Points And Voting And Whatnot Comment Count

Brian

Step two in the master plan to provide users tools to moderate themselves has been deployed: there are +1/-1 buttons on comments and posts now. This has been met with some displeasure. An explanation of what's going on right now:

  1. You can vote up or down on any comment, forum post, or diary entry. Up votes are worth two points, down votes minus one. This, combined with the points you get for posting stuff, should make it hard for anyone who's not seriously annoying the great majority of the commenters to see their points dip as a result.
  2. Dipping into negative points will put you into the "troll" role and spur me to look at the user's recent activity to see whether the user should be banned, or just told to cool it, man.

There are some abuse failsafes built in now and more will be added if—when—people start abusing the system. For one: I am probably going to make a downvote cost the voter points, too, to further restrict wanton point-bashing. Please report any bugs, or ideas, to [email protected].

Comments

Blue Durham

July 4th, 2009 at 1:13 PM ^

I don't have a real problem with the downvote costing the voter points too. I think that that approach will help to foster a more positive environment.

But perhaps each day/week/month everyone gets a certain small number of "free" downvotes, but I don't know if that could be done easily.

Edit: And for some reason, I just don't think someone should be able to vote themselves points.

ScoobyBlue

July 4th, 2009 at 4:15 PM ^

It will require a few tweaks along the way, but a system like this is needed. Too many threads were devolving into a bunch of babble, usually spurred on by a few individuals.

The Barking Sp…

July 4th, 2009 at 4:19 PM ^

I agree: That's what the "reply" button is for. It's also what the "scroll" key is for.

But of course, that's too much work for Message Board Guy. He'd rather have everyone they disagree with banned.

Of course, this does save all the cries to Daddy such as, "Waah, I don't like that guy, Brian, Ban him!"

But the idea that a community can be self moderated is a good one--and so is the idea that built in abuse controls are there (though I can't see how they could be or ever could be enough to stop abuse).

The one post about "tribalism" sums it up pretty well--these boards are just like playgrounds. Ya got bullies, people that stand behind their backs tossing stones, people who run to the teacher whenever someone does something "bad", gangs and cliques--and only a few who really want to get in there and play dodgeball.

I also wonder if it will eliminate posters from other fan bases. Boy, do these Wolverine fans hate it when Sparties and Buckeyes show up on their boards. I like it when fans of opposing teams get in there and mix it up.

People just need to kind of grow up and allow FREE SPEECH to play itself out once in awhile. I mean, I post something that riles a UM fan--and that guy posts something obscene--which is really worse? Who decides what's good or bad? What is good or bad? Why orwhy not?

The Barking Sp…

July 4th, 2009 at 4:24 PM ^

And I have -26 MgoPoints. Obviously, this system is tres flawed--and obviously, the minions from Scout have been called over to vote me out.

Give me a cigarette and a Budweiser for my last meal, you fuckers.

CrankThatDonovan

July 4th, 2009 at 10:24 PM ^

The reason that we can't have a self-moderated community is because people like you do not know when to stop talking. Have you actually stopped to consider that there might be a reason why you have so may negative points? It's not because everyone else is a bully, or a whiner that runs to Brian, its because you make stupid, speculative posts that go on for pages. People don't care what you have to say, yet you have an opinion on everything. If you would moderate yourself, we wouldn't need a point system like this. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen

Sebie

July 4th, 2009 at 4:29 PM ^

It's not a fluke that you went down to minus 207 and then you got all your points back and just 2 hours later your back down to minus 28, mabye it's you that's flawed not the system.

Durham Blue

July 4th, 2009 at 6:45 PM ^

I don't mind dissenting opinions, as long as they remain respectful. Nobody likes a trash talker or someone whose major goal in life is to stick it to Michigan fans. Buckeyes and Spartans are cool with me. They just need to remember that they're posting on a Michigan blog.

OK...just one more point and I'm at 20! Woo hoo!