And, having said that, what about those who rate high because they are friends, not really based on the work done? I mean, you know it happens.

To me, it's the same thing as the topic here, only reversed. 

I had once complained about it to Sir WOM a couple of years ago ... coz it was frequently happening with my uploads and the matter was resolved ... and recently noticed it with one of my dream uploads again ... though I really thank the mods ... they've taken care of it

I agree an exaggerated rating in either direction is doing no good for any skinner or user, not just the low side of rating.

That said, I know I have gotten the friend rating before and probably will again, just what friends do, as is what a non friend does with low. , deliberate ratings.  I cry foul on me, I am guilty of both, so sorry, don,t demote me, I just went up!

I will be nicer.

Not a question of friendship or not.

A REAL friend will tell you what he/she sees both good and bad. Also, will help you hide the body.

Watch me someone hide my body, if you do not want to end up like me! (Be Right)

Bleumart's hat's off to everyone!  His head too....lol..     

if a single one-star rating has such an effect, the overall number of ratings on such a submission must be VERY low, what makes the the whole system worthless. maybe ratings should only show after a significant amount of ratings has been given.

i'd probably give the majority of the Deskscapes section a one-star rating as well, the of original content there is marginal. but don't worry, i neither care enough, nor do i even know if Wincustomize actually works with my browser in this regard.

I suspected as much when I saw the lovely 'Electric Blue' at 1 1/2 stars the day after upload... ridiculous... even after fiving to combat it, it only came up to 2 1/2 so I reckon the 'downrater' is doing it soon after they are uploaded as the first rating seems to set the pace until there are quite a number of added ratings to equalise it...

someone needs to get a life if they have that much time to devote to downing others... 

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. 

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. 

FUCKING RIGHT!!!

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

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.

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.