<Serious Paul>
Right i can see why you have removed the reputation system. (*cough* Jaybiss complaining about noobs getting bad repped and leaving the site *cough*). Personally i believe
"if something is broke then you should fix it", along with
"if something isn't broke you shouldn't fix it. " What i dont believe is "
If something is broke, delete it."
In your staff chat (in the section the normal members can't get in) what other options did you think of? Or did you think of just deleting it as an easy option? (no offence there, i know you and other staff have put in alot of solid work to get this site to where it is today).
Right firstly, Lets just weigh up the good and bad of the rep system.
GOOD
> It teaches newbies a lesson, those who are serious about learning about saxo's and really want help will ignore it, carry on posting and build it back up. This gets rid of the timewasters that come on here to enquire about electric superchargers, ebay chips etc.
> It helps when buying an item. Ok we still got the iTrader... But the first thing i personally used to look at when selling/buying was the persons rep. If its red its obvious they're not going to be as good a trader as someone with green.
> It actually helps moderators do their job. Ok you said it makes more work for them. What would be harder, going through every thread made looking for trouble makers, or getting pm's off people (who think they've been wrongly repped) with links to the threads where there might be trouble and bad rep has been given?
> It makes some people want to help others as they know they'll get something back out of it. Wether its general advice or photoshops. With the rep system removed i think you'll see alot less people doing photoshops for people and offering good advice.
> It helps moderate the forums. When used correctly normal members such as myself can give good or bad rep to someone. For minor rule breaking such as text talk sometimes a bit of bad rep is all thats needed, instead of an infraction off a moderator.
BAD POINTS
> Number one has to be abusing the rep system.
> Extra work for moderators sorting out the abuse.
Conclusion
Surely the good outweighs the bad. Instead of deleting the whole thing i think you should work with the communtity and ask how we can solve the bad points.
Other options
Option 1 Delete the bad rep, and just have positive rep
Most people, if not all, who complain is about bad rep. I can't see you getting many people complaining about positive rep. So you could have positive rep only? So just one button for approve, instead of approve or disapprove.
Advantages
> This would keep the spam whores happy as they would carry the great forum banter going (which isn't as good on many other car forums).
> It would keep the noobs with no rep happy as they can only improve. If they do something wrong i'm sure the longterm members will have a little go at them and they'll learn from their mistakes.
> It would keep the helpful members out such as people who offer advice in the Engine and Performance, Interior and Styling, etc. As they will still get rewarded for their advice.
> This option would keep photoshopp'ers happy as they will still be getting rewarded for their photoshops.
Disadvantages
> The negative rep system gets rid of all the noobs who just sign up, make a thread or two, make some trouble, rip some people off, ask how to turbo their 1.1 then crash their car and never come back. Them kind of people.
> The neg rep system is like a moderator power for the proper saxp community. Which saves the moderating team a big job. For example its a punishment that us normal daily users can use to punish members for texttalk, spamming etc. Which saves the proper moderators sorting through loads of text looking for texttalkers etc.
Option 2 Different Levels Of Rep (my favourite option tbh)
Explaination
Ok simo i know you love your bars, and im not talking about the ones in town. These level bars that you love and most people on here dont.. How about mixing this idea with the idea of rep.
May be hard to code tho :\. I'm thinking of when you click to rep someone you should pick an option what the rep is for. Such as:
Then you have two options. Get rid of the "leave negative rep" or improve it simular to above with options such as "Not funny" "Not Helpful" ETC. It may stop unneccasary badrep. Personally i think might be good idea just to get rid of the leave bad rep side. And just have the leave positive.
Then next to the user name, where you originally wanted to put the bars you could have a new set of bars representing what the user has rep for. Such as:
Advantages of this:
> You get to keep you gay bars
> People wont be asking mods to remove bad rep because it wont be there (if you chose to get rid of it all together).
> Will be more detailed and helpful rep. If you chose to upgrade the neg rep system then it will give an indication as to why they've been bad repped (easy to spot abuse for moderators).
Disadvantages
> The saxp community hate bars under their name.
Option 3 Employ Tupps
Make tupps a moderator and get him to deal with all of the abuse of rep system.
Advantages
> No more anoying mail for other moderators
> Problem solved.
Disadvantages
> Saxp would turn into a rep warzone.
Option 4 Add a rep report button
Explaination
To save emails/pms that the mods get you could add a report button in the user control panel next to the rep comments. This could be set up simular to the report button in threads/posts (damn that things slow though lol).
Once bad rep has been reported it can be stored in some kind of table along with the comment as why rep was left. Once a week one member of staff could view the table and simply delete the ones with no good reasons by ticking or unticking a checkbox. Then at end of the table simply click submit and all sorted. Such as:
Right i'm too tired to write anymore. You get the idea though. Hope this helps.
< / Serious Paul >