I think the rating system could have some merit but has pretty much been used to play games with people. I think if you made it where you couldn't respond to someone if you give them a negative rating, you will decrease that. Most people who use it to mess with people are also drawn to try and get the person to talk trash. Make them choose one or the other...they will leave your rating system alone.

And I'm responding to tell you so. However, thanks to the little "-" I gave you, that information has been conveyed to any users of this site, regardless of whether or not they choose to take the time to read my response to your silly little post.

It'd probably be more useful to make it impossible to sign in with several sockpuppets and downrate multiple times. Usually the same person who creates sockpuppets is the one who's also trying to elicit an emotional reaction in the responses. We do use the downrates to make a bad post disappear under the right "option." I'd rather someone who downrated me show up and explain what their beef is. Usually it's not about how well the argument was made, you're right.