I say we get rid of the negative rating box!

I would say yes, except that there are circumstances where people probably do deserve more of a negative mark than to be sent in as actual report of cheating, like when someone answers just 'yes', 'no', or 'I don't know', etc. But I would be happy to do away with the minus button, anyway, because it seems to have caused more than just me some pain here on the site. I'm still struggling to get my rating back up, and still have no idea what I did to end up dropping as low as I did for awhile. Anyway, I think that your idea is a good one, either that or the idea that cremecheese sent to Mylot about us having to give a reason to Mylot each time that we mark with a minus! ^_^

Some answers just suck, you know? And it's necessary to have that box for those. You're right that people shouldn't abuse it, but taking it away isn't really an option that's going to happen. Any other suggestions on how to stop the abuse of the negative rating box?

Oh my goodness....I think this could so work!!!!!!! I have watched my rating drop a few points here and there because of people giving me a negative. And here I always try to be nice and respectful. But for some reason, someone does not like me. I know...I have a 98...but the day we received stars, I started at 100 and ave fallen down to 96. Some people dislike how long I write my responses or discussions. So, I have received negative ratings for that. But do I deserve a negative rating because that person does not like how much I write??? Come on! I put a lot of thought, passion and or humor into my discussions/responses. Why should I be given a "-"???? If I don't agree with a person and they are well thought out, I will still give that person a positive. And if I think they didn't really make a point...I do not give that person anything. I completely agree! I think the negative should be taken away...along with the Star reputation that everyone so stresses out over. Even though I like knowing how good of quality a person is rated...I don't think this star is really what it is made out to be. I have seen people that give one sentence responses still have an 8 or 9 star. Maybe if you get enough people to respond, you can forward this to myLot as a petition! :) Or, start a discussion as a petition and all that respond would be a signature thread that would be forwarded to mylot.

I totally agree with you... we should do away with the negative bar right away!!! Just because we do not agree with some postings , that does not mean that something il-legitimate an rubbish is written there. Your suggestion of walking away from the discussion sounds good. I congratulate you on coming up with such a simple(yet) good suggestion.

I agree. I think alot of people use the - box as retaliating against people hat do not agree with them. I had a 78...i backed up my siter about a topic that alot of people did not agree with. the nex day i had a 58...I mean come on. I think maybe people need to have a reason to give the ratings. If you give a positive tell why. if you give a negative...give your reason. and if admin does not think your reason is valid then you should not get a lower rating JUST because your opnions are not mainstream.

I think that using the negative button for people who give short silly answers, or have obviously not read the question is a good idea. I thought the ! button was for people who were rude not just lazy in their responses. However I agree that people using it because they don't agree with your view isn't fair and there should be some way to stop this.

I feel that the negative rating button should remain as not everyone needs to be reported as some responses are not bad enough to be reported as abuse. I think that when we hit the negative button that there should be a comment box to explain why we rated them low but this comment would only be for myLot to view to see if the negative rating is warranted or not. Maybe this would help prevent the people giving good and honest responses from getting so many negative ratings because someone disagreed with their comment.

Would be ok with me. The only thing is, they would be overloading mylot with !!! marks and complaints. Maybe they should start punishing people for using them when people are just disagreeing in the discussions. I don't know what the answer is.

I agree completely with you. I think that many myLot users abuse the - rating. They use it when they disagree with your opinion, or when they simply just don't like you; as opposed to it's purpose, to respond to abusive comments and yes or no answers. I would like to see it go. Let myLot decide if a post is worthy, through the ! key. If someone doesn't like your post, then they can either report it...(but like you said they have to have a valid reason), or not rate it at all. Great suggestion.

I don't know if it should be taken away - because some answers are just not applicable to the discussion or just put there because people want to respond. Some people are just mean, too, and write personal comments about the poster but without offering an opinion on what was actually posted. So there should be something. But you're right, there does seem to be abuse of the negative rating box, because people use it to "punish" those who disagree with them.

