Turning off reputation system

[Miss_Bungle1991]

Supple Moon Frog?

[Jill F]

Supple Moon Frog?

You are too kind.  I was thinking more like Twisted Sister's SMF.

[Miss_Bungle1991]

I was thinking of something more absurd.

[amZo]

Hmmm.

This post is getting a lot more replies than I thought it would . . . . I hope I haven't started a debate about the reputation system.  I certainly did not intend to.  I am not a fan of it, but at the end of the day, this is not my site.  And the reputation system isn't a huge big deal.  I really did just wonder if there was a way to turn it off or something, that's all.

ThePhoenix, I'm curious if anything other than the bold section above is the truth. Please see your the bold italicized section of your prior statement below.

Please do not thumbs up or thumbs down my posts. I've learned that I am only valuable as a contributor when I'm honest. And this forum is only valuable to me when I can talk honestly about my own issues. Worrying about whether people will like what I say and +1 it or dislike it and -1 it distracts me from just being honest and damages my value to the forum and the forum's value to me. Thanks!!

My point? You can only be honest and of value to others when you stop worrying whether people like what you say. Just be you. 

Otherwise, you'll just be a Supple Moon Frog. (really Ms. Squirrel? ... really?   )

[ThePhoenix]

ThePhoenix, I'm curious if anything other than the bold section above is the truth. Please see your the bold italicized section of your prior statement below.

Alas, I have this really annoying habit of telling the truth.  I have been known to intentionally cause a ruckus or an argument.  But usually not over a website.  And when I do that, I have a terribly awful habit of saying things like "I am hoping this will stir up debate."

In this case, I think some have attached a little too much importance to my query about turning odd or opting out of the reputation system.  It's a pet peeve.  It bugs me.  It is also a pet peeve that so many people, including Microsoft, do not know how to correctly format an ellipses.  I don't know why ellipses bug me, but they do.  And I find that when people make their living by writing, as I did in the days when I was employed, they do tend to develop odd pet peeves about writing.

So I do wish I could turn off the reputation system or opt out of it.  But if I can't, then it really is not that big of a deal. 

Ellipses on the other hand, are a hugely important issue.  They really are simple.  Just three periods separated by spaces and then you continue with whatever punctuation or text is meant to go after the omitted section.  And don't even get me started on en-dashes and em-dashes.

[Jenna Stannis]

Phoenix, Reputation/Karma can be enabled/disabled from the SMF "core features". Ah, you do need administrator rights, however

[ThePhoenix]

Phoenix, Reputation/Karma can be enabled/disabled from the SMF "core features". Ah, you do need administrator rights, however

Not to fear, comrade, we in the proletariat shall over throw the bourgeois administrators and re-establish this website as the People's Revolutionary Republic of Susan's Place!  A new day without s reputation system shall dawn!

Or we could go to sleep. 

I don't need to be involved in running anything else other than what I am already doing.  So I vote for sleep.

[Jenna Stannis]

I think some have attached a little too much importance to my query about turning odd or opting out of the reputation system. 

Isn't that just a sign that it bugs other people as well?

Have some of us attached too much importance to this thread topic? Well, let's just say I don't have a signature that reflects my annoyance at the reputation feature.

[amZo]

Isn't that just a sign that it bugs other people as well?

Have some of us attached too much importance to this thread topic? Well, let's just say I don't have a signature that reflects my annoyance at the reputation feature.

Nor did you start a thread complaining about it... 

But I'm glad it's not that big of a concern to certain members. 

While we're on the subject, I'd like to officially request to have a 'Go F Yourself Nikko!' option added to my account. Again>> 

IMPORTANT Disclaimer: "No animals were injured during the creation of this post. Any similarities of this post to any real, or unreal, person or persons or situations is purely coincidental. Nikko is not responsible for misuse of this post nor does she warrant the validity of anything contained herein."    Wait for it............ 

[ThePhoenix]

Nor did you start a thread complaining about it... 

But I'm glad it's not that big of a concern to certain members. 

While we're on the subject, I'd like to officially request to have a 'Go F Yourself Nikko!' option added to my account. Again>> 

I'm still fairly new to this site (joined in December) and I have another question.

