Thread ratings seem kind of dumb [Archive]

Fifthfiend

01-26-2011, 03:02 AM

1-ratings just seem like people being anonymously passive-aggressive douchey and as a whole they just seem superfluous. Like is anyone looking at the thread view and saying "I don't know what homestuck is but THE THREAD FOR IT HAS FIVE STARS, this has made a major contribution to my thread-rating plans for this evening"?

Just throwin' that out there.

Krylo

01-26-2011, 03:04 AM

Terrible rating for this thread.

ThreadGrader8000A

01-26-2011, 09:18 AM

Inputing thread..........
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Option: DISPLAY WORKING
Results:
Originality 70
Humour 5
Impact 10
Import 30
Content 50
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OUTPUT: 2 STARS

Marc v4.0

01-26-2011, 09:37 AM

just turrible

Grimpond

01-26-2011, 10:12 AM

Soterrible

Mr.Bookworm

01-26-2011, 12:32 PM

http://www.dedleg.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/dedleg_seal_of_mediocrity.jpg

Bells

01-26-2011, 01:06 PM

Yes, it's so not like our Rep system, which is ofcourse a merit badge of pride and honor so that we can all wave our e-peens around!

...no, but really, i also never saw much of a point on Thread ratings... never used.

A Zarkin' Frood

01-26-2011, 01:59 PM

I only rate threads when the subject of rating threads comes up in a thread. I rated this thread because someone mentioned rating threads in the opening post. I gave it five of those green things. which depending on which color you like more might be worth just as much as one red glowy thing. Personally I like red better, but the red light seemed so lonely.

Rating threads is probably an artifact from the dawn of the internet. When forums slowly took form someone must've thought it was a good idea to give the users the ability to put their stamp of approval on something to let others know how great it is. No one ever used it. Except maybe people who are new to this whole internet or forum story and think these ratings are something important people pay attention to. Like "My, this thread about thread ratings has such a poor rating. I should probably not read that".

In reality most people probably don't even notice the thread had a rating until they started reading it. Because ratings aren't displayed in "New Posts" and who the hell browses the forums any other way? You? Well okay, if you do that's your thing, I'll just let you know that my way to browse is vastly superior to yours because I said so. >:(

Funka Genocide

01-26-2011, 02:12 PM

This is irrelevant, I want nega-rep back. Some of you people have way too many green boxes and its likely enforcing the delusion that you make good posts.

Unlike myself, who obviously deserves all of his wonderous little quadrilateral laurels of excellence.

POS Industries

01-26-2011, 04:32 PM

This is irrelevant, I want nega-rep back.
My boy, I can give you all the nega-rep you could ever ask for!

Seil

01-26-2011, 05:41 PM

I'm trying to figure out why people like Smarty have full on rep boxes. I mean, yeah, Fifth, Krylo, whatever, but Smarty hates everything.

But, then, yeah - I was told the secret to getting a fully erect e-peen would be to become an unmitigated asshole, so I think my peen will continue to have problems. Everytime I try to be an asshole I get banned.

Bells

01-26-2011, 05:58 PM

Professor Smarmiarty

01-26-2011, 06:13 PM

[color=pink]I'm trying to figure out why people like Smarty have full on rep boxes. I mean, yeah, Fifth, Krylo, whatever, but Smarty hates everything.

I blew all the mods a while back. Mod rep is the good shit.

Archbio

01-26-2011, 07:12 PM

I'm trying to figure out why people like Smarty have full on rep boxes.

I've received rep for some of my most terrible posts, I've received rep that I'm pretty sure was sarcastic and there's one confirmed instance in my rep list of someone repping me because they were missing the point of my post.

I negative rep wasn't destroyed, rep is just somewhat neutral rep now.

I've come to realize SMB is like Dali.

Premmy

01-26-2011, 07:39 PM

I rep like a motherfucker for good puns, just putting that out there. I also rep people when I've successfully annoyed them, randomly as a form of annoyance that never goes away, and anytime someone boosts my ego.

