Wallpapers submitted by for example you and I are auto rated at 3 stars because they don't go through moderation. Then it's up to users to rate them up or down. Others are rated initially by a moderator where they need at least a 2 star rating to go into the public gallery.

I think the moderators sometimes also rate those that are auto approved even though they don't have to for moderation sake.

so what about the new stars they now have 2 each, so dose one star now = 2 or do you still have to have 2 stars = 4???

One star equals two points on a scale of ten but there are now also 1/2 stars which you will notice if you select carefully.

so it takes 4 points to pass? to public view...a.k.a. 2 stars

cause I have 5-6 points on some from the mods and are not in the public view a.k.a. 2 1/2 - 3 stars

not whining just asking

Every submittal that gets to the public galleries begins with a 3 star rating and goes up or down from there.

Don't misunderstand me, I personally think the system is as useless as the karma system.  I am just telling you how it works as far as I know.

Thank you Ken, I agree!

Jazzi, don't let the stars get in your eyes! The download count is the true rating of any work submitted!

I agree completely with franki ...jazzilady.its the wallpaper downloads that count.

Nope, we don't rate JM's and above.  There rating as Tim said get a bogus 3 star rating just for show.  The first person that rates it , that will be the rating it will have till someone else rates it and then it will be equaled in.

Frankie, Devjit, you're right! That is true, but it gets discouraging sometimes when you've put so much time and effort into a wallpaper and it comes up with 2 stars! Maybe I'm just too sensative, but it kinda hurts!

Trust me dear, I know just how you feel but I have had to put those same feelings of hurt and disapointment aside and go with the downloads. Some folks are just malicious and get some sort of evil pleasure downgrading stuff. I know this for a fact because I have seen five stars turn into two in a matter of an hour, but downloads don't lie. If folks like it, they will download it but they don't always rate it.

Sad....

Seeing a few here, saying "never mind the ratings", but still they have bitched and whined about their own low ratings in the passed....

https://www.wincustomize.com/explore/wallpapers/43700/

Perfect example, went from five stars to one in ten minutes. This has got to be some sort of abuse of the ratings but the downloads are great even with the broken links. Sad doesn't begin to cover it! I say one would have a right to complain if this is the case. Yes, it does hurt to know someone is deliberately skewing the ratings!

The star rating is less than useless as far as i am concerned. Some people who upload have fanclubs who will rate their work up just because they like the person and the ratings have nothing to do with the quality of the work. While i can understand this type of behaviour it really does nothing to encourage those people to grow and get better. My advice is to upload and share for yourself and if people like it they will download it. As long as your happy with your work thats all that really matters.

Hey Frankief; this rating drop may be a result of someone frustrated about the broken link.

As for the great downloads, since the link is broken there are actually no downloads and every time anyone clicks download and gets the error message it is still getting counted. Four of the download count is from me, if download was working I could download many times but it would only show as one unique download and the rest would show under total downloads overall on the expanded downloads stats page (click on download count to see this). Unique count is the count that shows on the skins page and your stats page.

I appreciate everyones advice very much! I guess I'd better get less niave about how people are and stop thinking everyone is nice. I take everything to heart, and I need to stop doing that! Anyway, you guys are really special and I thank you for the advice.

Well, thanks to Hankers the broken links have been fixed, apparently it was the # in the file name causing a corrupted zip file. If I accused someone falsely, I apologize, but I have seen this happen repeatedly in the past where the rating changes drastically in a short period of time and was always able to counter this with the download number. I suppose the numbers will be skewed due to the bad zip file.

Jazzi Dear, this is real life and unfortunately everyone is not nice but I would hope the percentage of nice is higher than the percentage of naughty. You gotta get tough and don't wear your heart on your sleeve! I am a big one to talk! I cry if you look at me crooked!

Thanks Frankie, I've gotten a lot better than I used to be though! Sort of reminds me of when I made a right turn to come home, had my blinkers on and everything. The guy in back of me flipped me off, for absolutely no reason! I'm still crushed over that one! What a crazy world!