Green and Red Boxes

[Vanya]

Is that really what those green and red boxes are for, who is hated and who is liked?



Serra

[VEO]

And you're talking about...?

[Iatronas]

I kinda like the "spectacular aura" that the last poster has . . . even if he isn't sure what you are talking about!

[Ed Mills]

This may be the Web Master's experiment in Athenian Democracy. Since it started, i was green, then red, then green again, red once more and now green. On Sundays the Amen Choir votes against me. When the troops get R & R they vote for me. Back and forth it goes.

[VEO]

Oh goodie. 3/4 posts I don't understand for squat. The other says "I don't get it." That one I got. You guys want to sign up for the same world as the rest of us? Man, what people will do with their free time...[mirror mirror.....]

Brad the Confused

[Pfendi]

What Vanya was takling about are the little green or red boxes in the upper right corner of each post, stating your "reputation".

At least that is what I think and she is not taking about xmas presents.

Cheers,

Pfendi

[Woody]

Methinks Brad is just trying to be coy about his burgeoning reputation.

As for Ed I think he uses the scales on himself one day one way, the next the other just to delight in the confusion he causes.

[loraelin]

I think this one is *definitely* bunnies ...

[darrell]

Yeah, this is just another one of those nifty little "features" of the forum software. What is being referred to are the little green or red boxes on the right sight of each posts title block, just under where it says the poster's join date, location, and number of posts. This is a measure of a poster's "reputation" within the forum. Other can modify a member's reputation by clicking the little graphic that looks like scales right above the join date. You can basically vote "for" or "against" each post that a member makes. The whole idea is that if someone makes a post that is actually helpful or informative, people will click on the scales in the top of that particular post and add to the poster's reputation. Conversely, if they say something mean or whatever, you can subtract from their reputation. To try to keep things somewhat fair, each member only has a certain amount of reputation "power" (which is really just a pool of points that they can give out), determined by your number of posts, and how long you've been a member. So a person who has been a member for a long time and/or has a lot of posts will be able to add or subtract quite a bit of reputation from someone, whereas a newer member only has a few points to give out (or take away, as it were). The system hides the actual number from everyone, and just assigns cute little quotes (like "has a spectacular aura about") and some number of little boxes. That's all configurable within the software, but I've left it at the default for now.

Just for giggles, here is a list of the point scales and what the quotes are:

User is infamous around these parts (-50 or less)
User can only hope to improve (from -10 to -49)
User has a little shameless behaviour in the past (from -1 to -9)
User is an unknown quantity at this point (from 0 to 9)
User is on a distinguished road (from 10 to 49)
User will become famous soon enough (from 50 to 149)
User has a spectacular aura about (from 150 to 249)
User is a jewel in the rough (from 250 to 349)
User is just really nice (from 350 to 449)
User is a glorious beacon of light (from 450 to 549)
User is a name known to all (from 550 to 649)
User is a splendid one to behold (from 650 to 999)
User has much to be proud of (from 1000 to 1499)
User has a brilliant future (from 1500 to 1999)
User has a reputation beyond repute (2000 or more)

Everyone starts at "10". You can see your current total and your last 5 reputation additions/subtractions at the bottom of your control panel page (the "UserCP" link at the top of each page takes you there). You get 1 point of "power" every 30 days, and another point for every 100 posts. Before you can give to (or take from) someone's reputation, you must have at least 25 posts and 10 reputation points of your own. (Meaning, if someone takes away from *your* reputation, and you drop to 9, you can no longer give or take reputation from others until you get back up to at least 10.)

I think the whole system is just kind of an experiment at this point, so I'd hate to assign too much value to it, but if anyone is interested and has suggestions or comments, I'd love to hear them.

[darrell]

I kinda like the "spectacular aura" that the last poster has . . . even if he isn't sure what you are talking about!

Yep, everyone loves Brad, even if he doesn't know it. ;)

[Ed Mills]

Ha! My trap worked and I now know who is voting against me. Care to make a public explanation, or even a private one?

[Drukarzun]

Ha! My trap worked and I now know who is voting against me. Care to make a public explanation, or even a private one?

Yeah Ed I dinged you a vote when you hurt my feelings calling me colorblind. <g> I guess I'm the little boy and Brad the emperor in the old story about the emperor's new clothes...neither one of us can see his 'spectacular aura'. <bg>

[Drukarzun]

Ha! My trap worked and I now know who is voting against me. Care to make a public explanation, or even a private one?

