curious about rating specifics

I don't know about drive by down ratings but IMO skins should be rated by the user. A user downloads/buys a WB, wears it awhile and then goes back and rates the skin on usability, looks and other preferences. 

Ross what you said is correct but that isn't how it happens. This subject has been asked before but no real answers have ever been given and I think that is all he is asking for real answers. Most of what is asked can only really come from a Mod or SD employee. For the rest of us we can really only give opinions because we have never had the real facts. I can guess why this was brought up again. Greg's last skin I don't even think it had a download and it went down too a two rating. Hence a drive by down rating with no merit for it.

On the other side I also know this. Lets say you have people that really like you. They may up rate without ever downloading and using the skin. People can see every skin from a good screen shot which most do. If they don't like the colors they shouldn't download it. After all we all aren't going to like every color combination. If it works fine the color combination shouldn't be the reason for a low rating. My belief is if a skin is very usable and functions well that is what should matter. If the colors don't appeal to you don't download and wait for the next one. Everyone isn't going to like what every skin looks like so pass on it but don't rate it down from a Screen shot because you don't like the style or color.

This subject as I said has been mentioned many times and also the removal of the rating system. It has never changed and my guess it won't. So what I have seen for 10 years is you take the up and down ratings and in the end you finish with a decent rating. I for one never worry about it as you have all heard it ------"it is what it is".

"If you can't control it, don't worry about it" I myself live by that. and have found it to benefit me very well over the years. The only exception to that is with someone or something you love, a family member, friend, pet, etc. If they are ill or worst, you are going to worry and hope for the best. Lose sleep over taxes you pay. Why? you can't do a damn thing about it. To many people bitch about stuff they can't do a thing about. Let it go.

Tip of the day. Smile you woke up. Well, at least that's good for us old people.

That's what I say when my wife asks me how I'm doing in the morning.

Really? You asked that?  

How much bias do you think would go into that rating?  

I can only speak for myself but I feel that I'm professional enough to be "somewhat" honest. It would kind of be the opposite of the drive by down rating that seems to occur much too frequent.

Ratings are overrated anyway.

that may be but I'm really curious how the whole rating system works. It doesn't seem to be going away and a better understanding would be appreciated.

I'll admit that I do pull the tiger's tail on occasion just to be somewhat annoying, but you'd think that asking questions regarding the inner workings of the site that impact the users would get a response from staff?

If you have a 'year' to spare.... here's a link.

https://forums.wincustomize.com/search;ratings 

Simply put, if you aren't wearing flame-retardant undies [triple nomex a minimum] threads relating to 'ratings and how/why they work' will sear your arse cheeks.

"I've heard that "master skinners" ratings are given more weight than other people. What does actually mean and what is the weight given?

Why can't the authors rate their own skins?

When one complains about drive by down ratings, how is this looked into?

I looked at "about", "privacy", "upload guidelines" and "TOS" for guidance but could find anything about ratings. Is there anything posted anywhere that helps to define rating guidelines?"

Each ranking of User has a 'weighting' to the 'strength' of their rating/opinion applied...as it matches the users' level of advancement/experience/involvement with the site and skinning.  The ADVANTAGE of that is to provide more appreciation for the value of an experienced user's rating opinion over that of the casual user who often simply rates via such criterium as "I don't like dark skins so = 1 star."

Once upon a time I discovered that Admins could rate their own skins....an anomaly of user-access, long-since removed.  Rating your own skin is NEVER truly subjective so is not an option.

If someone suspects Drive-by ratings and notifies an Admin said admin can view all the ratings applied to the skin...and by whom and when.  That list enables access to each rater's history so time-lines etc can be reviewed.  It's very uncommon, but if there may be an issue the rater in question is contacted/reviewed.

As for guidelines.....

Simple common sense.  If it's really good rate it highly.  If you do not believe it could be made better...rate it top rating.

If you think it's so-so rate it average.

If it blows up your computer and kills your dog...rate it low...;)

For more 'entertainment than poking your eye with a burning stick....follow the link at top...;)

Oh, tiger tail pulling is contrary to the ASPCA [RSPCA here in Oz] so anyone doing such will be smitten by Thor's Hammer [or mine...as I'm closer]...;p

The rating system is simple. A skin submitted by a Master Skinner that will be for sale goes through moderation and gets approved automatically has initial rating of 9 stars because they have earned that right. A skin submitted by a Master Skinner for free, or by anyone else on the site, gets an initial rating of 5 stars. After that the skins rating changes based upon ratings by others users.

I also doubt that there are users who would waste their time going around the site on a "drive by" and rating skins low. Most users would be more responsible than that I would think, or at least they should be.

As far as users being allowed to rate their own skins, I don't think that will ever happen, as RedneckDude said, in most cases it would be biased.

Confusion over? 

Here is a link that will show you how ratings works.

https://forums.wincustomize.com/52910/page/1/

If a Moderator approves a skin the applied rating is nominal...and is there only to enable the skin to be visible on the site.  A non-rated skin is invisible to the public.

That initial rating is auto-deleted once a public user rating is applied.

That's just simple site mechanics.  If the Moderator wishes to actually add his rating he does so via the public site as everyone else does...;)

Jafo, thank you for your response. Thank you also and WOM for the links, very informative.

I can see now how the first person to rate a skin could bring the rating down to a 1 or 2 star rating as the initial rating given is deleted.

I really like what ID mentioned in his post.

From here on I will demote any member regardless of their current ranking who is doing this in a clearly malicious manner.

I'm pretty sure that "malicious manner" may be somewhat subjective but notifying staff when something odd occurs is worth while. 

I now have a better understanding of the process and will fell less shocked when it occurs in the future. Again my thanks.

Quoting Jafo, reply 10

Oh, tiger tail pulling is contrary to the ASPCA [RSPCA here in Oz] so anyone doing such will be smitten by Thor's Hammer [or mine...as I'm closer]...

End of Jafo's quote

Having been smitten in the past I can corroborate that statement.  

Quoting Jafo, reply 14

Quoting neone6,

reply 13

Quoting LightStar,

reply 11

A skin submitted by a Master Skinner for free, or by anyone else on the site, gets an initial rating of 5 stars

Really!? 5 S T A R S ??

If a Moderator approves a skin the applied rating is nominal...and is there only to enable the skin to be visible on the site.  A non-rated skin is invisible to the public.

That initial rating is auto-deleted once a public user rating is applied.

That's just simple site mechanics.  If the Moderator wishes to actually add his rating he does so via the public site as everyone else does...

End of Jafo's quote

Ahhhh,  I did not know that Paul, thanks for the information.