Karma

mckeed · Post by **mckeed** » Wed Feb 18, 2004 12:10 am

This system isn't to change opinions. Yes, i've made up my mind about other people as well. But that doesn't stop them from harrassing new members when they ask simple questions. Giving many people a really bad image of the people who frequent the forum. There is a reason why many people don't even check the forums anymore. This isn't a visable system that says...this guy is a dick. It just puts slight punishments on people who are needlessly mean, by just increasing their inter-posting time.

Flint the Dwarf · Post by **Flint the Dwarf** » Wed Feb 18, 2004 12:17 am

I like Zarxrax' idea best.

mckeed wrote:There is a reason why many people don't even check the forums anymore.

Then they can stay away, we don't need them here.

mckeed · Post by **mckeed** » Wed Feb 18, 2004 12:45 am

flint_the_dwarf wrote: Then they can stay away, we don't need them here.

that is exactly what is wrong with the forums. Some of these people were very constructive members in the earlier days of the phorum and left as a result of the attitude of some of the members here. Why encorage bad behavior by letting it continue? Why do we have to loose anyone as a result of a few bad members?

I guess if you don't see that there is a problem with the attitudes on this forum then there really is nothing I can do.

The Karma system IS comming....its on the to-do list. As soon as Phade figures out a way to do it.....it will be instituted. I am just trying to figure out a way for it to be as effective and constructive as possible. I'm not suggesting this to be mean or spitefull. I'm suggesting it cause i want it to be something that people are happy about....which is why i started this discussion, to bring out things that would contribute in a positive way to the system that i didn't think about.

Flint the Dwarf · Post by **Flint the Dwarf** » Wed Feb 18, 2004 12:59 am

My point was that I see very little wrong with this forum. It's not my attitude. Yeah, sometimes people are very unhelpful, but we've got lots of people to counter that. If those "constructive members" were scared away by a few attitude problems, they can stay away because they weren't here to try to make things better. I've been doing my best to be helpful around here, and not piss of new people. And I've seen lots of other people doing the same thing. If it's not too much for us to do, it's not too much for them. It's their "I give up" attitude that has allowed any negativity to run rampant.

downwithpants · Post by **downwithpants** » Wed Feb 18, 2004 1:29 am

dictionary.com wrote:fo·rum
b. A public meeting place for open discussion.

I agree it is unfortunate when forum users lose interest when other users are pricks, but a system that imposes restrictions on users for voicing their opinions is not the best way to correct the problem. Maybe the mods could flag certain users as hostile or idiots (actually Phade has done that to one particular user, won't mention the name though), but to preserve an open forum, they shouldn't restrict forum access for voicing their opinions.

Right now the best thing to do is to just be kind and helpful to other users. It does appear to be working - cynicism was pretty rampant by the time the OT forums were removed, numerous complaints were filed, and I remember posts urging people to be more friendly to the newbs. I have noticed that cynicism has dropped since the OT forums were taken out, (although that may have to do with a certain subpopulation of the forum leaving), and I have seen specific users become nicer since then.

As for the Karma System in Phade's to-do list, is that really for the forums? I was under the impression it was for the main site -- Most members don't even visit the forums.

Zarxrax · Post by **Zarxrax** » Wed Feb 18, 2004 1:36 am

There's this martial arts forum that I visit, and all the users there have a "belt" under their avatar. Various belts just mean that the person has been a regular on the forum or has been a valuable member or whatever. In addition, there is a "Pinky" belt, which I believe is intended to flag a person as being an idiot, in order to encourage more usefull behavior through embarrassment. Sort of like when teachers would make a kid wear a dunce cap.
All we need would be like a "dumbass" tag placed on certain people, and all would be good methinks. Well, that and my earlier proposal.

Flint the Dwarf · Post by **Flint the Dwarf** » Wed Feb 18, 2004 1:42 am

downwithpants wrote:
dictionary.com wrote:fo·rum
b. A public meeting place for open discussion.
I have noticed that cynicism has dropped since the OT forums were taken out, (although that may have to do with a certain subpopulation of the forum leaving), and I have seen specific users become nicer since then.

I do think it's funny how you bring up that a forum is a place for open discussion, and then you allude to denying people the privilege to be off topic as beneficial for the forum.

AbsoluteDestiny · Post by **AbsoluteDestiny** » Wed Feb 18, 2004 3:55 am

I don't recall OT being used for discussion. If it had existed purely as a forum for discussions it would have probably stayed.

SSJVegita0609 · Post by **SSJVegita0609** » Wed Feb 18, 2004 8:23 am

AbsoluteDestiny wrote:I don't recall OT being used for discussion. If it had existed purely as a forum for discussions it would have probably stayed.

AD, discussion, like almost everything, is a relative term.

Let's try to keep this from becoming another massive OT people vs non-OT people thread.

Org Profile · Post by **Otohiko** » Wed Feb 18, 2004 11:20 am

Meh. I'd bitch about OT, but there's demonseal now and I have all my spam needs with AMV buddies well-met

I don't know how this system would work yet though; something just tells me it may be too invasive or something.

All in all, I'd say the forums are pretty functional at this point.