What does it mean, the K?

Below your Avatar there are statistics referring to Post Number, Flag Number, Stars etc.. What does the K mean? What does the W stand for also?

Karma.

It's the number of threads you have authored. New feature...

Existing thread here.

That totally helped me out too.

I've just joined and mine says 7, never authored a post yet? Are you sure that is what it means?

Actually it's just magically gone down to 5? Maybe a site bug?

The K stands for "Karma". Here's a post by Site owner Skepticoverlord, a post explaining the K and also the W, which should help explain for you all a bit better:

It's not real complicated.

Karma is influenced most by a stars-to-post ratio, with a minor influence from flags.

WATS is influenced most by a flag-to-post ratio, with a minor influence from stars and post-count.

Long term members with a high number of well-flagged threads will achieve a high WATS number -- or -- mid-term members with highly-flagged threads will also receive a high WATS number. It reflects a ranking of those who start quality threads (mostly).

Short term members who create replies that earn stars may achieve a high KARMA number -- or -- those long term members who focus more on adding to existing threads and are starred as a result, will also achieve a high KARMA number. It reflects a ranking of those who add quality to existing threads.



Sure, there may be short-lived abuses to stars and flags, but the intent of the system is to aid in painting a larger picture of ATS content. While, on occasion, some individual posts or threads may receive more flags or stars than deserved, on the whole I believe the system works as intended as a means to showcase important topics and hard-working members.

Post from Skepticoverlord, site owner.

Active members with the top 50 WATS rating are also listed here: Way Above Top Secret - Top 50 members.