UPDATE: Linden Labs has removed the ratings feature from Second Life, purportedly to free up database resources and server load (which certainly would be true). I miss the system and found it useful, but I could also see that there were avatars that had gamed the ratings system and created false 1,000+ point ratings for themselves. So, I can see several reasons why the system was discontinued.

Elsewhere on this site, we talked about profiles, and how avatars can have "ratings" in their profiles. Ratings give you an idea of the character of an avatar -- and what other avatars think of him or her.

But where do these ratings come from? Well, you can rate another avatar at any time, and others can also rate you. Take a look at Kal's profile box above, and let's look at the rating categories:

Behavior: Are you polite? Do you observe the social customs of whichever sims you visit? Then you might get a positive Behavior rating.

Appearance: Have you put some time and care into your avatar? Is your avatar well-dressed? Have you added some cool details, like hair that changes color or jewelry you built yourself? If someone digs your avatar's look, then you might get an Appearance rating.

Building: Have you ever visited a sim and thought, "This is amazing! Whoever built this is so talented!" Well, next time that happens, why not give the builder a positive Building rating?

Given: You can't actually give other avatars any ratings in this category. The Given rating is based on how many things you have given away to other avatars. It's like a record of your generosity in-world. What might you give? Well, clothing, objects, landmarks, and notecards, to name a few.

Now, how do you give these ratings?

Well, first pull up an avatar's profile. (They don't have to be standing in front of you at the time, either. You can access any avatar's profile while they're offline, too.)

Next, click the "Rate" button in the profile box.

This box will then appear. You can select the categories you want to rate in, and leave a personal message if you like. Then, click OK.

Hey, wait a minute! This costs Lindens!
Ah, yes. Every time you rate someone, L$25 is deducted from your account. That seems odd, right?

Well, by charging for ratings, Linden Labs hopes to make ratings mean more. If it were free to rate others, then most of us would have huge ratings, and we'd all go around rating our friends all the time.

But since ratings cost money, it's more likely that people have actually done something to earn them. Think of a rating as a little gift you give another avatar -- a reward for their good participation in the SL universe.

And by the way, SL ratings are strictly positive. You cannot give anyone a negative rating. That would open up quite a can of worms, don't you think?