Downrating Threads

[PayItForward]

What about banning the person/people who was doing that nasty ratings ?

I *think* you can run an admin report to find out who did it (But I'm running a different forum version, so it might not apply to Pet Talk)

[sirrahved]

I think Karen and Paul did the best thing that they could in the situation.

If they were going to ban people that were giving low ratings, wouldn't that in essence get rid of the purpose? If you tell people they can only rate a post if they give it a five star rating, then you are saying that every post deserves a five star rating, and you've written out the rating system yourself!

[catnapper]

But the rating system is there to give it a one star if it truly deserved it - say someone used offensive language, then I'd use one star to warn others not to waste their time. It would be used apprpriately in that instance. but some people have been using it as a form of personal attack. Kay has had some beautiful posts that have been rated one star because someone somewhere has serious issues with her. In that instance, its wrong and spiteful and completely inappropriate... hence, the neccessity to run an admin report that could ban someone.

I like that this is a open and friendly community and would like it to continue being so friendly.

[RICHARD]

Would you like to swing on a star
Carry moonbeams home in a jar
And be better off than you are
Or would you rather be a mule?

A mule is an animal with long funny ears
Kicks up at anything he hears
His back is brawny but his brain is weak
He's just plain stupid with a stubborn streak
And by the way, if you hate to go to school
You may grow up to be a mule

Or would you like to swing on a star
Carry moonbeams home in a jar
And be better off than you are
Or would you rather be a pig?

A pig is an animal with dirt on his face
His shoes are a terrible disgrace
He has no manners when he eats his food
He's fat and lazy and extremely rude
But if you don't care a feather or a fig
You may grow up to be a pig

Or would you like to swing on a star
Carry moonbeams home in a jar
And be better off than you are
Or would you rather be a fish?

A fish won't do anything, but swim in a brook
He can't write his name or read a book
To fool the people is his only thought
And though he's slippery, he still gets caught
But then if that sort of life is what you wish
You may grow up to be a fish
A new kind of jumped-up slippery fish

And all the monkeys aren't in the zoo
Every day you meet quite a few
So you see it's all up to you
You can be better than you are
You could be swingin' on a star

-----------------------------------------------------------

************************************************** ************************************************** ************************************************** ************************************************** ************************************************** ************************************************** ************************************************** ************************************************** ************************************************** ************************************************** ********************

I don't need moonbeams anymore.....I got starlight!

[Kfamr]

Richard, you're such a wacko. And I do mean that and the nicest way possible!

[aly]

If people get banned for giving a 1 star rating, then you may as well start banning people for using certain smilies, or for using different colored text. I mean, come on. The option is there for people to use and you're suggesting BANNING them for it? Thats crazy!! CRAZY!!

I do agree what someone was doing to PCB and KayAnn was mean and imature, but the moderators have better things to do than start being the "one-star rater" police.

I know its a moot point now that the system is gone .. but I just had to get that off my chest.

[Kfamr]

I agree, Aly.

I didn't want anyone to get banned from this -- that wasn't my intention. I just wanted the one star rating to stop. It got very aggrivating just coming and seeing one star next to my posts, not so much controversial subjects -- but the ones of pictures I shared.

the option was there, and now it's not -- so the problem is pretty much resolved.

[aly]

Yeah, I wasn't directing that at you or anyone in particular

I just saw a lot of posts with suggestions that the person be banned. But now that their tool is taken away, maybe they'll leave of their own accord.

Anyway, I was just thinking out loud.

[PayItForward]

Originally posted by catnapper
But the rating system is there to give it a one star if it truly deserved it - say someone used offensive language, then I'd use one star to warn others not to waste their time. It would be used apprpriately in that instance. but some people have been using it as a form of personal attack. Kay has had some beautiful posts that have been rated one star because someone somewhere has serious issues with her. In that instance, its wrong and spiteful and completely inappropriate... hence, the neccessity to run an admin report that could ban someone.

I like that this is a open and friendly community and would like it to continue being so friendly.

Thanks Kim, Why should noone be allowed to use the rating system properly, because of this nasty person.