I joined this site because I had heard that it was a good and helpful support forum.  I like to see those and I find them helpful for my continuing education about the trans* community.  And frankly, I need one because it is quite difficult for me to find that in my offline life.  I'm one of the people who is actually doing the work to help trans* people in the local area.  That means that if I show up at a local trans* support group, people usually know who I am already and they all look to me to help get them through their issues.  I don't have a space for mine.  People do things like what happened last night when within five minutes of confirming a Facebook friend request, the person posted this on my wall:

This is one great lady.
She has helped many people and I'm sure she will help many more.

It's pretty great when I get messages like that.  I'm glad when I get those types of things.  But the drawback is it doesn't leave a lot of space for people to help me when I need it.

This site seems to do a better job of supporting people and avoiding a lot of the innuendo, put downs, and outright ridicule that characterize many message boards on the Internet, including those meant to support trans* people. 

But I asked a simple tech question about something I find annoying.  Now I have posts like the one above and others that are quite insistent about imputing false motives for my post, implying that I meant to do things like creating a ruckus, and yes, making fun of me for not being fond of the reputation and asking my question.

I guess there's no point in continuing to talk about the issue.  I'd only be feeding the trolls who seem to want to have a laugh at my expense.  So I'm going to leave the thread after I ask my one more question.  And my one more question is this:

Why do you feel the need to do this?  What does it benefit you?  Why does it seem so important to you to try and get a rise out of me?  Should I (and others) learn that it may be (somewhat) safe to talk about gender identity issues on this site, but asking a technical question risks subjecting you to--yes, I'm going to say it--the bullying and innuendo that are too common, but we truly do not need in our lives?  Why are you doing this?

Well, I guess that's more than one question.  And certainly no one needs to post a response.  But perhaps give it some thought and behave a bit differently the next time that someone asks a question about something they find a bit annoying, even if it does not personally bother you at all.  Being nice costs you nothing.  But every one of you out there is better than this.

Alright, I'm done with this thread now.  Thanks to those who answered the question.  I look forward to seeing those who felt the need to do other things (and it wasn't just the person quoted above) in other threads where hopefully we all will have more productive conversations.

[amZo]

Why do you feel the need to do this?  What does it benefit you?  Why does it seem so important to you to try and get a rise out of me?  Should I (and others) learn that it may be (somewhat) safe to talk about gender identity issues on this site, but asking a technical question risks subjecting you to--yes, I'm going to say it--the bullying and innuendo that are too common, but we truly do not need in our lives?  Why are you doing this?

Can I ask you a question AND have you think about it?

Shortly after a very nice forum member gave you a 'thumbs up', you posted your thread. In addition, you posted the comment below stating her action bugged you, I assume that means it caused you angst. A kind gesture which should have at a minimum gone by without notice (but preferably appreciated), received ridicule instead.

Well, if it doesn't bother you one way or another, then it's much ado about nothing for you.  See footer on this post for why it bothers me and, honestly, seems very inappropriate for a support forum.  It bugs me when I look at the forum home page and scroll down, reaching the bottom, and . . . There's +1 for ThePhoenix.  It does bug me.  All I did was ask a question, not make a big deal of it.  So I'd probably call it "small ado over irritation" for me.

My question is this, from the time this nice person gave you praise up until now, have you once thought about how that made her feel?

Because I have.

My answer to your question is, I'm trying a different means to help you see something.

(ok, done now with this topic)

[Nero]

Phoenix, Reputation/Karma can be enabled/disabled from the SMF "core features". Ah, you do need administrator rights, however

Yes, the whole system can be disabled and we've had debates about it in the past. But ultimately, it was decided to keep it.

[Miss_Bungle1991]

Phoenix, I'm not intending to put you down or criticize you in any way with what I'm about to say, so please don't take it that way, but I believe the reason people are responding the way they are to your thread is because it's just that: a public thread. If you want to ask a simple, private question without having to read anyone else's opinions on the matter, all you have to do is send a PM to FA, Cindy, or one of the other numerous staff members. If you instead want a discussion, that's when you should make a thread about it. Just trying to offer a helpful suggestion to avoid any unwanted responses next time.

