by Selene N.
Member since:
July 26, 2006

Non-Anonymous Rating

September 23, 2006 05:03 PM EDT
views: 114 | 1 person recommends this | comments: 16

What do you think of this idea? If we change the Gather.com's rating system to Non-Anonymous, it might make the rating system better.  Right now I have seen many complaints about people leaving a low rating without leaving a comment, or people who blindly rate all game/freebie/sweepstakes articles "1".  Personally, I also think sometimes the rating system is being misused and misleading. But if we do away with anonymous rating, then maybe members will be more careful or just when they rate. Or, at least they will be more motivated to leave a comment and explain their positions.             

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Comments: 16

Bonnie Sayers Sep 23, 2006, 5:12pm EDT
The same thing happens at amazon when rating reviews. It is not a number system, just a yes or no that this helped you and this brings you down the list in the top reviewers on that site.

I wanted to hit the top 1000 but in the top 2-3,000, which is still good considering how many people there are and I have not done it in awhile.

There are so many issues over at epinions with how people rate, so I like keeping it anonymous here. Then you would have revenge ratings. I dont think the ratings really are high up on the list for the community, unless I am wrong and out of the loop.

I hardly read the highest rated and most read for the day, week or month anyway. I skimmed it last nite since now to see most recent you need to go through that other step.
Selene N. Sep 23, 2006, 5:37pm EDT
I liked the epinions rating because it is *not* anonymous. I was actually thinking about epinions when I wrote this.

I think it is easier to have "revenge ratings" if the ratings are anonymous. If the names are attached, then people can see clearly if there is a "pattern" going on.
David Rochester Sep 23, 2006, 5:38pm EDT
I wish they'd just do away with the rating system completely. It's too open to misuse, both too-positive from friends and too-negative from people with an axe to grind. I have seldom found it to be actually indicative of an article's merit.
William M. Sep 23, 2006, 5:41pm EDT
I can see that there are two sides to the issue and I don't know which is best.
Fran S. Sep 23, 2006, 5:54pm EDT
i agree with David, too many people just click on whatever number for no valid reason, not caring what it might impact
Val Sebring Sep 23, 2006, 5:56pm EDT
I think Selene is right. If it were not anonymous it might be more valuable.
Susan *. Sep 23, 2006, 6:30pm EDT
I too liked the EPINIONS rating system....when you take the Anonymous out of rating, there tends to be less "revenge" rating in place...it seems to me that if you feel strongly enough to rate, you should care if they see what you actually rated!
Olga M. Sep 24, 2006, 6:04am EDT
Sometimes I don't feel like being bothered working all those numbers around in my head each time I read something because I read a lot of stuff at one time. Then, no matter what I put down someone would inevitably take it too seriously and want to know what my reasoning was. I feel like I'm not here to stroke other people's egos and need for approval. I'm here to read, write and learn. I never rate unless I am so moved that I give it a 10. That's easy enough. And even then, I just may not be in the mood to explain why. So I don't. Sometimes this whole business just reminds me of a bunch of insecure children bickering over brownie buttons.
Linda R. Sep 24, 2006, 8:53am EDT
As I've said before, I really dislike the anonymous rating system. I would prefer to eliminate the ratings or at least make them part of the individual comment boxes.
Kathryn E. Sep 24, 2006, 2:24pm EDT
That's been a question for some time now. Waiting for Gather to implement this.

I've made this a Feature in Unofficial Gatherholics. Thank you.
June M Sep 24, 2006, 2:50pm EDT
I don't care about the points either. I notice now that Gather has it set up so that we can donate our points to charity. I think that is a great idea, and wish they would either do away with the points or donate them all to Charity.
John S. (arizona) Sep 24, 2006, 6:14pm EDT
It is supposed to be replaced. I'm not sure, but I thought by the end of the year.
Selene N. Sep 24, 2006, 7:06pm EDT
Kathryn - Thanks for featuring this.
Sherry W. Sep 26, 2006, 10:16am EDT
I hate the current ratings system. IMO, you should be required to leave a comment if you want to rate something. I emailed Gather about this just a few days ago.
Lisa S. Sep 28, 2006, 5:38pm EDT
I agree Sherry! I just had somebody leave a '1' on a pic I posted -- the member acted cowardly by not leaving a comment as to why he/she left the low rating.
Sandy (Site Psychic™) Knauer Sep 28, 2006, 5:48pm EDT
I'll be honest. This is a one paragraph statement on a topic that has been discussed endlessly. It begins with a question that I assume refers to the title which is awkwardly worded. Since you offered nothing profound or new on the topic, and I believe the paragraph required little time or thought, I will rate this four. I believe five is average and this is below average.

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