Shouldn’t The ATS Point System Be Discontinued?

I agree with you, and felt from the beginning that the points system - well wasn't really for 'serious' people wanting to discuss issues and could have the potential to 'create bad' post.

But I do see some or maybe the main reason its there.
so many people come here, ATS staffers need to figure out how to keep some kind of order. (i.e. who can post in chat, though again, people can run up post just to get there...so does it really work in the end? It may be a deterrent, so to some degree I guess it helps.)

But overall if people could approach a subject and give it what they thought without thinking they were collecting something (points) then they may refrain from posting things that are kind of irrelevant.

And Im sure the point system is there to help inspire some to actually participate.
At the end of the day its part of the system, and again with the size of the board, the pros probably out weigh the cons in the admins eyes.

Peace

Honestly, look at your point totals...

You guys are here on ATS, using this place likes its an RPG game.

Leveling up your Avatars and flexing your big point totals....

What does it mean? It means you guys have way more time than I do, thats about it.

Has nothing to do with quality posts or anything like that. For all I know you have a bunch of buddies here and just "applaud" eachother for points.

My point is that many people treat this site like a video game, RPG style, and the points are their exp bars.

In the end, the guy with the most time and posts will have the most points.... Not the guy with the best quality posts.

And, of course you wont remove all the "trolls". But if one "troll" dies in cyberspace, 4 Angels are born in heaven.... or something like that =P

[edit on 3-5-2007 by JbT]

Originally posted by mikesingh
or people sensationalizing headlines to attract traffic, thereby adding to their score.

Hi Mikesingh, With out trying to offend you, i find a few of your threads sensational, not always a bad thing, i think the title is just as important as the content, i hope you don't take offense to that, and see where im coming from.

When ever i post a new thread, i never do it for the points, i do it because i feel we are all part of a community here, and i wanna be involved.
I think the applause feature is a good one, as you really have to earn them.

Your threads make some very valid points though, and im sure we have a spectrum of different kinds of members here for different reasons.

But i think most people would agree with me, there is a great sense of family here, community, what ever you want to call it, in our journey to deny ignorance.


Just my thoughts.



[edit on 3-5-2007 by Denied]

I was wondering why do i need to post a lot in order to get points to buy low bandwidth mode. At least that should be free.

Noooooo!!!!! A thousand times no, leave the point system alone. I'm a self admitted points whore, but in a nice way . Leave my incentives alone, doggone it. Bad, bad, bad idea.

I'm getting a laugh out of this thread, it seems to me members who have points want to keep them and members who have very few points want rid of them?
I like my points cause I earned them, when I became a member I zip like everyone else. I don't post for points, lots of my threads get zero response.
Others have made it to 10 or so pages, well a couple have
Post a good subject and it's well written and researched , people will respond.

Mods can give 250 / 500 points I believe, and FSME like me can give out 1500 points. Podcast garner 2500 points, games have even more free points. So there easy to get if you want them. Other than that points mean two things one that person has made good threads and members have responded, and two it shows that the member involves them selves with the ATS community.

All in all I think they are a good thing

Originally posted by JbT
You guys are here on ATS, using this place likes its an RPG game.

Well, I have never played an RPG game in my life, so clearly not all of us "guys" are doing that, whatever it means.

Leveling up your Avatars and flexing your big point totals....

Yeah, just look at my fancy avatar! I spent 10 whole minutes in Microsoft paint to get that baby looking as professional as it does.

What does it mean? It means you guys have way more time than I do, thats about it.

I'm sorry, but the sour grapes are spilling from your posts here. You clearly don't even know what an applause is and yet you're attributing it to people having too much time on their hands.

Has nothing to do with quality posts or anything like that. For all I know you have a bunch of buddies here and just "applaud" eachother for points.

"For all you know", indeed. Buddies can't applaud each other. Applause comes from staff only for quality posts. Read about Applause Here

My point is that many people treat this site like a video game, RPG style, and the points are their exp bars.

And what if they do? Do you have a problem with this? I'm sorry, but it sounds to me like you're jealous of those who have higher point counts. Chill out. It's not a measure of anyone being better than another. It's just partly about contribution to the site as judged by staff.

In the end, the guy with the most time and posts will have the most points.... Not the guy with the best quality posts.

Keep telling yourself that.

Wait, wasn't there that great thread by that one member that said something like "If You Don't Like Something Just Leave it Alone"?

Good advice. If you don't want to see the points don't point your little eyes at them.


Or maybe I'm imagining things.

