I also tend to ignore the ratings. I see them from time to time and wonder if anyone even uses them. I tend not to trust or believe them. Too often I'll come from other sites, usually 3D art sites where I do have other work posted, and those sites tend to have a problem where people have an agenda and will purposely rate an image low, or have a favorite member whom they desire to see have high ratings and will rate them the max all the time, reguardless of the quality of the image. There are always someone posting in forums about the need to be fair with the rating system, and I'm optimistic those who do use the rating system try to be fair, and yet there are always someone who wants to sway their own image or a friend's image, or effect a rival's image in a way that is not fair. So, I simply do not trust ratings on any system.

That is unfortunate because it's a good idea to have them, they can be used for other features for a site--highest rated images in a week, or for the month. Ratings can be used for voting best images in monthly challenges/competitions.

But still, I don't trust them to be accurate.

What would be good would be if the rating button was actually part of the reply box, so that it could only be done if you also post a comment. That would put a stop to the one star bomber!

The irony is that this thread has been rated... WTF?

I gave it a 1 point rating. :p

Me too, I was wondering how long it would take someone to notice :eek:

LOL :D Thats kinda funny on both counts.

... my two cents.

To play the devils advocate... which I tend to do... offten, :)
How can we complain about the rating system?

a rating system is a reflection of the opinions of one's peers. If I didn't like the photo (hypotheticaly speaking), lets say I felt it was too blurry to understand what was going on, and it didn't apeal to me on that point, that would be "my Opinion" and I would give my rating based on that opinion.
If you don't agree with that opinion then that's your business, but what's the point of a ratings system if we all get 5 stars/blocks?

I personaly thought the picture was original and different, but it didn't apeal to my "would I hang it on my wall" meter. so there fore "IF" I used the rating system (which I have never noticed LOL) I would have given it a 3 or 4. that's my opinion
you can't expect everyone to love the pictures you love.

I say this to make a point I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings (why I don't rate pictures) and I hope my objectional comments don't reflect badly on my work or anyone else's

WE (all of us) do what we do because we love it! I say get rid of the system (if possible) and move on :)


P.S. can some one tell me why I'm only getting a 4 rating on my comic? :D

I never pay attention to the ratings because I didn't even know about them for the longest time, and like others have said, I'd rather get comments than any number of squares.

Whoever votes 1, does it for laughs. Is that how I'd go about it, no, but hey different strokes for different folks. Jay, you've probably given the guy a hell of a laugh and you really shouldn't obsess over something so trivial and pointless on a site based on trivial and pointless things most of us do for fun :)

I like Outrider's idea.

Else, I would just keep a rating system for things that require voting.. such as a theme challenge.

You're absolutely correct. The problem is not with someone disliking a picture, its more that it would be nice to say why rather than just rate it without any reason. Contructive criticism can only help us all get better. I would hate to think a new member to the site would be discouraged and stop posting if his pics get unexplained low ratings.