Drive By Raters

I have come to a number of articles recently and almost not left a comment because the only thing showing was a DB1 and I didn't want to be (wrongly) associated with it. Guess someone is on the prowl.

Just let the rest of us comment.

Why do you care? I believe I get low-rated on everything, just because many people find my opinions to be objectionable and they harbor a dislike for me, on a personal level. Which always strikes me funny, since the rating system is supposed to be based on the quality of the writing, and most of the morons who drive by and drop one star can't write their way out of comic book. I, on the other hand, actually write for a living. Go figure.

How would you respond if the rater stopped to explain?

Many others have expressed the same displeasure. Yet, when some of us stop to explain why we (justifiably) rate low, gangs of people follow us around to call us names (drive-byers for one, which makes no sense) and low rate everything we publish, whether or not it deserves a low rating.

Well you are not the only being attacked by the Troll! Just don t worry about it..Ratings do not count anyway...Plus not everyone is going to like your work.
Maybe its someone you ticked off. It could be a lot reasons. The main thing is your work is out there. People go to the articles with a low rating to see why, so actually they are doing you a favor! lol Don't worry about it, since that troll is helping you out.

i've been rated low too...and the times they do leave a so-called reason, the reasons are moronic. I'd say to try to not worry about it, but it bothers me too.

Many have been hit by these trolls. Actually they are helping, with the views, so its no biggie deal.

You must be right! I have been rated low too but I don't care... it boost my points and then if I get trolled I can publish and atricle about it to get more points.... hahaha! I sometimes rate images lower but not 1 if it isn't thier original image. That way they still get the points but not the credit.

There have been drive by raters for as long as I've been on Gather.

There are many reasons for drive by ratings. Here are some:

• Something you said three posts ago annoyed them and because they have no life they are going to keep hitting you over and over again. They may be mad about your politics, but see nothing wrong with giving out ones when you post pictures of your children or articles that have nothing to do with politics. These people are often connected to you.

• They somehow think their writing, style and attitude are better than everyone else's and that it is their God given (or Gather given if they are an athiest) purpose to give you low ratings. It builds their ego while hurting yours.

• They see posts like this and keep drive by rating you because they get their jollies out of attacking people over stupid things. Yes, fretting over a one time mistake of two for too is stupid.

• Somehow they've let others convince them of their own intellectual superiority. They affirm their worth by making posts about others crappy writing and then go hit them with bad ratings.

• They believe their posts should always be in the most viewed section. In order to achieve that goal they low score any post that looks like it has even the most remote opportunity of having a higher rating.

• They still believe Gather is a writing site and are attempting to score every piece as if you are attempting to be the next Hemmingway - even if you are really just writing about your kids.

There is nothing you can do about the drive-by ratings except turn your ratings off or ignore them. Don't feed them.

welcome to the club. I have just gotten resigned to it.