We all know Ed is infamous around these parts, regardless of what the little boxes say.

[Ed Mills]

Thank you, that is much better. One more black antelope in the freezer.

[Drukarzun]

each member only has a certain amount of reputation "power" (which is really just a pool of points that they can give out), determined by your number of posts, and how long you've been a member. So a person who has been a member for a long time and/or has a lot of posts will be able to add or subtract quite a bit of reputation from someone...
(Meaning, if someone takes away from *your* reputation, and you drop to 9, you can no longer give or take reputation from others until you get back up to at least 10.)


So the people that talk the most (the "beautiful people") can slap down the others (the "others") with huge hits to those others' reputation; thus the beautiful people silence their critics (you know, those "others") who don't ever get enough reputation to make a dent in the reputation of the beautiful people. Hey sounds good to me. I suppose the same folks who obsess over the PRS score would be the same ones who worry about their green boxes, eh?

[Drukarzun]

Thank you, that is much better. One more black antelope in the freezer.

Well if you liked my post, don't forget to vote for me!!

[Drukarzun]

Well if you liked my post, don't forget to vote for me!!

Vote for my post I mean.

[Drukarzun]

And did someone say there is some sort of an advantage to be had for having a lot of posts in this forum? <g>

[Iatronas]

And did someone say there is some sort of an advantage to be had for having a lot of posts in this forum? <g>

I heard that somewhere as well. Guess I'll have to stop being as much of a lurker!

[Ed Mills]

Vote for my post I mean.

Consider it done. When you are elected President please appoint me Secretay of the Treasury so I can do a little grafting on the side.

[Drukarzun]

Consider it done. When you are elected President please appoint me Secretay of the Treasury so I can do a little grafting on the side.

OK we have a deal then. I'll vote for your posts too, but which way do you want me to vote? There's something to be said for being the first 3-red-box-infamous-in-these-parts fellow. <bg>

[Drukarzun]

Consider it done. When you are elected President please appoint me Secretay of the Treasury so I can do a little grafting on the side.

For all you bean counters out there that want to come up with formulas for everything, I checked my 'reputation points' before and after Ed voted for me for president, and I went up 8 points -- I guess he's one of the beautiful people too.

[Ed Mills]

Your rep hit was 12 points. Clearly, you are more pretty than I. Maybe it has to do with your 'secret' tattoo? Ta, off to the tattoo parlor. Must keep up with "Mr. Jones".

[Ian Etchells]

Well I just voted for Vanya for starting such a great thread...I haven't laughed so much for ages.

Ian

[VEO]

Well then, I just voted for you Ian. Just for being nice and kidnapping Uklurg without all the fuss. Maybe if the "little boy" DC can figure out how to use agents I'll vote for him too... ;)

[VEO]

Ha! My trap worked and I now know who is voting against me. Care to make a public explanation, or even a private one?

Trap? You don't mean that you were sitting on the Who's Online feature for the last 48 hours, java on the IV, waiting for the amen choir to throw eggs at your bus from behind the bushes..? Ed, Ed, Ed...if you haven't fixed your cable since the hurricanes you really should go rent a movie or something one day... :p

Burgeoning Brad (wife likes this one...)

[Drukarzun]

Well then, I just voted for you Ian. Just for being nice and kidnapping Uklurg without all the fuss. Maybe if the "little boy" DC can figure out how to use agents I'll vote for him too... ;)

OK Ian, we all want to know, how many reputation points did Brad the Spectacular bestow upon you??? And regarding my game 68 agent play, I agree with Wayne Gretzky when he said you miss 100% of the shots you never take. My other current CL game, my kill number is about 120, which still yet is lower than I'd like, at less than 3 per turn over a 55ish turn game...

[Ian Etchells]

Well for those of you who are into working things out with equations Brad added 22 points onto my reputation score, from 25 to 47.

I have to say many thanks to Brad for taking the (presumed) loss of his army very well. Now where do we all think the Eothraim will end up this turn, cause Din is itching to get some real work done.

[Fierein]

Ok then.. I give up!

How do you see what your actual score is ?

Thomas

[Loke]

Arg its all over, fine, been there done that.

Loke:D:D:D

[Vanya]

Darrel,

Here I go peeving off the administrators again.

