X-Message-Number: 32442
Subject: Rating system
From: Steve Jackson <>
Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2010 15:24:27 -0600
References: <>

David Stodolsky says:

" . . . There was only 1 rating contributed in response to the remaining 8  
messages. We can conclude from this that the Rating System is not  
being used significantly at this time, except by those who wish to  
censor. This explains why we are seeing censorship."


David, by "censorship," do you mean "Some people are prevented from posting 
because their previous posts have been rated low?"


If you will recall, the whole purpose of the rating system was to make it 
possible for users to report what they considered abuse in order to develop a 
community consensus which would tend to filter out the ranters and loons. So 
what you're actually reporting is that the system is working.


An expected consequence of any rating system is that the ranters and loons will 
change pseudonyms, get others to post for them, and holler that they're being 
"censored."


If there are not a lot of comments on most posts, it does not indicate 
"censorship" - I can't even see how you reach that opinion. A low number of 
comments probably indicates that


(1) most users don't find most of the posts here to be toxic; this is a good 
thing.


(2) more users are more inclined to give a wrist-slap when offended than an 
Attaboy when pleased, and - of course! - no one is likely to log in and vote 
"Neutral" on the posts that they don't care about. Therefore, there more 
negative votes than positive and neutral.

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