Confused about Antipoints - Part II

Since we have had quite a few changes to the Antipoints system, I will try to bring my original post up to date.

User Tends To Assign bar correction
This bar used to show that a new user tended to assign only very negative. It was corrected and now, for the new user, shows balenced directly in the middle, untill the user gains approx 50 positive antipoints themselves and their assignment actually give points. Then it will show the pecentage of positive and negative antipoints assigned in a graph form.

Antipoint Message in Your Account, on the main index page
This will say that you have 'no new antipoint' or You have receive new antipoints. When it tells you that you have received new antipoints, this will be underlined and is a link directly to your antipoint center so you can see what you have received.

Thread Antipoints
A new feature we have just received is:

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The Overall AntiPoint Status Of This Thread Is: extremely positive
Assign Positive or Negative AntiPoints To This Thread | View AntiPoint Assignments Made to This Thread

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This function allows you to be able to assign antipoints to the thread itself and not effect the status of any member. This is set up so members can close (or hold open) a thread that they feel is not worthy of staying open, and not having to neg any member to make it go suicidal. The negatives and/or positives only effect the thread itself and not any of the posters to that thread. It does show in the antipoints given section of your Antipoint Center as points assigned to a thread.

Variable Assignment of Points
Another new feature is the variable antipoints power scale:

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What do you think of XXXXX's post?
I approve
I disapprove

Adjustment: *

100% 75% 50% 25%

Your comments on this post:

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This provides a method of assigning less points, either positive or negative to any post. This is an important feature for 'Seniors' with massive antipoints to be able to adjust the impact of their assignment.
Example - If I think you have made a bad post, but I don't wish to neg you with the full power of my accumulated antipoints, then I can use the 25% function and hit you with only 25% of the negs I could have given you.


I hope this helps some of the questions I have been seeing on the changes that have been made to our Antipoint System.

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Originally posted here by moxnix
Thread Antipoints
A new feature we have just received is:
This function allows you to be able to assign antipoints to the thread itself and not effect the status of any member. This is set up so members can close (or hold open) a thread that they feel is not worthy of staying open, and not having to neg any member to make it go suicidal. The negatives and/or positives only effect the thread itself and not any of the posters to that thread. It does show in the antipoints given section of your Antipoint Center as points assigned to a thread. [/B]

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Pimp....I didn't even notice!!

One note about the new thread antipoint system. Since the points you put on a thread count towards your balance, could you not antipoint “extremely positive” threads to balance your self out with out effecting (pissing off) other users? Since the values of your point assingments depends on your balance this may need to be changed. I just tested this by neging some of my own threads and It seems to be the case, I’m closer to balanced now. Should we be concerned about it being abused in this way?

I think that's part of the reason it was implemented. It keeps people from just randomly negging newbies to get balanced.

So now they can get balance anytime they want, which makes it kind of pointless to have balance at all.

I had thought about putting in a section on the balence part, but decided against it since the message about balencing has been removed (or so I believe).

Hah!!! I knew I was missing something when I used to get that, "pain in the ass", message. So if I'm supposed to be balanced, does that mean I need to go through and read EVERYONE'S post to see if I can neg it?

"So now they can get balance anytime they want, which makes it kind of pointless to have balance at all." Balance is always key, you don't want to harm yourself with being a glutton of any type....but in the case of this site? I ignored the message when I got it, and I will continue to ignore....that isn't to say I don't give negs. I'd rather look for the good posts in the few good threads.

I'm new here and chances are I've already pissed off someone who's read my posts because I like to speak my mind and even though I don't intend to offend anyone I eventually do. And even though I'm probably going to get negged to death for saying so...I'm going to say what I think anyways ! I'm not going to censor my veiws in order to avoid being ostrasized...and to me that is what your point system amounts to " censorship ". Anyone who doesn't follow the forum line and says exactly what he means puts his status as a member at risk and it is that very threat that is going to make some people wary of speaking the way they want to.

