To what extent does a user's reputation matter to you?

[Sapin]

I read a while back about people's opinions of other users of this forum, and how you shouldn't trust someone just because they've made a lot of posts, or even have a good reputation...

I'll share my own view... I could have been interested in buying a product off a certain user, but was automatically put off by the amount of red blobs.

I checked out past groans, and it very quickly became clear that to me, this person isn't very nice, always replying sarcastically and sometimes just really vile. So, although the product may well have been a good deal, I automatically lost interest in buying it because I didn't like the way this user expressed him/herself. Maybe I came to the conclusion that because he/she is like this, I couldn't trust them....

What do you think? Would you be the same, or do you think I'm a bit weird for thinking like this?

[JustBean]

To be honest....I would have done exactly what you did.
That was the only way to get information on this person....and if it made you feel uncomfortable in any way, then you have every right to not engage in a sale with that person.
That doesn't necessarily mean that this person is indeed untrustworthy....but, like I said, you could only judge them by what they have supplied to this forum (which turns out to not be so nice).

I always think it's good to go with your gut feeling on things.

[golly]

But sometimes it's the nasty people that give the red blobs.
Groans versus thanks are probably a better indicator

[kevlegs]

	Quote:	Sapin
	I checked out past groans, and it very quickly became clear that to me, this person isn't very nice, always replying sarcastically and sometimes just really vile.

Hmmm sounds like someone I know on here

[gata]

	Quote:	Sapin
	I read a while back about people's opinions of other users of this forum, and how you shouldn't trust someone just because they've made a lot of posts, or even have a good reputation... I'll share my own view... I could have been interested in buying a product off a certain user, but was automatically put off by the amount of red blobs. I checked out past groans, and it very quickly became clear that to me, this person isn't very nice, always replying sarcastically and sometimes just really vile. So, although the product may well have been a good deal, I automatically lost interest in buying it because I didn't like the way this user expressed him/herself. Maybe I came to the conclusion that because he/she is like this, I couldn't trust them.... What do you think? Would you be the same, or do you think I'm a bit weird for thinking like this?

I would have done the same. I like to deal only with nice people if i have the choice, and on the forum i do

	Quote:	golly
	But sometimes it's the nasty people that give the red blobs. Groans versus thanks are probably a better indicator

Good point. But only people with green blobs can give rep in this forum and therefore make a difference

[silverburn]

	Quote:	kevlegs
	Hmmm sounds like someone I know on here

That could be a big list...

[silverburn]

The thanks/groans/rep system was designed (this is not the only forum to use it) to help you (OP) in exactly that way.

Afterall, you don't know Eve from Adam on the Interwebs, and credibility is extremely hard to come by. I could claim I was a professor of Kama Sutra, but until my comments and observations are reviewed and rated by my peers, that title means jack ****.

If anyone wishes to verify my Kama Sutra credentials through physical exam, just PM me.

(Actually don't - happily married in real life )

[olygirl]

I've included it on my CV.

[Textoch]

I find that it usually does not take too much detective work to figure out if someone's negative rep is the result of continued nastiness and sarcasm on the forum or a situation in which they got "crossways" of another member (or a few) on a particularly hot-button issue in which one or both parties are extremely opinionated.

Start with the threads that contain the person's groaned-at posts, then look at who groaned them, why, and the groaner's history of groans. Although not a true picture since you can obviously neg-rep without groaning, sometimes patterns do seem to emerge pretty quickly!

[lmerkel]

I'm going to chime in on this one (maybe another thread), but it has been irking me lately. I've noticed a lot of Forum Vets (greens) who just jump on threads to tell the OP to 'google it themselves, what do you think we are here for, to do it for you?' Contributing no added value to the thread.

Recently I groaned at a vet because I asked for a phone number of a place that another member reco-ed. He said "google it, and do you want us to buy the pizza for you too?" He was angry at me for groaning, but I told him his comment was nasty and not needed if he wasn't going to contribute something positive to the thread, well don't comment. I see a lot of threads where I think 'get ahold of yourself', but I don't comment unless I think I can help.

If I comment on a thread, or start it, I don't mind people asking me for a phone number, website and I sometimes do some research for them based on my reco. Isn't that part of what the forum is about, to help others? I also think that attitude puts off Newbies or leaves a bad taste that the Forum has an 'inner cliq' as we used to say in high school. Done with rant, thanks for listening.

[olygirl]

90% of the folks on here are upstanding people with good intentions. It doesn't matter if they have 1, 2, 3, or whatever green blobs under their name.

There are a few posters who have an excellent reputation yet I'm not impressed.

There are a few posters who have lots of groan yet I respect these posters highly.

Posters who have no groans are very nice people but are a bit shy about stating some of their real opinions.

So in the end, a reputation does matter a bit but don't take it too seriously.

