Pulling down gather ratings

You'll learn quickly, Gautami, that this website is rife with cowards who have nothing constructive to contribute and the only thing their small brains are capable of is amusing themselves by "flaming" people with low ratings. The sooner you come to disregard the ratings system in its current incarnation (and you should--it's meaningless), these people will lose the influence that they so badly want over you.

Unfortunately, there's an even worse kind of person on Gather than "flamers"...and those are the people who present themselves as everyone's friend while simultaneously working to manipulate the system to their own devices and attempting to dictate the website's standards. These people are duplicitous and potentially deeply disturbed, often having numerous different public identites on the site. They're the people you really have to watch out for, and believe me when I tell you...

They're a lot closer than you think.

This has been happening to me to gautami...but I stopped worrying about it because I enjoy writing for me most of all, and for the people who regularly visit my work and get something out of it. As Candida says, the people who do this are ignorant cowards and until Gather figures out a way to prevent this, it's bound to happen.

All I can say is don't let it discourage you...you are so talented and I for one would hate to see this hamper you in any way. I enjoy reading your pieces and will always be a fan!

This has happened to me almost everytime - except once...and I made it to the top with Wiser...I guess the culprits were sleeping that day...I've asked others about this and they say someone give people one's and has for a long time...I always give a ten if I give anything...glad I'm not the only one who wonders about this...but like I said in my "Too Many Left Turns" - maybe they have a quota before their computer blows up...

I want to give you support also. I write for myself but I value the writing of others here so my writing is for them also. I get annoyed with myself when forget to give a vote, especially when I've seen so many good pieces. Keep writing and sharing.

Once again the world of gather, is too much like a slice of reality.... It's a cruel, cruel, world out there. And there is always just that one that has to go and screw it up for the rest of us.

And, I have to admit, that after reading and then often taking the time to "think out" a genuine and thoughtful comment, I don't really vote... But then again, I don't look at my numbers either.

I am not a numbers person, I am artistic and visual and in no way mathmatical! Too me, it's quality instead of quantity, and a few great comments go a lot farther than someone that bothered to try to put a number on something.

Gather is about writing, imagery, and words, right? Screw the numbers. The positive effect of a little amount of constructive criticism, takes you a heckof a lot farther in this world than someone that wants to try to relate this to an insecure and adolescent rating on a 1-10 scale.

Keep rocking it on for you, and get em all in the end! Keep it up! What do the top ratings really mean anyway? We are all blessed to get so much feedback on words that otherwise would be stored to our hard drives or lost in the vast audience of the non categorized internet to be sorted out by the likes of Google.

Just take it all in stride and use this venting time to instead create something that 10 years from now will still be meaningful to you. How many of these people will you even know then anyway?

Well as for ranting and raving, you obviously got me going.... So, come on Guatmi, knock out some more great works, and just do it for you!

By the way, I am going to be in Delhi in 5 days, I am a little exvcited, so had to share. Or at least end this long and drawn out rant on another level!
namaste!

Quatami: I'm still fairly new here on Gather,but I'm sure I will be a victim of this nonsense sooner or later. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this.

I don't know whether this has happened to me. I honestly don' t care. I don't rate and I don't pay attention to ratinga. I just write and publish.

I think it is quite apparent and downright malicious, nothing else.
And its happening to me as well!So?

Thanks Candida, Johnny,Bonnie,Mariana,Benita,Rene, Cindy,Martha and John,

I know I should not bother much bout ratings and get on with my writing. I know there are malicious people out there who have nothing better to do.They neither know how to write nor to read. Only purpose seems to be trying to rattle others. Johnny has a valid point. The people who are so called friends are the ones who pull us down. Ah, well..we learn from our mistakes.

I had to post this becos I felt I should share it with all those who like my writing and whose writing I like. It seems we are/have going/gone through this. It bothered me for a while but after this overwhelming support I will just let that pass.And stick to writing. And reading. And commenting.

So what, MHN?

I know its malicious and downright cowardice...

all mine have been knocked down by the ratings troll. i just ignore it now. but it is so tiresome....sorry!!

Very soon Gather will change the whole ratings structure so the best thing for now is to try to ignore how you're being rated and just wriite in what ever way you please and try not to be affected by that sort of nonsense. I know it's hard and frustrating, but it should be a comfort to know you're not alone. I have appreciated your honest writing.

Zenith are right.

It is a shame, and I think the rating system should be taken off.

Gautami, The flamers are indeed cowards, and should be drawn and quartered. But, if I may play Devil's advocate for a moment... While I have enjoyed all the posts of yours I have read, there may be some who do not. Occasionally, we may get a well deserved low rating. We all know we do not write "10's" every time, at least I don't. Do not let the rating system get to you. It means nothing. One of the reasons I joined Gather is to receive critique about my work, and I wish if I write something worthy of a "1", the reasons would be pointed out to me. Unfortunately, the flamers are too cowardly to speak up.

I completely agree with you Gautami, it is cruel adn very nasty. I wonder why they do it.

I do believe Gather.com is working on changing the ratings system. But, the truth is no matter how good they upgrade the current system, there are always jealous people in this world that build themselves up by tearing others down.

Rene, Zenith and others have said it ... just shrug, look at the comments you received and you will have a better idea of what is right with your writing. I think you know you a clever writer without any of the stars.

Gautami, don't let it upset you. You're writing for yourself and us. To hell with the ratings!

