This site uses a system called "Mojo" to try to keep the comments as high-signal as possible. All users can rate all comments, except their own, between %%rating_min%% and %%rating_max%%. When your comments are rated by others, those ratings are combined into a weighted average -- newer comments count more than older ones -- called your "Mojo". This, roughly, represents the rating we could expect your next comment to receive based on your past comments.
Users who have a mojo greater than a certain minimum and who have posted a sufficient number of comments are considered "trusted" users, and have the added capability to rate comments below the normal minimum rating. If enough of a user's comments are rated below %%rating_min%%, that user becomes "untrusted", which means that respected members of the community have repeatedly indicated that your input is offensive, content-free, or merely intended to annoy others.
If you are untrusted, then your comments are posted with an initial rating equal to your mojo. Since this is below the normal rating minimum, these comments are not visible to any but trusted users. They may, if they choose, rate your comments above the minimum, and make them visible to others. You may earn back the trust of the community simply by posting worthwhile comments, and not spamming.
Please do not see this as a condemnation of you as a person. We're sure you're very nice once we get to know you. This merely means that perhaps you've posted some rather ill-considered comments, and the community as a whole has decided that we'd rather have your input peer-reviewed before it goes out to the general public. Next time you post, think carefully about what you're saying and whether it adds to the topic at hand. If not, there are plenty of places on the web that don't filter input at all, and would be glad to hear whatever's on your mind.
If you believe your posting history does not warrant an untrusted rating and you have been the victim of malicious rating, then please contact us at %%local_email%%. Think carefully, and review your previous comments before you do this. If you complain and have in fact been spamming, then I will not be pleased with you. If your untrusted rating is unjustified though, then we will deal with the situation.
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