Fifthfiend

01-26-2011, 07:43 PM

Basicaally I am glad. Rep came up because thread rates are like rep but for threads, with negarepping enabled, and done anonymously, which is to say taking away all the things that keep rep from being asstarded.

Also ig I think that ratings do make sense, just on like forums with tens of thousands of active users with enough people voting to establish a meaningful aggregate AND with like so many new threads / unknown users that its worth it to have some sor of communal quality check, but for the what MAYBE couple hundred active people here who more or less know each other it is pretty pointless

Also seil the best fastest way to get rep is to do something nice that people enjoy.

Bells

01-26-2011, 07:49 PM

i would still love if there was some sort of "Badge" or "Achievement" system where you would get Badges after certain conditions were met, and the mods could award badges at will and maybe even users award badges they made themselves for one another.

It would be the most passive-agressive fun ever.

Fifthfiend

01-26-2011, 07:51 PM

It would be beautiful the way Hell is beautiful

Premmy

01-26-2011, 07:52 PM

I wouldn't want badges to be awarded, but unlock-able achievements would be cool.
even better if you could select one to always display under your repbar
It would be odd though, you'd have to make something that involved the search function, say make ten threads/posts involving the phrase "Dirty Hippies" to get the Cartman Achievement/badge.

Loyal

01-26-2011, 08:09 PM

Achievements on this little forum would be a little more than I could handle.

Flarecobra

01-26-2011, 08:16 PM

.... Why would we need a second E-peen?

Bells

01-26-2011, 08:18 PM

nononono! Reputation is an e-peen. Achivements are E-ginas...! Big difference.

Funka Genocide

01-26-2011, 08:52 PM

My boy, I can give you all the nega-rep you could ever ask for!

This power, too great for one man.

Such is the penalty for approaching Olympus.

Flarecobra

01-26-2011, 09:10 PM

nononono! Reputation is an e-peen. Achivements are E-ginas...! Big difference.

So that would mean everyone would turn into E-hermaphordites?

Premmy

01-26-2011, 09:23 PM

I like the idea of being able to e-produce e-sexually around here.

Seil

01-26-2011, 10:38 PM

Achievements on this little forum would be a little more than I could handle.

SEIL: REGULAR USER
"Say Cheese!" - Posted 500+ Pictures
"Medal Of Dishonour" - Has Own Thread Tag
"Oh Shi-" - Banned By Candlejack
"Seeing Red" - Has Been Fake Banned
"Just A Fad" - Changed Avatar For One Thread
"I Can Has Caturday?" - Posted Most Caturday Pictures
"Sunday Funnies" - Posted Most Comics
"The System Does Work!" - 'Succesfully' Rehabilitated Spam Poster
"Where In The World Is..." - Aided In Creation Of Search Function Thread
"Why Do I Get The Girl Gun?" - Most Useless In Forum Arguments
"Historian" - Dug Up Most User-Base Quotes And Threads

Token

01-26-2011, 11:03 PM

Nikose Tyris

01-26-2011, 11:05 PM

What happens when you get all eight badges?

You take on the Elite Four [RaiRai, Shiney, Meister, and Fenris] and then you get to punch POS in the gnads.

Token

01-26-2011, 11:16 PM

You take on the Elite Four [RaiRai, Shiney, Meister, and Fenris] and then you get to punch POS in the gnads.

Huh. That's it, I'm taking the NPF League challenge. Someone get me a fucking Chikorita.

Seil

01-26-2011, 11:19 PM

Also seil the best fastest way to get rep is to do something nice that people enjoy

I tried that before, Fifth. (http://nuklearforums.com/showthread.php?t=37558)

Pffft. Everyone knows that Dragon Pokemon are the best.

Token

01-26-2011, 11:29 PM

I tried that before, Fifth. (http://nuklearforums.com/showthread.php?t=37558)

Pffft. Everyone knows that Dragon Pokemon are the best.

http://i52.tinypic.com/j8z3nb.jpg

Hey, y'know who's a little bitch? Every dragon that isn't Garchomp.

