The Water Is No Longer Fine
When the User Reputation points system came in it was meant to be a bit of fun and a way for you to show your approval or disapproval of member’s posts.
Whilst I have no problems with this feature, and it can be a very useful adjunct to posting, I do have a fundamental issue with the anonymity of those members casting their disapproval.
In a previous post ( http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...9627#post59627 ) I voiced my opinion on these anonymous posters and accused them of being DISAPPROVAL REPUTATION NAZIS who in casting their disapproval remain faceless and don’t have to give any reasons.
I believe that if anyone disagrees with my posts then they should tell me and I would either withdraw or apologize for my remarks if my post offended them or debate the issues raised. This is my way of doing things and is the same as most posters on this board.
However there is the small anonymous group of DISAPPROVAL REPUTATION NAZIS who, whilst still crawling around in the gutter, now have a way of criticizing members posts.
Since I raised my concern I have been given a red point (don’t know how they can give red points and must be worse than the blue ones) by an anonymous DISAPPROVAL REPUTATION NAZI.
Whilst I have no worries with anyone criticizing me I object VERY STRONGLY to the current way of doing it without me being able to know my accuser. So strongly do I feel about it that at this stage I have no longer the desire to post to the board. Now I may be wrong in taking a stand, but if so, than it is only the third time I made a mistake on a matter of principles.
Thus to quote Al “ Come on in the water is fine” statement, I now no longer find the water fine so I am going to sit on the edge of the pool and only look in (like the majority of members on this board) and cease posting until the gutless DRN’s can no longer remain anonymous.
As a lurker I will still read the posts, both the informative and funny ones, (just keep me laughing guys) and will come back into the water if it changes.
Peter (a former jigbuilder)
A Personal Explanation and Clarification.
I am heartened by the response my post has received but wish to clarify some aspects of my post.
At the outset let me restate that I am not against this innovation. It can be fun and can be a useful adjunct to posting. I have used them myself for dashing of a quick note rather than a full post.
I am also not fishing for points, but of course appreciate it if I get feedback on any of my posts.
I am also not opposed to criticism of my posts, in fact if I either upset someone or gave the wrong advice I appreciate it if I am told, so that it can be dealt with. I am sure that regular members know that. I have on a number of occasions publicly apologized for my remarks if they unwittingly upset another member. I have also debated issues and clarified my position as Woodborer attested to. Thus I am not upset at Zed’s comments (and his raspberry for it was a red one) because he did not say his piece anonymously.
There are many divergent views represented on this board. Mine does not always agree others but I respect them and read their posts anyway. I always like to compare it with that we all share the same faith of woodworking, but are members of either the church of hand tools, or the power tool church, or the Triton congregation or say the dust collection assembly etc. (Now that will get the DRN’s out of the woodwork :D )
But now there has arisen a new sect, the anonymous group of critics, the DRNs who are too gutless to stand up and face those whom they criticize.
Now you all say ignore them, don’t let them get you, don’t care about the negatives, carry on regardless, don’t bow to the gutless wonders, don’t lurk and that I am playing into their hands.
Now whilst I would like to do that, and I agonised over my post for quite a while, I feel that doing nothing was not on. I am an inquisitive person and not looking at the points score etc is not in my nature. Maybe that is why I can see the possibility of making a jig where others don’t.
Now if I was melodramatic I would compare this new sect of anonymous DRNs with the catholic inquisition of old or the star chambers of old England or the grand juries in the USA or a kangaroo court were you are accused, tried and convicted without your knowledge.
I feel if we do nothing and ignore them they have already won and by taking this stand I am opposing them. I note that (apart from Zed’s raspberry) an anonymous DRN, within the hour of my post, gave me a bluey because I drew attention to their anonymity.
, I feel that it would be presumptuous of me to tell how you should operate the board. I am much too appreciative of both Ubeaut and the moderators for this wonderful facility. If you feel that the points system is abused than you should do what you think is best for the board and in making your decision the other points raised in this discussion also make much sense.
I have not done a Doorstop (and come back under a different handle) or a Kenmill (objecting to your moderating duties) but I have voluntary retired, hopefully for the time being, to the sidelines. I am not making any demands nor quietly fade into the background like others. The only thing that I have done is to make known that I will not post anymore whilst the situation remains where I can not know my critics.
Peter.
P.s. That the language of this post is temperate is in respect to you , because if I wrote the way I feel about this issue you would have to heavily censor my post. You see I can swear fluently not only in English but also in Dutch and German. :)
P.p.s. I also apologize for the length of this post but after all it may be my epitaph.