Is there someway we can block this feature. I think it is childish and immature it reminds me of elementary school or to use a quote "the beautiful people"

Why do we have this system it just seems to me that all it is a way to make people feel bad about others. *yuck*

If this is not changed, please just set mine to the worst rating (permenately) that way I know that everyone hates me just like I always thought.

(eats a can of worms)


The stupid things board creators come up with never ceases to amaze me.

[Per Bovbjerg]

Where can you see your rep points? :(

[Ian Etchells]

Click on the scales icon on any of your posts

[Per Bovbjerg]

Ah nice... would have thought that you could see your negative and possitive rep points... but then again who cares ;)

[VEO]

"out to the garden to eat some worms..."....??? ;)

As one who is supposedly deriving the "benefits" of such a feature, I would not even vote on it's continued inclusion, be it Yea or Nay. A fun conversation is one thing, assigning actual "meaning" to such fluff is quite another.

Brad

[Drukarzun]

Darrel,

Here I go peeving off the administrators again.

Is there someway we can block this feature. I think it is childish and immature it reminds me of elementary school or to use a quote "the beautiful people"

Why do we have this system it just seems to me that all it is a way to make people feel bad about others. *yuck*

If this is not changed, please just set mine to the worst rating (permenately) that way I know that everyone hates me just like I always thought.

(eats a can of worms)


The stupid things board creators come up with never ceases to amaze me.

I think it would be much more useful to show rating/points for specific posts rather than for the posters themselves. Kind of like the Amazon.com way of saying "10 out of 12 people approved/disapproved [or whatever] of this post" as everyone says both good and bad things from time to time. People that read these forum postings regularly know that Brad Brunet is one of the most helpful and thoughtful members without having to see how many green boxes he's compiled.

Drew

[VEO]

People that read these forum postings regularly know that Brad Brunet is one of the most helpful and thoughtful members without having to see how many green boxes he's compiled.

Drew

That's Brad the Spectacular to you, you little person you... :rolleyes:

[Ed Mills]

The lovely Vanya is quite correct. The business does lend itself to juvenile monkey shines. Witness my own behavior. Plus it adds to conflict within the membership, as if we needed another excuse.

[Drukarzun]

That's Brad the Spectacular to you, you little person you... :rolleyes:

Well damn, I thought I'd sucked up enough that you would have voted for my post and given me 22 reputation points. <g>

[Christian Smith]

Drew, it does show a rating for specific posts.:)

Serra, it may be juvenile but then the whole of civilzed society might be juvenile. :eek: Rousseau made a convincing argument in A Discourse on the Origins of Inequality that the desire for Reputation is what marks the civilized man from the natural man and that the biggest root of evil in society is this ubiquitous desire for reputation that all civilized people supposedly suffer from.

The reputation sytem seems to me a simple reward/punishment mechanism meant to reward friendly and helpful behavior and punish rude unhelpful behavior. If Rousseau is right and Operative Conditioning really works (which it does) then the system should work [edited note: "should" in a theoretical sense]. But some people revel in having a Reputation for being Bad ;) --in which case the punishment is a reward. Others will see it as a false measure of real reputation (perhaps because the system isn't working for them :( ). In any case, the system seems to reflect the competetive and petty nature of civilzed man. Maybe we don't like it because we don't like that our side ourselves. :eek:

Christian

[Christian Smith]

Oh goodie. 3/4 posts I don't understand for squat. The other says "I don't get it." That one I got. You guys want to sign up for the same world as the rest of us? Man, what people will do with their free time...[mirror mirror.....]

Brad the Confused
A reference to the equations thread perhaps?

[Drukarzun]

Drew, it does show a rating for specific posts.:)

For the author, but not for the community at large to see. My point was to praise/rebuke the post and what was specifically said, rather than praise/rebuke the poster. Thank you for the psychology lesson, I guess the reason I'm posting on this silly thread at all is a subconscious need for reputation. <bg>

[Vanya]

Christian,

Just because the world at large is juvenile and just because Rosseau decided to point out this behavior does not mean that we have to contribute to it.

I see us (the players of MEBPM) a smarter group of people then the average Earthling, first because we play a game that requires us to use our brains (unlike monopoly, life, lottery, slot machines and the other meaningless games out there); second because we enjoy challenges that are presented to us in the course of this game. Since, I believe this I also believe we can act above the common man and that we should not encourage juvenile behavior......but of course if you all prefer not to be viewed this way.....hell that is the way I shall view you.

My point is that we should rise above all that. It's only one small step up come on as a group we can do it.

