Do you really care this?

Hi Rajib! Nice discussion! I know what you mean. There are a few like that, 'Yes boss', 'No boss' kind. I would like to believe that I do not belong to that category. I have always expressed myself the way I had wanted to. My notions, my beliefs are not salebale to the star color! I have been demoted to yellow red star time and gain and could make out the whos, whys and whens. It feels sad but for the time being and i have learnt to move on and start a new. Recently I have been deducted 2 dollars flat and I didn't bother much. Had it been earlier I would have been very upset for the undefined deduction but now I am smarter. Having said this , it matters but that doesn't mean I would let go my values and integrity. Have a great life!

Dear Rajib- I have another section of this thread to respond to, but I thought I'd do my main response first, and then address the other section promptly afterward. I'm sure you're well aware that my star rank does not keep me from responding to issues I feel passionate about, care about, have knowledge on, or are of interest to me personally. When I first began on Mylot it took some getting used to, but I soon realized that the star ranking was really based upon popularity, and not completely upon mutual respect for the individual's ability to write, think critically, and so forth. It's not to say that it cannot be that sort of system, but it is to say that many do not use it as such. I can only go based upon what others have shared with me who have been with Mylot for some time, and that is most people will get to know a user based upon the quality and depth of their writing, and soon the star rank fades into the background. I compare this with perhaps our inability as humans to judge someone based upon merit and not based upon looks. When we all meet someone in person at times it is difficult to just let the person be who they are. We as humans will be attracted to their eyes, their smile, or what have you or even put off by these things with first impressions. It is why as we develop and grow as humans if we focus on letting those impressions go by us like pollen, and take the person wholistically as a seed that we may indeed find the true fruit. I have nothing to protect to be honest, because in the end I own nothing. At least that is a phrase I've come to mull over that my husband uses quite a bit. "Nothing is ours". Namaste-Anora

To tell you honestly I can't stop myself from responding to discussions that are considered controversy and off limits. I have been slapped many times for being vocal in putting up my views which explains why my star remain stagnant for ages. And my posts are no nonsense too as I used to posts sensitive issues only to be met be anger, curse from a handful of close minded people who take matters too personally and forgot that this is a venue for healthy debates. After a while I realized that I have to stop being popular for the wrong reasons and get down to a sober me and now I mellowed down a lot to cater for the peace loving people here. There is no point of getting to the nerves of others and creating a scene here as I'll end up having a raised BP. And that is not good! Now am more relax and see myself doing what my six sense leads me toward. I'll listen to my inner voice and let it guide me. Without being critical or overly emotional, trust in my ability to select what will be a healthy choice of discussions to response.

To me the rating does not matter. What goes up comes down and vice versa. That should not be a detterent to starting discussions that actually need to be discussed rationally and you want a view point of a large section of society. I too started one and boy, did I get some awful bad mouthing answers, but no matter what, I would do it again. I need to know and what bettr platform than the mylot discussions. I would not willing hurt or demean another mylotter, and I would ignore those who use foul language. I may feel a bit if my rating goes down, but that will never put me off starting a discussion where i feel I need to know the views of the world. Just not me.

I don't know if I do it for protecting my stars but I do keep myself away from Religious topic. The main reason is that I dont' know anything about Christian religion and most of the users here start discussion on this one. The political one is a bit interesting to me but sometimes I don't give my opinion because I feel that I can't put my points strongly. I have had discussed this topic with my friends too and the response is quite positive also but still, I don't go for topics for which I feel that I don't have strong points. As for the sake of Stars, everybody loves their star and no one wants it to be going down. So, if anyone is doing it for this reason, s/he isn't wrong in my opinion!

Oh,every one has its own opinion. I don't care star colour.I just want to share my feeling and know other's thoughts.It will give me fresh idea!

I am not really bothered about my star...I dont know since when I am stuck at 9...maybe even mylot knows I am from commuist west bengal and have stuck me red forever anyway, I seldom go into direct confrontation with people, I usually like to put forward my opinion in a roundabout way so that my saying is there but people dont get offended. Its only in a few discussions that I have been directly aggressive and that also only because the respondents were. But, as I said, I have my sayings and dont beat the bush around about them.

Hi. I love being considered good and the star color here tells how good you are. But if there is a thing I want to say and feel like discussing on, then I go for it.

I hate the Star rating thing on mylot, it even affects when you earn if you got a 10 star you earn more likely faster, Its like its a competition more than expression of feelings, Just coz somebody will get offended you dont speak what actually is in your mind. This sucks badly but what can we do, GOOD= BAD all equal aaite...peace!

