It happens. Getting 5.0's or 0.5's, if there's no comment giving you specific praise or criticism, you don't gain anything other than a number. Probably just someone who disagreed with you.

I find the average rating to be a misnomer as it were. I really don't think a lot of my ratings are deserved, as I don't think any of my pieces are perfect or even near perfect. Still, I have plenty of 5 ratings. People are just too nice to each other on sites like this. It makes it harder to grow as a writer.

@Gnashville Sounds like you could do with checking out The Protagonizers Manifesto by Darkliquid. A few of are actively trying to put it into practice and encourage others to do so, thus making the rating's system fairer for everyone.

As for the low rating, @Scarlet-Ladder, if you really think it was a hate-rate speak to one of the mods about it, as that's kinda what they're there for.

@Scarlet-Ladder, it sucks to get a 0.5, i know.

thing is, when you're dealing with a 0-5 scale people are actually going to use all the numbers. if they didn't, then there really isn't point to have the lower numbers, is there?

also, typically 'Hate Rating' is when a single user blankets a bunch of stories with low ratings, so there'd be a lot more than just one 0.5 rating. as it is, we don't really look into single low ratings unless the user giving them has a history of doing so.

the long and the short of it: everyone hates a 0.5, but it's just another part of the rating system.

note: you can make your work un-rateable if you don't want to receive any ratings.

@Scarlet-Ladder,

(i) what Jack Rheumotoligistesky said.

(ii) In regards to affecting your average rating, consider that it does seem to happen to everyone at least once. So, really, your average rating is now average! It used to really bother me but now, I don't care too much. The site isn't so much about the numbers, but, as you know, the feedback and the collaboration. That's where the awesomeness comes in. The ability to work together with people who love writing as much as we all do means so much more than that number.

Anyone who does that random point 0.5 thing (and there's always someone who just HAS to do it), believe me, you probably don't want an opinion from anyways, because right now, they're just bitter and/or immature and/or don't get what this site is all about.

Smac. You stole the words straight outta my mouth.
Curse you.

But yeah... just thought I'd second that notion. I mean, come on, you should probably almost always leave a comment on someone's work for improvement/praise/ whatever, but ESPECIALLY for lower ratings like that... it's not fair just to say it's dog poo and then not say how to improve.

Otherwise, they're just being *insert long and incredibly rude swear word here*

Just ignore it :)

I agree with the above two posters. Although probably not with Spook's "long and incredibly rude swear word". *grin*

:} Elorithryn

Besides, all the incredibly rude swear words are short!