Watch Out, It's a Drive-By!

from WinCustomize Forums

No, not that kind, but this one is just as shady as the real ones.

Every once and a while we get "drive-by" raters as we call them.  These are people who are either regular or new users who just instantly give low ratings for whatever reason.

In some cases it's done because of "competition" and that is pretty low in my honest opinion.  In the example above, this is a skin that has an overwhelming amount of high ratings, except for one.  This is common with many skins, and I know who rates a skin like that without even looking at the name. 

Some could argue that "well it's their opinion", and I although that is a possiblity, I do look at patterns and I know the difference between randomness and intention.

I think everyone should rate and comment on a skin with honesty, and offer constructive feedback, but this is wrong.  In cases like this, the delete button is used as it's an abuse of the system.  The mods here do keep an eye on ratings and let Jafo and I know when suspicious things like this come up.  It's not a common occurance, so don't get alarmed in that respect.

The rating system in the next WC is drastically different, and issues like this will be null for the most part.  I'm writing this to let everyone know we are not tolerating things like this as it's un-fair, and just plain sucks. 

 

6,565 views 47 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

It's nothing new.... and it happens everywhere there is a rating system, which is why I dislike it. Just recently, on the Xion website, some guy went through and systematically rated ALL my Xion skins with a 1. I know who he is, but I haven't retaliated. No point, he has 2 skins which are dreadful.

I have always thought that rating systems are pointless on a site like this, and are just open to the kind of abuse we see above. If a skin is good it will get lots of downloads, and that should be how the cream rises to the top, not via a flawed rating system. If you want to see the best skins, sort by DOWNLOAD instead of RATING, as the latter will never be a fair reflection of the skins quality due to people either not rating, or abuse.

B[]

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Agreed.  :thumbsup:

Why isn't Administrative punishment (i.e. loss of rating privileges for 30 days) given when such a pattern occurs?

* edit: The "real" rating system is number of downloads, anyway.

WindowBlinds - Free yourself of the default settings, customize your desktop.
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I agree with BoXXi, rating systems are pointless.

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

astonishing.

People have complained about the rating system here for YEARS and said they don't like it, have offered numerous viable suggestions, and always have been shot down. There is no fix. It's totally FUBAR and should go away.

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

People have complained about the rating system here for YEARS and said they don't like it, have offered numerous viable suggestions, and always have been shot down. There is no fix. It's totally FUBAR and should go away.
End of quote

This rating system is going away.

 

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top

This rating system is going away.
End of quote

in WC2Kwheneveritsready ;)

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting DrJBHL, reply 2

* edit: The "real" rating system is number of downloads, anyway.
End of DrJBHL's quote


Not necessarily.  Number of downloads shows popularity, not necessarily quality.  If 2 skins are uploaded simultaneously, one that is "cool" and one that is "refined" -- the cool will win out on downloads over the refined (BTW, I'm not saying my skins are refined -- they aren't - I'm still learning.  I'm just stating the fact that what appeals to the common masses isn't necessarily of the highest quality sometimes).

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

 a new system is definitely in order.. there is another way to look at it as well.. many skins that probably arent good enough to get rated very high... are... so it can work badly both ways.

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

* edit: The "real" rating system is number of downloads, anyway.
End of quote

Download whore......:|

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I think, sometimes, friends will rate things done by other friends highly just based on friendship....this too is wrong. Rating based on quality of past work is wrong too.

 

But should ratings be about quality? Or just about how much one likes a skin? I think the latter, because, from the point of view of the user, not the skinner, what I like is gonna get a higher rate from me than something I don't like, that may be of the highest quality. We can't all be mods, or critics. Some people only know what they like and what they don't.

Just redneck thoughts......       

Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Not a skinner but I do put up Theme Manager Suites and I have in the past done ScreenShots.  I will say that I do look at both the rating and downloads, it's the natural thing to do. 

What ever system is used to show how the community either likes or doesn't like a particular skin seems like it will always have the 'opportunity' to be misused.

The skinners and the Moderators are the ones that need to be satisfied with what ever system is put in place, downloaders of the skins are basically going to mess things up.  (Did I type that) :-" :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

 

Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting RedneckDude, reply 9

* edit: The "real" rating system is number of downloads, anyway.


Download whore......
End of RedneckDude's quote

Nice, Jim. |-)

Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I rate consistantly on what I like.  As long as I use the same criteria *every* *single* *time* it becomes fair.

When some one rates for Differently based on friendship (or lack thereof) the system fails.