Loyal

01-26-2011, 11:31 PM

Huh. That's it, I'm taking the NPF League challenge. Someone get me a fucking Chikorita.One Chikorita coming right up!

http://i51.tinypic.com/4gkpyw.jpg

Token

01-26-2011, 11:34 PM

One Chikorita coming right up!

http://i51.tinypic.com/4gkpyw.jpg

http://i53.tinypic.com/b9j28m.png

...Y'know what, fuck it. I made the other two work. I can work with this.

POS Industries

01-26-2011, 11:38 PM

Times like these I wish Thad was around to tell you all about my Milotic.

Seil

01-27-2011, 12:00 AM

http://theadventuresplushomer.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/dragonite06.jpg

What is that? Is it a Dragonite about to destroy your Poketeam?

(Yes it totally is.)

POS Industries

01-27-2011, 12:02 AM

And then a relatively chilly October breeze one-shots Dragonite.

Seil

01-27-2011, 12:05 AM

Please - you're like the Gary to my Ash.

Token

01-27-2011, 12:12 AM

Please - you're like the Gary to my Ash.

That's right. You're a dumbass with shitty team, and I'm always a step ahead of you.

As for Dragonite, I think we've established Dragonites everywhere are my bitches forever. (http://nuklearforums.com/showpost.php?p=1080784&postcount=268http://)

POS Industries

01-27-2011, 12:12 AM

Please - you're like the Gary to my Ash.
So you're saying I win everything first and have an entourage of beautiful women chanting my name?

Token

01-27-2011, 12:13 AM

So you're saying I win everything first and have an entourage of beautiful women chanting my name?

Don't forget the car. The car is bitchin'.

POS Industries

01-27-2011, 12:16 AM

It was a convertible, right?

Chicks fuckin' love convertibles.

Token

01-27-2011, 12:18 AM

Damn right. And chicks love Gary Motherfucking Oak.

Loyal

01-27-2011, 12:21 AM

Please - you're like the Gary to my Ash.http://imgur.com/vrMgC.gif

Seil

01-27-2011, 12:37 AM

'^'

http://www.vgcats.com/super/images/080428.gif

Flarecobra

01-27-2011, 12:39 AM

http://sadpanda.us/images/354773-S7OSQN6.png

I'd rock a Solid Snivy.

Token

01-27-2011, 12:50 AM

'^'

http://www.vgcats.com/super/images/080428.gif

...Those are not Ash and Gary. Those are Red and Green. Never speak again.

rpgdemon

01-27-2011, 12:58 AM

...Those are not Ash and Gary. Those are Red and Green. Never speak again.

Those are not Red and Green, those are Red and Blue. Never speak again.

Token

01-27-2011, 01:01 AM

Those are not Red and Green, those are Red and Blue. Never speak again.

Feel free to climb a wall of dicks. http://i53.tinypic.com/2nvf635.png

rpgdemon

01-27-2011, 01:08 AM

Your MOTHER is Blue.

Seriously, it's Red vs Blue, go back and PLAY the GAMES, man.

Token

01-27-2011, 01:10 AM

Consider that shit played. (http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Red_and_Green)

Flarecobra

01-27-2011, 01:24 AM

Your MOTHER is Blue.

Seriously, it's Red vs Blue,

http://nikon.bungie.org/misc/lukemckay/bgc_ep1.jpg

Seil

01-27-2011, 02:11 AM

http://www.cbc.ca/programguide/images/program/t/the_red_green_show.jpg?

Flarecobra

01-27-2011, 02:18 AM

Who's that?

Seil

01-27-2011, 02:20 AM

Red Green. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hNxA8JBW8E)

Token

01-27-2011, 03:20 AM

http://i52.tinypic.com/op5rw6.jpg

Aldurin

01-27-2011, 10:53 AM

To catch up on this topic in order:

Thread ratings suck, I have to keep putting five blocks on threads just to keep their ratings afloat.

The system for tricking others into repping you is a fucked up inverse sideways deal. Hell, I got most of my rep back when my posting drove NonCon into confronting me via thread. But I'm not stupid enough to try to replicate that situation.

And you guys need to go outside more, Torchic is that starter pokemon that gets that sea of underage japanese ass these days (at first because it's cute and a great way to start conversations then once it evolves it can single-handedly wipe out several of the Elite Four).

