You know, usually the lot of us up here are pretty decent to eachother I think, and super helpful. Of course, I haven't ever really ventured past 'Model Years 1980-1986' threads, but I'm sure it applies for all the other threads. You guys are great people, who give great advice and support (MUCH better than what I've seen on other forums, usually all I've seen em do is give a little bit of info and trash talk on someone's opinion the rest of the way, like for example a 'Stacks on a gasser' type of deal.

Personally, I never even knew about a Positive or Negative reputation on here, much less used it. I see reputation as those who consecutively post and are kind and curtious to each other, not what their "rank" is based on someone's opinion whom I don't even know from Adam.

I think it's best to be gone of that reputation system, because like high school popularity, it ends up amounting to nothing.

How about we come up with a new way to democratically regulate the lemons here?

 

In the 5+ years I've been on FTE, I've gotten two negative reps. Once was a response to a negative I sent to someone else. I thought it this person was being a little harsh/rude to a new member....so I deserved it in a way. The other one is/was a 7.3L driver "talking trash" about a 6.0L powered truck. I've tired to function under the idea of "I don't talk trash about other Ford diesel engines, don't talk trash about mine". This guy basically has been asked to stay in the 7.3L forum and out of the 6.0L forums.

I guess in the long run it's a better idea, I just don't think everyone needs a trophy even if they finished last in the class.

 

I'm new enough to not really have a say here, but I'll throw this out there.

When ebay took away my ability to leave negative feedback, I was pi$$ed. I got burned a couple times, they left me negative feedback and I couldn't do the same. I was a long time ebayer, 100% + feedback and a couple douches chose to burn me because they could and I couldn't do anything about it.

SOoo, negative feedback is good WHEN you can use it justifiably, but everyone knows that there are people out there that just want to be d*%($. I haven't gotten negative,, heck I don't think I've gotten any positive lol, but I think it being gone will probably be better. The "bad apples" tend to weed themselves out eventually, no need to worry about them.

my too scents :P

 

I guess that the reason the reputation buttons were even put on here was for members to see who to trust more with their opinions about questions and problems with our trucks. If someone has a bunch of boxes I tend to value their opinion a little more than the ones with less boxes (like me). Red ones seem to be overkill. If you really have a problem with someone then either PM them or report them and let the moderators deal with it, but I agree that giving somebody a negative is kind of CS way to go about it.

 

On another note, in the time I've been here I've seen several people talking about how they got all their rep in a game or some bs "I'll give you rep if you give me" threads. THAT right there has made me not even look at the green bars. If you guys really allow things like that to happen (bogus rep boosting) then you should just do away with it completely.

 

never had a use for it. i'm glad it's gone.

 

While I dont agree with this, the show must go on. I've used it a few times. But rarely.

 

I would disagree with this for many of the same reasons the others have said. I have used the negative or disapprove before when info was totally wrong or a straight lie.

 

In my 10 years on this site I have NEVER seen nor have I had cause to utilize said function. Maybe the forums I hang out in are where all the decent folk like to gather and be civil without using some antagonizing button-click to get their point across. The idea of using a anything "negative" to make a point would do nothing short of adding to the problem. Even if someone posts inaccurate information in one of the forums I frequent, the response has no reason to even resemble negativity. The better and most mature approach would be to carefully and calmly inform to OP of the FACTS and delineate why they are so without being rude, insensitive or NEGATIVE.

It speaks volumes about the character of an individual who would resort to such maneuvers instead of accepting that misinformation is as readily available (if not more so) than accurate information and making the short-sighted assumption that someone would deliberately post inaccurate information for spite or worse reacting spitefully is just a very poor approach to being here. Try being nice and understanding and posting the accurate information instead of merely being negative in response. Furthermore, as I proof-read this I can't understand why this function even exists much less fathom why anyone would see fit to use it. Good riddance to it. Be nice... be civil... act like an adult and not a two-year old. Was that too much? Well, tough. I'm headed back to my nice respectful forums where I have NEVER seen it used!

 

And when life started Sex was intended for procreation not recreation.

 

My official statement - the neg reps can be easily abused, so I bid farewell to them. As for "everybody gets a trophy", I see a few people with a lot of posts and few reps - so not everybody gets a trophy (unless they frequent the easy-rep threads).

My thoughts - I have tapped into a few threads where reps will pop up just because I posted, even if I contributed nothing substantial. I started one shameless rep thread, but I offered up something in exchange - the Buck$Zooka magazine article and picture (still very popular with members who see it for the first time). Other than these incidences, I get fantastic feedback through the rep system when I step up to the plate either technically or "textually". I know when something I write is flat because there is no reaction, so it pushes me to get more creative. When I do hit the mark, the points roll in. The rep system is working for me in the way it was intended.

I could acquire a neg rep in three ways: I get carried away with addressing a troll, I word something not-quite-clear and it gets misconstrued as something offensive, or I change my MO and start going negative. With the neg reps now gone, negative or flat posts will have the same rep reaction; but negative posts may be edited/deleted by the moderators, the negative poster can be put in "post jail" or completely blocked, or the offender can get plenty of negative feedback publicly/privately. Does anybody feel this isn't a sufficient substitute for neg reps?

 

Never used it or had it used against me... although I have felt others' fingers quivering over their mouse button in indecision.

 

DOH!!!!!

 

While many of the posts here are truly money saving, frustration lowering , and just plain brilliant, some people here feed their emotional needs off of the ability to add or subtract from others "character" or reputation using a feature of the forum I have never understood. I have been neg rep from a poor choice of words and a lack of common sense . I laughed at the comments which I still think are funny. Comments in this post like "They deserved it (neg rep)" or "people need to be put in their place" demonstrates my opening point. Or even suggesting an "appeal" as if convicted in court of a crime, shows how these forum features are perceived (guilty as rep'ed). The ones who use these features feel good about what they are doing (adding or subtracting) rather than just participating in and enjoying the enthusiastic aspects of being a Ford owner. I have a family that gives me feedback about my character that I trust. Removing the neg rep feature will result in less posts from those going defensive from attacks on their (perceived) character. Love the forum and have benefited so much from others skills, creativity and wisdom of all things trucks, which is why I come here, not to get my emotional needs fulfilled . Good thing for me the button doesn't work anymore. Mike

 

I've never received, or given a negative rep. Thought about it, (Thanks David) but never did. I see no problem with eliminating it. PM's and emails are a much better method for settling disagreements. If that don't work, there's the other option of meeting out in the parking lot. (I'm kidding about the parking lot)