This happens for a minority of nodes, but nonetheless it happens around once or twice a day.

Have you actually been reading my posts?!?

Amazingly, yes.

Okay, I deserved that :) (I was coming back to remove that line, but you had already replied)

You've proposed star-schemes and other things that counter your initial argument

Not at all, the star system would help people decide which posts have been 'deemed' most useful without showing actual vote counts. You can't see the difference (rhetorical)?

The problem with that is that if you agree that people will "follow the trend" when voting, then the same thing will happen with the star system.

I haven't seen anyone clearly state what benefits it would have, especially for novices (who have no votes to waste on nullifying votes), or anyone in general.

I am not a Perl God. For a great many nodes on this site, I do not know what advice is good. I cannot vote ++ or -- to these nodes without skewing the system. I am nonetheless interested in knowing which of these nodes are better, so that if/when I do need the knowledge, I can start at square 2. Or perhaps I have a question, and I find two or three threads on slightly related topics. How do I know which nodes are best? Which are Good?

I'm willing to bet there are a lot of people out there who would like to learn.

Seems like you just want to see reps without voting ++ or --.

Exactly. Usually in cases where I _shouldn't_ be voting.

How do I know which nodes are best? Which are Good?

Currently, by setting your sort in User Settings to sort by Best First. Do you do this now? Maybe it would solve your problem.

Cheers,
KM

Currently, by setting your sort in User Settings to sort by Best First

That will tell me which is best. It does not tell me which are good. It does not tell me how they compare to one another. It does not work if the messages are in different threads.

It seems to me, at this point, that you are just arguing against this because it is an option that you would never use

It is called debating, not arguing. And yes, I would never use it and can't see it's use. I see a better way to accomplish it while accomplishing more at the same time.

(rest of your post)...

As I said before, I want to know what type of problem this would solve. What good does it do for the site as a whole as opposed to being something some may use some of the time. You are just saying "I would use it, it wouldn't bother you, so deal", and that simply isn't good enough for me. I would rather vroom (or whomever) spend programming time for things to better the site for the masses, not for a few. I just don't see why seeing the rep for a post is so important. I think knowing which nodes have more votes can be useful to all, and seeing a posts rep by nullifying your vote on it is too individual.

Cheers,
KM

I think knowing which nodes have more votes can be useful to all...

Those are my thoughts exactly. The problem is that many people have objected to having the reputation known before you vote on a node. I, personally, could care less if it is shown before or after, I just think it would be a good thing to be able to access somehow. As for seeing the rep vs. the stars and Mr. Yuk, as you pointed out, vroom has a limited amount of time. It seems to me that it would be a fairly quick hack to just reveal the numbers. If it would be easier to see stars, then lets see stars, but in my opinion we should be able to see something.