Just would like to share that the "Troll" or "Trolls" are at it again on the rating system. 
Wonder why that is...jealousy, boredom, or just plain meaness. I can't find the forum topic that has been posted before about them but if someone could help me out there I would appreciate it very much.
Personally, I haven't taken it to heart because if they can do better they surely would be showing themselves on here. And, I've extended my hand to them for sharing of tips and constructive criticism they may have in hopes of learning some new techniques possibly. 
I wonder what the Trolls are doing that for??? That's crazy!!
So to anyone who gets a zero rating blow it off because someone is just playing around.
It isn't a very nice game!!
To the "Troll" or "Trolls"....... get off Cake Central & leave everyone alone!!! We don't like games! 
We are all friendly here, one big family. You are not wanted on Cake Central!!!
Just would like to share that the "Troll" or "Trolls" are at it again on the rating system.
Wonder why that is...jealousy, boredom, or just plain meaness. I can't find the forum topic that has been posted before about them but if someone could help me out there I would appreciate it very much. Personally, I haven't taken it to heart because if they can do better they surely would be showing themselves on here. And, I've extended my hand to them for sharing of tips and constructive criticism they may have in hopes of learning some new techniques possibly.
Guys your giving them the satafactions of knowing that this is making you made that is what they want your giving them the attention they need and want... if you dont post anything about this they will leave quicker....
Its gotten so bad that I had to close out my guest book because of them.. So what is going to happen is Jackie is just going to have to take that off like we voted on and once that happens then they will not have anything to do ..
Victoria what is the guest book? I haven't heard of that before.
From what someone said the Troll is one of us. I just think they needed to know that they aren't welcome. I wasn't trying to get them to stay longer.. sorry you misunderstood me. I'm not someone who'll back down to things like that. That is just me. It seems Jscakes is the same way.
I haven't heard anything about this before yesterday. I don't even look at the ratings. I just type my "good" comment & go to the next pic.
It's a shame.
Victoria what is the guest book? I haven't heard of that before.
From what someone said the Troll is one of us. I just think they needed to know that they aren't welcome. I wasn't trying to get them to stay longer.. sorry you misunderstood me. I'm not someone who'll back down to things like that. That is just me. It seems Jscakes is the same way.
I haven't heard anything about this before yesterday. I don't even look at the ratings. I just type my "good" comment & go to the next pic.
It's a shame.
I have a guest book on my site that is where they type in there messages about what they think of sites and such and they are going in there and just typeing BS on it....
As for one of them being a cake decorater that is mostly what is going on but you know what when they read messages like that they feed from it and there getting the atten they need that they are not getting in other places.. That is all I ment by that ..
who are they?and what did they do? Sorry I must have missed something..If it's like I think and it's people being mean for no other reason than being mean well they are worse than TROLLS..I love this site and I don't think anyone deserves a zero rating..Beauty is in the eye of the beholder etc etc..
It still surprises me how some people use these sites to be mean or play games, fortunately, though, even if they are decoraters, they are not playing these games in their posts.
The thing that would make me worry more, is that they play these games with recipe ratings and it makes you a little leary of trying out any new recipes. They could be bad, but rated good and vice versa. I am wondering if having to post your name to comments on recipes would be better than the star ratings?
Hugs Squirrelly
Hmmm Squirrellycakes... that's a good idea! If our name is posted next to the ratings then problems would be solved. You couldn't make an annonumos rating!! Great idea!!
Ya'll excuse my spelling... it's horrible!!
Haha Turtlelady, easy for me to say, since I don't know the first thing about web designing or how much work it is to change things, haha!
Oh gosh, when it comes to grammar and spelling, the main thing is to get the message across right?
When I first got this computer, it was set up with all of the French symbols and so I ended up with the French Spell check, which meant that everything written in English, was misspelled according to the computer. So then my daughter switched it to English but it was American English, which meant it corrected my Canadian spellings. So we got rid of that, haven't been able to download it so that it is Canadian/British Spellcheck and so now I am winging it with no Spellcheck and no dictionaries in the house. Yes when your children leave home, the dictionairies and the technology information leave with them, haha! Unfortunately, most of the junk that they don't want with them, but don't want thrown out, well it stays with the parents! Oh the joys of parenthood. Empty nest syndrome means the birds fly away, not their junk!