I just think we should have more stuff that we can buy with it...but if someone truley is a 'points whore ' oh well are they ruining your life? Cant you easily click the ignore button once you realize this? There are some point whores that put out quality posts so does that deter the value of there good post? I dont think its thta big of a deal.

Originally posted by ImpliedChaos
I just think we should have more stuff that we can buy with it...but if someone truley is a 'points whore '

oh well are they ruining your life? Cant you easily click the ignore button once you realize this?

Ignore user............. 10,000 ATS Points.



Sorry, couldn't help myself.

Originally posted by kleverone

10,000 here I come!! Forget you AAC!

I think En Vogue sang it best when they said, " NEVER GONNA GET IT, NEVER GONNA GET IT."

AAC

Originally posted by watch_the_rocks
Oh no! First someone posts something about avatar sizes, and now I currently don't have an avatar

Yeah I know, same thing happened to me.

But there is a way to change the size of your avatar so you can keep the same one, but it will be under the limit.

I don't know how to do it myself, but WolfofWar and Chissler helped me with mine, maybe they could do the same for you.

Its lame as it encourages trolling because trolls are rewarded with points.

Ive said many times that we ought to be able to vote for threads and also give negative points so all the posts like this will be gone - "smoking gun proof the queen is a reptile!!!11!one!" with a picture of the queen with camera red eye.

I also want the ignore list set to unlimited as there are just too many morons here!

Originally posted by mikesingh
I feel that the point system on ATS is not serving the purpose it was intended for. It’s doing little else than attracting comments like he’s a ‘points whore’, or trolls just plumbing in for adding to their points tally rather than concentrating on cogent and sensible replies to posts or people sensationalizing headlines to attract traffic, thereby adding to their score.

So why have a points system at all?

Well said, those were my thoughts on the points. Giving points only encourages people to make more posts, regardless of whether the posts are relevant or not. There are still alot of one-liners. If ATS do want a system to somehow reward posters, or to aknowledge their posts, then the system should be only gearded towards the quality of the posts, not the quantity of the posts.

Originally posted by golddragnet
Well said, those were my thoughts on the points. Giving points only encourages people to make more posts, regardless of whether the posts are relevant or not. There are still alot of one-liners. If ATS do want a system to somehow reward posters, or to aknowledge their posts, then the system should be only gearded towards the quality of the posts, not the quantity of the posts.

Um...

1 post= 1 point
1 ATS applause= 500 points
1 AP applause= 1500 points.

Isn't that what we're doing already? Take ATS applause only. It would take 500 inane post to equal 1 quality post.

what is an AP applause??

I would also like to add that people get points for replies to their threads..I think that encourages us to make quality post when we do start a thread..I must admit when i first joined this site for the first few days I was a 'points whore' but after about day 3, I forgot about the whole points thing because there were alot of topics that I was really intrested in and wanted to have conversations/debates/discussions about.Moral of the story is you cant be a points whore for long because a)you will find out there is more to this site then point or b)its too time consuming to try to rack of thousands of points on purpose without be noticed by a mod

Originally posted by ImpliedChaos
what is an AP applause??

Applause on Abovepolitics:

www.abovepolitics.com...

points=validation and thats what most people want in life.

Be it validation that they've contributed well here and earned applause, or have been a longtime contributing member, or even if it be they can wrack 'em by successfully baiting people, trolling, flaming, or sensationalizing, etc. (as if running around the boards shouting 'look at me, look at me!')

Everyone just wants a little validation of some sort. Everyone wants to be heard at some point about something. Everyone (should) want to deny ignorance on some subject. Combine the three, a forum to be heard, a forum to ask questions and find answers, and validation as a poster (person) and you have a happy people willing to contribute and keep things rolling along.

I myself have only started a few threads here on topics of interest to me, to see if I can find answers, deny ignorance etc, not so I can try to find ways to gain points, but I admit, when the points go up-it makes me happy. Nothing wrong with that.

2l8


[edit on 4-5-2007 by 2l82sk8]

I have 'earned' the majority of my points through applause, and although I have found it (in my englishness) quite embarrassing I do like this system. I am not a joiner, I do not seek popularity but it is nice to think that I present a good case. I put thought and MY acquired knowledge into my posts, I don't seek to sensationalise, I do seek to listen to what other people have to say and I like to think that this is why I have in the past received applause for my posts. Every sinlge one of us has a lot to learn from other members and I have been taught a lot in my short time here. I think it is my willingness to accept my fallibility, more than anything else that has led to appreciation. The points in reality are worth nothing but acceptance by our peers always has a significance. If only life in general was so egalitarian (I could rule the world one day - now there is a scary thought).

how did that happen?

[edit on 4-5-2007 by 2l82sk8]