Serra

[loraelin]

Hi,
I completely agree with Vanya. The red and green boxes are unecessary, childish and downright annoying. If this can be blocked please do so. Until then, it's going to put me off even reading this messageboard.

I fail to see any positive purpose this petty little thing could achieve.

Colin

[VEO]

This is so funny. We're supposed to rise above such pettiness, but we get upset at something so trivial that most are either ignorant about or simply ignore, or merely consider silly. Why the big deal? Go ahead, modify me down to a red box, I have no vested interest here, except to wonder why people allow themselves to get angry for no reason.

Brad

[benmin18]

But I like having a red box next to my name...

- Ben

[Drukarzun]

This is so funny. We're supposed to rise above such pettiness, but we get upset at something so trivial that most are either ignorant about or simply ignore, or merely consider silly. Why the big deal? Go ahead, modify me down to a red box, I have no vested interest here, except to wonder why people allow themselves to get angry for no reason.

Brad

ROFL!!! Since the start of this thread, both Ed and I have gone from merely being 'on a distinguised road' to 'will be famous soon enough' and Brad from 'a spectacularly aura' to being a 'jewel in the rough' !!! I see people type LOL a lot, well I really did laugh out loud!! This is hilarious!

Drew

[Drukarzun]

But I like having a red box next to my name...

- Ben

Well that doesn't surprise me, considering what you have to say about Ann Arbor and the whole state of MI. You're gonna have to add Stillwater and the whole state of OK after the Alamo Bowl, buddy. <g>

Drew
-alumnus of THE Oklahoma State University (the *real* OSU)

[VEO]

ROFL!!! Since the start of this thread, both Ed and I have gone from merely being 'on a distinguised road' to 'will be famous soon enough' and Brad from 'a spectacularly aura' to being a 'jewel in the rough' !!! I see people type LOL a lot, well I really did laugh out loud!! This is hilarious!

Drew

Funny, that. Whomever approved my post, you're worth 25 points. I can see you know, going into that board meeting bragging, making the others feel small, you petty juvenile ubiquitous freak you! :eek:

Brad in the Rough

[VEO]

Originally Posted by VEO
Oh goodie. 3/4 posts I don't understand for squat. The other says "I don't get it." That one I got. You guys want to sign up for the same world as the rest of us? Man, what people will do with their free time...[mirror mirror.....]

Brad the Confused



A reference to the equations thread perhaps?

Um, no, a reference to the 4 posts above mine at that time... I don't go for no equations, as demonstrated, I'm not even very good with fractions...

b

[Ed Mills]

[QUOTE

Drew
-alumnus of THE Oklahoma State University (the *real* OSU)[/QUOTE]

Hey! I'm from Oklahoma (I do wear shoes, however.) Born at Ft. Sill. My first memory was the excitement caused by the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

[Drukarzun]

Hey! I'm from Oklahoma (I do wear shoes, however.)

As opposed to cowboys boots, I'm sure you mean.

[Vanya]

This is so funny. We're supposed to rise above such pettiness, but we get upset at something so trivial that most are either ignorant about or simply ignore, or merely consider silly. Why the big deal? Go ahead, modify me down to a red box, I have no vested interest here, except to wonder why people allow themselves to get angry for no reason.

Brad


Ahhh Brad as ever you are right this is getting silly. But I am a full believer in the idea that the squeaky wheel gets the grease.....so at this point I think I am trying to drag this thread out so perhaps the administrators will do something about it......

Perhaps though it is time to start a new thread......maybe I shall ask one of those ever-dumb questions, just to get everyone riled up.....we devil's advocates have to keep our business going.

*smile*

[benmin18]

Well that doesn't surprise me, considering what you have to say about Ann Arbor and the whole state of MI. You're gonna have to add Stillwater and the whole state of OK after the Alamo Bowl, buddy. <g>

Drew
-alumnus of THE Oklahoma State University (the *real* OSU)

You guys wish you could play real football like we do here in the Big Ten. Shouldn't you be chasing after a some tumbleweeds or something? Oh, and when Stillwater gets a national championship you can talk, until then, you're second fiddle in your own state.

- Buckeye

[Drukarzun]

You guys wish you could play real football like we do here in the Big Ten. Shouldn't you be chasing after a some tumbleweeds or something? Oh, and when Stillwater gets a national championship you can talk, until then, you're second fiddle in your own state.