Hi rajib, just today I told a very very rude MyLotter that I thought she was very nasty because of a response she gave to someone and I admit I did consider my reputation before I did it but some things just need to be said and I would not have been true to myself if I didn't react as I saw fit. I have always responded very honestly to all discussions but I admit I have avoided more controversial ones; it really doesn't have anything to do with my star, I am like this in the real world too, I avoid confrontation unless I deem it absolutely necessary but some things not even I can let go. I have had a couple of instances here where I aired my views and others did not agree but fortunately everybody concerned was always intelligent enough not to get nasty and agree to disagree. I think that if you respond with honesty and integrity you are true to yourself and the rating here is not all that important really; it is good for the ego to have a high number star but at the end of the day does it really matter that much? I believe that if you use your manners things are usually OK, for you anyway...Others can react which ever way they like!

i also do not mind being rated, and i do tell what is on my mind there were times where there are opposing sides and it is just natural, our minds do not think alike

Hello my friend Rajib Ji, Well, barring few concering of earning sites, I am always ready to response. I never worry abour colors or STAR. I understand, it was blue for you sometimes back, which is yellow now. Let's express ourselves without being biased by STAR color. May God bless You and have a great time.[em]thumbup

Yes i know that there are such people in mylot who run after their reputation and ranking and they are not true to themselves.As you have given the example of Anora .She is a great writer with lot of understanding about issues and she is vocal too.Her star ranking does not let her curb her mind to speak against some issues which may be controversial.I think we should be guided by such spirits.It is a platform to discuss,promote and share issues and if we are not faithful to ourselves.

Interesting!! You're right. There are a few such people on myLot. As for me, I'm quite sure that at least so far, I've not been so. (May be because I'm new and haven't obtained any stars or too high rankings; and so not that curious about rankings and stars.) I'd call this a form of hypocrisy. I've also noticed some people who agree with a user on a particular discussion; and make stark contradictory statements from their own in some just to please the starter of the particular discussion or response. All my life, I've hated people who change stands and always try being 'politically correct'. Or in this context should I say 'myLotically correct' (lol) which means a weak and false response which is going to please a large number of myLotters. This also restricts the discussion from being a fruitful one. C'mon, you need to call a spade a spade sometimes! Thankfully, I haven't been one of those people. It's not the excuse I'm putting up for my low rankings and absence of a star; but it does hold truth in a small way!

No, I don't hold back for people like that. Quite frankly, if I feel I have something of substance to offer, I'll offer it, come what may. However, there are certain individuals to whom I won't rise when they try to anger me, so they can mark me down. I'll leave the discussion, probably telling them why I'll not be back. Brightest Blessings.

hahaha star and friends well I don't have many friends in real life so not having friends or not being liked online isn't a big deal to me Quality over quantity, that's all that matters That said I generally try to give my opinion in a good way means unless I'm in a bad mood or I don't like something or someone, I will try to be cool headed and give it the best explanation I can think of and I try not to take sides I don't want to sound know-it-all because I hate people like that myself I don't participate a lot in political and religious discussions I don't like politics and politicians I think they are all fat backstabbers ok some maybe in a good shape because they have the money for it As for religion I don't hate it, I just want to open my mind to what is beyond buildings and books about God that each religion has and some religious discussions are way into books that I don't read much anymore My star used to be 10, no idea why it's 9 now and I couldn't care less I still earn the same on average, my friends are still here even if my star is 1 so why lose sleep over it?

I'm a VERY easy going, laid back person. My mind is open to all opinions and I have very few things that I am adamant about. I will express my opinion but, if it is regarding a controversial subject, I will never fail to mention that it is ONLY my opinion, not a fact. Some sensitive topics discussed in myLot are SO heated that I naturally avoid them because I don't like getting caught up in an angry debate. I don't believe that anything can be resolved with anger, so I refuse to get wrapped up in it. MyLot is a place with such a variety of topics that we're able to pick and choose those we wish to respond to. My life has been so hectic and crazy that I like to become involved in the lighter topics, often funny topics. Life is too short to be angry, especially over words on a computer screen! I don't care about my "image". I am who I am and if you like me, great. If not, so what?

i have stayed away from answering and posting some things because i knew it may be taken wrong or knew that some one would just start something with it.. i figure sometimes its not worth it because if they misunderstand you you will have your email box flooded and i would feel like i needed to explain everything and if they are just wanting to be jerks you cant explain anything anyways and they will just try to bring you down and insult you. is it right to have to feel like this? no but some times i think you have to pick your battles and i know if i am personally going through a lot of stress it will just add to it and me being stressed out i might lash out and regret it later.. so ugh.. it really just depends on the day and topic lol.. everyone knows im definetely not a goody goody so i am not trying to keep a certain image but one of the hot topics with me that i really get jumped on or irritated with is religion and even on the best circumstances that can get nasty so if i feel i cant be respectful and tactful i try to stay away or wait till i can

Hi Rajib, it's not so much about protecting my stars or image. I don't like to get involved in controversial and sensitive issues. I can state clearly my views and opinions, and accept others' views as well; however I don't like to be blasted or hassled just because I don't agree with them. So to keep sane and undisturbed, I keep away!

Hi Rajib...I am really behind in discussions..I thought I better answer this one or you might think I was hiding so I wouldnt ruin my reputation I do not care at all about the star ratings. I dont even look at them when answering discussions. I also dont care what people think about what I say. I know that sometimes things can be misunderstood on here too so I am carefull how I word things. Everyone in this world is entitled to their opinions which is what a discussion is all about, and none of us were put on this earth to judge others either. So if someone doesnt like what I say, its ok, I never claim to be right anyways