Issues with the upvoting system

[Sine]

I feel this thread is purely used to get more +1s

It is. Are you only catching on now??

MOD EDIT: split this from the shoutouts thread

[studybuddy7777]

It is. Are you only catching on now??

And still my post gets +0 respect even though it is more legit than just asking for +1's....

[brenden]

It is. Are you only catching on now??

It is literally used to show appreciation, read the OP.

[jamonwindeyer]

Let's get back to the shout outs all

[studybuddy7777]

And still my post gets +0 respect even though it is more legit than just asking for +1's....

And now it gets -1 respect (3 negs)
Can I just ask why everyone else can get respect except me? Am I not respected in the forums?

Someone says I'm just here to steal all your +1's and gets +9 respect. I post a legitimate appreciation and get none. I then ask why and get negged. Why?
I am not normally like this to whinge about equality and unfairness but seriously, come on guys.

[GalacticProcess]

And now it gets -1 respect (3 negs)
Can I just ask why everyone else can get respect except me? Am I not respected in the forums?

Someone says I'm just here to steal all your +1's and gets +9 respect. I post a legitimate appreciation and get none. I then ask why and get negged. Why?
I am not normally like this to whinge about equality and unfairness but seriously, come on guys.

I think you need to be posting things on this thread out of genuine appreciation. You may have been getting negative respect because it seems like you are here to gain respect and not to appreciate others work and contribution. You should WANT to appreciate others and let them know that they are being noticed regardless of how much respect you get.

[heids]

GalacticProcess is spot on.

We give out respect when we think people are posting on ATARNotes altruistically.  At ATARNotes, we value and respect selflessness, kindness and generosity above all else - that's the whole core of AN!  As soon as someone seems to be focusing on their own ego, no one upvotes, because it's against the values driving this place.  Does that make sense?

The respect system does indeed have some issues, and can definitely be 'hacked' or 'gamed', and we're totally happy to discuss these issues in this thread.   If you have any specific drama-filled issues, feel free to message myself or another moderator

[Calebark]

Definitely echoing the above. There's a bit of a difference between a lighthearted jab about respect and a bit of a grab. Just need to add that it is a bit bullshit that banter tends to eat up all the respect while some posts with more effort (like all of Rui's posts here. Have a look; give an upvote) tend to get ignored.

The only way to fix such issues is for those concerned to simply upvote more, whether it be something that makes you laugh or something that's helpful, to you or someone else. Even just open up a few of the question threads and upvote the recent answers -- it's nice and encouraging! Be the upvote you want to see in the world.

( Just need to also add: I don't think upvoting banter is bad, haha, especially considering that's most of my posts. It's definitely good to keep a certain mood and vibe going around here. Just that other things shouldn't be ignored )

[jamonwindeyer]

Hmm, I'm honestly disappointed this discussion still needs to be had. Thanks heids for splitting it from the main thread so that the appreciation can go on undisturbed

SB777, your contributions are and have always been valued, but I can't make people go back and upvote your post. Nor can I make people go and upvote Rui's (purely because Calebark mentioned) complex mathematical explanations, which take him ages to do and by all rights, he should definitely have a much higher respect count than he does. But it's not like there is a system that is actively prejudiced against anyone. It is just what people choose to click.

Want to change it? Calebark nailed it - Upvote more. Upvote the things you think deserve it and ignore the things you don't think deserve it. Be the change you want to see in the world, as they say.

As mentioned above, the respect system has its issues. But once a user starts complaining about their respect count being too low, they aren't viewed as helpful anymore. Depending on how it comes across I wouldn't blame someone for viewing them as egotistical, because it implies they care more about a somewhat arbitrary statistic than they do about actually helping people.

I absolutely agree that helpful contributions need to be valued, and we do that. Member of the Month. The AN awards. Being a moderator. In NSW, helpful people on the forums have become our lecturers for goodness sake. AN, in my opinion, does an incredible job rewarding the people who help us. If anyone has suggestions on how we could do better, PM me, I'd be happy to discuss them with you

[MisterNeo]

Be sure to give respect to show that they helped you understand something. Especially the lecturers who commit to educating future generations.

[Shadowxo]

Hi, Just a suggestion
If possible, it could be made such that the upvotes in some threads (ie the questions threads) could be worth more or the ones in other threads (eg random thoughts thread) worth less. I love random threads like the random thoughts thread, but I do feel as though the posters in the questions threads (in particular Rui and Jamon, though I see Rui's posts more as I hover around the maths threads) don't get as much appreciation. The responses to many of those threads are detailed and very helpful to the askers, but aren't seen as much as the more general threads and therefore don't get the same number of +1s.
Just something I think might improve the respect system

Also mini shoutout to Rui, your dedication doesn't go unnoticed and you deserve all of your +1s and more

[jamonwindeyer]

Hi, Just a suggestion
If possible, it could be made such that the upvotes in some threads (ie the questions threads) could be worth more or the ones in other threads (eg random thoughts thread) worth less. I love random threads like the random thoughts thread, but I do feel as though the posters in the questions threads (in particular Rui and Jamon, though I see Rui's posts more as I hover around the maths threads) don't get as much appreciation. The responses to many of those threads are detailed and very helpful to the askers, but aren't seen as much as the more general threads and therefore don't get the same number of +1s.
Just something I think might improve the respect system

Also mini shoutout to Rui, your dedication doesn't go unnoticed and you deserve all of your +1s and more

Thanks for the suggestion Shadow! This is an interesting idea. We've discussed something sort of similar in that different users would be able to contribute more respect (ie, a +1 from an admin might mean more than a +1 from a regular user, a +1 from someone with 10,000 posts would mean more than one from someone with 10, etc). Not sure of the technical possibility, but definitely an idea to consider

[studybuddy7777]

Genuine question turned statement, upvoting seems to be taking off more now which is good although I still can't help but think / see people thanking rather than upvoting? Like thanking is great and all that, but wouldn't it be great if people could do both?

And yes this is more a problem on NSW boards than VIC boards.

I also understand your comments and all that above, but if I thanked all the new members I have been seeing on the boards lately, all the freshies contributing we would literally be here all day and night. So, awesome job you guys (and girls!) and keep being amazing and promoting AN:

[GalacticProcess]

Genuine question turned statement, upvoting seems to be taking off more now which is good although I still can't help but think / see people thanking rather than upvoting? Like thanking is great and all that, but wouldn't it be great if people could do both?

And yes this is more a problem on NSW boards than VIC boards.

I also understand your comments and all that above, but if I thanked all the new members I have been seeing on the boards lately, all the freshies contributing we would literally be here all day and night. So, awesome job you guys (and girls!) and keep being amazing and promoting AN:

Personally I don't really think it matters, and tbh I don't see that as a problem. Thanking is thanking, irrelevant of how it is done. Acknowledging someone can be done either way, the difference is that upvoting allows it to be recorded and easily seen by others, permanently. It's really just up to the person whether they want to upvote quickly or personally post a thanking message. The outcome is still the same; the person is appreciated and thanked.

I can see where you are coming from in that it would take ages to thank everyone via a specific post, but no one is actually forcing you to type something out. Like I said, it's a completely personal choice and if you feel like you want to leave a post thanking someone, no one's stopping you.

[K888]

Genuine question turned statement, upvoting seems to be taking off more now which is good although I still can't help but think / see people thanking rather than upvoting? Like thanking is great and all that, but wouldn't it be great if people could do both?

This comes from people knowing how to use the upvoting system, though - encourage new users to press that upvote button, let them know that it's there

Be the change you want to see - upvote posts, and it'll become more widespread.