Bermuda's #1 Forum

What does the karma number mean?

Is it anything more than a popularity contest? 

How does this system reflect the collective attitude of the site towards a given member?

Is it of any use, or should it be pitched out now that the forum has grown and changed from the original small group?

"How does this system reflect the collective attitude of the site towards a given member?"

I think it SHOULD, but it can't, as we all know.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it was set up as a way for us to express our agreement or displeasure with specific posts or behaviours.

Unfortunately, this isn't the case, so, I'd have to go with either "ditch" or "refine the rules".

I'm afraid that gives more credit for design than is due.  It was a standard feature, I just left it turned on.   :innocent:

What you suggest is pretty much what it started out being used for in our initial small group, but I don't think it is used the same way now.

No, I'm pretty positive it isn't! *lol*

Are you referring to the times when people have gone on every hour just to smite a person repeatedly?

Or something different?

For sure, that obsessive smiting thing is pretty weird.  A bit creepy, even.

I was also thinking of the magnitude of smites certain people get.  It used to be just a rare smite, but even after we turned the karma description feature on smiting has become a more common occurrence.  I've also seen pack behaviour regarding the karma system - rally a group to collectively change another member's karma count.

I think someone mentioned that it is a reflection of the bias of the membership, but I'm not sure if that idea has been fleshed out yet.

...... ::).........

are there multiple packs?

does this happen often?

is there a particular 'pack' of people who repeatedly do this?

would it be inappropriate to out this 'pack'?

would it accomplish anything - other than to just start more drama?

I've never really cared about Karma. The explanation bit was a nice touch though. Maybe it'd be better to just get rid of it. Maybe it'd be better to reset all members karma - to allow everyone a fresh start. 

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When did Noel bounce?

Was there a particular post that was his last straw?

"When did Noel bounce?

Was there a particular post that was his last straw?"

1: Very good question.

2: I seriously hope it wasn't something I said or did. I miss the guy's rational and pleasant manner.

i say we "bounce" the Karma thing.  It was a cool feature in the beginning.  It spawned Karmaholics all over the place (  ;) ).  But then it evolved into a tool to piss people off.  I feel it takes away from threads. Hell there have been flame wars about the use and abuse of it.  I think we are all adults here (well most of us anyway  8) ) and adult discussion doesn't need karma or gold stars or any other form of ficticious tokens to agree or disagree with someone.

Packs and hourly smiting eh? wow...kinda sad if you think about it.

CC

Eh! Don't you dare touch my karma...  >:(

I LOVE you Captain Canuck!!  Well said and about time.   :-*

As much as I respect the Captain's idea, the karma system stays.  I'm not messing with alsys....

The question is more, what does karma really mean? 

Smoking Gun has the most (presently 664) and tigga has the least (-457).  Does that just mean Smokes has more like-minded supporters?

I get what you are saying, CC... but it's a bit like punishing the many for the few. Personally, I love reading the comments attached more than the actual karma rising. It's a simple way to interact that is not derailing the thread, per se. That and yesh, I get all giggly when I think I've said something profound (mildly) and others agree.

Personally, I like to see the % of karma points to total posts.  Karma ratio... Kinda says something to me about the quality of posts from the poster. 

Mike - download the Karma data and put it on a spreadsheet and ask the marxist to show evidence of Sucks' institutionalized racism.
Do blacks and/or PLP supporters have lower "karma ratios"?

Karma should help to reflect content and quality of the posts and not the skincolour or political view of the poster, NO? 

Karma should stay.       

Suckers - Are you proud of your Karma ratio? ;)

Maybe get rid of the smiting, then?

So it's just a reward, rather than a way to cause mischief.

I know I'm proud of my TOTAL karma...

Yes that's all it means.  But you can get that message also just by seeing the interaction in the threads themselves.  The back and forth replies lets you know who is like minded and who is not.

Alsys..if the comments are truly more important than the site of your Karma number, that could be achieved via PM's as well.  You are the only one who can see the comments anyway, just like PM's and does not derail a thread.  Although threads have been derailed by Karma talk alone.  Plus you could still get giggly when someone responds positively to your post in a post back  :)

Hmmmm....