That is a very good point.

[YBtheOutlaw]

i've been thinking for a while about the effects of the reputation system on people with certain mental conditions. for example people with rejection sensitivity might be discouraged to post and express their honest opinion if they are smited for a little miswording. since this is a transgender support site we are more likely to encounter people with such issues than in outside world. i'm not medically diagnosed but i pretty much have the symptoms of atypical depression, which includes the rejection sensitivity i mentioned above. most of the time i read and reread what i type before posting so that noone is offended, but i live in constant fear of being rejected, that is being smited or criticized. i'm not asking the rep system to be pulled down, but maybe little more regulation may help, like rep points being reviewed by moderators before they are added to our account. no of course don't pull it down. you don't know how much spirit a plus point gives people like me.

[MadeleineG]

Is there any way to turn off or opt out of the reputation system?  I tried adding a "please don't" to my signature line and explaining why.  But that doesn't seem to help.  It's beginning to really bug me when I get the +1.  Admittedly, I'm not so fond of my one -1 either.

I had to resist the urge to +1 you for this post. 

[MadeleineG]

Phoenix, Reputation/Karma can be enabled/disabled from the SMF "core features". Ah, you do need administrator rights, however

Does SMF have a dharma feature as well? 

[suzifrommd]

i'm not asking the rep system to be pulled down, but maybe little more regulation may help, like rep points being reviewed by moderators before they are added to our account.

I'm pretty sure all rep points are reviewed by moderators.

[ThePhoenix]

Hehe~ I really can't understand why Phoenix is so bothered by people liking her.

I know I said I wouldn't comment further, but I'm going to just briefly make four points.

(1) If you really wanted to know, you could ask.

(2) Why is it required that you understand?  Pretty much all of us are not understood by the wider world, yet we still want to be treated with courtesy and respect.  You, as the person who started a thread for trans* outcasts should understand even more why even people who differ from you deserve at least minimal courtesy and why your treatment of me in this thread is wrong.

(3) I like being liked just as much as anyone else, but I am hypersensitive and utterly terrified of being noticed and visible because of the disastrous consequences that visibility has had and could have on my life in the future.  If you're interested, I wrote more about the problem here, and here is a very short quote from that:

And being (I hope and believe) about to resume working in a profession that is especially intolerant of trans* spectrum individuals (I'm a lawyer), where career advisors have warned me that outness will end my career, where I've already suffered severe discrimination so bad that a national org called and asked me to make a video because it was the worst they ever heard of, has got me especially worried about it.  In addition to not enjoying the spotlight, I am scared to death of losing my livelihood . . . again!  So I am a lot more sensitive to and unhappy with being noticed than before. 

(4) Unlike the majority of posters here, I'm one of those people who actually spends a lot of time, effort, and energy working to improve the lives of trans* people.  I've told people some of what I do elsewhere and you can look it up.  One positive consequence of that is that I have enough security in myself to tell you to go pound sand.  One adverse consequence of that is the fact that if I show up at a support group, I don't get to talk about my own issues.  Everyone looks to me to help get them through.  As a result, I look for my support online where I can be anonymous and I take steps to carefully keep myself anonymous.  I don't trust easily or quickly because I have had too many experiences like this thread, but I had begun to trust Susan's more than most online forums.  I'd like to thank all the contributors to this thread who have responded with ridicule and bullying for providing a warning before I truly poured out my heart about something where I'd be truly vulnerable.  Now I know better.

Still don't understand?  I don't owe you an explanation, so you can consider the fact that I've given at least some of one to be a special bonus.  So go pound sand.  Because the problem is not that you don't understand.  The problem is that you don't care.

[Miss_Bungle1991]

Jeez...chill out. If you didn't want people to comment about what you said you should have just PM'ed a staff member about your feelings on the rep system.

[KittyKat]

Have to somewhat agree that the one down side I've had with the rep is it feels like I don't have many worth while posts since I never got rep. Kinda feels like being ignored, but honestly I probably never had much more then a neutral response most of the time with out much said for one side or the other and I tend to avoid things if I feel I don't have the experience to comment.