Why so many newbies with so much karma? - Page 5

neilmarr · 08-10-2011, 11:39 AM

'Karma' would be a useful guide if judiciously awarded and honestly earned. But how the heck do mods police that?

Right now, I place more weight on posting figures and much more on what I read than I do on karma points or the number of posts a member had clocked up.

Swapping karma seems to be a clique thing, so often insincere and unreliable as to be all but worthless.

I feel mt own count (whatever it may be -- I seldom check and don't know how to discover by whom it's given) would be honestly merited, but I wouldn't mind if it was reduced to zero.

What I would like to see, though, is some simple means of registering both approval of a post (no matter whether or not it is against your own stance, it's considered opinion that counts) and disapproval when a post is specious or insulting to a member. Again, though, who could organise that? I don't think the current forum software would easily enable that kind of option. Best wishes. Neil

ProfCrash · 08-10-2011, 11:46 AM

If giving Karma to friends in the lounge thread when they are feeling sick, make you laugh when you are feeling bad, post something down right silly, or something along those lines is cliquish then I am guilty.

I have taken a look through my Karma pages (22 so far) about 1/2 the Karma is from one topic and the rest are from substantive posts about e-readers.

I see no reason for mods to be following why people give Karma.

Nancy Fulda · 08-10-2011, 11:49 AM

I'm not too worried by the possibility of karma glitches or sinister collusions between heavy karma-passers and sock puppets, but if we're dealing with a hacker then I have some serious concerns about site security.

If someone has enough database access to fiddle with karma, they may also have access to passwords, past posts, and admin functions. I hope the site admins will let us know as soon as they've figured out what's going on.

pdurrant · 08-10-2011, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nancy Fulda

I'm not too worried by the possibility of karma glitches or sinister collusions between heavy karma-passers and sock puppets, but if we're dealing with a hacker then I have some serious concerns about site security.

If someone has enough database access to fiddle with karma, they may also have access to passwords, past posts, and admin functions. I hope the site admins will let us know as soon as they've figured out what's going on.

I'm sure no-one's hacking the site to fiddle with Karma. The zeros is just some of the members having fun with the amount of Karma assigned.

Newbies with large amounts of Karma? Well, it might be karma swapping, or it might just be that one post gets a landslide of karma.

pdurrant · 08-10-2011, 11:58 AM

For the first time in my membership here, I've run out of Karma to give. I'll have to wait until tomorrow to give out any more.

Hellmark · 08-10-2011, 12:04 PM

I've seen a few users lately, with extremely low post counts, and high karma ratings. I remember one person had 9 posts, all of them were like "lol" or an emoticon (I think the longest one was "that's so funny!"), and they had 50,000 karma points.

Ea · 08-10-2011, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carld

For one thing it's possible someone has found a way to game or hack the system. If so, it's a potentially serious security issue. Also, if true, it offends my sense of right and wrong.

A small(er) group of users did sort of hack the system back from 1-2 years ago, by keep giving each other karma. IMHO it devalued the system considerably, and karma doesn't have any value.

ProfCrash · 08-10-2011, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ea

A small(er) group of users did sort of hack the system back from 1-2 years ago, by keep giving each other karma. IMHO it devalued the system considerably, and karma doesn't have any value.

I think everyone is aware that karma does not mean anything. It was fun reading the fortunes associated with Karma as it climbed but that is about all that it was. It is a nice way to let folks know you like a post or give someone a boost when they are having a bad day.

gwhite · 08-10-2011, 12:21 PM

I'm so glad I clicked on this thread as now I know what "Karma" is and I've just found out that I've got some. Have to admit that I'm not sure why though having just stumbled into this forum.

pdurrant · 08-10-2011, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gwhite

I'm so glad I clicked on this thread as now I know what "Karma" is and I've just found out that I've got some. Have to admit that I'm not sure why though having just stumbled into this forum.

If you go to your User CP, and scroll down, you'll see a list of people who've given you Karma, and links to the posts for which they gave you the Karma. Click on their name in the list, and you can send them a thank-you message.

Skibble · 08-10-2011, 12:50 PM

I have given what little I have out to a few people because I'm aware it's one of the ways people give "props" for a helpful or well-worded post, but I haven't worried about accumulating it.

I view it rather like real-world fame. Don't have it? Doesn't matter. It doesn't mean you're incapable of making a salient point. Do have it? Congratulations. But it doesn't say anything about you as a person, other than the fact that you have attracted attention.

No offense meant to those who have a lot of karma, of course!

lestatar · 08-10-2011, 01:11 PM

I am new-ish to MR but I have now come up with my own criteria for doling out karma.

Basically under 3 conditions for:

- posts that I find extremely helpful or those that bring me up to speed on stuff I didn't know about;
- posts that I find extremely "cool" [mostly interesting images]
- whenever I spit liquids out of mouth and onto my keyboard/screen

That last one happens quite a lot in the MR Llama Lounge...

ProfCrash · 08-10-2011, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skibble

I have given what little I have out to a few people because I'm aware it's one of the ways people give "props" for a helpful or well-worded post, but I haven't worried about accumulating it.

I view it rather like real-world fame. Don't have it? Doesn't matter. It doesn't mean you're incapable of making a salient point. Do have it? Congratulations. But it doesn't say anything about you as a person, other than the fact that you have attracted attention.

No offense meant to those who have a lot of karma, of course!

Agreed. It means little to nothing but it is always nice to know that people like what you are typing.

