by John Philipp
Member since:
August 10, 2006

How do you rate?

July 17, 2007 05:36 PM EDT
views: 87 | comments: 46

How do you rate? I mean on Gather, not as a person where I'm sure you rate a solid ten in many people's eyes.

 

After almost a year on Gather, I find that I've fallen into a pattern of rating 10 or not rating at all.

 

I rate 10 if the writing is excellent, good and I liked some of the content, fair and I'm connected to and like the person — or they're going through a tough time. If the writing is bad, I usually don't rate at all.

 

Even on a site where author's are asking for critique, I don't think I've used a rating under a 10, but I'll suggest all kinds of things I think are wrong with the writing in a comment.

 

I've identified two problems in my rating dilemma:

 

1] When I read a short story or memoir, I'm not sure why it popped up on my radar. Is it from a group where the person want's a critique or do they just want to share a memory? What if I love the message but hate her style? What if I love the style but retch at the position he's taking?

 

2] Assuming the person wants a critique, I have no aural compass [OK, that makes no sense but I loved the sound of the pun] I have no system to decide on how to rate. How much off for bad spelling — or is it  typo? Can a great ending compensate for a boring opening? Should I rate John Updike less than 10 because he dropped a semi-colon along the way?

 

Seems to me that comment posting is how to tell the writer what you think, which makes ratings what? Social?

 

Also, if I feel a need to comment and mine is among the first few, I always rate 10 because they can tell. 

 

I'm such a coward.

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Comments: 46

Sara :-) Jul 17, 2007, 5:42pm EDT
I give 10's or nothing at all. On Gather, I am a 9. Someone has taken it upon themselves to give me 9's on everything. Better then 1's I guess.
Apryl Just Apryl Jul 17, 2007, 5:46pm EDT
John, first I wanted to Thank you for taking the time to comment on my articles last night. Now your question. I don't take off points for an occasional typo. God knows my readers have had to deal with this from me this past couple of weeks. I have two forms of Auto-Immune arthritis and my hands don't always key well. It's a clumsy, embarassing crippled fingers thing. So I tend not to judge on that. It is human to want to rate high when we agree on the content, It is hard not to rate badly when it is so opposed to us. In those case I leave and don't rate. If I like it, I usually give a ten. I never, ever leave a rating without a comment so my one ratings are very rare. LOL. I know I'm rambling, have a great evening, btw I gave you a TEN~ just because.
S V. Jul 17, 2007, 5:47pm EDT
I nearly always rate tens or nothing at all. i just dont' like to be negative. Some people aren't great writers but that's not their fault, at least they try. Some people express opinions that i really don't like but I like that they are able to disagree with me so unless I am really offended by their article I rate ten, if i don't rate at all it's usually just me being petty.
I very rarely vote 1. I vote if the person is making what i consider to be a personal attack on another member. i would also rate one if theywere being outright bigotted.
John Philipp Jul 17, 2007, 5:49pm EDT
Sara, maybe you just have a devoted reader for whom "there is no such thing as perfection." (From another ratings universe, consumer market research usually uses a 1-7 scale for the reason that if they use 1-10 almost no one gives a 10.)

Josie - yes, being sensitive is important — also helps the writer accept the comments if they're not delivered with a hammer.
John Philipp Jul 17, 2007, 5:52pm EDT
Josie- you made me think of another angle. While I seek out comments because I'm trying to learn this devilish craft, I'm not sure how I'd feel if people rated realistically from their perspective as to the quality of the writing. Maybe I would if I knew what such a rating was based on.
John Philipp Jul 17, 2007, 5:58pm EDT
Thanks Karen, S.V. and Apryl.

Seems, so far, that I'm not alone in my rating behavior.