Aly, IMO yes I wish that Karen would ban that person because their behaviour is mean and underhanded and upset a well loved poster.

They would not be banned because they rated one stars but because they deliberately targeted one person and one star their posts inappropriately just to cause trouble.

I wonder what trouble that person will start on next

[Logan]

I think, won't promise, but one time, I voted one star on a post that struck me wrong.........and it was one that KayAnn started, I think. And it was no offense to Kay, as she knows, I love her dearly (at least I hope so).

I always used the "stars" carefully, mostly reserving them for posts that I hoped would get more attention (thus 5 stars). I will miss the ratings, actually, because in most cases, I used them myself, and followed others to threads that had high ratings.

[catnapper]

Yes, couldn't they run a report and see that XYZ poster only rated 25 posts with one star and all 25 posts were for the same person... that would show the administrators that they were being spiteful. The administrators could contact the offending person and issue a warning... then the person could ignore the warning or shape up. If they ignored it and continued for, oh say, another 20 posts then they'd be kicked out. But then the problem is they could sign up again as someone else and start all over.

The admins wouldn't have to act as star police... only when someone is getting really offended by the ratings. Then they can run the reports and see who it is and intervene.... and only in instances like Kay where its gone on for months. It wouldn't be that much work (listen to me on this side of the keyboard ) and I'm sure after a while, you'd be able to narrow down the field... doesn't the computer know who was online when?

This is a very sticky issue, and I'm sorry for Karen and Paul to have to deal with it. You both run a wonderful forum and its a shame that one ot two people throw a wrench into the works.

[PayItForward]

Originally posted by catnapper
The administrators could contact the offending person and issue a warning... then the person could ignore the warning or shape up. If they ignored it and continued for, oh say, another 20 posts then they'd be kicked out. But then the problem is they could sign up again as someone else and start all over.

There are ways to ensure the same person doesn't log back in or register but I won't post them here in case the nasty person is reading.

I have also seen some great hacks (additional code to add to a forum) too.

One hack allowed the banned user to do whatever and he/she thought they had a normal account but the twist was that nobody else saw them or their posts...ha ha

[popcornbird]

Originally posted by PayItForward
There are ways to ensure the same person doesn't log back in or register but I won't post them here in case the nasty person is reading.

I have also seen some great hacks (additional code to add to a forum) too.

One hack allowed the banned user to do whatever and he/she thought they had a normal account but the twist was that nobody else saw them or their posts...ha ha

Banning an IP address is possible, but there is no way you can ban a person COMPLETELY. They could always come back on a different computer in a different place, and there would be no way for the mods to find out. There is no way to ensure the same person won't come back and do it again from a completely different computer, that never logged onto the site before. You can ban them from a certain computer completely, but to ban them from logging on from one of the millions of computers in the world would be pretty impossible.

I'm with Aly here. I have had my threads downrated many times. It did hurt me, but I would not wish for the person to be banned completely.........just because whoever does it hates *me*. I think that's a bit silly..........people use rolling eyes to hurt others too.

[PayItForward]

Originally posted by popcornbird
I'm with Aly here. I have had my threads downrated many times. It did hurt me, but I would not wish for the person to be banned completely.........just because whoever does it hates *me*. I think that's a bit silly..........people use rolling eyes to hurt others too.

Thats different....People who post 'rolling eyes' at others, is just healthy disagreement and we all see the posts and who makes them.

But it upsets me to think that we have a spiteful coward on this site, who only hurts others when they can remain hidden.

If they had any character they would stand up and admit what they did and give a heartfelt apology to those they hurt.

[Kfamr]

I still don't agree with banning whoever rates threads 'one stars'. Their fun is done now, and if they do result to something else, then they should be banned. Maybe taking away their little tool of hate will make them realize and grow up.


I have rated 'one stars' before, and I have rated threads before. But, only how I saw fit. Generally I gave each thread 5 stars, especially those already downrated.

I've never seen PT have so many tiny problems until recent, as in the past couple years or so.

Originally posted by popcornbird
people use rolling eyes to hurt others too.

Not always.