or should I say "clique war"
Eddie, I think many of your initial questions in your original post have been answered by this thread. This is exactly how peoples emotion effect any rating system. It is like the thread I refer you to in my first post Green Squares and even I-Trader ratings are greatly based upon personal bias and those who are part of a group certainly do take care of their own.
The problem with I-trader ratings are very simple, however, they are also misleading to those who do not read between the lines. Now we all know that if some one likes a post you have made, they can add to your reputation.
Well what stops some one from doing the same thing with I-Trader ratings, oh I will answer that NOTHING!!!!!!!
Anyone can go into another members I-Trader rating and add to it or detract from it with a Negative rating. These people do not even have to have ever done any business with the person they are rating. Now, I am not criticizing the forum, or the people who spent their time to put this program together, they should be applauded for their efforts.
Just like in the thread I started where I identified people who were buying and trading reputation points, I hate to admit it, but I also suspect that there are members who are doing the same with I-Trader ratings.
Now this can not be tolerated, and it taints the entire I-Trader rating system which was put into place to protect us all from dishonest sellers, buyers, and traders.
Eddie, I think Clique is a very appropriate word to use for groups on any forum. Most members will certainly fall into one category or another consciously or subconsciously, and this is just Human nature in general, we all gravitate toward others who share our feeling and beliefs. But to sacrifice ones integrity, is not normal Human nature, at least not to me. In my opinion your name and your integrity are the most important things we all have, and actions certainly speak louder than any words. The funny thing is that even on an Internet forum people do not understand how transparent they are when they have no integrity or even how it effects the words they speak / type.
Have a good night Eddie