Thankfully, the mods *do* keep an eye on things and oftentimes a drive-by rater will get a short note pointing out that maybe they need to find a better way of rating.  Usually that works.  When it doesn't . . . well . . . jafo needs to eat, right?

  8(|

Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Surprised no one has mentioned the rate button being badly placed too close to the download button could also be the source of some mis-rates. Hopefully that gets re-thunked on new site.

 

Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Surprised no one has mentioned the rate button being badly placed too close to the download button could also be the source of some mis-rates. Hopefully that gets re-thunked on new site.
End of quote

There won't be a rate button - no rating! ;)

Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I've had to deal with several drive-by individuals in my time. One was so bad (he put a '1' on every skin he could find) it took me nearly four hours to clear the mess up...

:rofl: Just when I think I miss the job I remember things like that...!

Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top

i guess ... the rating should be available for selected ppl .... like staff or senior community members .... :)

Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top

The rating system is past its sell by date and needs to go ;)

Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Island, reply 5

People have complained about the rating system here for YEARS and said they don't like it, have offered numerous viable suggestions, and always have been shot down. There is no fix. It's totally FUBAR and should go away.
This rating system is going away.

 
End of Island's quote

That's it--I'm leading a protest of the rating system by rating every skin on the site -2 until it changes. I figure I should be finished by 2012. Oh, wait, that's when Roland Emmerich says the world is going to end. . . or was that the day after tomorrow? I'm so confused.

:rolleyes:

Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top

ill be glad to see it go, i think its more abused than used. (as in used for the wrong reasons more than the right ones)

Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Vampothika, reply 20
ill be glad to see it go, i think its more abused than used. (as in used for the wrong reasons more than the right ones)
End of Vampothika's quote

Hear hear!

Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting k10w3, reply 7
Quoting DrJBHL, reply 2
* edit: The "real" rating system is number of downloads, anyway.


Not necessarily.  Number of downloads shows popularity, not necessarily quality.  If 2 skins are uploaded simultaneously, one that is "cool" and one that is "refined" -- the cool will win out on downloads over the refined (BTW, I'm not saying my skins are refined -- they aren't - I'm still learning.  I'm just stating the fact that what appeals to the common masses isn't necessarily of the highest quality sometimes).
End of k10w3's quote

Quoting vStyler, reply 8
 a new system is definitely in order.. there is another way to look at it as well.. many skins that probably arent good enough to get rated very high... are... so it can work badly both ways.
End of vStyler's quote

Both of you are correct...and in a general sense I am as well. Maybe the rating system is not desirable...maybe it is. The "Like it" /"Don't like it" doesn't really solve anything more than the stars. Maybe just get rid of the rating system altogether and just let folks take what they want and leave what they don't.

I'm no expert at this, and don't pretend to be. There's no perfect system, that's for sure. "What I like" isn't uniform and can't be....even in the same person over time. Maybe just forget about the ratings altogether. What do they really contribute? Is anything really dependent on them?

I agree with Vamps and Snowy on this topic. It just isn't worth it.

Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top

If you think about it any ratings system is open for abuse, suspicion of others, controversy, blah blah etc..

 

Seems to me.. there's no real need for any kind of rating system, especially if it isn't accurate, just let people download what they like and thats that. Perhaps everyone will get a fair shake if people aren't sorting by ratings and missing some good little nuggets that have been downrated.

I'm also for heightening quality levels back to where they were when WC was respected for it's high quality skins and wallpapers.

More.. is never better.. unless it's girls in a hot tub :w00t:

Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I think, sometimes, friends will rate things done by other friends highly just based on friendship....this too is wrong. Rating based on quality of past work is wrong too.
End of quote

I agree. I think some my stuff get's high ratings because some of you are over kind. This makes the whole system even more confuzzled.  I appreciate the support more than I can say, but I think the downloads say more than the ratings. My stuff isn't for 'everybody' and I've done a lot of rare icon requests that only a handful of people might ever use. I also look back on what I did when I first started compared to more recent stuff and it'a almost embarrasing. I've thought about removing a lot of it but get overly nostalgic when I start to look through the stuff.

I'll be glad when the rating system is gone. I have to ask (and you know I do) How will this work with 'wallpapers' for example, that don't go into the main gallery because the mods didn't give it more than two stars?

Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top

How will this work with 'wallpapers' for example, that don't go into the main gallery because the mods didn't give it more than two stars?
End of quote
We'll have to use teh "oogy" feeling test.  :)