Is comment karma a good idea? or does it subtract from iin?

It's a good idea in theory. In practice? Not so much.

It would work if it wasn't connected to site privileges...

when I agree with someone, I don't want to always type out "I would've said this....this...I agree...etc"

However, it kinda discourages people from saying things that might go against popular opinion, and it encourages people to just thumb down instead of disagreeing...it's a mixed bag.

possible solution: an opt-out option. enabled via settings, after which you are unable to vote or see any comment ratings

Good idea poorly implemented

I think it stops self expression in a sense - if your opinion or statement doesn't appeal to the thumbasses on this site, you're not allowed to comment, right?
There sure are ass lickers on here, but probably not for this reason.

It's bad news. I've said it before but it encourages people to say what they think others want to hear or water down their actual opinion so that they don't get thumbed down which may prevent their ability to use the site as much. Like Countess said, it discourages you from voicing an opinion that goes against popular opinion.

It's why I dislike thumbasses so much and prefer people verbally disagreeing. It's why I don't thumb people down at all now regardless of how irritated they make me. I would of expected a lot of others on here to do the same but I'm not sure if they do. I hope they do.

It's straight up HORSESHIT! We should be able to comment when ever we wish. It's the internet!

I think any kind of up/down thumbing or voting rights based on popularity is a little unfair honestly. We cant assume that everyone is going to vote up or down based on how good/bad the comment is.

Is this why my comments are never showing up/getting removed for some reason?

I think it's good because it keeps the trolls in check. However I do think the downvote button gets used for purposes other than it was intended. You aren't supposed to downvote someone just because you disagree with them, you're supposed to downvote if the comment is antagonistic, in poor taste, or generally detrimental to the IIN community. But I still agree with the comment karma idea, even if it could use a few tweaks.

They should make it that, when you get 4 thumbs down, you get a 24 hour comment ban. It rarely happens that the IIN clique gives somebody a -4. Usually, in most cases, only the really offensive comments get -4 and worse.

I once recomended to the management they should implement a counting system so on your profile it would show an accumulation of both up votes and down votes as a single positive or negative, they said it was a good idea but they never did it.

It is a rare occasion I even use the thumbs. Only in the most extreme cases do I use them. I prefer to argue my case in print. That's what this site is all about. Right? So, I see it as a non issue.

What is comment karma?