This may be being discussed somewhere else, but I can't keep up with the forums and there is no search feature for it. I've noticed tremendous discrepancies between old c-index and new, as in some of my previously top images are now some of the lowest, and have pathetic ratings (like 17, when they used to be 90). And that's for images that have been in the permanent galleries for two years or more.

So my questions really are, will the permanent galleries be re-evaluated now because of the massive switch in the c-indexes? Or are there still kinks being worked out that resulted in these discrepancies?

And related to that, what is the actual average c-index rating nowadays? I know it used to be like 80 or something.

The change in c-index was so big that we really should have just called it something else. There is no reason to expect a previously high rated image to remain high in the new system. In fact, the average c-index is now 50, so most images have seen a significant drop.

Right now I am still working on a way to most effectively use the votes that we've been getting, so you can expect the c-index to get more accurate as time goes on and as we get more votes.

I too have a couple of images with low ratings, but all of the comments have been positive, so I can only surmise the low votes were from disgruntled people. I wish the distribution was back.

I love that the average rating is 50, that should be the case. But it's still odd that a previously way above average image is now way below average, the spirit of the rating hasn't changed like that.

I've got one or two like that, Bob - I think they're a bit under-rated now, but I thought they were over-rated before. Have yours received 10 votes yet? From what caedes said elsewhere the index should get more "accurate" as the number of votes increases. But there'll always be some that aren't as well received now as they were when we first uploaded them, for whatever reason....

Come on, Si...the accuracy of the new system is clearly not very reliable. It's not just "one or two" images we're talking about. I'm glad to hear that Caedes is taking a careful look at how to best utilize votes so that the accuracy of the new system improves, and I know and appreciate the fact that he's worked hard to try to devise a system that provides a more accurate index of quality. Nonetheless, I currently can tell next to nothng from the c-index. Images of comparable quality are getting widely divergent ratings and that's the rule, not the exception. And the tension related to this issue has driven activity on Caedes.net down. There are fewer images going up, fewer comments and, sadly, talented people are leaving. I love the format of this site and have met some really great people here. Hence, I'm sticking it out here, despite feeling downright demoralized by this new rating system, and I know a number of others are doing the same. I put up a Vue image a couple of days ago...I spent many hours on it. I'm not suggesting it deserves unchallenged accolades, but the current c-index is 29. I could put up finger paintings and fair almost as well, and it's not just MY images that are meeting with such awesomely low numbers. Again, thanks to Caedes for continuing to look at this index with the goal of increased accuracy. Wen

I can't believe that something as trivial as an internet site's system for rating your images can make you downright demoralized, Wendy. Did it ever occur to you that maybe it's just fine that people who don't like the new system are leaving? There's a lot less whining now.

It's probably a good thing if we're getting less volume on the site. and I agree with what regmar just said. Also, I've been receiving as many or more comments now as before! It really is just a matter of sorting out why images that were popular are getting low votes now--- it's not because they deserve that low a vote. The c-indexes were way inflated before, so I almost rather they be low, but I mean look at some of the images that have won contests and see their new rating, it's weird.

You know, Reg...you have a right to your feelings and opinions and I have a right to mine. When I went to college and grad school, I placed credence in the grades I got for the work I did, and the same holds here, and that is what the c-index IS here. It's a rating on the quality of images and, yes, I find the new rating system demoralizing and I know a number of others that do as well. Sorry you find that so appalling, but I, personally, am equally offended by those who pretend it doesn't matter at all when it's clear that it does matter to a number of folks. And, unlike you, I do regret that a number of talented folks were so turned off by the new system that they felt driven to leave. One possible reason is that it's clear that, had they stayed and voiced their opinion about problems with the new system, people like you would have chastised them about their "whining" and advised them to take a hike. I think that's unfortunate. Wen