If I could talk my mother into using a computer (Right, that'll happen!) I'd send her to Gather to see my gold stars — and give her the email addresses of anyone who rated me less than ten.
Nana to Seven Cutiepies Jul 17, 2007, 5:58pm EDT
I think there are so many different reasonings behind the way people rate here on gather. The best way is to do what makes you feel comfortable. I don't think there is a right or wrong way. I think people do prefer that you explain a low rating though so they can improve their technique if they agree with your critique.
John Philipp Jul 17, 2007, 6:04pm EDT
I agree, Nana. I actually don't pay much attention to ratings I receive (oooh, my nose seems to be growing longeer). I mostly felt odd using the rating system as I do.
*LORA* M. Jul 17, 2007, 6:08pm EDT
thanks for posting
Siouxy Article Writer Jul 17, 2007, 6:20pm EDT
You've been here a year!?! That's so great!
Denise B. Jul 17, 2007, 6:21pm EDT
I dont understand the whole rating thing.
John Philipp Jul 17, 2007, 6:32pm EDT
Lora, thanks for visiting.

Siouxy (if I may call you that) - Doesn't seem that long and it's been fun and informative.

Denise - join the crowd.

Lost Soul - I'm with you. You seem to have the right philosophy.

Note: I'm not dealing with ratings to get redeemable points. That's a whole other aspect of Gather — not that there's anything wrong with that.

Personally, I'm interested in writing critiques and that's why I asked this question.
Shelbia C. Jul 17, 2007, 6:37pm EDT
I agree with Lost Soul. when I was in school my A's were sometimes meaningless because teachers often gave them to me when I knew I deserved something less. It can be really frustrating when you need a little honest critisim.
Tracey W. Jul 17, 2007, 6:46pm EDT
I agree with you John, unless you are sure the person wants one, it is difficult to know what to do. I also generally rate a 10, but If I see something special that could still use improvement, sometimes I'll send an email rather than put it in the comments. Now there's some cowardice for you. I just want to get that little bit of advice across without being insensitive to the person who doesn't want faults or perceived faults to be pointed out in comments. Personally, I don't mind, so long as its consructive and not a personal jab of some sort.
John Philipp Jul 17, 2007, 6:53pm EDT
Tracey - I've thought of sending email comments, mostly because occasionally mine are long. However, I never have because I get a lot of value from the comments people make on others' stories and I'd hate to lose that.
Chris Carlisle Jul 17, 2007, 7:35pm EDT
I rarely rate people's work on Gather, usually when I feature content I'll drop in a rating (10 to win) and a comment, but I don't think I've ever rated without a comment.

Ratings only ever seem to really come into play on articles about politics (eesh), usually to express agreement or disagreement with the author's position.
John Philipp Jul 17, 2007, 8:03pm EDT
Hmm, Chris. Be interesting to be able to rate the content separate from how it's presented/written.

Guess I could do that on my own by starting my comments with:
Content: [1 -10]
Writing Quality: [1-10]

Of course, then they'd know my rating versus my hiding in the star cluster up top.

Guess I'd have to grow some (potentially inappropriate plural word) if I were going to do that.
lori K. Jul 17, 2007, 9:16pm EDT
WELL GREAT! NOW YOU GUYS HAVE MADE ME THINK....I HATE WHEN THAT HAPPENS. I PERSONALLY WANT EVERYONE TO RATE ME....EVEN IF I GET A 1....BECAUSE I AM A NEW WRITER AND I WANT HONEST CRITICIZM. BUT I AM ALSO GUILTY OF ONLY RATING 10 OR NOTHING....NOW, I PLEDGE TO USE OTHER NUMBERS..I GUESS IF I WANT IT I'VE GOTTA'GIVE IT.....(NOW WATCH, MY RATINGS WILL AVERAGE 4..HAHA!)
John Philipp Jul 18, 2007, 12:22am EDT
Well, lori, you're a braver person than I am. That rates a 10.

John, that makes sense but it confuses the message to the writer unless they know that - doesn't it?
Jean, just the teensiest bit odd, F. Jul 18, 2007, 1:41am EDT
I felt just like you do when I first started giving ratings, John. Then I read a couple of statements on this subject written by some people who had been here far longer than I and their "take" on always leaving 10s seemed to make sense to me... Plus, you can't really separate the making of points to earn something of more material value as opposed to the making of points for comments/suggestions/critiques of "intrinsic" value... On Gather, they're one and the same. Like you, I either give a 10 or don't give anything...
Andrea "slackermom" R. Jul 18, 2007, 1:52am EDT
That's funny, Sara, because someone always gives me nines too. I wonder who it is we have in common on our connection lists.

