It's been a little over 3 months since we instituted the karma system here at 8052.com. Over the last few months I've received a couple of emails with suggestions on ways to improve the karma system. I appreciated the feedback but my feeling was that I wanted to give the current system time to work before modifying it.

To some extent I think the karma system--combined with requiring users to register to post messages--has successfully reduced (though not eliminated) hit and run posts. I think it has also reduced (though not eliminated) useless or inflamatory replies.

I also see that the list of users with positive karma makes a certain amount of sense based on contributions to the forum. I don't think I see anyone in the list with high karma that doesn't deserve it.

I'd like to open this thread for any input anyone may have with the current karma system. This may be complaints or suggestions for improvements or just general questions.

One thing that has been mentioned to me via email--and I agree with--is that since new users can't score messages for 6 months, if they come in and ask a question and find an answer very useful they have no way to "award" a score to the person that helped them since they haven't been around for 6 months. I'd like to hear if anyone has any ideas on how to resolve this problem without opening the karma system to wide-scale abuse and "ballot stuffing."

Regards,
Craig Steiner
8052.com Webmaster