Why does the number in the star by my name change?

I have found that when you have relatively few posts, it tends to go up and down somewhat before it settles down. Certainly when I had a low number, it seemed to go down for a few days when I had posted quite a lot. Then it rose again as, I suppose, people began giving me plusses.

I believe, too, that if any of your discussions are deleted, that goes against you but I can't be sure about that.

Sometimes you really don't have to do anything, as you will get negatives if other users don't agree with you. You should avoid controversial topics like religion and politics, as those will cause you to lose rating. You also may have posted to a discussion that was deleted and you would lost earnings, bur not rank I wouldn't think, but then it is possible I suppose. Just continue to do what you have been doing and it will go up in no time. I had a 4 for the longest time, and then it went to a 6, and now it is an 8. I am happy that mine went up, as I was hoping it would, but I never really expected it to go up that much. I will sure take it though. Now that it is at an 8, it seems to be holding, not going up or down. Well, good luck to you and happy mylotting.