How to solve the versions problem?

Hey guys. It's not that I don't trust the tabbers on this site, but almost every tab posted for a while now has had either 5 or 0 stars. On a purely statistical basis that can't be right.

It needs to be easier to rate something other than 5, because the chance someone abuses the rating system is a) slim, and b) nominal compared to the importance of realistic ratings across the site.

If we remove reasons for low ratings or have a reason for every rating, that should even it out and we could get generally more accurate ratings.

About a nine on the tension scale there Rube!

I don't mean to come off as a prima donna, though I wouldn't blame anyone for thinking that. If it helps, I really am my own worst critic, so as much as some folks who read this thread probably think, “Wow, that Lon dude's kind of an asshole,” trust me, I say the same thing to myself.

Still, I feel my point stands. It all comes down to the purpose of the site, and that purpose is to teach people how to play songs – not how to play songs incorrectly. This is why the rating system is pivotal, and needs to be used properly. And the tabber should also hold their self to the rating standards. If you know your tab's not entirely correct, say so for the user's edification. A few missed notes here or there are no big deal, no one's perfect, but it would be foolish of a person to expect 5 stars for posting just a couple bars of a song, especially when those couple bars also happen to be way, way off.

nick – You say right up front in your tab that it's your own interpretation, it's how YOU play the song, and it's not meant to represent the original recording. So no harm, no foul, you're fine.

And to be clear, I know not all my tabs are perfect. There have been many, many times I've gone back in and fixed a tab after realizing I got something wrong, even after it's already been rated. Sometimes it's just a missed or misheard note, sometimes it's a complete, top-to-bottom rewrite. I'm always going back in and touching my shit up. Point is, if I get a 5-star rating, I want it to be because it DESERVES it, not just because it's easier for a rater to give it a 5 and move on than rate it lower and have to actually – gasp! – leave a helpful comment. Of course, there is still the chance the rater will give a lower rating and be entirely wrong (which has also happened to me a few times).

Anyway. I'm thinking, I'm almost at 500 tabs. Maybe that's a good point to call it quits. I love music, and I enjoy tabbing, and I really enjoy sharing what I learn, but yeah, it's starting to feel like a lot of effort for nothing. I mean I still have a bunch of requests I want to honor, but other than that…

Or maybe I'm just on my man-period and will feel differently tomorrow. I don't know.

Thanks, man, I really appreciate that. My problem is I tend to get…well, “obsessive” might be too strong a word, but it's close. And along with that comes a bunch of high falutin' stuff about principals and integrity and how I set my standards so high that often even I can't reach them. But it takes me having a moment like above, voicing my frustration, to make me realize I need to take a beat, step back, and stop being all OCD about shit. Suffice to say, it's not just tabbing that I'm like that with.

I should really be thanking our users for putting up with my flightiness and occasional bitching lol

I have to echo Ganaelin's comments. Big Bass Tabs is my go to for tab, and this is largely due to the quality of Lon's contribution to the site.

Your efforts are very much appreciated, Lon.