Karma is stupid

[tonym]

I don't like the "karma" thing on this message board.

The idea of smiting or exalting someone's post seems opposed to one of the main purposes of this messageboard, which is to elicit honest criticism.

Karma is probably why some people aren't posting criticisms - they think they'll get smited for speaking their mind, so they just download, read and stay silent.

Others probably stop posting once they see their karma points evaporate after going to the trouble of giving somebody a critical but useful post.

Anyhow, that's what I think. Karma is stupid.

Click the "smite" button if you disagree; click the "exalt" button if you don't.

[matt35mm]

I haven't been on here that long, but I can't see anybody really caring enough about their karma points to not say what they think about a script. If people aren't being fully honest in their criticism, that's probably more due to politeness and knowing from experience how tough criticism can be, especially for newer writers.

Also, I'd think that the majority of the people on here would give karma to anyone who took the time to read their script and give their thoughts, even if it was a total slam.

You might say that the karma thing is meaningless, but I don't think it's affecting anyone's critique of others' work. At least, I hope not.

[tonym]

I disagree with everything you wrote.

Consequently, I just smited away your single karma point. You're back to zero.

[mscherer]

tonym,

I wholly agree that one of the missions of this message board is to elicit honest criticism. But another facet, possibly more important, is to foster community – a place for writers to schmooze, learn from one another, try out new ideas. But, and there is always a but...

There are no prizes or cash payouts for accumulating karma. So my response is: who cares? Why should anyone care? Life is difficult. A writing career is very difficult. A screenwriter’s life is really, really difficult. My point?

The fact that someone can push a button adding or taking away karma points that ‘don’t amount to a hill of beans’ is so trivial, how will you -- and I'm using the collective YOU not the specific YOU -- react when a producer or a manager or an agent tells you: your screenplay sucks; it's not for them; it lacks that certain something?

Ignore the buttons. Share knowledge. Share ideas. Share the passion for writing. And always – bad karma or good –

Keep Writing!

[matt35mm]

Mar 27, 2010 20:29:21 GMT -5 tonym said:

I disagree with everything you wrote.

Consequently, I just smited away your single karma point. You're back to zero.

NOOOooooo!!! I'm ruined! Who would want me now?

[tonym]

If karma is so meaningless and pointless, as you claim, then it should be turned off.

And people can get annoyed by karma. Someone took away my one karma point, and I was annoyed. Not by the loss of the point; karma is stupid. I was annoyed that someone thought a post of mine sucked and smited me for it.

The purpose of smiting is to be rude to someone anonymously - that seems contrary to building a nice, friendly community.

[tonym]

Mar 27, 2010 20:44:45 GMT -5 matt35mm said:

NOOOooooo!!! I'm ruined! Who would want me now?

You can relax. Somebody felt pity for you and gave you your point back.

They were probably worried you would quit posting on this site.

[tous]

Tonym, attitude like that don't run kindly around these parts (I think I saw that on a western) but seriously dude, being spiteful and rude aren't very good lovers-- but hopefully to clear everything up- I'm going to tell you something that closely resembles, ...sss.. do you remember that scene in star wars where luke finds out who is father is... do you remember that one? It went like:

Tonym...KKKKkk .... CHHHh.. KKkk .chhhhh ....

I TOOK AWAY YOUR KARMA POINT.

That's where I cut off your hand and then you yell at me, but instead it seems it was directed at matt.
Anyways this drama is stupid. Just wanted to clear things up and hopefully you're perspective will change on the seriousness of sensitivity and output of how you perceive the world and the people in it.
SO! In all honesty-- i had no idea what it would do , I was actually curious as to how people got karma points in the first place. But I read your comment on my page and in no way was it ever helpful. I can't discern whether or not you really wanted those answers to the questions you've asked or whether you were mocking me. But the point being, if it makes you happy take mine away when u can, i'm giving yours back personally- so don't be annoyed, stop the pollution, save the goddamn rainforests (Sorry god, you had nothing to do with it..) -- ( i think )
And relax, cause something as virtual as karma is not meant to be thought about. You just do it. Cause that's what everyone else here does, they just do it to do it and hopefully people do it back.
SO KEEP WRITING!!! (I'm stealing a lot of lines here, i know. just take away a point)

[tonym]

Thanks, dude, for some unknown reason I feel better knowing who it was!

I'm not really mad, though. This thread is 99% a joke.

But I do think karma points are a bad idea. That part is true.

DON'T JUDGE MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Yarrrghgh!

Incidentally, I did try to provide you with useful feedback on your script; it was of the variety I call "an honest impression." Sometimes an honest impression can be more useful to a writer than 1000 words explaining formatting errors and whatnot.

Of course, this wasn't true in your case.

[tonym]

Whoa! Somebody gave me a karma point! I'm happy again. So very happy!

Dang, I'm clearly susceptible to Pavlovian mindgames like a pathetic lab rat in a science lab.

How depressing.

Somebody give me another karma point and cheer me up.

[songswithoutwords]

Done. I owed you for reading some of my work, anyway.

Let's see how much karma we can get for tonym, just with this thread. Let's make tonym the highest-karma member on this board. Each please exalt him and post here when done.

[Jeff Messerman]

I came to this party late... been dropkicking a script outta' my brain for the MAN of late.

As one of the primary bartenders here at the GITS CLUB saloon, I never gave much thought to the karma/smite thingy other than it was something cutesy and goofy. It was certainly nothing that I chose to put here but just a normal "feature" of the Proboards experience.

Certainly if enough people are put off by its presence I would be glad to try and find a way to shut it down.

Still it could be worse. You could be stuck inside of Mobile with the Memphis blues again...

(random Dylan reference for no real reason!) ;D

[echenry]

Bartender Messerman,

Don't worry about Karma. Some people are mature enough to handle it. Some aren't. In the blogosphere world that's one of the biggest challenges: dealing with different maturity levels -- especially with writers!

You're always going to have some complainers. The key is the act judiciously, and in favor of what's right. The ability to give your fellow writers karma points -- IS RIGHT!!

Alternate perspective: karma is a way of showing love anonymously.


"Dropping kicking a script for the MAN." Dude, we should all be so lucky... Hope, you write something awesome and it propels you to bigger and better things, Jeff.
Me, on the other hand; total small-ball: submit to contests, try to get an agent, wrangle with the riffraff, try to sort out who's legit and whose just out to string you along...

[Deleted]

Gave tonym some Karma...(looks around)

The universe is still intact. Carry on.

[trellicktower]

I'm working on a script now called, coincidentally, Karma Is Stupid, where people walk around like normal life except they can touch someone and either add or remove one "karma point" from them. As you no doubt can predict, those with high karma are viewed as superior and almost like movie stars, those with low karma are abused and pissed on by random animals and street people. It's awesome. Eventually one guy creates a "karma trading black market" and then the world explodes.