Plus the bring home their mending and did I mention that they suddenly become great cooks and good housekeepers. Ah the magic of leaving home, haha!
Oh yes, and they both still call me to ask me how to spell things in French and English. Now they got the French educations and, did I mention, the dictionaries, haha!
Anyway, off topic, haha!
Yes I am coming to the conclusion that when people have to sign their names to things, they think twice. Maybe another good rule would be that you have to use your real name and address if you are going to make any snide comments! Hhmn, that one would go over well on the sites!
So what do you think, Ladycakes? Wouldn't that cause a stir?
Hugs Annoy Namous
Yes, I like that idea of adding your name to your posts or ratings. And if you are found to be putting in bad ratings then you will be permanently banned from sites such as this.
Same about the recipes, if the ratings are poor I would be nervous trying it.
Attention, hmmm. Confrontation, yes tc I feel the same. See, I do notice things and I'm one to want answers for something if it's wrong, explain more to me why. (I always did get into trouble by asking "why" all the time, now I revise my "why" question)
tc, Ladycakes, & Squir..hahmm...Annoy Namous let's get names to the rating systems!
Signed ~ Joann 
Hi, guys. I also agree that a name to go with the rating is a superb idea!! We need to be accountable for what we say and do on here. I hate the thought that it is another decorator who is up to this. I have enough confidence problems in the cake arena. All I need is some BSer out to make me feel worse. There should be some recourse to this problem. Jackie----HELP!!!
~Tanya
The vote was overwhelmingly to do away with the rating system.. I would still like to see that happen or at least make it optional.
If anyone else would like to vote, the poll is here: http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-1243.html
The original post I made about the troll problem is here:
http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-1236.html
I'd be happy having names next to votes or a way to open who voted what on each cake. At least this accountability might help.
Why do we have a zero score on the voting anyhow? That's just rude. If you feel that someone did that poorly, don't vote or comment! Just my opinion..
~AngelWendy
I'm glad this came up. I'm pretty new on this site and had been looking through some of the photos and noticed some of the ratings and comments on some beautiful cakes. I thought to myself, there's no way I'm going to put any pictures of my cakes on here if everyone is going to be so critical. Besides, people put there cakes on to share and receive encouragment, nobody wants to hear that their cake sucks even if it does. It goes back to what we learned in kindergarten and I tell my 4 year old this all the time, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all!!!" Thanks to everyone whos on here for the same reason as me. To meet friends who enjoy the same hobby and to receive help and encouragment from others and to give help and encouragment to those who need it. Love to all SARAH
Its funny how people have different opinions but how you can agree with both sides. I dont worry about the stars...maybe the Troll is being mean, and maybe he or she isnt being mean but putting what they think of the cake. I think its great that TC let them know how she feels, and that they arent wanted on here, but I also agree with Ladycake where if we want it to stop we have to ignore it until Jackie gets the stars off. Let them express their opinions, but shake it off as you know they are just being an idiot......they will get it back some day..... I have noticed when it is mentioned they do "come" back with a vengeous! THey were gone for a while they will leave eventually....
From the beginning here I didn't really even notice the star ratings, I just read the comments, added one here and there, but I did think we were identifiable when we made a comment. It sure wouldn't bother me, and it probably would help if we were identified when we make a comment, that way "if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all", even four year olds understand that, surely the "Trolls" would too. I'll go vote now to get rid of the stars! Janice
Why do we have a zero score on the voting anyhow? That's just rude. If you feel that someone did that poorly, don't vote or comment! Just my opinion..
~AngelWendy
I think that is an excellent question - and also someone brought up that maybe that's what they really think of the cake by rating it a zero, maybe someone is just brutally honest in their own mind - I don't know - but I don't think there should be zero stars - it is rude and discouraging. But I do like the idea of rating cakes - but something definately needs to be re-vamped.
Can anyone just anonymously vote?
You have to be a registered user on this site to vote.
