there have been many threads about the ATS metrics , "w" , "k" etc

but none address the fact that they are biased towards newer members

star and flag are a recent addition to ATS

but now star and flag has become the " sign " of quality

when its realy the sign of popularity - and group thought

idividuality , free thought - does not garner stars and flags - only goup thought and conformity does

and new members who ` pander to the masses ` get stars and flags - others wo dont - are shunned

go figure

Originally posted by ignorant_ape
there have been many threads about the ATS metrics , "w" , "k" etc

but none address the fact that they are biased towards newer members

star and flag are a recent addition to ATS

but now star and flag has become the " sign " of quality

when its realy the sign of popularity - and group thought

idividuality , free thought - does not garner stars and flags - only goup thought and conformity does

and new members who ` pander to the masses ` get stars and flags - others wo dont - are shunned

go figure

how highschool of you. lol kidding

i'd say don't pay attention to it and simply read the posts, no one is making you agree with how many people agree with the post and acknowledging it with a star.

in all honesty I mostly star the long post with no stars, not because it has no stars but because the quality of what i'm reading. somebody just missed it's worth. and I never star a post if it has more then like 5 anyway because somebody already noticed it's quality.

the star is merely a way of giving notice to quality input.

but in your eyes it's been glamorized to a means of success and popularity, which is no reason to be here.
we are here because we still care. if we didn't we'd be trying to become millionaires and living in mansions like the rest of the heartless fiends.

What is this a flag fest thread?

Originally posted by Kandinsky

I tend to pay more attention to names and avatars who I associate with people who post interesting opinions and/or fact based evidence.

For what it's worth, you're one of them - hence the reply.

Beat me to it. I was going to post virtually the same thing. By the way, 110 applauses. That's fairly significant.

People really pay attention to points, stars, flags, and applause? Seems a little too much like the popularity of one's posts being equated to the quality of one's posts if you ask me.

I always looked at those options as meaningless widgets to amuse the bored. Applause is a bit different, as it is given by mods and higher.. but even then I've been mystified on occasion when I receive it. Best to read and judge by content.. the rest is so much lipstick on a pig

Its also one of those things where the nature of people to gravitate toward the sensationalistic and views that mirror their own come in play.

For example, you sometimes get well researched and thought provoking threads that generate very few stars and flag and sensationalistic and polarizing threads sometimes get stars and flags out the wahzoo.

Granted those well thought and researched threads may get applause. But I don't know if that registers into any of the stats.

Originally posted by ignorant_ape


star and flag are a recent addition to ATS

Am I understanding you incorrectly? I have been here for four years in December and they have had stars and flags since at least the day I joined...

So really for longer than 4 years. Stars and flags are not a recent addition to ATS by any means.

If I am misunderstanding, I apologize.

As for the main point of your post, I admit. I am not sure. When I post I am not doing it for stars or flags. But I do have a firm believe in quality over quantity.

I like to at least think that if my posts are quality enough, then they will get starred or flagged. I most certainly hope that no one stars or flags me just because of how popular I may or may not be.

Though, I don't think I am popular....By any means.

For what it is worth, Some of my posts get zero stars and flags. Some get a few and some get a bunch.... So... I admit, if it is a popularity thing. i am not seeing it.

Originally posted by Ahabstar
Basically stars are a way to avoid the simple one line posts of "I agree"

But can one not agree in a multi-mega-astra-spectacularical way?

Originally posted by The1Prettiest1One

Originally posted by Ahabstar
Basically stars are a way to avoid the simple one line posts of "I agree"

But can one not agree in a multi-mega-astra-spectacularical way?

Hell yeah!

Stars and Flags could be a sign of quality, but not necessarily. Cointelpro are good at garnering support, making friends and inspiring people to write gushy comments about their intelligence. It's also a sign of manipulation. Some get stars for their humor. Can we have another symbol for humor? I want to look at humorous posts more often! How about tin foil hats for the super-freaky-out-of-the-box posters?! That'd be cool. I'm sure the Grammar Nazis are on their way to pick me up.....tah tah for now!

Frankly, I've always felt that most of the stat tracking tools from stars and flags to WATS and Karma are generally unnecessary and lend to nothing but popularity contests. It implies that the higher your numbers are, the more valid or valuable your opinion or posts are over others. It's the same as comparing your xbox achievements. It doesn't say anything about you or what you have to contribute at any given moment. They're just unneeded numbers distracting and dividing.