It's unncessary, and will screw the forums even more than usual. We know that most of the people here aren't mature or civil enough to use this system without abusing it.

EVERYTHING is based upon implementation.  A poorly designed system will surely fail.  I'm not saying add a "generic" karma system, I'm saying build one from the ground up, using similar principles, but focussed for THIS forum and this forum alone.  Make it restrictive as possible to prevent abuse, yet easy to use.  Yes abuse will happen in ANY forum with a system like this, but it's how you design it to prevent that from happening.

Would I hit myself in the head with a hammer to see if it hurts?  No, I already know it would suck.

I really don't want to go through the headache of listening to all the users on this site bitch about getting karma camped (because they will), going through reports of x user is karma camping y user (because people will), reports that z user is only a sock puppet and used only to vote people and threads down (because people will), and locking thread after thread where people are bitching about the karma system (because people will).

Like I said, in a perfect world this is a wonderful idea but in reality it just doesn't work.  People can come up with rule after rule to keep the system abuse proof as possible but have you ever seen a system not get exploited?  Hell, even on this site Kirby figured out how to make his name pink.

How do 'we' know? If it isnt tried, how could you possibly know?

Look at the users on this site and just use what you know about the internet in general.  Do you really think we can be that mature?  I know you think you can be but does that mean everyone else can?

What is that quote from Tommy Boy?

I can get a good look at a T-Bone by sticking my head up a bull's ass, but I'd rather take a butcher's word for it.

That example wasn't a generic implementation, it was ground up system that they had been planning for months and months how to implement so people wouldn't get upset.  Like I said above, no matter how many rules you make someone will find a way around and it will get abused.

Also like I said above, people just like you have bitched and bitched for this system and it has never been implemented.  I wonder why?

No that would be rubbish because there are so many PS3 fans on this site, they just love bringing up 360 negative news to the front page and it would stay there forever.

Negative PS3 stuff would quickly dissappear.

sounds like even trying this would be a waste of time and effort.

I'm not one to object to new attempts to allow self moderation, but there are already 5 billion accusations of fanboyism about the approved moderators doing their jobs. throwing even the slightest shred of that ability to where actual trolling fanboys can get to it is just asking for trouble.

And Twesterm is right, no matter what you do, no matter how complex and layered you make the self moderating system work, people will find a way to abuse it, and the system itself is highly flawed for the purpose of these forums.

There are 3 sections being represented in these forums, Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft. No matter which way you're siding, you end up with a 2 vs 1 mentality. If you try to support one side, then the other two sides are just as likely to vote against that, however if you side AGAINST one company, then the other 2 companies side with you, hence no matter where your alignment is, that self moderating system actually supports negative posts more than positive ones.

Actually, here's my suggestion:

Ignore Individual Thread and Ignore Thread by User options. At the top of every thread, you are given the option to ignore that thread. when you do this, you can still access this thread, and even post in it, but no matter how often it is bumped or replied in, you won't see it on the main page. If you are browsing the individual forum sections, threads that you have marked to ignore will apear grayed out and will not display post or page counts. If you notice that a particular user is creating numerous threads that you don't want to see, you can select that user and ignore all threads made by that user.
This allows every individual member of the site to moderate what they see, but without forcing their opinions on other people. Even if you ignore a thread, other users will still be able to see that thread unless they ignore it as well.
Along with this, if a thread or user is ignored by enough people often enough, it will bring that to the attention of the actual moderators, who can then decide if that user is spamming or if a thread needs locked. This doesn't mean that it WILL be locked, but that it is more likely to be noticed in case it does need locked.

@Grey : Meh, if you want that functionality, make it yourself.

Well, I dont' see what good that does the site.

Best post of the year. That doesn't aplly for me but still great post. But I agree with rendo, good thread should be rewarded.