POS Industries

01-27-2011, 12:41 PM

Token

01-27-2011, 01:55 PM

Clearly, you all just need to make better rated threads then. :P

Professor Smarmiarty

01-27-2011, 03:37 PM

I think our low rating is an inherent problem of leaving it uneducated masses, stupified by their dazzling power. Clearly a team of appropriately educated and industry trained experts should rate threads in concord.

Seil

01-27-2011, 04:28 PM

http://cdnstatic.visualizeus.com/thumbs/09/11/03/cat,cats,comic,communist,humor,mao-e9273b9ed7b3c97397dd26f33c564d34_h.jpg

Professor Smarmiarty

01-27-2011, 04:32 PM

I'm pretty sure the cats are smarter than the people in that comic.

Fifthfiend

01-27-2011, 07:38 PM

In all honesty, I've only remembered that thread ratings even exist maybe three times in the four years I've been here, and this is one of those three times.

That said, taking a cursory glance at the general subforum and actually bothering to notice the ratings, I can kinda see how they might be getting out of control. Granted, I didn't bother looking at the threads themselves but considering how many of them are rated average to poor (whereas no one rating it ever leaves, you guessed it, no rating) it does seem like people are mainly just being dicks with them.

Seems like a lot of effort you guys put into a pointless feature to me.

For the most part I don't think it gets used at all, then once in a while someone will terrible-rate a couple of threads to let Bells or Nonsie or whoever know that they suck, which seems to set off a flurry of generalized thread-rating for whatever threads are still firstpaged, then it goes back to being unused for another couple months.

Fenris

01-27-2011, 08:10 PM

Maybe if threads weren't terrible they wouldn't get poor ratings?

I mean I'm not particularly married to the idea of thread ratings one way or the other but it seems kind of like a pointless complaint, imho.

"This forum feature is being used!"

I mean if you think people are being dicks with it or whatevs nobody's stopping you from rating the thread up if you think it's a good thread so a couple of anonymous jerks or whatevs shouldn't really be a big deal.

Krylo

01-27-2011, 08:23 PM

The forum feature has existed ever since 2003.

It just used to be stars.

Meister thought it'd be better to make it boxes. Because, well. Meister.

I'm not seeing how something that has worked fine for seven years is suddenly an issue. The same thing Fifth is describing happened with the stars too.

The only difference is that I guess one star is better than no stars? The boxes make it more visible?

Fenris

01-27-2011, 08:25 PM

Back when Meister was doing stuff and things with the forum code he mentioned offhandedly that it always bugged him that threads that were rated terribly would always receive a gold star, he asked around if anybody particularly minded that being changed to a different rating system and nobody gives a fuck about the rating system so nobody gave a fuck about it being changed to boxes.

Krylo

01-27-2011, 08:26 PM

Meister thought it'd be better to make it boxes. Because, well. Meister.

Back when Meister was doing stuff and things with the forum code he mentioned offhandedly that it always bugged him that threads that were rated terribly would always receive a gold star, he asked around if anybody particularly minded that being changed to a different rating system and nobody gives a fuck about the rating system so nobody gave a fuck about it being changed to boxes.

That's a lot of words for that thing I already said.

Were this post a thread, I would rate it down so hard.

Fenris

01-27-2011, 08:27 PM

Yeah, but I said it without being an asshole.

You know that trend we were talking about where people use forum names as insults and that it's an incredibly shitty thing to do? Yeah, that.

Krylo

01-27-2011, 08:30 PM

Stop being such a Fenris.

Saying someone did something because they are themselves and anyone who knows them would understand why they would do something is hardly using their name as an insult.

Fenris

01-27-2011, 08:32 PM

I disagree, because that's still using someone's name in a derogatory fashion, but you are more than welcome to your own thoughts on the matter.

Agree to disagree, I guess.

We should put this more back on topic-preferably the pokemon one we had earlier. I liked that one.

Krylo

01-27-2011, 08:39 PM

We should put this more back on topic-preferably the Pokemon one we had earlier.

