What's my karma?

[Dr. Whom]

I noted that in my profile, my karma is 0. What does this mean? Is this a Good Thing?

[Menard]

I noted that in my profile, my karma is 0. What does this mean? Is this a Good Thing?

Everybody has a 0 karma right now as it is a new feature. It is similar to reputation on other boards. If someone likes one of your posts, they can click on the 'applaud' underneath the karma. If they don't like what you have to say, they can click on the 'boo, hiss' underneath the karma (don't anybody get any ideas. ). The higher your karma, the more positive votes you have had. It is just a feature though for us to have fun with.

[Andrew]

I noted that in my profile, my karma is 0. What does this mean? Is this a Good Thing?

Everybody has a 0 karma right now as it is a new feature. It is similar to reputation on other boards. If someone likes one of your posts, they can click on the 'applaud' underneath the karma. If they don't like what you have to say, they can click on the 'boo, hiss' underneath the karma (don't anybody get any ideas. ). The higher your karma, the more positive votes you have had. It is just a feature though for us to have fun with.

Menard hit the nail on the head. I turned it on for trial, because it provides feedback when someone submits a well-written post or neat idea.  The intent is not to "boo, hiss" people you disagree with, but those who are being rude or unfair to others.  I hope that most of its use comes from rewarding interesting posts.

[raj]

Cool.  Now I'll have to start coming up with interesting posts.

[Derf]

I was wondering just what this was as well. Thanks for the info.

Now comes the stupid question: Can I just not see my own applaud / boo buttons so that I don't artificially manipulate my own Karma?

/My karma ran over your dogma.

[Zapranoth]

Uhhhh...

please, don't manipulate your own Karma while any of us are within line of sight...   

(Damn, that little bounce giggle thing is annoying.)

[Andrew]

Now comes the stupid question: Can I just not see my own applaud / boo buttons so that I don't artificially manipulate my own Karma?

Correct.  And I agree with Zapranoth too.

[Derf]

Aaaalll righty, then: No auto-karmanipulation in public. Gotcha.

[LilCerberus]

My Karma smells kinda funny.
I think it's gone bad.

[Ash]

I object to this karma feature!

Sure...it works well when positive gestures are given.
But what about the negativity and harsh emotions it can produce when someone votes against you?

On 11-15-06 I posted a thread about a hilarious fart video.
That video just happened to be on an adult website.
In my post, I gave ample warning that it was on a website for adults only.
So I posted it anyway, and within a half hour it was removed and I was given a negative karma by one of our fellow members.  (notice my -1 Karma...oh wait...now it's zero)

I feel that this karma feature is judgemental, favoritist and not warranted here.

After all, when you really think about it, when you select a karma preference, you're essentially passing judgement on that person.

Is that what we really want here?
People passing judgement on one another?
(It can create hard feelings and resentment)

I vote NO!

This karma feature works both ways.

If you receive positive votes...it makes you feel good.
But what about guys like me who live to push the envelope and may sometimes write threads that some people find questionable?
Guys like me who are controversial by our very nature?

Is it really fair?

I don't think so.

Better to be without it in my opinion....

[Menard]

Okay, you are back at 0 now.

Just keep posting like you normally do.

Even if you do rub somebody the wrong way (and we all know what a minimalist chance that is ) any positives you get will outway any negatives just by the fact of the response your posts generate (it is a little too soon to start talking about toilet paper again so wipe that smile off your face). 

[ulthar]

I object to this karma feature!

Sure...it works well when positive gestures are given.
But what about the negativity and harsh emotions it can produce when someone votes against you?

While it CAN be misused, many folks use the negative karma only against trolls and flamers.  I don't think it should be used in cases where you simply disagree with someone or are uninterested in their thread/post.

On 11-15-06 I posted a thread about a hilarious fart video.
That video just happened to be on an adult website.
In my post, I gave ample warning that it was on a website for adults only.
So I posted it anyway, and within a half hour it was removed and I was given a negative karma by one of our fellow members.  (notice my -1 Karma)

I feel that this karma feature is judgemental, favoritist and not warranted here.

Judgemental - yes.  Favoritist - No.  What's wrong with a little judgement once in a while?  *IF* (a big, hypothetical if) you post messages that continually get other board users to give you negative karma, that should be taken BY YOU as an indication that the board, as a 'voting body,' does not like your posts.

I'll give you an example.  On another board I frequent, we have one user who responds to EVERY THREAD - every single one.  His replies are often simply "me too" responses, and other times he tells folks what they should and should not do, even if they have FAR more experience than he does.  In short, he increases the "noise" of the board by a significant degree, and antagonizes many other users.  He has even called folks names for misunderstanding things he wrote very poorly.

He gets negative karma.  It helps others, perhaps those new to the site, see how seriously he should be taken.  It's not absolute, and again it can be misused.

After all, when you really think about it, when you select a karma preference, you're essentially passing judgement on that person.

That's right.  You are communicating to that person, anonymously, "I did not like what you wrote."  Just like in real life conversation, I can use body language and facial expressions to communicate, little things like karma help the overall communication on the board.

Is that what we really want here?
People passing judgement on one another?
(It can create hard feelings and resentment)

Sure, why not?  If I behave like an a$$, I would want someone to point it out to me.  Contrary to many misimpressions, the 'Net is NOT a place of totally anonymous, consequence-free environment where one should say whatever ridiculous or flamebait, trollish thing that they want.

I vote NO!

That's cool.  Don't use it.  And ignore it.  In the end, it really does not mean anything unless you LET it mean something.

This karma feature works both ways.

If you receive positive votes...it makes you feel good.
But what about guys like me who live to push the envelope and may sometimes write threads that some people find questionable?
Guys like me who are controversial by our very nature?

Well, there is the rub.  *IF* you get a lot of negative karma for being controversial, maybe, MAYBE that is the other users of this board trying to tell you they don't want "controversial" on this site.  (as you might now be thinking it was ME who boo'd you, it wasn't; reading your post here was the first I heard of that other thread or your karma reduction - I'm speaking philosophically).

That's my two cents.  In summary:  it MAY communicate a real dislike of topic choice, it may mean nothing.  It's really just a gimmick, a toy.

[Ash]

Ulthar...you were the one person here I expected who would give the biggest and most detailed response and you definitely delivered.  

[RCMerchant]

I dunno. A negative response is a response nontheless. At least your not ignored or boring. think of it this way...the Sex Pistols got bad "karma" all the time....and became famous!

[Ash]

Forgive me for the short earlier post.
I was too tired to write a more lengthy reply.

I appreciate what you're saying ulthar and thanks for being friendly about it.
I just don't care for this karma feature and I think this board would be better off without it.
We never really needed it before...I don't think we need it now.
My opinion of course.

I think I'll follow your advice and just not use it.

And thanks to whoever put me back up to 1 karma.