- Buckeye

Big 10 vs Big XII in football? Gimme a break, you guys are a joke! There's not a team one in the Big 10 that could stand up to a schedule that included Oklahoma, Texas, Tx Tech, Tx A&M. The BIG XII is even better in basketball these days since you guys ran Bobby Knight outta town; the only Big 10 basketball team worth a crap is Illinois, who is still cashing in on the coaching and recruiting of Bill Self, an Oklahoma State guy I might add. And for your information, Stillwater has more NCAA national championships and individual Olympic gold medalists than Columbus will ever have, maybe just not in the media-glorified sport of football.

P.S. One of the local watering holes in Stillwater is named The Tumbleweed, btw. <g> And when I was in school there, Eskimo Joe's was a beer joint, not a T-shirt.

[Drukarzun]

That last post will cost me some rep points, without a doubt. <g>

[benmin18]

That last post will cost me some rep points, without a doubt. <g>

*Laugh*

Without a doubt...

Let's see any Big 12 team try to run the gauntlet that is the Big Ten. Ohio State, Michigan, Purdue, Michigan State, Penn St., Wisconsin, etc... On any given day any team can beat any other team, and it happened plenty this year. I'd rather have a conference that is strong from top to bottom year in and year out as opposed to the lopsided Big 12 where you get two good teams that beat up on everyone else. Kinda sounds like the Big East before Va. Tech and Miami left...

At least we can both acknowledge that we're better than the ACC and SEC.

- Ben

[darrell]

I strive for harmony above all else.

[darrell]

I think it would be much more useful to show rating/points for specific posts rather than for the posters themselves. Kind of like the Amazon.com way of saying "10 out of 12 people approved/disapproved [or whatever] of this post"

There is a way to rate entire threads...although it doesn't rate inidividual posts. There is a link towards the top right of each page, immediately above the first post per page, labelled "Rate Thread". Using this, you can rate a thread with 1 to 5 stars, and people can use that as a criteria in their searches. Much like the reputation thing, it's not something I've advertised...but unlike the reputation system, nobody seems to have discovered it. It can be quite useful, especially since there is no way of assigning a "negative" score to a thread, since they all start and "zero" and can only go up from there. At one time I was considering giving one star to any post that was not related to a specific game, so that it would be easier to search for informational threads and weed out game-specific threads, but I got lazy. A thread must receive a minimum of 5 "votes" before its rating will be displayed.

[Drukarzun]

At least we can both acknowledge that we're better than the ACC and SEC.

You mean they play football over there in the ACC? Hadn't noticed. <g> And the SEC is even more overrated than the Pac10. Sheesh, I get tired of those ESPN talking head fools going on and on and on about the eastern schools.

[Drukarzun]

I strive for harmony above all else.

Must be a Baylor fan. <bg>

[Pfendi]

Hey! I'm from Oklahoma (I do wear shoes, however.) Born at Ft. Sill. My first memory was the excitement caused by the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Goosh are you old. :eek:

My first memory starts far after the Vietnam war, and I know people who´s firtst movie seen in the theater was Pearl Harbor (little noise kid in the front row).

It´s an honour for me to play with such a veteran. :) :)

Pfendi

[Ed Mills]

Martin, I am sooo old I remember milk being delivered by a horse drawn wagon. I knew a soldier who had served with Tolkien during the First World War, and a lot of interesting stories he could tell.

[benmin18]

I strive for harmony above all else.

Damn it...

GIVE ME BACK MY RED BOX!

- Ben

[darrell]

Must be a Baylor fan. <bg>

Heh...

Actually, I'm a Texas A&M fan or a University of Texas fan, depending on which family members I'm trying to annoy at the time.

[loraelin]

You're all talking greek .... worse (from what I can work out) it's sports-related greek. :-P

Colin

[Vanya]

Please I am absoulutely on my knees begging you to PLEASE STOP TALKING SPORTS......What is it with men and sports YUCK!

And not only that but college sports in the scheme of things how muh does anyone really care about college sports! Then to top it off your talking about Football double yuck a bunch of oversized neandrathals grunting groaning shoving pushing each other around proving which one of them has the lowest IQ........ewwwwwwwwww..... get a real sport!

[benmin18]

Badminton, anyone?

- Ben

[Ian Etchells]

Damn it...

GIVE ME BACK MY RED BOX!

- Ben

I second this :D

[Vanya]

I want to thank the administrators.....


Thank you. The board looks so much cleaner.

Serra