*** Help

**Mudge** · 19th July 12, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by Chas

It is often called 'Power Posting'. I am a member of one forum where a power post will be removed and a second post will be randomly removed by way of punishment.

People will feel strongly about something and want to agree, but lack the vocabulary or depth of knowledge to write something original. In a case like that "I agree with XXX" is acceptable, I think. But when a poster is known to be knowledgeable, intelligent and erudite, then it is a bit of an insult to the rest of us. If nothing else, because they think we don't notice!

Regards

Chas

Chas, this is kinda how I was feeling...I spend lots of time here (more than anyone should) for the wealth of knowledge and humor that XMARKS tends to give. I think that most of us are somewhat forward thinking and it is kind of odd we can't think of something to say.

Mike

**mookien** · 19th July 12, 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by be da veva

+2 (Just to add to the confusion...)

+2 (!?) I can't process that! I don't think +2 counts as two +1s even though 1 + 1 = 2. I suppose that for the free kilt Steve will have to arbitrate that.

**opositive** · 19th July 12, 05:52 PM

if you disagree with a post, do you think it would be ok to quote then use "-1" without further explanation? if you are neutral, should you use "1"?

i admit that i am a blithering idiot more akin to 1000 monkeys with typewriters than shakespeare--most of the time i may be tossing poop, and i would like puns to be high brow humor.

**Friday** · 19th July 12, 06:04 PM

Originally Posted by opositive

if you disagree with a post, do you think it would be ok to quote then use "-1" without further explanation?

Another forum I am on has "agree and disagree" buttons at the bottom of a post. I have never liked the "disagree" button. I think that you should own your disagreement and explain why you have a different opinion. In general, most on this forum understand and accept differing opinions with out taking offense.

**mookien** · 19th July 12, 06:19 PM

Originally Posted by opositive

if you disagree with a post, do you think it would be ok to quote then use "-1" without further explanation? if you are neutral, should you use "1"? ...

I think one should use -1 to disagree, 0 (or better yet, the null post) if neutral, and *** if one agrees. Clearly, the free kilt provides an incentive for us all to be more agreeable.

**Beertigger** · 19th July 12, 06:20 PM

^ this.

**CDNSushi** · 19th July 12, 06:24 PM

Originally Posted by Friday

Another forum I am on has "agree and disagree" buttons at the bottom of a post. I have never liked the "disagree" button. I think that you should own your disagreement and explain why you have a different opinion. In general, most on this forum understand and accept differing opinions with out taking offense.

The problem with -1s and "disagree" buttons is that they can really become hurtful very quickly. That's why none of the social networks (from whence the "***" phenomenon came) offers such a feature, as much as sometimes we'd like to see one... It's kinda the principle that many of us grew up with, when our mommas said: "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it at all."

One forum I used to be a part of, (technically probably still am but haven't bothered logging in for over three years), actually assigned karma to the users. If you liked a user or what he/she said, you could send "karma" their way, but conversely you could take away karma too. End result? A really nasty place full of childish bickering and unpleasantries being exchanged. Many people with literally hundreds of negative karma scores (like -235) and others with very high positive ones (+500). Then, the people in the negative karma camp went one of two ways. Either the negative karma became a badge of honour, and they would do everything to derail, p*ss off, sabotage, ridicule, and troll threads and posts to earn more negative karma... And then there were those who were really just somewhat socially inept in the way they expressed themselves, and once their karma dropped sufficiently low they would quit the forum and re-join under a new alias so they could start fresh at zero (but fooling no one as to their identity) so getting back to square one in a matter of months.

This, based on much personal experience of other fora I've visited, taken part in, and even moderated, is by far, far, FAR the best. Hands down. I don't wish to toot on any horns here, (heaven knows, we got to keep Steve humble somehow)... but you will be hard pressed to find such a decent forum owner, fair and even-keeled moderators, and pleasant overall atmosphere from a strictly (yet not overly restrictively) moderated online environment. For me, it's an honour and privilege to help out with the daily task of keeping this place running smoothly, while enjoying the company of such fine people, who seem to get much FINER when I meet them in person. Without exception, every single XMTS member I've met in person thus far as been awesomer in person and if/when I get off this silly rock in the Far East, would be thrilled to spend time with in person on a regular basis.

JD

**Dixiecat** · 19th July 12, 06:41 PM

I have to agree with CDNsushi and most others in this thread that ***, Agree, or Well said! posts are just a waste of time and server space. Some members here are just racking up the post counts on these types of posts with some members counts being 80% bloated by these posts! One forum I belong to calls these types of posts 'star farming' and are removed by the moderators as useless bits of trash. While I understand that every now and then one is compelled to lend support for comments others make, I think that we're overusing ***, Agree or Well said!

I would alter the 'if you can't say anything nice...' axiom to 'if you can't contribute anything useful, don't post'.

**opositive** · 19th July 12, 06:42 PM

sarcasm again does not always work unless face to face.

if you disagree, say why. if you agree, say why. contribute. help ignorant savages such as myself become more civilized when we grunt. and let us know if we actually state something coherently.

**mookien** · 19th July 12, 07:02 PM

Originally Posted by Dixiecat

I have to agree with CDNsushi and most others in this thread that ***, Agree, or Well said! posts are just a waste of time and server space. Some members here are just racking up the post counts on these types of posts with some members counts being 80% bloated by these posts! One forum I belong to calls these types of posts 'star farming' and are removed by the moderators as useless bits of trash. While I understand that every now and then one is compelled to lend support for comments others make, I think that we're overusing ***, Agree or Well said!

I would alter the 'if you can't say anything nice...' axiom to 'if you can't contribute anything useful, don't post'.

***, I'm going to get that free kilt, yet.

Steve: Feel free to zero out my post count, but please don't change my *** stats.