Two suggestions for the forum

I have two suggestions for the forum:

1 - We have a system of rating a reply using stars, but it goes from zero upwards, there is no way to rate a reply that is below standards/useless/not contributing anything. Consequently, we need to wade through a lot of such posts and there is no way to discourage people from posting bad stuff.

We need some negative rating so that one can quickly skip them. (And a way to collapse the post that has too many negative rates, just like on youtube or other sites would be nice.)

2 - We need a forum dedicated to issues related to computers, internet, tech and cyber security and laws. That will attract the techy and knowledgeable people who are not interested in ghosts/ufos/politicians etc.

There are enough conspiracies related to computers and net, like cos putting backdoors, new viruses, cool new apps and computer tech, censorship and hidden agenda related to the use of computers.

We have the sci & tech section, but a section related to computers only would be nice for hacker types to post their secrets in.

Thanks and hope it was useful and also hope that I posted it in right place and some senior staff of ATS will read it.

[edit on 6/8/2009 by rocksolidbrain]

Hey, you might want to post your suggestions here, that is the forum for suggestions.

I thought those were some excellent ideas...........Yea, negative stars.......hey, it would teach all of us the concrete nature of dark matter. Flag for a good idea.

There is a computery techy section in belowtopsecret

I totally agree on the "anti - star/flag" thing. I think that'd be a good thing to introduce.

EXCELLENT SUGGESTIONS!
Very good ideas. I'm not crazy about any rating system, it really only is a popularity contest. in my view some of the most worthless threads have high ratings. I kind of hate to see this site use an AOL type ratings system.
But hey1 What do I know?

I dont think a negative system would work. People will abuse it and good posts will be over looked. I personally dont like the idea of rating someones own opinion on something.

Your second suggestion, isnt there a computer section on BTS? You can post there.

reply to post by rocksolidbrain

We need some negative rating so that one can quickly skip them. (And a way to collapse the post that has too many negative rates, just like on youtube or other sites would be nice.)

If I saw a thread or a post with multiple negative stars, I would immediately want to read it, for several reasons.

And I'm not sure what you mean by 'collapsing a post', but that sounds a lot like censorship to me. Too easy for gangs to abuse, and silence, ideas they disagree with.

your number one point has been suggested several times. each time it's been shot down, mainly because it's too easy to abuse. and secondly there are other avenues to take if you feel a post is inappropriate....like the alert button on every post in every thread.

When the reviewers in the paper say a movie sucks, guess which one I'm going to see? :p yup. 'cuz reviewers don't know ANYTHING about what I like!'

I don't like it because I would never dig myself out of the negative flag and star hole and then I would feel bad about myself and blame you. My blood would be on YOUR hands, and then wouldn't you feel like a big meanie butt.

That's all we need is some of the more arrogant dipwads around here doling out there own brand of street justice. We already have a lot more chiefs than indians, or so it would appear.

We would all be penalized for not be as incredibly gifted as some of the pieces of work around here. Well..maybe just Me.

[edit on 6-8-2009 by KSPigpen]

reply to post by jkrog08


This thread is in same forum.


reply to post by mblahnikluver


Cool, I'll take a look at BTS. Never found time to browse there. ATS is huge already...

About the abuse of negative rating, you guys do have a point.

If you see a 100 flag thread, you think that it must be really good. The problem is, flags and stars simply reflect how many people have liked it, they don't say how many found it ordinary. So if 1000 people viewed a thread, 100 flags don't mean that the thread is brilliant, it means 900 people didn't feel its good enough. Same with stars.

There is no view counter as far as I know. Else a ratio of flags/views would say about the quality of a thread. There is no point in making view counter for posts, so we are left with no options.

Collapsing a post when the rating is too low, means that full post will be hidden but can still be viewed by clicking on it. Of course people want to see why it got so low rating, so they click on it. Its not censorship, it simply reduces the clutter.

I feel its better than forcing a user to post more than one line or the donkey work of hunting and deleting off topic posts. Let them post whatever they want (under T&Cs) and let it get buried by negative rates automatically. Anyway if this idea is shot down already then no issues.

Originally posted by rocksolidbrain

We need some negative rating so that one can quickly skip them.

I my opinion you should NEVER ever judge or skip a post based on stars or even negative stars if such a system is ever put in place here at ATS. The whole point of being here is to read, discuss, think and learn, isn't it? How can you do that if you just follow in the footsteps of those who have done the judging before you?

Many, many times really good, insightful posts and threads goes almost unnoticed, while the most ignorant, trollish, pointless posts and threads get an amazing amount of stars and flags. Anyone remember a certain thread about an alien fishman that someone had a violent encounter with..? Sorry, Zorgon, I just have to borrow this for a second:

So read everything, do the thinking for yourself, and don't let other people's opinion tell you if a post is good or not. Give that thing between your ears some exercise!

Originally posted by ziggystar60

Originally posted by rocksolidbrain

We need some negative rating so that one can quickly skip them.

I my opinion you should NEVER ever judge or skip a post based on stars or even negative stars if such a system is ever put in place here at ATS. The whole point of being here is to read, discuss, think and learn, isn't it? How can you do that if you just follow in the footsteps of those who have done the judging before you?

Many, many times really good, insightful posts and threads goes almost unnoticed, while the most ignorant, trollish, pointless posts and threads get an amazing amount of stars and flags. Anyone remember a certain thread about an alien fishman that someone had a violent encounter with..? Sorry, Zorgon, I just have to borrow this for a second:

So read everything, do the thinking for yourself, and don't let other people's opinion tell you if a post is good or not. Give that thing between your ears some exercise!

Bingo - I agree with the above statements. A negative rating system would only further convolute the present system as is. I personally think it should remain as it is.

Well put, ziggystar60.

[edit on 8-8-2009 by carnival_of_souls2047]

We have this... in BTS

Computer Help

However as far as posting hacker secrets etc. I remind everyone of this

2e.) Illicit Activity: Discussion of illicit activities; specifically the use of mind-altering drugs & substances, engaging in computer hacking, promoting criminal hate, dicussing sexual relations with minors, and furtherance of financial schemes and scams are strictly forbidden. You will also not link to sites or online content that contains discussion or advocacy of such material.

Now as far as having a way to rate bad posts of ATS, it wouldn't be pretty. It would only get ratings of those people who disagree with whats being posted. One might say well, the stars are only given to those people who agree with a post, not the fact that it was simply a good post, true, but to take it in the other direction would be awful.

At least that's the way I see it.