I don't really care about the nines. I just think it's funny. None of my articles so far are deserving of tens so the drive-by niner is at least more honest than most.
Julie R. Jul 18, 2007, 2:12am EDT
I am guilty of giving out 10's myself, but that's only if I like the poem or story or whatever. If I don't like it I generally don't even comment.
☆ Æ’åitÄ¥ ☆ Jul 18, 2007, 2:45am EDT
I'm a 10 or nothing kind of person myself.
John Philipp Jul 18, 2007, 8:34am EDT
Thanks Jean, Andrea, Julie and Faith. From the comments so far I'm beginning to wonder if all the rating system does is give ammo to Dbers and the Negative Nellies — everybody else mostly gives 10s or nothing.
John Philipp Jul 18, 2007, 8:37am EDT
Sara and Andrea, I love the whole drive-by niner concept.

I think he/she should be a character in someone's short story.
Jared G. Jul 18, 2007, 5:57pm EDT
Well JOhn, good discussion. I've been here "a while" and have commented on countless pieces. If I'm in a hurry and an article is quite long, I do go with the "DB10" rating/comment (10). In the VAST majority of cases, I give a rating of 10. There are a few times I don't. If the piece is really put together poorly, a 9 or 8 might be given. If the writer ticks me off with "attitude" or poor taste, a 5 might show up. Generally, I'll never rate below a 7.
John Philipp Jul 18, 2007, 6:16pm EDT
Thanks, Jared. That's a little different than most above, but I like using some discrimination in rating. Otherwise why bother?
Erin F. Jul 18, 2007, 6:21pm EDT
Interesting food for thought. I guess that I use the "10 or nothing" rating method as well. Like some who have posted before me, I'm too much of a coward to rate dangerously ;-)
However, on my own articles I don't pay a great deal of attention to my rating. I care more about the comments, which are sadly few most days. I suppose that subconciously I expect most of the ratings to be rather empty. *shrugs*

Thanks for putting this up, John.
John Philipp Jul 18, 2007, 6:30pm EDT
Thanks, Erin. I'm with you.
© MrBill   Jul 18, 2007, 9:29pm EDT
... interesting that so many claim to give all or nothing ...
John Philipp Jul 18, 2007, 10:31pm EDT
Mr. Bill - Even though that's what I do, it surprised me as well.
Casey Dennis Jul 18, 2007, 10:33pm EDT
John, cowardice is a virtue, just a very subtle one.
John Philipp Jul 18, 2007, 10:55pm EDT
Thank you, Casey. I feel better now. Would you email that to my kids?
The AntiChrist, Esq Jul 19, 2007, 11:58pm EDT
I usually just use those stars at the bottom of the article.

Is there another way?
John Philipp Jul 20, 2007, 12:08am EDT
That's right, No One ... Question is how many do you click on?
The AntiChrist, Esq Jul 20, 2007, 1:23am EDT
Usually just one. I've noticed that whichever one you click on, the ones to the left of it automatically fill in and you don't have to do them each individually.
Joe S. Jul 20, 2007, 9:20am EDT
I think its difficult to know how to rate on this site since it is more a social network than anything else. I am on other sites strictly devoted to writing stories etc. and you know what to expect as far as reviews. Here anything's postable - is that a word? So it's difficult to know if the poster wants an in-depth critique or just to get their thoughts out to others. I take each article on its own separate merits trying to consider the person posting it. How many times can I use the word post or a variation of it in this comment?
Cindy K. Jul 20, 2007, 11:33pm EDT
I rate 10's and a comment if it's a literary piece. Otherwise just a comment for a game question or something like that. What's to rate? How good of a question it was?
John Philipp Jul 20, 2007, 11:48pm EDT
Joe and Cindy, I agree with you both. It's hard to know what's expected and on many articles the question is what's to rate?
Synchronicity W. Jul 22, 2007, 5:57pm EDT
oh the ratings are meaningless really. i feel they cause more problems than good. i get so much more out of a comment than the ratings.
John Philipp Jul 22, 2007, 7:16pm EDT
Synchronicity, we're in synch.
Jean, just the teensiest bit odd, F. Jul 25, 2007, 12:58am EDT
Aren't they a band???
John Philipp Jul 25, 2007, 1:57am EDT
You are rollin' tonight aren't you?

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