Namekuseijin · 08-10-2011, 01:27 PM

Karma and registry dates are two things that truly annoy me in web forums: "Haha, shut up n00b!" said clueless teen to newly-registered senior guru. Only thing more annoying is "likes" and "dislikes" actually disrupting discussions by hiding dissonant opinions -- a hallmark of Idiocracy.

I miss unmoderated usenet with true free speech and yet good options for privacy: you don't like the tone of a user, you killfile him so his posts don't reach you again, yet they were available for others.

HomeInMyShoes · 08-10-2011, 02:06 PM

Some of us have been trying to figure out why the amount of karma we give doesn't always add up. 0+2=1 (karma to anyone getting that reference).

@pdurrant: lol. It's just nice to see whom one has helped with a post. That's all karma is to me.

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08-10-2011, 11:39 AM	#61
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,216 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	'Karma' would be a useful guide if judiciously awarded and honestly earned. But how the heck do mods police that? Right now, I place more weight on posting figures and much more on what I read than I do on karma points or the number of posts a member had clocked up. Swapping karma seems to be a clique thing, so often insincere and unreliable as to be all but worthless. I feel mt own count (whatever it may be -- I seldom check and don't know how to discover by whom it's given) would be honestly merited, but I wouldn't mind if it was reduced to zero. What I would like to see, though, is some simple means of registering both approval of a post (no matter whether or not it is against your own stance, it's considered opinion that counts) and disapproval when a post is specious or insulting to a member. Again, though, who could organise that? I don't think the current forum software would easily enable that kind of option. Best wishes. Neil

08-10-2011, 11:46 AM	#62
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	If giving Karma to friends in the lounge thread when they are feeling sick, make you laugh when you are feeling bad, post something down right silly, or something along those lines is cliquish then I am guilty. I have taken a look through my Karma pages (22 so far) about 1/2 the Karma is from one topic and the rest are from substantive posts about e-readers. I see no reason for mods to be following why people give Karma.

08-10-2011, 11:49 AM	#63
Nancy Fulda I write stories. Posts: 700 Karma: 16437432 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Northern Germany Device: kindle	I'm not too worried by the possibility of karma glitches or sinister collusions between heavy karma-passers and sock puppets, but if we're dealing with a hacker then I have some serious concerns about site security. If someone has enough database access to fiddle with karma, they may also have access to passwords, past posts, and admin functions. I hope the site admins will let us know as soon as they've figured out what's going on.

08-10-2011, 11:58 AM	#65
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 71,510 Karma: 306214458 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Voyage	For the first time in my membership here, I've run out of Karma to give. I'll have to wait until tomorrow to give out any more.

08-10-2011, 12:04 PM	#66
Hellmark Wizard Posts: 2,549 Karma: 3799999 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: O'Fallon, Missouri, USA Device: Nokia N800, PRS-505, Nook STR Glowlight, Kindle 3	I've seen a few users lately, with extremely low post counts, and high karma ratings. I remember one person had 9 posts, all of them were like "lol" or an emoticon (I think the longest one was "that's so funny!"), and they had 50,000 karma points.

08-10-2011, 12:21 PM	#69
gwhite Connoisseur Posts: 69 Karma: 828088 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Fife Scotland Device: Kindle 3 Paperwhite	I'm so glad I clicked on this thread as now I know what "Karma" is and I've just found out that I've got some. Have to admit that I'm not sure why though having just stumbled into this forum.

08-10-2011, 12:50 PM	#71
Skibble Runs With Scissors Posts: 115 Karma: 1173596 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: USA Device: Kindle Voyage	I have given what little I have out to a few people because I'm aware it's one of the ways people give "props" for a helpful or well-worded post, but I haven't worried about accumulating it. I view it rather like real-world fame. Don't have it? Doesn't matter. It doesn't mean you're incapable of making a salient point. Do have it? Congratulations. But it doesn't say anything about you as a person, other than the fact that you have attracted attention. No offense meant to those who have a lot of karma, of course!

08-10-2011, 01:11 PM	#72
lestatar LB's lolz Mutt Minion Posts: 2,902 Karma: 5700001 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Hong Kong now but NYC forever Device: Kindle3, GalaxyTab, BB Bold9700, BB 8300, Sony Clie, Palm Vx, Palm III	I am new-ish to MR but I have now come up with my own criteria for doling out karma. Basically under 3 conditions for: - posts that I find extremely helpful or those that bring me up to speed on stuff I didn't know about; - posts that I find extremely "cool" [mostly interesting images] - whenever I spit liquids out of mouth and onto my keyboard/screen That last one happens quite a lot in the MR Llama Lounge...

08-10-2011, 01:27 PM	#74
Namekuseijin affordable chipmunk Posts: 1,290 Karma: 9863855 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Brazil Device: Sony XPeria ZL, Kindle Paperwhite	Karma and registry dates are two things that truly annoy me in web forums: "Haha, shut up n00b!" said clueless teen to newly-registered senior guru. Only thing more annoying is "likes" and "dislikes" actually disrupting discussions by hiding dissonant opinions -- a hallmark of Idiocracy. I miss unmoderated usenet with true free speech and yet good options for privacy: you don't like the tone of a user, you killfile him so his posts don't reach you again, yet they were available for others.

08-10-2011, 02:06 PM	#75
HomeInMyShoes Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,226 Karma: 67780237 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	Some of us have been trying to figure out why the amount of karma we give doesn't always add up. 0+2=1 (karma to anyone getting that reference). @pdurrant: lol. It's just nice to see whom one has helped with a post. That's all karma is to me.

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