Yes this would be great, but then My Lot could not get a good rating on you. I have only used the - in a few instances, but I could have just as easily not rated them at all. The - is also being given from pranksters who think it is stupid to be in here making money. I agree either do away with them or investigate when you receive one.

i noticed too taht lots of people are making complain how some members give them negative ratings.. well in this one i think i have to agree with you since we all have diferent opinions and giving feedback is a instinct to us so some tend to retaliate by giving jnegative sign which is i think unfair to those who really give there best just to write what they think of the topic.

I'm sure the positive button is hit more often then negatively. People abuse the rate button or don't use it much. Do you think people are as selective or fair with the positive button? Some people give a good rate for answer decent instead of for the really good answers or thoughtful. Plus=think about how people comprehend the postitve and negative button. They might use it cause they absulutely(sp?) agree and disagree, or the person answer good, bad, or real thoughtful, or that last person on thoughtful. I probably rated one negative and 125 positive. I don't think this is as bad as a problem...I think people don't like their stars falling. But I don't think that has to do with your earning. I know it's cool to see a big star. But the negative button is there for a good reason-to not let those who don't care, lazy, or disagreeable to not answer. You can also use the negative button to warn others not to put "mature" content, awful responses, or let others know that answer is not an option they would do. It's to the discernment of the person. If it's real bad then all of mylot would complain-and mylot would change. But-I haven't see it abused. In fact there's alot of stars.

I've only used it once, and that was with a disagreable and unthougthful selfish answer. If it was helpful to what you asked it should be used. But because someone doesn't agree in an OPEN Discusion...maybe the shouldn't. But-it should neve should be over used. But it's up to someone whether or not they think someone did a good job or not answer. you can simple not rate...but some will rate all. Don't worry about it. what other box could they but up. It's reality a box that says to me not a quality answer, lazy, or don't care-didn't think. If it's honest and reflection of thought I leave it. I Don't like ignorant or rude remarks.

according to mylot a - rating should be done only when response doesn't meets the required quality! so dont give a - rating to a discussion for simply the person has a fiffrent idea than you for example if a person starts a discussion that says about something that not in your interst ,dont give him a -.so (-) has some bad effect.it will cause your reputaion and earning

Personally, I could care less about the ratings, positive or negative...Reason being because, just as you said people abuse these ratings... It work both ways, you could have friends and just say your response was not up to par, because it's your friend they give you a positive rating...WHY? If I mark a positive it's because it's a good response, I will mark negative IF the person is disrespectful responding to my topic... I treat this forum, just as real life, I know people will disagree with some of my responses, I know some will mark me negative...I responded and gave my opinion... and that's that.. I honestly don't know if these ratings give you a couple of cents or take away a couple of cents or take away your posts count..It really doesn't bother me, because I know there are people in this world because they don't agree with you, try to hurt you mentually or in this case give you negative feedback... good topic

I dont think so. I have had people comment who had not even took the time to read the discussion. Their comment had nothing to do with the discussion. I also had a commenter who was going through all my discussions commenting on them. I first thought 'wow they are reading htem all" untill about the 5th discussion then the comments were all indinical to the one before. I am not sure what the solution is but there has to be a way to keep the above type of commnenters from getting a high rating.

nah, because what if someone wrote a responce that had nothing to do with the subject matter? or they wrote "mary had a little lamb" just for the money? see negative box should stay. as it is fair to give +'s for good responces, it is fair to give -'s for poor ones. but here is something. why do people care whether or not they recieve positives or negatives? it is only a website. how will this really ever affect you? do you really care if someone dont like your responce? as long as you do right...?

I am another one who used the [-] as a mini abuse reporting system (the "yes" "no" etc responses) I only used the [!] once so far for a disruptive post. but if myLot does a query and gets rid of those anyway (adjusting the earnings of the perpetrators accordingly) what would be the point? If people are using it for a "disagree" button well, I won't elaborate what I think of them. The FAQ page says myLot has an algorhythm that can detect abusive [-] hits. I will cross my fingers.

I think the whole point to the negetive rating is to be able to speak your opinion but yeah we don't really need it i AGREE LETS GET RID OF IT!