But Pokemon is terrible. It's the same game being repackaged for over ten years now, with no meaningful new mechanics or changes to the story, or even upgrades to keep up with technology... and people still gobble that shit up like it's the best thing ever.

You've played one Pokemon, you've played them all. Just because the next one has more spikes on the evil Pokemon or whatever ridiculous thing, that doesn't make it worth buying.

Couldn't we discuss something more interesting?

Token

01-27-2011, 09:03 PM

But Pokemon is terrible. It's the same game being repackaged for over ten years now, with no meaningful new mechanics or changes to the story, or even upgrades to keep up with technology... and people still gobble that shit up like it's the best thing ever.

You've played one Pokemon, you've played them all. Just because the next one has more spikes on the evil Pokemon or whatever ridiculous thing, that doesn't make it worth buying.

Couldn't we discuss something more interesting?
Ignore list +1.

Fifthfiend

01-27-2011, 09:12 PM

Maybe if threads weren't terrible they wouldn't get poor ratings?

Like I said earlier, if this were a larger forum where the ratings functioned as any kind of consistent meaningful aggregate, then this might be the case. Reddit, after five thousand people have up/down voted something, that's a pretty decent measurement of whether something is judged good or bad by the standards of a given community.

As it gets used on this forum a low rating does't really say "oh gosh here is this thread that is much poorer than these other threads and is best avoided" so much as "a small number of people have decided to anonymously say this thread sucks".

So like not so much that the feature is being used as that it seems pretty useless, and where it is being used that use seems kind of jerky in an un-useful way (as opposed to the many various useful ways of being jerky).

I mean if you think people are being dicks with it or whatevs nobody's stopping you from rating the thread up if you think it's a good thread so a couple of anonymous jerks or whatevs shouldn't really be a big deal.

You are 100% correct, none of this is in any way a big deal. I for one am making no contrary claims as to the deal-ness of this or its size in relation to other deals.

EDIT: This thread is basically as much of a deal as if I had instead posted the other forum-related thread I have occasionally meant to post for however long now

"It would be rad if we had multiple icons and could set them individually by post to indicate tone and such, like they do on Livejournals and shit."

Fifthfiend

01-27-2011, 09:18 PM

The forum feature has existed ever since 2003.

It just used to be stars.

...

I'm not seeing how something that has worked fine for seven years is suddenly an issue. The same thing Fifth is describing happened with the stars too.

The only difference is that I guess one star is better than no stars? The boxes make it more visible?

It didn't so much work fine when it was stars as it just didn't do anything, because nothing really ever got rated anything less than five stars. Which made it useless in an almost completely ignorable way, instead of a "this is useless in a kind of dumb, mildly annoying way, PATAI I guess" kind of way.

Krylo

01-27-2011, 09:22 PM

I don't know that rating a thread that you don't like down is really being a jerk. I mean, that's kinda what they're there for.

The problem is just that there's so few of us, and it's so much easier to notice a thread you don't like than one you do, that only the people who don't like whatever thread tend to bother using the rating system--in exactly the manner it was designed.

Especially seeming as most threads here are decent to good on average, so good threads just don't stand out.

I think we just have a problem of basic human psychology plus a relatively small group. You could try to train everyone to use thread ratings, which would probably help, but it seems like it'd just be an annoying and cumbersome extra step for anyone who wasn't either annoyed enough to rate something down, or fantastically amazed enough to rate something up.

Archbio

01-28-2011, 03:29 AM

The only difference is that I guess one star is better than no stars?

I think that's part of it.

But even if every thread had had a star meter, but with empty star notches if the thread doesn't have a rating, the bar system would still register the impression of negative appreciation more clearly because of the colour coding. A red square in a mostly empty bar communicates the idea of awfulness pretty efficientely compared to just a numbering system like the stars.

I think ideally a rating system, stars or bars, would have to be somehow applied to every thread, actively rated or not. Like, maybe an empty bar if not always a default rating of 1. Maybe that would give too cluttered a look?

My personal preference would go with less red/green, awful/perfect type of colours however. More neutral, if you will. Especially if the system was propagated.

Still not a big deal.