Karma Ratings...the Good, the Bad and the Ugly!

So...now that Dragon Con 2013 is part of history, I'd like to bring up a few positive things about our community here on the Forums and our Members ('cause that's what makes this place so special!).

For me, as a long time DCForums member, I've seen this site grow over the years...both in terms of traffic and has developed a sense of community family. The friends I've met here, have grown into friendships outside of Dragon Con.

Almost a year ago, Basheesh incorporated a Forum rating system...Applaud or Smite (+ or -). The site's growth over the past six months has been huge, and with it, great advice, help, wisdom from Con vets, along with a good dose of helpful information from D*C virgins/N00bz!

So, my point here is this:

If someone posts something insightful, helpful, funny or offers up their place at Con for a frakkin' room party...hit up their + Karma! That's what it's for!

The "other" rating...(-) Smite, it's there for a reason, but let's not abuse it. If you start seeing some negative numbers showing up next to your Forum name, check your recent posts and ask yourself if what you had posted may have not have come across the way you had intended.

So, closing this on a positive (+) note, we have a lotta good people here, let's focus on that Applaude when you see that helpful/funny post !!

UPDATE BY TRATHOR (7/21/14)
Hey guys,

As we grow, so does the forum have to evolve.  I'll make a new locked sticky that outlines details of how Karma works, and leave this one open for discussion on it, but here are a few updates:

 - Good Karma:  This makes people feel great.  Please give out good karma freely. 

 - Bad Karma (smite):  Be aware that many people are sensitive to this, and if you are going to give a point of Bad Karma, try to keep these things in mind:
    - Don't give away more than one bad point per 'point', that's just bad mojo. 
    - If you give bad Karma, you should be able to articulate in your mind why you have that negative point.  Not saying you have to give it, but many people want to know so they can help improve their Karma. 
    - Try to not give bad Karma when you are angry.  You can always take five minutes/ something else first, and see if you still feel bad Karma is warranted. 

Bad Karma has a function, let's just be aware of the implications. 

Will Do Admiral General Will do 

Agreed. 

There are things we can do to link into Karma in terms of forum access/ rights/ etc., however those are not enabled.  It is great for what TheDrunkenJedi has pointed out here though. 

Please do not take negative Karma hits personally though, take it constructively - it's feedback on how people felt about your posts.  Use it to help. 

I have notice that I keep getting smite, and I'm pretty sure I haven't said anything rude or otherwise improper but owell.

So is there anyway to know who "applauds" or "smites" you?

So is there anyway to know who "applauds" or "smites" you?

Nope... even admins cannot see that. 

So is there anyway to know who "applauds" or "smites" you?

You can always guess if on the who's online you see someone applaud or smite and then your karma changes

Everytime I get a smite i know where it comes from! He's going to get his one day....yes...vengance will be mine!!!!

If you accidentally applaud or smite someone can you take it back?

^
Nope.

If you accidentally applaud or smite someone can you take it back?

You would have to wait an hour and correct it with an offsetting Karma rating.

I have a crazy question...how do you give karma??? I have yet to figure that out. Please don't blast me if this is a stupid question.  I've never been on a forum like this before so I just don't know some things. I've search to see if it tells you somewhere but couldn't for the life of me find anything that tells me how.

Appalaud +=good
Smite-   =bad

Do you just type that when you reply?

If you look at the avatar/photo on the left a post, you'll see the Karma count.  Under the Karma count is a Applaud / Smite link.  Just use those, don't have to reply to have them work.  Just click on them, I believe.