[Nil]

	Quote:	lmerkel
	I'm going to chime in on this one (maybe another thread), but it has been irking me lately. I've noticed a lot of Forum Vets (greens) who just jump on threads to tell the OP to 'google it themselves, what do you think we are here for, to do it for you?' Contributing no added value to the thread. Recently I groaned at a vet because I asked for a phone number of a place that another member reco-ed. He said "google it, and do you want us to buy the pizza for you too?" He was angry at me for groaning, but I told him his comment was nasty and not needed if he wasn't going to contribute something positive to the thread, well don't comment. I see a lot of threads where I think 'get ahold of yourself', but I don't comment unless I think I can help. If I comment on a thread, or start it, I don't mind people asking me for a phone number, website and I sometimes do some research for them based on my reco. Isn't that part of what the forum is about, to help others? I also think that attitude puts off Newbies or leaves a bad taste that the Forum has an 'inner cliq' as we used to say in high school. Done with rant, thanks for listening.

I agree with you. But you also have to see it from the other point of view. Lots of newbies use this forum only as a yellow pages. I used to answer every requests, questions and demands on PMs but I stop bothering because I had enough to not have someone polite enough to say thank you and give some feedback.

This is a community here. Most people in here spend a lot of time to help others and they met in real life too because they wanted to get involve.

When someone comes in here with just questions and demand, sucking the informations out and never bother to come back and contribute, it gets on my nerves and on others too.

[Belgianmum]

	Quote:	Sapin
	I read a while back about people's opinions of other users of this forum, and how you shouldn't trust someone just because they've made a lot of posts, or even have a good reputation... I'll share my own view... I could have been interested in buying a product off a certain user, but was automatically put off by the amount of red blobs. I checked out past groans, and it very quickly became clear that to me, this person isn't very nice, always replying sarcastically and sometimes just really vile. So, although the product may well have been a good deal, I automatically lost interest in buying it because I didn't like the way this user expressed him/herself. Maybe I came to the conclusion that because he/she is like this, I couldn't trust them.... What do you think? Would you be the same, or do you think I'm a bit weird for thinking like this?

I would have done exactly the same as you here.

It's true that some people end up with red blobs from getting on the wrong side of another poster but who in general is pretty nice. On the other hand there are some posters who have good rep who are complete tools. It's sometimes pretty easy to rack up some red blobs/groans just because you don't share the same opinion as another poster and in these cases the rep is not really a good indicator. It's usually pretty easy to suss out when this is the case.

If I was considering buying something from somebody on here I would also do a bit of research into them to find out more. As Textoch said it's pretty easy to get a feel for what sort of person you're likely to be dealing with from their posting history.

[jerallie]

I think it comes down to looking into why the posts were groaned at. I am in the process of trying to buy up some iPad 1s and I was sure to look at the profile to make sure I wouldn't wire money and get nothing in return. Some people get groans because they hold certain points of view or feel really strongly about a subject and the groans come from people not liking their point of view. Other groans come from nasty comments or mean remarks. I always welcome people with different ideas and points of view because I feel it is the way we make changes in the world. I welcome people who were groaned for having a strong opinion about something and not backing down.

[silverburn]

	Quote:	jerallie
	I welcome people who were groaned for having a strong opinion about something and not backing down.

Unless they believed in something completely cobblers - like Creationism for example. Or in the right to flush after 10pm.

[Ace1]

	Quote:	gata
	Good point. But only people with green blobs can give rep in this forum and therefore make a difference

Eh? I'm pretty sure that's not the case. I've had negative rep from red-blobbed individuals on several occasions.

[gata]

	Quote:	Ace1
	Eh? I'm pretty sure that's not the case. I've had negative rep from red-blobbed individuals on several occasions.

Strange. im sure ive seen it written somewhere

[bigblue2]

	Quote:	lmerkel
	Recently I groaned at a vet because I asked for a phone number of a place that another member reco-ed. He said "google it, and do you want us to buy the pizza for you too?" He was angry at me for groaning, but I told him his comment was nasty and not needed if he wasn't going to contribute something positive to the thread, well don't comment. I see a lot of threads where I think 'get ahold of yourself', but I don't comment unless I think I can help.

oh come on, I read that thread and lets face it you had the name and location its simple for you to find the number, people are here to help each other, but not to wipe each others arses.

ooops I guess I'm one of the ones people are moaning about, oh well

ETA I've also noticed that (generally) its the ones that take the most, give the least here

[Slaphead]

	Quote:	Ace1
	Eh? I'm pretty sure that's not the case. I've had negative rep from red-blobbed individuals on several occasions.

It is the case. You can't be neg repped (or positive repped) by somebody who has red blobs. They can use the rep system like anybody else and leave comments, however the maximum amount of rep they can give is zero, thus not affecting your reputation level.

[Swiss Cheddar]

Mark's reputation is the highest on the forum.

The Locals reputation is the lowest.



Says it all really.

cheers
SC