[talkerbee]

What are your bases on giving a negative reputation to a post or reply?

[sprite1950]

I have never given a negative reputation point because I know how upset I would be if I saw one against my posts. I would rather use the report button so that the person can't see even though I guess that could be seen as a bit sneaky but I think it is less likely to upset a member and admin can deal with it. I have rarely used that either but I did when a now banned member posted inappropriate content here.

[OldGuy]

Most negative reputation points are issued by moderators or administrators for such offenses as posting ads in the wrong category, exceptionally short posts that fail to offer any answer to the OP question, violating site rules, copy and paste content, etc.

If the violation is so offensive that it is beyond redemption, I have noted times when the post was deleted, there may be a deduction from earned ForumCoins or even 50 Negative Reputation Points in a single hit and the member is banned from the site. I have counted. Lets just say many members have been banned over the life of the site for such violations. They are fair and nice guys, but they don't mess around if it becomes necessary.

I noted one recent negative reputation point issued by a long time member who claims to be the resident expert in one area who issued a negative reputation point to a new member who merely asked how payments were made. That new member has not posted a thing since receiving that undeserved point. In my opinion, the offense was in giving the negative reputation point in that case. It clearly chased that member from the site.

I have given out very few negative reputation points and hate to do it, but those I have given were for content that was so off topic they did not even come close to answering the question asked, the post was a direct copy and paste of my own content on the same thread and one I recall that was so outrageous I researched the post and discovered it was completely false. I included an explanation with each one I have issued to explain my reason for flagging the offense.

The only undeserved negative reputation points I have were given to me as revenge from another member who posted junk that I flagged. I reported it to Fergal who removed more than a dozen of them, but not all. I do not know how he dealt with the member. Fear of Revenge is the main reason members hesitate to issue negative reputation points when deserved.

[arunima]

Most negative reputation points are issued by moderators or administrators for such offenses as posting ads in the wrong category, exceptionally short posts that fail to offer any answer to the OP question, violating site rules, copy and paste content, etc.

If the violation is so offensive that it is beyond redemption, I have noted times when the post was deleted, there may be a deduction from earned ForumCoins or even 50 Negative Reputation Points in a single hit and the member is banned from the site. I have counted. Lets just say many members have been banned over the life of the site for such violations. They are fair and nice guys, but they don't mess around if it becomes necessary.

I noted one recent negative reputation point issued by a long time member who claims to be the resident expert in one area who issued a negative reputation point to a new member who merely asked how payments were made. That new member has not posted a thing since receiving that undeserved point. In my opinion, the offense was in giving the negative reputation point in that case. It clearly chased that member from the site.

I have given out very few negative reputation points and hate to do it, but those I have given were for content that was so off topic they did not even come close to answering the question asked, the post was a direct copy and paste of my own content on the same thread and one I recall that was so outrageous I researched the post and discovered it was completely false. I included an explanation with each one I have issued to explain my reason for flagging the offense.

The only undeserved negative reputation points I have were given to me as revenge from another member who posted junk that I flagged. I reported it to Fergal who removed more than a dozen of them, but I do not know how he dealt with the member. Fear of Revenge is the main reason members hesitate to issue negative reputation points when deserved.

Thank you for your detailed information. I have not given any negative reputation to any member so far as I have not come across any such posts which I felt calls for a negative reputation. Moreover I felt that this right should be with the moderators and admin as people might take it as a revenge or pulling down strategy. But good to know from the examples sited by you that admin intervenes and takes care of such misdeeds.

[sabtra]

I've never given negative reputation, I would do so in case of spamming/flooding/nonsense, i.e. the obvious things that would bother the community.

Moreover I felt that this right should be with the moderators and admin as people might take it as a revenge or pulling down strategy.

Power in the wrong hands can lead to abuse, indeed.

[Netherrealmer]

I leave that to the admins and moderators. I do not want to have a negative reputation bomb from an angry member who wanted revenge.

[kataomoi]

I downvote users who are spamming or are clearly posting just to earn FC (they aren't reading and posting mindlessly). Yeah, they downvote me back but it's fine. Not going to get upset over an online reputation XD

[Anindita]

Why at all give a negative reputation to a post we can as well not reply to that post. Can't we?