Magi

Maybe the person just doesn't like your writing. Get over it.

I have written an article on this...not to be self-promotionary...but I'm tired of hearing complaining about getting low ratings. Some people don't like what you have to say. They don't need to explain themselves.

If you are never agitating people enough to tick them off and give you a low rating once in a while, then I don't think you are doing your job as a writer.

That's not mean, that's the *truth*.

So here we go again with the ratings conversation...I feel like we're spinning in circles here...does anyone else feel that way?

That must mean nothing is being done. I don't see anything improved about ratings in today's upgrade...oh well.

So there will be folks in every forum, every club that are ratings bashers. It's a pain.

I agree with Stephanie B's laswt line above f you are never agitating people enough to tick them off and give you a low rating once in a while, then I don't think you are doing your job as a writer.

I agree with Steph.......Still.....why rate at all?........maybe for those that care ......that need to win something?....whats the diff....i say kill the rating...
.......................unless i get to be a winner...

Go Stephanie! I agree. If the writing sucks, I give it a 1-5. Why not? Is there some special Gather law of nicety preventing this? I also rate articles I like highly. Shit, just because you can press a POST button doesn't earn you an automatic reward. I like to think we can be critical thinkers here. But maybe I should just put the crack pipe away.

On a rating scale of 1 - 10, wouldn't 5 be average? There are many average writers publishing here, a few below, and a few above. If we were honest, most articles would carry a rating between 4 and 7. The only time I see anything in that range is when an article has been rated by two people. I never imagined so many people expected the world to see them as above average.

The flamers do succeed if we react like this. I think I will strick to my writing. I will not let anyone bother me with their malicious intent. I agree, not all we write are liked by all. Why should it be? Afterall, we too choose books that we want to read and reject the ones we do not like! So to each his own.

What I really wanted is that when one rates you 1, he/she should tell you why he/she does like your article. That is a great help. Thats how one improves.

Creativity is what I want, learning is what I desire. So I will get on with that.

Sandy is indeed right, most belong to the average genre. So why bother about rating?

The anonymous 1er is becoming the Headless Horseman of Gather.

Right George! Poor headless man/horseman! What else can he do? In the circumstances?

It isn't right...but

What should receive a 10? Probably nothing on this site yet. 10 means perfect, couldn't be better, period.

There are lots of 5's on Gather. Middle of the road, so-so writing and so-so stories. Average, OK but not great, nothing to ashamed of.

There are tons of 1,2,3 &4's (most of mine). These are the simple, the silly, the trite, the cutesy and the lame. Again nothing to ashamed of but they certainly don't deserve a high rating.

I feel that Gather has fallen into the American school trap. If someone signs their test paper they deserve at least a 70.

Well sorry guys and gals...lets get over ourselves and shoot for the sky, but figure most of our Pablum is worth a 5 and if someone rates us lower so be it. Next time you read a nice little ditty here on Gather and see it has received 10 10's ask yourself where is the room for a real writer to be rated.

In fact I am going to re-publish this comment as an article...would someone please rate it a 1...that is all it deserves!

I agree with most of what you say, Bruce.....

Even the great writers were very bad at times. So whats to speak about us? We are average, thats what we deserve.

But what I feel is we should be able to tell why we rated it 1! We desrve to know where we need to improve.

No Louis it isn't!

Next time onwards, I will junk the ratings

hmm classy article but I give it a 5 based on you need to rant about something more, too many people whining about points, to a point it is important to Gather.com due to their way of choosing articles and yet the villians who like to harrass people give great articles poor ratings, I think it should disappear and leave it to the staff to see who is worthy of topics wanted...or they can put up a topic and we all choose to write on it or not but in reality points or no points, I write what my heart wants me to write:) This is a topic with no real answer or solution based on no one wants to hear it anymore. No offense but too many have been there already:)

It will change, and for the better. Try not to let it bother you. You've joined a very large club, here, of people who've also received this.

Thanks Jose and Kathryn.

I have stopped being bothered. Better to stick to good writing. Thats what matters most!

I'm looking at this in a different light.

When I post my poems I'm under the impression that the people who are rating them are doing so based on whether they think the poem is well written and articulate as poetry goes. I'm with the understanding that poetry is subjective as a matter of fact all writings are subjective and if the reader that happens by isn't impressed then, they'll rate it lower. If a person loves what's been written then they give it a 10.

I respectfully submit that we as writers need to be more thick-skinned. Not everyone who reads what we write is going to be a fan.

I've had my poetry and articles ripped apart by some of the best critics and one of those critics is now a dear friend who has helped me evolve my writing to a higher level with his harsh and at times cruel criticisms. To him I will be forever greatful. (Thanks Byron where ever you are)

Just my $0.02 on the subject.

Rating someone with a low number because you don't like their writing is different than just rating it a 1 without even reading it, just to be an ass. Hopefully the rating system will change soon. Write what you love, Gautami, and don't worry about the rating troll.

i have just rated this article a 1.
for irony.
for ART.
for defiance.

bh

Just ignore it. It doesn't mater, what does matter are the comments.
I know I've gotten quite a few positive comments and quite a few that actually offered some creative criticism.
I think that's great. You aren't much of a writer if you don't want to improve your writing, but what are those stupid little stars going to improve? Nothing. They just help you get points, so take what ratings you get and buy a gift certificate, then get on with your life.

To be or not to be is not the question. The question is to be or not to be rated? Or is it berated? Oh hell the rating system is absurd!