GD's old rating system was fairly atypical... and most other forums I'm on don't descend into anarchy without it, even those with NO rating system. The fact most people here are not jerks is the main thing... didn't you find people telling you that you were an ass affected you?
Regarding the rating system: I've been voted down. Multiple times. A few times it fell awfully.
But what did I learn from that? I realized I was being an ass, and more importantly, unprofessional.
I often learned the hard way that I was wrong.
I'll agree when it comes to political/religion discussions, the rating system becomes unfair, but I just stay away from them. This is a technical forum after all, a few comments may go into the lounge but an actual debate isn't best handled in GD.Net
I learnt to shut my mouth when I don't know about something or my opinion isn't needed, and to only speak when I am required and I can add something of value to the topic. Surprisingly I saw how my rating went up.
Not to mention - the rating system caused massive complaints when it was added.
I know the personality comes from us, but I'm talking about the site. Now it looks like any other forums, but okay, it's just my opinion. I never liked forums so much because of their layout. Maybe I'll get used to this one.
GD didn't have a distinctive look because they wanted to be cool, it was because they wrote their own software and were stuck with it. It has stayed 'retro' because it was getting out-dated, not because they chose to BE retro.
The biggest problem I have with the current system is that there is no negative feedback ability to either a) make people correct their attitudeHow about, you know, telling people you don't like what they've said rather than making a cowardly down-vote where they can't even see what they did wrong? PM them or write in the forum in a respectful way. If they are properly offensive, report to mods.