[fistsworn]

I gave only one negative reputation here, proabably a Troll so yeah. I don't even remember why, but it was probably something I found to dumb to be an actual oppinion

[kataomoi]

Why at all give a negative reputation to a post we can as well not reply to that post. Can't we?

Sure we can just choose to ignore instead of downvote. But it's quite annoying and somewhat offensive when I spend my time explaining and answering a question and then someone just comes and doesn't read and asks the same thing again. Or if they quote a response from the first page (because that's all they've read) just to finish their daily 10 posts.

[sprite1950]

Why at all give a negative reputation to a post we can as well not reply to that post. Can't we?

Sure we can just choose to ignore instead of downvote. But it's quite annoying and somewhat offensive when I spend my time explaining and answering a question and then someone just comes and doesn't read and asks the same thing again. Or if they quote a response from the first page (because that's all they've read) just to finish their daily 10 posts.

That's one of my pet hates on any forum. People not reading what I write and just asking the same questions over and over. I can understand if there are hundreds of pages but I always read the last few to make sure I am not repeating a question that has already been asked recently.

[fistsworn]

Why at all give a negative reputation to a post we can as well not reply to that post. Can't we?

Sure we can just choose to ignore instead of downvote. But it's quite annoying and somewhat offensive when I spend my time explaining and answering a question and then someone just comes and doesn't read and asks the same thing again. Or if they quote a response from the first page (because that's all they've read) just to finish their daily 10 posts.

That's one of my pet hates on any forum. People not reading what I write and just asking the same questions over and over. I can understand if they are hundreds of pages but I always read the last few to make sure I am not repeating a question that has already been asked recently.

Yeah, also no need to read all the pages, most have search tools to search key words of interest in that thread.
I assume people are lazy though.

[skysnap]

Most negative reputation points are issued by moderators or administrators for such offenses as posting ads in the wrong category, exceptionally short posts that fail to offer any answer to the OP question, violating site rules, copy and paste content, etc.

Not true. people here randomly disagree with your opinion can give out downvote too. Happened a lot of times in past.

[kataomoi]

That's one of my pet hates on any forum. People not reading what I write and just asking the same questions over and over. I can understand if they are hundreds of pages but I always read the last few to make sure I am not repeating a question that has already been asked recently.

Usually it's pretty easy to tell who's actually geniunely asking a question (even if it's a repeated one) and who's just stopping by to post and will never check the topic again. I'm more likely to downvote the latter.

[OldGuy]

Most negative reputation points are issued by moderators or administrators for such offenses as posting ads in the wrong category, exceptionally short posts that fail to offer any answer to the OP question, violating site rules, copy and paste content, etc.

Not true. people here randomly disagree with your opinion can give out downvote too. Happened a lot of times in past.

Just have to respond. As some have noted, I have been monitoring and documenting all site activity since January just because data research is a personal form of entertainment.

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=20620

As I said, MOST of the negative rep points come from the various administrators or moderators. That is true and documented. There are some that are issued from member to member, but less than 10% of the volume that comes from administrators. Most members do not issue negative rep points even when deserved.

Rep Point Scores only represent the general opinion of the community. If you are not averaging 1 rep point for every 10 posts, the community is telling you that your content is below average. Many members have very low rep point scores because they post content without bothering to make certain it is high enough quality to add value to the thread.

Content quality is quite a different matter. Higher quality content tends to earn a higher rep point score. I have also been documenting content quality scores as part of my data research. If any member is interested, PM me for a personal review to assist you in improving the quality of your content.

The whole point of posting content is to make a statement that is worth reading for future visitors to the site. Rep points only represent a guide in the form of a collective opinion of the members. It is the quality of the content itself that will keep them coming back.

[bojimumarzz]

I have not giving negative reputation yet

[beriut]

This site values quality context so for me to give a bad reputation to a post would be those posts that are trolls, spams or out of context contents. I might not give a bad reputation to a mean opinions which kind of constructive criticism but not to those very offensive and very degrading opinions resulting to destruct/destroy another.

[peachpurple]

I never give anyone negative reputation but I did received 5 negative reputation which I don't know why. Asked the member why I was given, no reply given. Felt very sad, disappointed and anger of course.

[Anindita]

I do not believe in giving a negative reputation to any post unless a member writes something rude. I would not want any member to write a racial post or write against some religion.

[augusta]

I have never given one a negative reputation points but I think most of that is done by moderators that finds post too short and violating site rules