Since the cost of rating went up, what are the rules you use of when to rate someone?

Hello everyone!

I'm just two weeks old in SL and I absolutely love it. I had actually heard about this game over a year ago and had been dying to join and I'm finally here.

Here is one newbie question. I know that the cost of rating went up $25 so, what is the social norm for when to rate someone? I'm sure back when it was $1, people rated each other much more frequently. Now, it might be like, "Ok, a rate is merited when X happens."

Well, I want to know if there is an "X" and what it is for people? When do you give a rate?

I know this is probably more of an issue for those with less Lindens jingling in their pockets, but it would be helpful to me and I'm sure to others starting out. Thanks.

I don't have any rules... Yeah I know... a good example of why the rate was changed huh? But I try and give positive ratings as much as I can because I know they help newbies when it comes pay day... I don't hesitate to give out neg ratings either when someone is acting like an ass... although often times they just neg rate me back lol.

For me, the L$25 price for a rating makes any rating a waste. The person I give it to will never get L$25 worth of reward out of my rating them. So I compliment people, I buy creations I like, I tip good event hosts, but I never give ratings anymore.

To be honest my standards of rating haven't changed at all... And I've never rated people in order to increase their cash flow. I'm one of the old holdouts that tried to not abuse ratings.

It's always been a case of whether they deserve a rating or not.

The cost of rating has not changed the way I rate people... even though I mostly live off of stipend, $25 is a pittance. I dont go to rating parties so its not like I would rate 10 people in a day.
I'm not saying the cost should be increased though. Ratings are silly anyway

I use the same rules I used back when L$1 ratings existed: Do they impress me in X area?

I still abuse ratings...

I don't rate people, and I get pissed off when people rate me.

I make an effort to rate people positively for a number of reasons -

I like something about them or what they've done.
Newbies that I encounter
People who join our group
People I respect from here on the forums
Even people I dislike, but respect

i was never fond of giving negs, as a matter of fact.. i believe in the whole time i've played that i have never once given a neg.

on the other hand, there are two ways i'll give positive ratings.

1) if i know the person well and have been impressed by them time and time again, then when i happen to catch them sometime in-world i'll give them +3.

2) if i'm impressed with someone in-world, i will give +X.. whatever is deserved.


and it doesn't matter how much it used to cost vs. the current cost.. these are the "rules" i've always adhered to.

I won't rate until they wipe out the old ratings.

if i know someone and like them and they've been around awhile and done something awesome i might rate them.

i don't see much benefit to rating or getting rated. there's not much financial reward for it and it doesn't make me look cool. the kind of people who would care how many ratings i have aren't the kind of people whose opinions i care about. so rating isn't worth the effort of clicking.

there are alot of ways to show someone you like them and think they are great without a number getting involved. ratings need to die.

I don't support the changes; as such, I don't use the ratings system anymore. After all, since SL IS such a capitalistic world, why would I bother rating people and wasting my money when I know I don't need to? I -earned- my ratings over a year and a half's time and I won't budge from the top 10% bracket until they change the ratings system. Hell, if SL is so capitalistic, who needs charity?

Read my tone more than my words, thanks.

I rate event hosts for behavior if I enjoy an event.

I will rate builds that impress me (so far, not seen any builds by people I've not already rated)

I'd probably rate for appearance if someone went up at Show & Tell with an avatar they made.

That's about it.

ditto.

btw, do you know how popular a stance that's been with my old friends? lol

"Wait... you're saying you want them to WIPE my 4000 ratings I WORKED so hard to get?!"

"Precisely!"

I get rated more now that the changes happened. I'm serious. I think people rate me more to actually make a statement. "Hm, rating costs are high but this guy impressed me.. Lets give em a rating because thats how it's supposed to work."

Once a guy gave me a rating when he only had 35 linden. I overheard him saying how he only had 10 lindens left... so I gave him the 25 he spent.

Still, rating is stupid. I'm a better builder then 99.9% percent of the people who have a better build rating then me. Most of the top 10 people have little skill in that area what so ever(though I can't check at the moment -- but I'm sure there are some deserving names).

So yeah, wipe and redo the system.

Edit: Heres an idea. How about instead of a numerical rating system, you leave comments for people to read in regards to certain skills.

A -10 rating in behavior means nothing to be.. but playing ten lindens to say "This man needlessly ghosted me and claimed to do lude things in lude holes on my mother!" kinda means something.

i dont rate period anymore.. not enough money

my rules haven't changed. i did go on a rating tangent at the new welcome center when the cost increase was announced. but now i use the same system i always have.

i rate behaviour based on people's behaviour. well, yes i just can't think of any better way to say that. when i meet a person and they're particularly nice, we get along, or a friend of mine introduces us and tells me they're "okay," i rate their behaviour. to me, it's the same thing as welcoming someone into a social circle in real life.

i rate appearance based on the appeal of someones av provided they put some work into it. very often i will ask people if they built their av before i decide to rate them for it. they're usually happy to explain what parts they built, or designed and had built, and what odd things they had to work around to make it look right. if i like the effect, and they've put some effort into it, i rate them for it.

builds almost always get rated from the build. i give a lot of creator build ratings from the pie menu. i add a message to those telling them which build, in which location, is being rated and how wonderful it is.

the cost has curbed the number of social ratings i assign. your more likely to get an appearance or build rating from me than behaviour. i wonder if that's a result of me working inworld now and not being as social as i used to be?