Scoring on main site - what's the purpose?

[Wild Oscar]

Sorry if I'm a bit dim (ok - there's no 'if' about it, is there?), but what's the purpose of the scoring system on the main site?

The Russell Brand thread carried a few postings calling for others to be 'marked down' or whatever. Are there any consequences with the scoring, or is it something the administrators/moderators need to do?

[Uncleskinny]

Sorry if I'm a bit dim (ok - there's no 'if' about it, is there?), but what's the purpose of the scoring system on the main site?

The Russell Brand thread carried a few postings calling for others to be 'marked down' or whatever. Are there any consequences with the scoring, or is it something the administrators/moderators need to do?

Folk can get moderation points based on 'Karma', and when they arrive, they have a limited usage period. David and a couple of others have the capability to moderate posts at any time. Posts are marked up for interesting-ness (is that a word?), and down for trolling or offensiveness. If more than one person marks a post, the minuses or pluses can add up (or down). Users have the ability to set the page preference to see below-zero posts, or conversely not to see them (default). If you set your threshold lower you get a good idea of the kind of things that get marked down, usually for trolling, offensiveness, off-topic posts. It's not a perfect system, and it relies on a few people to scour through all the posts, so things get missed, unless someone points a duff (or a very interesting) post out.

Peter

[Wild Oscar]

Folk can get moderation points based on 'Karma', and when they arrive, they have a limited usage period. David and a couple of others have the capability to moderate posts at any time. Posts are marked up for interesting-ness (is that a word?), and down for trolling or offensiveness. If more than one person marks a post, the minuses or pluses can add up (or down). Users have the ability to set the page preference to see below-zero posts, or conversely not to see them (default). If you set your threshold lower you get a good idea of the kind of things that get marked down, usually for trolling, offensiveness, off-topic posts. It's not a perfect system, and it relies on a few people to scour through all the posts, so things get missed, unless someone points a duff (or a very interesting) post out.

Peter

Bloody hell! - I wish I'd never asked. Now I'm even more confused then before!

Too technical for me, I'm afraid - talk me through it when you've got a month off work!

Thanks anyway.

[John]

I think it's based on an idyllic early 90's system when men with beards ruled www.