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This post describes my theoretical analysis about the MyAnimeList rating system: how it was intended to be and how it actually is used. From the design it is technically sane and sensible, from the user perspective something different:

• 0: This one is actually called 'Select score' and is the default setting. It can mean 2 things for the typical MAL user:
  a) not done watching, will rate later
  or
  b) don't care about ratings, leave me alone (n/a)
  
  
• 1-3: are called 'unwatchabele', 'horrible' and 'very bad'. They are also never used, except maybe 1, but the people using this option probably would call it -1 'kill everyone involved in making this' or something similar. Additionally most users read the review before watching an anime, so they don't really come across this awful stuff, if it even exists.
  
  
• 4: This is were the scale begins for most users. Officially it is called 'bad'. A more accurate term would be 'dropped, hate it'. It's most commonly used for boring animes and really unwatchable stuff.
  
  
• 5: 'Average'. More precisely 'watched it, because I was bored, but did not like it' option. This is useful for animes that are just annoying, but the watcher was so bored, that he/she still watched it. The never ending animes, that began good and turn to fillers fit in this category too.
  
  
• 6: 'Fine'. Translated to MAL standard, it should be called 'below average, but OK for one time watching'. This is the one you will actually start to encounter once in a while.
  
  
• 7: 'Good'. This could be called 'average'. Mostly used for stuff OK for watching once.
  
  
• 8: 'Very Good'. The 'slightly above average'. Basically the same as 'average' and it depends on the users current mood to set it.
  
  
• 9: 'Great'. First of the two mostly used options. Actually means 'good' and sometimes even 'I might consider rewaching it'
  
  
• 10: 'Masterpeace'. Second of the most used options. I means something between 'was quite OK and I will probably even rewach it' to 'this was totally epic and why is 10 the highest option' Actually I just read in an episode thread today, that someone wanted to rate it 11: 'epic' and complained that it was not an option.
  
  

Now here is the end of the scale. To resemble the typical MAL user, there should be 3 additional options besides the -1: 11: 'epic, totally loved it', 42: 'the answer to life, the universe and everything' and last but not least 'over 9000'.

Disclaimer: This is meant as a joke. I purely pulled it out of my (well, you know where), so there is no reason to kill me for it. ~ sayonara