Well, I haven't posted for about a week now and yet still my 'Quality' rating continues to accumulate negative votes. So it's not what I am posting that is causing the reaction, it's what I have previously posted. Either that, or someone just has a dislike of my contribution style and is taking frequent opportunity to 'Black Spot' me.
Being contentious is not an issue for me and if I can widen a thread by offering alternative perspectives then I am happy to do so, even though that threatens to result in a steady accumulation of 'Black Spots'.
However, what has always been an issue for me is COWARDICE. The purpose of any forum is to post views and then to air alternative views and perspectives. It's the modern equivalent of Speakers Corner where we can all postulate, comment, agree and disagree in any measure we care to contribute. In turn, the forum is 'listened to' by those who find its content and banter of interest. Many people are scared to make their comments under their own name and prefer the anonymity of a username, yet because we are not likely to meet or know one another, there is little difference between our real names and a forum name (I claim that I post under my real name, yet only one other person on this forum knows if that is the truth or not)
When we post, our contribution is signed with our chosen 'name'. If others have critical comment to our posts, they can direct their fury, anger, ridicule at us directly, whether we use our real name or a chosen forum name. In doing so, we are granted the right to reply.
However, the 'Black Spot' system allows those amongst us who are cowards, to effectively post a 'negative opinion' whilst remaining in the safety of total anonymity. When someone posts a 'Black Spot' against you, there is no opportunity to consider why, no chance to argue your case, no chance to expose your accuser as an idiot or fool. No chance to convince other readers that your accuser is simply wrong, because you do not even know why they have given you the 'Black Spot' nor who they were.
In the past I have spoken up against Willike and webmistress when their proposals were in my opinion inappropriate. They did not like my comments, but they knew the critical comments were from me and they were both able to respond as they felt appropriate (and they did!!). Today however, were I to feel cowardly, I could simply Pooh them with copious 'Black Spots' in order to degrade their quality status. The purpose of such an action would be solely to hurt them without giving them any chance of reply.
Readers of this post might think - 'Smithy's only up in arms because he's got the worst quality score', and certainly my present record position of six 'Black Spots' sure paints me as a crap contributor. But that is not why I believe the present system is a backwards step. I have a tough old hide and only the opinions of my family and close friends could cause me to question my self belief. Certainly the bitchiness of some coward, voting me 'Black Spots' has no impact on me, but then, like I said, I am a tough old bugger.
My concern is for those of our members and potential members with a less self confident outlook than mine. Lasse_C has brought up the issue of attracting new members and Webmistress questioned why we have so few female posters. While we are considering ways to increase the flow of interest and members, we must also be keeping a close eye on disincentives. Providing a high profile way to promote bitchiness, is, I believe, a major disincentive to those who are more sensitive than most of the tanned old leather that currently inhabits this site.
I continue to hold the position that this present system of anonymous voting is bad, and should be removed before we start to loose members to 'Black Spot Bitchiness Syndrome' (BSBS) - (yes, that is a double dose of BS). Accountable voting would be good - click on the Quality score for a list of who voted and against which post - but a simplistic bitch mark system is worse than valueless it is potentially damaging to future membership - I vote that, in its present form, it goes.
DerekSmith