First off I just want to say thanks to all my like minded thinkers who have given me karma over the .....yikes.... years. I'd also like to thank those who are not  my like minded thinkers who have given me karma who did so because as alsys says, read something that they thought brought something to the table. I'd also like to thank Reality for letting me tickle her funny bone and giving me karma points for the caption contests. I'd also like to NOT thank Grats who has reminded me that I post way too much on this site... I used to be proud of the "ratio" to posts but I screwed that up a long time ago. I'd also like to thank tigga for screwing up his karma program by ditching all his other personnas and telecasting to everyone that he was going to be a real pain in the butt. I'd also like to thank Rummy for sending me endless PM's telling me I'm a kiss-ass whilst at the same time refraining from destroying my karma total by going on a smiting rampage. I'd also like to apologise to a few people who I should be giving more karma too. Actually make that everyone.

But the only thing that I truly take pride in is the fact that I can count on one hand how many smites I've ever handed out..... maybe two hands.... but definitely not three.... :-\

(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Z8UC3sr1R_g/R_FLgBZ9LJI/AAAAAAAAAEc/ALM9CXqmFt8/images-7.jpeg)

Um cunfuzed......vatz ah rayad X meen? Duzz det meen det um "X-ed" howt?

Um hin trubble nah........................ :slap:

....I'd also like to thank my mum and dad, my brothers and sisters, my house-maid and her lovely twin 25 year old daughters, my Mac, my iPod, my humidifier, my pet rock......

I'm so sorry.... I meant my de-humidifier.... goodness gracious where would I be without you!

You have a Pet Rock? Damn.....so does Dr. E. Brown....................................

                                               BERMUDA

                       In a Sweat Shop.........................ann detz nut funny.........

Two funnies in a row.... gosh you must be on your meds again. :)

Not really. I just took your advise which you got from me. Call it a self inflicted burst of reality. The milk was spilt, I cleaned it up and trying to move on.

A great day too all.

Rummy.

I guess I just question whether we get to hear people's real opinions vs. what they think people want to hear - aka Seeking Approval / karmaholic

Obviously with some members, it's their real opinion. But, other times it just seems like option #2.

Something Benevolous and I always discussed...

Good points Smokey dont smoke jokey.........We have been through this before. Personally I agree with you.

Everyone wants to be right. Me? I don't give a flying circus but hey don't cut me down because your life revolves around what you think others may think of you.

Just my thoughts and when they become subject of other opinions, they are still my thoughts.

Anyway.....screw yah....yoo maid sanz too mee.

Letz get together ann feel...emotions and how too cypher others.....

A great day/evening too all.

Gotta run...Obama been waiting horn dee lyne................so have I....... :-* :)

"I guess I just question whether we get to hear people's real opinions vs. what they think people want to hear - aka Seeking Approval / karmaholic"

Jokes - you really think people have the time to come on here and just make stuff up just to get karma? Hmmmm.... if you told me I could trade karma in for some Guinness then maybe you'd have a pint. ;)

  Yah I do.....I do it arryday.....annn so do yoo. Huliday Hins......et al....yah so full uv crep......

Nah if you wanna sal Karma for Blackrum......I could be a traitor..........but nut too mighy franz hair horn BS.....detz rite.....

Put me beck to zero.......um steal mee..ann haiv ah wowyce......

Heppy Labour day....um in  labour nah.......gutta PEE..............................

Chack yoo lutt laddar........................

El Rummo.............. :-*

Make stuff up? No.

Spout the politically correct response? You bet.

I'm not saying I think people do it all the time. But do you really think it never happens?  ;)

Awww.... don't be so hard on Guilden. He's not that bad. Sometimes he flops back the other way. ;)

@SG,

The profile is now complete...the Pet Rock gave it away...... :slap:......

Piglet

Actually Piglet, my Pet Rock was more of a Punk Rock if that helps..... :)