Recreation I Call it "The Karma Phase"

I really don't think we should worry that much about Karma. I admit that when I was a newbie, I was insanely worried about getting Karma and such, but not that much anymore. Sure, I occasionally get it, and I'm up to a bright green block, but it's been over a year of posting practically everyday.

That being said, I think Karma just shows, in a way, how active you stay in the boards. That, and post count of course (The only exception to the post count thing of course is Cloud).

As far as bad Karma goes, some of the time here it's exploited. For instance:

But as the guidelines say:

And my favourite part on that:

Even so, it's no reason to whine.
[/quote=ThatGuy!]Even if you get a negative karma by some person who doesn't like you or doesn't agree with your opinion(a very stupid reason to give -ve karma, methinks) if you are a good member then you will get more positive than negative with time.[/quote]
Usually when you get bad karma though, it should be kind of obvious.

A quick note-
If you get bad Karma, it's not the end of the world! Deal with it, and move on.

If you feel that strongly cheated on the bad Karma, take it up with the person, and if requires it, take it up with a Mod, SMod, or Admin.

That also being said, it doesn't mean you can threaten (however oddly) someone in Private Messages. For instance, this is what I got from someone:

Do what I do, and ignore.

-Seishin

 

You just won't quit with that will you? *Gives bad karma for being obsessed*

 

I know what Seishin's saying. When I was a newbie, those were the most important things to me. Now, I could care less. I rarely get it anymore, but I still give it all the time.

 

If only Cloud were that nice to the rest of us.

That's mainly the reason anyone gives karma at all anymore. I don't think people give good karma for really good posts as much as they used to. When I became a Power User sometime ago, my karma flow basically stopped, besides on my birthday.

 

Well not everybody. Karma is still a good way of giving kudos points to others for helping to contribute to these boards. Giving out Karma is like giving out your seal of approval to someone. After you hit power user status the numbers don't mean much anymore, however I still enjoy recieving good karma. It lets you feel like you're actually contributing when you get positive feedback.

The same thing holds true for negative feedback. It gives you a chance to step back and analyze yourself.

Though, if you're like me you simply laugh at negative Karma and be on your merry way. Good or bad, at the end of the day it's only an opinion.

~W

 

Well, if Cloud made you a mod shortly after you hit Power User status, he must have been nice. When I don't recieve karma as much as I used to, it seems like no one really cares I'm here or that I'm not contributing. Then I try harder to contribute and do everything I can on BJP. I guess, sometimes, not recieving karma could be a good thing.

 

Joined in june, and you already have 3 green blocks? I don't think you should worry much. You just post more frequently than others all at the same time is all.

-Seishin

 

No news is good news, eh? I think some people take it too seriously, or they worry about it too much. I remember a few cases of people making a huge fuss over getting a little bad karma, screaming that it shouldn't be and that it was going to ruin their whole reputation or something.

Bad karma, made with a valid comment, is a good thing. Wertitis had it bang-on- it gives you a chance to step back and look at yourself. When you get bad karma, it's clear evidence that you've offended someone or hurt someone in some way- it gives you a chance to percieve that, and hopefully change it.

I'd have to know the post that this comment is referencing to know for certain, but if you ask me it's perfectly valid. Perhaps the recieving member has attempted to overstep their authority, or they've decided to comment on something that they don't really need to, who knows? If nothing else, it's certainly a more valid comment than some have seen.

In my case, every time I got bad karma in my first year, I understood exactly why I got it, and I was able to take something from it and learn from it. There are later examples of bad karma that I didn't understand as easily, or that I didn't agree with, but hey, it's just a number. It's not worth getting upset over.

Shijin- being a mod wasn't as much fun as you believe it to be. I'd do it again, but it's not like it's the must-have job of the year or something. Sometimes, it's nice to come here and know you don't have any responsibilities, that you can just read and respond and relax, and not worry about how this guy's going to get himself banned, or how that guy's spamming, or how this other guy is causing problems that could destroy the whole community. Although I think this won't convince you and you'd want it anyway because you care about BJP and want to help it, right? Good show.

 

You're just saying that.

I have only recieved one bad karma since joining, and the giver didn't state a reason. I think that bad karma with no reason is just not fair. People should always say why they give good/bad karma, because then you know what you did wrong or right. I believe the bad karma came from a post I made in the Debate forum, so I'm guessing the giver didn't like my thoughts and opinions. It's freedom of speech buddy. Giving bad karma to someone who is speaking their mind, in most cases, is bad to me.

 

Freedom of Speech doesn't work to its full potential here because when you signed up you agreed to a contract that stated you would follow the forum rules with regards to posting. The forum rules state which material is considered inappropriate and which material should not be posted here. Violators of said rules will probably suffer the consequences, freedom of speech or not.

Besides, it's just as much thier right to tell you you're messed up as it is your right to speak your mind in the first place. Freedom of speech goes both ways.

~W

 

I realize that. i just said that i thought that the cops thought they were above the law rather than below it. Anyone else remember that thread? Then the user gave me bad karma for no reason becuase I said that. Fair? in my opinion, no.

 

That's when you take up things in this sort of chain. Remember that asking someone that's been on this site longer never hurt either.

friend/bad karma giver(for pointers)->Moderator->SMod->Admin (If it requires it)

-Seishin

 

Actually, the giver of my bad karma did get banned, but not for that.

 

You needen't say anything more, because I already took a fine guess on who it is. If you reported it, something must have been done. Something of similarity was done to me a long long time ago, I asked an admin for help, and the problem was solved.

Keep that in mind for next time, I guess

-Seishin

 

Not too many to choose from so you can pretty much narrow down the search. The worst thing you can get bad karma for is double posting, that's pretty much it.

 

It's a number. Let's face it, if you care that much about it, it's probably not a good sign. Even *I* don't care about it that much.

Anyway I definately agree that karma should always have a reason. bad karma especially, as some people do get upset over it. As unimportant as it is, it can be helpful to improve your behaviour on the forums- provided you give a good explanation of what its for. One time I sent a giant-sized PM explaining one little bad karma comment I gave. The kid never responded to it, either. I wonder if he got the point I was trying to show him?

 

That giving bad karma for no reason is bad?

Well, I thought of something else also:

I think that when you become a Power User, your flow of good/bad karma slows down. Then it picks up after a long while.