Its all just petty nonsense, really. I don't pay attention to ratings or download count. If they like it they like it. If they don't they don't. I like it and that's what counts. IMO

EXACTLY. Would be fine with me if the ratings were just eliminated. It either makes it to the gallery or it doesn't. When things make it, those who want it will download it. Those who wish to make a comment will. 

Yep.

I have a hard time with ratings.  When I rate, and I know I should more often;  I don't  want to rate too low because someone took time and effort with their work, but neither do I like rating too high - because there is always room for improvement.  I try to look at a piece objectively- and not the author.  For wallpapers I look at colour - does it please the eye?  Is there a good composition with a balance of positive and negative space?  Is the piece just too busy or can you clearly see what is the focal point?  Does the lighting make sense?   I never give below a 5  and then make sure I put a comment in to let the author know why -so they can improve.  You don't get better if people just tell you your work is great when, in fact, there are obvious areas that need improvement.  Wouldn't have made it this far if Adni, TBC, Nighttrain, and  many others hadn't given me honest critiques on my work. 

For skins, I used to look for completeness.  Was everything that could be skinned skinned?  Are the graphics smooth with no jaggies showing?  Does it work?  Can the text be easily read.  That sort of thing.  Since I no longer make, or use, skins I no longer rate them, but still try to make a constructive comment. 

Did you fall off your livestock again? You can't say "ratings are overrated" which indicates one would have to rate the ratings to determine if their rating was in fact rated at a higher rate than warranted.

Are you just plain ignorated???

FUCKING RIGHT!!!

This crap is worse and it goes unmentioned because of who they are!!

Good words, David, old man!   You are a wise old fart. I couldn't agree more.

No it isn't as 'bad'...down-rating is childish AND vindictive, up-rating is only 'childish'...

Re eliminating them altogether I've already mentioned WHY they are there....

Remember...

The INTENT of User ratings is to assist in the General Population's/visitors' capacity to have skins graded for professional/expert/experienced comparison.

To be guided by other users' CONSIDERED opinion/s regarding the QUALITY of the skins/works.

In other words...if a person visiting Wincustomize sees a skin with 5 stars he/she can be reasonably confident that it is a GOOD skin via the consensus of our experienced opinions.

Same applies to a one star -rated skin - that it really could be 'better' than it is.

You guys should just make it so that you can't rate something without commenting on it , too. Maybe show what the person rated next to their comment.

Public visibility of your actions usually makes you more honest.

(Unless you're a politician... )

maybe this is all a mistake, and the culprit(s) have dyslexia , or read right to left and got the stars wrong.

Anyhow, I like ratings, I like comments, just have to suck up the ratings and comments I disagree with, or try, and keep skinning, and enjoy the good ones.

At the end of the day , I doubt the world is sitting at home checking to see who has more stars, with skinners I believe it is a competition of cousre, and why not, we all want to stand out.

With users though, as Jafo posted, it could help them determine a good skin.However, if they have it to easy to find the top rated skins, some lesser skins may simply get overlooked leaving a skinner wondering where he or she went wrong.So, if overlooked, that skinner misses the help from comments on how to satisfy a downloader, which increases stars later. So, stars are good, less stars suck, but may in turn help get more stars by incentive through torment, lol.

Okay, ramble ramble, ME.DT1.

There is that. 

Governments everywhere are voted in via secret ballot to avoid intimidation [primarily].

If it's good enough for them...............................

May I add something to the mix, thank you.

Lest we forget that those submissions that do not go through moderation are automatically given ratings that could be seen as too high or too low solely depending on the level of the contributor and not necessarily the quality of the work.

Ratings, given honestly and coupled with the number of downloads, provides good feedback for the authors.

Ratings are being monitored by staff to catch those commit drive-by down ratings.

My only destructive suggestion would be to name the culprits that do this and ban them from rating anything else.

Well if giving a high or low rating on this site means life or death... by all means, carry on. 

It's OK....I'll just mentally throw rocks at you...

I agree with Boopish.  Will say I only rate that which I have downloaded and tested.

^^^^^^

Trollin', trollin', trollin'
Trollin', trollin', trollin'
Trollin', trollin', trollin'
Trollin', trollin', trollin'
Trollers

She trollin', trollin', trollin'
Those ratings are swollen
Keep them skinners trollin', troller

Through rain an' wind an' weather
Hellbent for leather
Wishin' the troll was on my side

All the things I'm missin'
Good vittles, love an' skinnin'
Are lost 'cause the troller has lied

Move 'em on, ban 'em all
Ban 'em all, move 'em on
Move 'em on, ban 'em all
Trollers

KW...we're talking about sheer numbers and patterns which cannot be disguised as anything but ratings trolling.

Set to the theme song of "Rawhide". Well done, Fuzzy. 

I like this. I realize that it will never happen and it would be a chore and then some to set it up....

but I picture sites like Amazon or others where you view the product and then you can click on the 'Reviews' tab and read an individulas review along with their rating...or just the rating should they decide not to write anything. 

AND a link to the a persons other reviews and ratings if you like their taste in skins or whatever.

So, I suppose if it could or did go THIS far, you could allow for some kind of rating sytem for ratings and/or reviews to help promote the whole concept as well as the art and artists.

or not.