How about an electoral college?

I prefer a system involving gladiatorial duels to the death.

Frankly, I don't mind the current system. Hell, would you really want a system like Facebook where you can only 'Like' things? I always found that notion pretty stupid. Yes, downrepping someone 'just because' is kind of dumb, but more often than not those people brought it on themselves. I rarely downrep, mostly only in cases in which people are being utter idiots or complete asses.

On a whole Rep is still relatively meaningless. It's just a silly number under a person's name. *shrug*
I second that notion. Let the games begin! ;)
+1 =P

Are you from Montana ;) ?

A fellow Onion reader! Very good my friend, I salute you!

Hey I think your all assholes ! ... but please please don't downrep me .. :( lol




I suppose I better add for the sake of the literally challenged .... I'm only joking ...

Yes - not exactly do away with the rep buttons altogether, because that would cause even more problems, but put your agree/disagree button where that was, and make the downrep button under something else, so you got to work for it. :P

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

/thread

This has been stated by others in other ways, but this is the last one I read so I'll reply to it. I totally agree with the sentiment here. Down-repping just because someone dislikes an opinion should be frowned upon. If the tone or purpose (e.g. spam or flame-bait) of a post is offensive to the person in some manner, then I believe down-repping is called for and should be encouraged.

For me, I expect people to believe different things and think in different ways that other people. I expect a fair amount of disagreement on forums. This goes double for an international forum such as this; simple turns of phrase and idioms can even be taken the wrong way if care is not taken. Let's not even get started on folks possibly misinterpreting sarcasm and/or dry humor. I think due care should be taken to avoid such misunderstandings.

Which brings me to my next quote, and next point:

I totally disagree with this sentiment. I think it is totally possible to argue the opposite side of a point without offending someone else. Just because someone disagrees with someone else, it doesn't automatically follow that they have to dislike that person or go after them personally. The biggest mistake I see on forums is to go after the person rather than the argument. This is when threads usually start to get heated.

There can be civil disagreements, and I think a reputation, when used properly, greatly aids this by subtly letting folks know when they have stepped out of line or have made a good point.

You may never know how funny this post is.

You see, the problem with explaining to spineless simpletons that their actions are making them look like shit eating vermin really doesn't help. It's a bit like calling a spout a sprout and expecting it to become an orange.

People are going to continue to use the plus and minus buttons as their only form of communication for as long as those buttons exist. Remove the buttons and we can at least pretend they're not around anymore.

Only problem with removing that would mean that people would then BE forced to call spineless shit eating vermin, spineless shit eating vermin, thus making the forums even less friendly. xD

That's assuming they grow enough of a spine to... post their opinions on the internet. LOL It's sad to share a species with people who are basically just plankton, but there it is. I honestly don't think it would up the agro much. It might even reduce it by stopping all the rep bitching that goes on.

...good point. You'd figure internet anonymity would drop some peoples' inhibitions a little, but eh. There's always a trade off.

I do wish people would stop banking on rep so much, though. It's an arbitrary number, ffs. That's all. Don't be a douchebag and you're probably gonna be okay in this community. :D