Reputation points (Warning: long and not PC)

June 8, 2005

Ive gotta laugh at this whole ғreputation business. Go ahead and flame me but this is definitely a female creation. ItԒs not enough to have people posting on this forum but we have to create different classes of posters? A series of little green bars beside ones name that have to be ғearned like merit badges in the Scouts? By exceeding designated thresholds in the numbers of posts or number of months that you exist on the forum? So if someone has only one little green square beside their name does that make them less valuable as a member, not as noteworthy of an opinion, not made of the same stuff as those with many little green squares? What purpose does all of this serve Ԗ does it make you feel better when you earn another one of those little squares? Does anyone truly lose sleep at night if you get a negative reputation point from an anonymous donor?

Perhaps I ought to start flooding the forum with little fluff posts and threads like some folks do. You know, threads with topics like My child has a booger hanging from his/her nose, what should I do?Ӕ How many sheets of toilet paper should one truly use to wipe their butt?Ӕ My child has a runny nose, a fever, and is coughing up blood, does this mean he/she is sick?Ӕ IӒve had 6 months to get ready for my child but still havent figured out what formula to use Җ A Poll Please "I've been in PGN for 5 hours, what's taking those people so long?" You know, put about five or more threads like this, or post to similar threads, daily just so I can see more of those little green squares next to my name and feel really special about myself.

And this anonymous rating thing Ԗ to me its the electronic equivalent of sliding a nasty note under the door and running away. I did it once not realizing that my name was not being transmitted with the comment. If I am going to give someone my opinion, I want them to know who itҒs coming from. I usually dont give reputation points unless theyҒre positive and I let the person know who the sender is either in the body of the comment or by PM. If youre gonna send someone your opinion, especially negative ones, have the courage of your convictions and let them know whose finger was on the trigger.

I like it when thereҒs a confrontation, when everyone knows who you are when you put your cards on the table. Those threads (which IMHO are closed too quickly) where the ultraconservative, bigoted, self-righteous, rigid in their beliefs so called religious right square off against the ultra liberal, bigoted, even more self- righteous and equally rigid in their beliefs secular left, OR when anyone mentions anything at all about gay issues (either pro or con) THOSE are the ones I like to read. The ones that mirror the mess our political system has disintegrated into, where we elect people on their beliefs on one particular issue and not the ability to lead our country. (NEWSFLASH: I thought Bush was better than Kerry (lesser of two evils) ֖ at least you know where he stands) Any particular interest group I failed to mention? Kind of strips the veneer off the forum, lets everyone see what some of us are really like underneath all of the nice messages of support (support as long as you agree with their philosophy).

I answer posts when I know I can offer an informed opinion about something I feel I am competent to offer info about, or when someone sounds like they really need help and are not just wallowing in self-pity (harsh but true), or when I can make someone laugh to break up the tension of oneҒs day. So I dont post that much and when I do post I donҒt much care if anyone likes it or not. Ive had a few folks send positive messages/feedback at some of my attempts at humor, and I thank them for that, but I didnҒt do it for little reputation points.

If were going to have a rating system, we ought to have one like Yahoo does, where we can designate certain people as spammers ( and yes some folks here fit the description) and then have their posts put into a waste bin so we donҒt have to read them unless we are truly bored and desperate for something to do.

tricecm

June 8, 2005

I was with you on some of this, but you lost me on some also.

My question is: where is this coming from? Has something particular set you off? Because this is a pretty angry post.

It boils down to what kind of forum you are looking for. If you enjoy when people start putting each other down because of their political beliefs, perhaps this is not the forum for you. ALthough that does happen from time to time, it is the exception and not the rule. And, the purpose of this board is not to engage in political ideas, it is to discuss the adoption and raising of Guatemalan children.

If you are looking for a forum where people who will likely never meet get to know each other's journeys and offer advice, support and challenge each other from time to time, then this is the place for you.

I was with you on stripping away the veneer and getting to know folks better when they "out" themselves politically or otherwise, but as long as the conversation remains respectful of differences of opinion (and often it doesn't). I am not a moderator, so I'm not defending them, however I often appreciate when those threads are closed because it helps retain the focus of this board.

I'm glad that you enjoy that angry discourse, but I've frankly had enough of it. I believe that we can take steps to reduce such heated dialogues if we can find common ground first.

I've not noticed you showing such anger in other posts, so I'm sorry that you are so angry now. I hope you find whatever you are looking for.