What if MAL didn't have a scoring system?

Swagernator said:
Some fandoms (that are built on the fact of score system) would stop exist.

Aquamirror said:
What if MAL didn't have shitposters?

Swagernator said:

We are both talking about two different kind of fandoms.

Pullman said:
You know what would happen? Popularity would replace score as the main indicator people use to judge a show. So it would be fucking cancer³

CatchyUsername said:
Dude, at first I thought this was shitposting... but actually, you're quite on spot. I imagine it would be a better place for sure, despite the inevitable chaos that'd follow. Just wondering how many stupid questions would never be asked and stupid threads about 'why so low/high' never be written down is somewhat relieving.

HappyNeko said:
The good side is that you have kind of a quality certificate, when you find a high rated show, but the bad side is the fandoms that thinks the score is absolute and fight for positions on the rank

Somuchgamer said:
Then Anime War 2 would have started and we all would be slaved by the Kirito Order.

CatchyUsername said:


I think most people on MAL simply don't give a fuck. They never post, never comment, never do anything besides watching/reading and registering. So MAL is kinda divided in the middle. They're the cause of the 'problem', but they're technically the best users once they're not harmful at all. Problem is when people started using numbers to assign value outside the idea of simply scoring and now it helps to build their identity somehow (like, wtf). I think most people will never use the full scale, thus, making the show's general scores meaningless. I also think most people won't get their heads out of their asses and stop raising stupid questions, so I'm already in the 'acceptance' stage of things. My problem is always with people who take this medium far too seriously. Other than that, I'm fine enough.

Darek said:
Not to be that guy but...

... The idea of subjectivity and objectivity are not related to scores at all, in fact I barely even see scores mentioned in any thread about the two. Reviewers would still exist, just because there is no scores does not automatically mean there is no review option, (which btw having an option not to score reviews would be great). Elitist would still exist too. Maybe questions about scores would be gone but people would still latch onto something, like your drops, or your favorites.

Basically, nothing would change. The system is not the issue here (well, not entirely at least) the people are.

Deknijff said:
I mean if MAL removed the score system wouldn't people just use the tags on their list and add scores there

Like seriously if people didn't want to score they'd just keep it at the select option so there wouldn't be any number

I don't think you can quote on quote remove scoring as people will find a way to represent their likes and dislikes somehow if they so wished

Aslt said:
I wouldn't be able to distinguish people with shit taste from people with the good one... so it would be a catastrophe.

MyKamiList said:
Some people would think Death Note, AoT, and SAO are the top best anime of all time because they are the most popular on MAL.

Though, I don't think MAL would be as big as it is now without the rating system.

ZapplePie said:
Scores definitely shouldn't go away. It gives an indicator whether the show is good or bad. A lot of people would argue that score doesn't make something objectively good , as someone could give a show a 1 or a 10 depending on their mood or preference. Score serves to give the opinion of the majority , presenting you with something you're more likely to enjoy based on how many people enjoyed it and how much , so scoring/rating systems are extremely useful , and allow people to find shows they have a higher probability of liking. Take SAO for instance , notorious for having two sides with distinctly opposite views , but surprisingly a lot of people still like it , reflected by the score.
Yes people could create fake accounts but in the end they won't make enough to sway a majority opinion of a popular anime.

However , if scores were removed, then it may be easier for us to start an anime series without the bias of knowing it's bad anyway because of a low score. It could mean that you could find a show that may have once gotten a bad score , but you actually like , and you aren't swayed by a bad score , as it wouldn't exist.
Overall scoring should be kept , mainly because it's a useful tool , and tells us what is good depending on a majority vote. If we had no scoring , it would be more difficult to find shows we may enjoy , as there are quite a large amount of bad shows out there , which we wouldn't be able to distinguish. If scoring were to be removed I would personally be upset at the thought of wasting time on something less likely to be good.

TLDR; Of course scoring should remain.

Ulquiorra said:
A horrible idea.
How would you even draw the line between the anime you like and the anime you don't like?

Aquamirror said:
What if MAL didn't have shitposters?