Now I could see how this might work if it were restricted to offensive posts where there is name calling or vulgar language that might be offensive to female members or where someone is on a rant...but to negg someone for simply stating his veiws is " censorship" at it's worst.

I haven't assigned any points to anyone and I haven't checked mine...because I simply don't care about points. If I appreciate someone's help I'll publically say so...not in some secret message that only the recipient can see...and if I don't like what someone says I'll respond publically with that too.

I realize that this seems a standard among forums but it's an extremely unfair system...case in point...at one forum where I am a member I have more reputation points than most members and even one staff member and I've only been at that site three mths...why?...because, like here, the point stucture is uneven...all it takes is to get one person to drop alot of points on you all at once and all of a sudden you've got more points than someone who's been around two years longer than you have.

I don't know if these systems are part of the template or where they come from because every forum seems to have a version of the same thing..but it seems to me as smart as you guys are you could come up with something alot better than this.

Because in my opinion...if I'm allowed to have one...this system is for the birds !!!

:D

Egaladeist:
The site has AP's ...

Live with it.

Also this is a 'sticky' thread, so it might have been better to have linked to it.

As for your opinion, it is yours, no one will take it away, and there are people here who NEVER follow the forum line, and they are STILL here.

AP's were introduced, as far as I can tell, to allow the membership to 'self-police' the forum, to try and contain / quash flame wars [although I've seen AP's CAUSE a few :)] they have their faults, but they are here AND now.

And also, I have added to a 'sticky' when I SHOULD have linked........................

Yes Egaladeist you are new here and it shows.
It shows you haven't even attempted to look at the FAQ's and see just what our antipoint system is all about.
It shows that you haven't made a search or even skimmed the many many threads and posts discussing the changing of the system and/or even the doing away with it completely.
It shows that you are whinning about someone giving you negs for something or other.

Do you always join a forum group and immeadiately attempt to have it changed just to suit you better?

Do you think your opinion really matters to any of us at all? Hell, we don't know you from the dog down the street. Stick around a while and gain respect in a more normal way, and then your 'opinions' might mean something to the other members.

You registered:

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Registered: 12-30-2004

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four (4) days ago and already are trying to change the system. I think perhaps you need to gain a little maturity before thinking of yourself as the all knowing, only answer to the major problems of the world.

Egaladeist

We didn’t seek you out. Rather, you chose to create an account here. Thus making that choice you agreed to the conditions already set forth. If you don’t like the forum, simply ask the moderators to ban your account, depart, and find one that is more suited for you.

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I haven't assigned any points to anyone…

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Don’t worry about APs. Yours aren’t worth anything anyway.

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chances are I've already pissed off someone who's read my posts because I like to speak my mind

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Providing factual information relative to the topic or inquiry of a thread can be of value to all. However, is an unfounded opinion worth more than butt nuggets?

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If you understand what AO is and is not, you can expect to be helped and to help others learn the art of computer/network security…

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Hi, Relyt ! You're absolutely right I did agree to the terms of this forum but I don't think there was any mention in the terms set forth on registration that my opinions should be submissive to the higher authority, only that they should be expressed in an appropriate way. I respect your opinion that if I don't like it I should leave...you have a right to that opinion whether I agree with it or not. There are 6 billion opinions in this world and I don't expect them all to agree with me.
And I don't think I said anything negative about anyone here by expressing my opinion about the point system. If there's a thread asking what food you like best and you like McDonalds and I say "yuck, McDonalds...I prefer Wendy's" are you going to be offended by that ? A difference in opinion is not a personal attack...I am not an insecure person so I am not personally offended by your remarks to me because you were just stating your opinion. But I realize that some people get offended easily...I deal with people for a living and sometimes you have to tread softly around them because you know they will take this or that the wrong way.
And I think my comments were very relevant to the topic...I read many posts and I could see that I'm not the only person here that has a problem with this system.
I am sure that most of the people here including yourself are mature and secure enough to handle an opposing opinion without feeling it's a personal attack upon themselves.

