice of AP.

I guess this is also me saying, let's keep things civil because I don't want to scare new people away.

[personalreality]

The problem at the core isn't that useless karma system but when you care about how someone else thinks of you.

I am genuinely concerned for those people who do take the karma system seriously.

Too be quite honest, I think it adds a sense of "drama" in the eyes of some people and I'm not here for drama.  I would be happier if it was just gone.  Nevertheless, it's here and I don't want it to scare people away.

I'm going on an applaud campaign.  I'm going to applaud everyone for no reason at all, as often as I can. 

[personalreality]

haha, someone smote me since I posted this.

[Xanth]

The only mod I ever see active anymore is Stookie. What's up with that?

Most of them all drop by from one time or another, they just don't post... but they come. 

[Xanth]

haha, someone smote me since I posted this.

And I just applauded you. 

[3588897]

Most of what I think has already been posted, so I'll just say I'd be happy if karma disappeared. But since that probably won't happen, I'll do this:

If on the other hand you feel that smiting should be used when someone is out of line, not when they disagree with you (even in a heated manner), then unite with me in an effort to be more conservative with your smiting.

and this:

I'm going on an applaud campaign.  I'm going to applaud everyone for no reason at all, as often as I can.

[WASD]

Huh, I got -1 Can i see which post gave me minus?
edit: someone gave me plus so i have 0 now.


Point Systems like this is a common debate on forums which as both good and bad sides. I don't really have any opinion on how to solve the problem of people abusing it.

[WASD]

Oops, quote instead of edit, delete this post

[Athymari]

I think we should just say that we will not take any notice of it at all

Some people just could be merry clicking away for fun.

[personalreality]

I mean, Tiny is right in one regard, people care about their karma if they care what people think about them.  But at the same time, I care about everyone's from a more humanistic perspective.  I don't want people to get the wrong impression about the validity of someone's thoughts before they've even read them.  Naturally, we shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, but that doesn't mean we don't do it.

[Xanth]

I think we should just say that we will not take any notice of it at all

Some people just could be merry clicking away for fun.

That is the exact problem with the system... it's too easily broken.

[personalreality]

yea, if they're going to have system like this then there should be like a required comment section where you have to write why you applauded or smote.

[Stookie]

I agree that it's counter-productive to this type of forum. I didn't like them before, I don't now, but I quit paying attention to them a long time ago and have never smited. A persons words will say a lot more about them than their karma points.

If anyone wants a Karma Point, post in this thread and you will get it (from me at least).

[personalreality]

I thought it was an important indicator of a person's "worth" the first time a came to this forum years ago.  But I thought the moderators did it for a long time, so I genuinely thought it was based on punishment, like demerits or something.

[Stookie]

No, I think the point is so people can see who the majority of members tend to like/agree with or not. In a way it works, but there is also mob mentality. If someones points are dropping fast it means several people are doing it, as a single person can only do it once every 100 hours. That pretty much negates conspiracies regarding Karma too. I've modded this place for long enough to know there are not any behind-the-scenes groups or conspiracies, no one saying "let's smite over and over". If there are, I'm out of the loop.

I'd like to see them done with. Until then, POST HERE FOR A KARMA POINT!

[Kitarist]

It's an interesting concept but yea people should also be able to post a comment why did they make that kind of decision.

Also isnt this feature already on every SMF forum? it's enabled as default ?

[WASD]

It's a common feature on many forums. Mostly known as "rep" or Reputation but it can be named karma/points/whatever.

[Athymari]

Reputation should only be given out by Mods or other such people in a position of power who can be relied upon to give accurate readings... if it were to be used at all 

[CFTraveler]

Reputation should only be given out by Mods or other such people in a position of power who can be relied upon to give accurate readings... if it were to be used at all 

I can see some people jumping up and down and complaining that the mods have too much power already.