Preventing circle-reps - one member, one score

[MPDev]

On our site we have had alot of problem with small groups of people circle-repping each other to boost their rep power. I came up with a simple code modification (no plugin space for this) that resets all previous rep scores a user has given the user they are repping and then applies the new rep score to their reputation.

Esentially this removes the incentive for circle-repping and only those who get repped positively the most end up with the highest rep score.

In reputation.php, at line 160is find:

// Determine this user's reputationlevelid.

and above it add:

// MDP
// Reset older rep to 0 and then get new count
$db->query_write("
UPDATE " . TABLE_PREFIX . "reputation SET reputation=0 WHERE userid=$userid AND whoadded=" . $vbulletin->userinfo['userid']
);

// Now get current reputation level
$newrep = $db->query_first("
SELECT sum(reputation) AS newtotal
FROM " . TABLE_PREFIX . "reputation
WHERE userid=$userid
");

$userinfo['reputation'] = $newrep['newtotal'];
// End

Now when someone reps another member, their old reps are set to 0 (leaving the comments) and their reputation score is reset and then the new power is added.

No more circle-repping.

[MPDev]

I can provide a simple script to reset all prior score if you'd like; this mod will start resetting user scores the next time the user is repped, but users who do not get repped will still have their inflated scores.

[bondjetta]

i have this same problem...i wonder how many users it will tick off if i install it ;)

[MPDev]

I've installed it on two of my sites and the response falls into two categories:

1) Those upset at the loss off their ability to circle-rep each other (and the subsequent loss of their circle-rep power)
2) Those thankful for the level playing field

I have a site with 130k members; it was a mad rush to get groups together to prop each other to the top levels. Then, with their "rep power" they would target other groups with negative rep - it was not very pretty.

This new system makes for no incentive to continually rep people and forces people to actually find ways to get other members to rep them.

So far, it's working out perfectly!

[furst]

I don't really understand how this works.. can you explain further please? Also, will this work in 3.6?

[Adrian Schneider]

I may have a use for this! So basically you can only rep somebody once? Every rep will just overwrite the last one (in terms of score)?

[furst]

It's not very practical in smaller communities, now is it?

[Adrian Schneider]

No, unless the users are abusing it. I'm going to add this to my site.

[Pcparts]

is this oging to work in 3.6.5?

[SBlueman]

Any one have any luck with this for 3.6.5 or higher?

[MPDev]

Yep. Works fine. Keep rep from being abused on our site - promotes those who have gotten more rep from a greater number of people versus the same people over and over again.