Did you notice this, too? - Ratings again

I am still relatively new to PN and have submitted quite a number of pictures

for rating and critique. While I want to learn and am hoping for constructive

(positive or negative) critique and ratings, I have been asking that people who

rate my work below 4 tell me why; but they never do. However, ratings by

registered PN users always tend to be consistently better, although often

without explanation why, while those from anonymous users tend to be a mixed

bag, anything from 3/3 to 7/7, and few, if any, comments. Does this happen to

you, too?

 

<p><p> This raises a question about PN's rating system that in my opinion gives

far too much weight to the opinions of people who do not even bother to

register. Don't get me wrong: I can handle criticism and really don't care what

ratings I get, because I take pictures for my enjoyment, and if others like

them, so much the better<P><P>

 

For any rating, really critique, one should have a system that does not only try

to judge aesthetics and originality, but other factors such as technical

accomplishment, and there should be a requirement that when someone rates a

picture below 4 or above 5 s/he should also provide a comment explaining why.<P><P>

 

Another question: Would it make sense to have a separate rating/critique trail

for black and white pictures? This would give a longer visible life on the

ratings track for both color and B/W pictures.<P><P>

 

 

You find my pictures at <P><P>

 

http://www.photo.net/photos/karl.jahr

First, people who rate low generally don't bother with reading the description, so they won't see your plea for an explanation. The rating system is flawed to the point that it's meaningless. If you leave critiques on a lot of photos, some of those photographers may respond with critiques of your photos. Beyond that, you're lucky to get a few random critiques here and there unless your shot is really somehow more interesting than those around it. And finally, there is no need to add a link or web address to the end of your post, as we can click on your name to get to your gallery. Thanks and welcome to photodotnet.

<i>"However, ratings by registered PN users always tend to be consistently better, although often without explanation why ...</i><P>

Well, one reason why is that some of them are hoping that you will return the favor and rate their photos "better". Some of the public rates will be genuine, but some will be from those fishing for "mate rates" (they're easy to spot, they rate just about anything 6/6).<P>

 

<I>"... while those from anonymous users tend to be a mixed bag"</i><P>

Lot's of people here hate anonymous ratings, but my take on them is that the majority of those ratings are more apt to be honest than direct public rates. Anonymous raters (shit disturbers excluded) have no agenda. You don't know who they are, so you can't return any favors. And they can give what they feel is an honestly deserved low rating on a poorly executed photo without fear of reprisal (<b>all</b> ratings used to be public, and revenge rating was very common). Also, it is possible to leave both an anonymous low (or high) rating and a public comment / critique that is not linked to that rating during the "Rate Photos" process.<P>

 

<i>"... and there should be a requirement that when someone rates a picture below 4 or above 5 s/he should also provide a comment explaining why.</i><P>

This has been discussed before. Sure it would be nice, but it would be a pointless and easily defeated requirement. You can't force people to comment, and if you do you will just get meaningless one word responses like "sucks" or "wow", etc., fewer ratings, or both. Those who would comment already do.<P>

You can't get anything from any ratings system (this one or any other) except a measure of what's popular. About the only thing of value you can get from the ratings is to hope to attract a few comments along with the numbers. The numbers are a pleasant distraction, and fun to play with occasionally, but not much else. At least you realize this - quite a few here get awfully worked up about meaningless numbers given by strangers. Kind of funny when you think about, since you have to explicitly ask for those ratings from strangers in the first place. ;-)<P>

<i>"... PN's rating system that in my opinion gives far too much weight to the opinions of people who do not even bother to register."</i><P>

Incidentally, <b>everyone</b> who submits a rating on one of your photos is "registered". They are anonymous to you and I, but not to photo.net administration or to the database. If you click this <a href="http://www.photo.net/photodb/manage-ratings">link</a> you will see every single rating you have ever given. Both anonymous (if that applies) via the <a href="http://www.photo.net/gallery/photocritique?rating_type=photocritique&topic_id=1481&recent=4">"Rate Photos"</a> queue and direct ratings. Only you and photo.net can see that data.<P>

Keep posting - you have some nice work in your gallery. And keep posting comments to the work of others. Eventually you will attract more comments to your own work. :-)

Michael , through your link I was able to bookmark the listing of all my ratings. Can you tell me how to get to these without your link ... I was unable to work out a way. Thanks.

From "my (your) workspace" page:

 

Photo Ratings

You have rated ... photos on this site, with average ratings of ... for originality and ... for aesthetics. You can view your ratings.

<i>"... and there should be a requirement that when someone rates a picture below 4 or above 5 s/he should also provide a comment explaining why.<P>

 

This has been discussed before. . . .<p></i>

It hasn't merely been discussed before; it was tried in the past. Not only was it easily circumvented, the explanations for why low ratings were given (even very civil, specific, and constructive critiques) generated far more hurt feelings, arguments, and flame wars than the low ratings alone.

Besides, and please don't take offense to this, ratings here are a crap shoot. Its like submitting your photo to HotOrNot.com. Critiques are what makes it worth it. Now I just have to get off my lazy bum and start critiquing. Maybe I'll start at your portfolio ;)

Giovanni , thanks for the pointer , I seem to have always overlooked that one ...