Flayv~
Girl, why do you think I'm upset about the troll thing? I didn't even know about it till Jscakes mentioned it to me. I have still not seen any zero rating either. Where are they? I've looked & looked. Are they on old posts or new posts? I always say my opinion.. hope it never hurts anyone I think this troll thing just started a lot of disagreements in the forums. Now that might be what he or she was trying to do. I just don't see why someone wants to be mean! I'm through talking about this let the Troll be miserable alone!! 
Squirrellycakes...
I bet it is very hard to write in Canadian & then change it to English. Especially when the spell check won't work. I wished we had spell check on CC. I probably look like some silly country girl!!
From the beginning here I didn't really even notice the star ratings, I just read the comments, added one here and there, but I did think we were identifiable when we made a comment. It sure wouldn't bother me, and it probably would help if we were identified when we make a comment, that way "if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all", even four year olds understand that, surely the "Trolls" would too. I'll go vote now to get rid of the stars! Janice
When you make a comment your name does go with your comment ... Your name does not go when you rate a cake if you only rate the cake and not post a comment..... I know that the stars just hurt the new baker out there that is trying to do right and trying to learn the older bakers could careless about it ..... But I really thinkt that the new bakers will not try new things or post because they are afraid of what there cake stars are goign to be...
I bet it is very hard to write in Canadian & then change it to English. Especially when the spell check won't work. I wished we had spell check on CC. I probably look like some silly country girl!!
TC there is two ways around this you can and Iknow I know I should do it my self but I just get going and I know things are not spelled right but I am on a roll... LOL
YOU can take an type your message out first in word or what ever you have on your computer that has spell check and then copy and paste or if your computer dont have software that dose that then you can go on line there is a few free sites that allow you to use there spell checker and then you do the same you type it there you check it you highlight it and you copy and paste it ..
AS for the ladies / Gents that done speck english as there first language there is tons of sites out there that will translate from there language to english and they do the same they highlight and copy and paste...
Haha, yes, just wanted to note that I was joking about using the real name and address, but not about using the site names we use.
Now regarding the comments, here is the thing. I think some folks really want some constructive criticism, well maybe that isn't a good term to use here. How about, some folks want some tips or pointers about how to improve on certain things, ways of getting, say a more perfect border, thinner petal edges on gumpaste flowers, things like that.
I will give an example. One lady on a site, posted a picture of a cake and asked for constructive criticism, ways of improving. Well, her cake was absolutely perfect, really amazing and even more amazing because she had been at it for such a short period of time. It looked like a designer cake. However, this gorgeous cake that could easily have fetched a 4 figure price, was sitting on a cardboard with wrinkled up foil. I praised her cake and told her this. I suggested different ways of covering her board so that it coordinated with her cake. Well she really took offense.
So here is the thing, if you post a picture of a cake, just because you want to share your work, then word it so that people know it. If you post a picture of a cake that you are proud of, but also wants some tips on to help you learn and improve, well then say you want some tips. I think I would avoid using the term, "Constructive Criticism", if you are sensitive.
But honestly, don't say you want a critique, if you cannot handle anyone saying how you can improve. There are some people that really need praise and anything else, devastates them.
What ends up happening is that someone views a cake and could really help by offering a tip, but they hold back because they are afraid of offending.
I will give an example, I have a good cake buddy that is really a fine imaginative decorator. She had problems with getting her top borders straight. One day she sent me a picture and asked me how to improve and she really meant it. So I told her to avoid the eye being drawn to the top border and noticing that it was not straight, well first of all, to stay away from putting a contrasting colour on this top border, so that it would just blend in. Also, if she could see that her seam line where the top met the side, was not straight, then to go in slightly from this edge. Then while piping the top border, to always look at if from above the cake so that she could see she was piping a straight line. Because if you follow the line of an unever seam line, you will of course get a border that is not straight. But if you pipe a straight line of border, your border will be straight and it won't be noticable that the seam line wasn't.
Anyway, a lot of the time, people are afraid to be helpful in case someone is offended. I have noticed on many sites, that it doesn't matter how much praise is given or how nicely the helpful tips are worded, some people only see things as being negative or critical.
Anyway, just another of my long-winded opinions, haha!
Hugs Squirrelly Cakes
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