Ratings system with comments

I didn't come up with this idea, and I can't remember who did, but I've decided that it seems like an idea worth opening up individual discussion on, especially while ratings are being re-evaluated.

Basically, make the ratings work sort of like the eBay ratings system.

- Reduce the ratings down to ONE single pos/neutral/neg overall rating.

- Give every user the ability to post a short 120 character comment to go with their rating.

- Allow the person being rated 120 characters to respond to each comment.

- Allow both comments and responses to be edited at any time by the person who wrote them.

- Timestamp both comments and responses and display the date/time they were last changed

- As a bonus feature, give everyone a list interface to see who they've rated in the past and the option to change their ratings/comments from that interface.

- It's up for debate if the ratings and comments should be made anonymously or not. I'd prefer they would be, so people would be inclined to be more honest.

As with all ratings systems, there should be some problems with this system, but I can't think of any right off hand. I'm sure someone can come up with one or more, so let's hear them =)

Excellent! x2!

OR, leave everything alone and focus on important stuff.
Or just remove the system altogether. Get rid of dwell while youre at it.

Then everyones profiles can be filled with fluff like" patty is so awesomely great I lover her". Waste of resources I think. Plus griefers will write very nasty things and then lindens will have to go into the profile to erase it.

Get rid of all ratings they aren't needed.

How about basing ratings on REAL information. A persons build rating, if you sell items, your build rating could be based on how many people buy your merchandise (if they buy a lot, then they like what you build, if they like your house, they can rate you off the house, not at a rating party), appearance and behavior could be an aggregate of how many people want to trade calling cards with you. This would be a more accurate representation of the ratings.

Down with all systems that are easy to manipulate like ratings and dwell. Why do we need to have these things in a GAME?

I have to add, that people can very well establish a reputation through word of mouth, and be adequately compensated by getting more people to buy their stuff.
I dont see the need or the advantage of carrying around a numerical label. Especially because, since I dont rate mine, my REAL reputation greatly surpasses my ratings.
Also, why dont event holders simply CHARGE for access? If their silly club is any good, people will not have a problem buying a ticket.
We've always had that feature but no one uses it. Why? Because they get free money from the lindens!
Down with the stupid DWELLFARE!
Thank you.

I agree with you on eliminating the ratings system. As it is now, neg ratings from griefers cannot be removed. It just ends up being one more thing to pay attention to. I think that those you currently have high positive or high negative ratings are known by word of mouth. The only drawback to eliminating this is losing the associated bonus L$ every Tuesday. Perhaps this could be offest by an increase in some other bonus, or in the base stipend?

I think you should only get stipend if you made less than X dollars that week.
In portugal we have something called the "assured minimum income", which basically means that if you make X and it is less than the AMI, you will get AMI-X from the government.
Give the money to the noobies. Let them have their fun.

no ratings and no dwell would turn second life in to a mature internet-based building & socializing platform. that's a bit too technical and stuffy don't you think. better to maintain the gaming atmosphere to attract the kids and fpsers.

I am not for this.
The Ebay and Amazon ratings are skewed positive. I've middle rated people on Amazon and gotten abusive emails from the companies/people on there. I would not like this system in SL.

Yeah, I think I mentioned this one in the big long thread on the subject, suggested maybe 255 character limit.

Camille, you do have a point - the ratings are skewed positive... to an extent. In Ebay, for instance, I can read through 20 comments quickly, see a lot of generic comments, but also see great things like, "Quick delivery" and "Helpful customer support", or negative things like, "Slow delivery" or "item was broken, replaced promptly" -- yes most of the comments are generic, but the few that aren't are extremely valuable.

In the same way in SL, sure, you're gonna get a lot of "This person is awesome" etc... but, you'll also get comments like, "I love this person's vehicles. They are so creative." or "This person went out of their way to help me with scripting issues, thanks much!" --- I think these comments would be extremely valuable.

Further, the system ALREADY is skewed positive; so keeping it that way does not hurt the system. However, it does add a LOT of value to the system...

Let me give some examples where, looking at profiles, I might find it handy.
- I am a newbie, looking for help. I can check the person's profile and see if they might be a good person to ask.
- I am looking for a scriptor to help with something. I don't know the person, they have a reference or two, but I am not sure. I check the profile and see it littered with people complimenting them on great scripting. I now am more confident in working with this person.
- I am looking to buy someone's land and they never answer IMs. I can check the profile and see not many comments, or perhaps people saying that they have difficulty getting through.
- I am looking for a place to host an event, and I want to check the land owners' profiles
- A customer of mine is being difficult, and I check profile and find that it is definitely not a first

I can think of dozens of more ways this could be useful.

-Hiro Pendragon
serving SL from Varney 200,200

I have received a negative rating by somebody while I was AFK. Now I have no idea who rated me and for what reason.

A history would be nice here, wouldn't it?

And please: only one rating per user.

Oh, well, I think we could do completely without that rating system, couldn't we? At least the neg ratings and rating wars appear kinda pointless to me. What is the point of appearance ratings if you get yelled at and automatically neg rated back if you rate ugly appearance?

From what I've heard, the ratings system is being overhauled, and I like the ideas I've heard.

Instead of being something you actively participate in, it may be much more passive. For example, if you give an item to a newbie, you don't get any "points". However, if it becomes an item them attach or use often, you get a point. Just one example of how such a system could work.

If you give an item to a newbie that they delete - or report you for - you lose points. This would stop people from giving newbies objects / invites they wouldn't want, and "gaming the system" to an extent.

That's just one example, but I think a system like this, rather than "Rate me I rate u" would be a step in the right direction. It would need tuning over time, no doubt.

Regards,

-Flip

The one thing I do like about the existing rating feature: You can give immediate kudos to someone you've just met in "secret admirer" mode. Great for flirting, lol.

Beyond that, I agree they are pretty useless. However, I also think they're relatively harmless, except when neg-rating mobs are dispatched.

Why not just disconnect the rating system from the pie menu/profile/avatar, altogether? Maybe make it a Web based system, and disconnect it from any SL sanctions, positive or negative. Since it would take a little more effort to post, chances are it would weed out many frivolous ratings.

I have been thinking about this exact thing for a few months. Just i have little interest in building one offsite.