:)

Personally, I love the AP system. It allows the people who post to "self-police" the forums, and also shows the more respected people on the forums (see the people with the custom titles and massive greenie AP bars?) and who to ignore or watch out for (see the close-to-being-banned list, and people with little red bars?). It can't really be abused (much) due to the "checks and balances" system they have implemented that forces you to spread your APs around.


I'm sure your opinions (if well thought, insightful, and/or intelligent) will be taken well, I've never been personally offended by anyone stating their opinion.

When someone tries to cram their opinion down someone elses throat is usually when I see people get defensive. Just don't think about the AP system if you don't care about it, and as long as you act intelligently and not obnoxiously (well, a little obnoxious is okay.. just on't go overboard with it :p) then you won't have to worry about it having any negative effect on you.


Laters ~ ;)

Oh!...foxyloxley, hi !

I live with, as I'm sure you do, alot of things I don't agree with.

And moxnix...hi !

You're probably right if I waited for six or seven mths before stating my opinion it probably would have passed by without a thought...but patience is not one of my virtues, unfortunately.
And I'm not trying to change anything, I did read the threads and I can see improvements are being made all the time and if the forum is happy with this system I have no problem with that...I just think you're trying to work with a system that is flawed beyond redemption.
And I don't think anyone cares about my opinion...hell, most of the time I don't even care about my opinion and most of my friends don't care about my opinion...even my kids don't care about my opinion and for the most part that's the way I like it...when I make an opinion it's not all tight ass serious even though it probably comes across that way in a forum context with people who don't know me ! :)

I'm sure your opinions (if well thought, insightful, and/or intelligent) will be taken well, I've never been personally offended by anyone stating their opinion.

When someone tries to cram their opinion down someone elses throat is usually when I see people get defensive. Just don't think about the AP system if you don't care about it, and as long as you act intelligently and not obnoxiously (well, a little obnoxious is okay.. just on't go overboard with it :p) then you won't have to worry about it having any negative effect on you.


Laters ~ ;) [/B][/QUOTE]

Thanks!!! :thumbsup:

works rather well, in the form it is impemented on this site!

When you have been around a while and experienced how it works, I'm sure you'll find it to be acceptable too! ;)

Don't get me wrong, it's not perfect (then again what is?) it can be abused, however, it does work reasonably well.

If you feel an improvement can be made then add a post describing your thoughts to the Site Suggestions forum. I'm sure it will be considered if it is constructive.

BTW Welcome to AntiOnline! If your interested in security matters then this is a good site for you. There is a wealth of information here. I also find the majority of members to be extremly knowledgable and very helpful. Just don't ask stupid questions! lol

May I suggest you invest some time reading the various FAQ's and Stickies? It would also be a good idea to "Lurk," for a while, so you get a feel for the site. I did this and I feel it has been worthwhile! Just my suggestions of course, you don't need to abide by them! ;)

Don't worry too much about AntiPoints, it's really not worth it! The important thing is the information you gleen from / provide to the AntiOnline community. Isn't that what communities are all about?

As has already been expressed by other members, I don't think any member (other than the few very obnoxious ones) will "Hammer," you for expressing an opinion here. Just make sure you stick within the guidelines (most of the time) and don't get personal!

Have fun.
Regards.

Ya know, so many people have complained about this over the past couple of years, increasingly so, and I have yet to see the problem. I hear about it all the time, but I'm around a lot and have yet to see much of a negative side affect. 95% of the folks around here with large green bars (hmm...I sadly confess being in the other 5% bracket :D) are highly knowledgable. They might goof off more than anything else around here nowadays, but they're still highly knowledgable, especially when you ask them something.

Most idiots that are outlandish enough get banned before a mod can even get to them. I think that's efficient. I've never seen anyone auto-banned that didn't ask for it. It takes a lot of negs to get banned.

A lo t of ppl wit few grn dots tlk lke ths and arent as serous as u or i ;)

The AP system has worked well for me, and I have no complaints. Most of the time AP accumlations are very representative of how valuable the member is. Not always, but most of the time.

But ya know, some people are just WAY too picky.