Ratings

I notice at the bottom of the column where my avatar appears there's a word saying 'Ratings' and I've got +15,453
Can someone explain to me what this means please.

 

I've just given you another one Michael

 

Thanks for enlightening me @JWK

Thank you both @Upsydaisy and @shiney

 

I also go into my profile to make sure I am behaving and rating at least as many posts as the number of rates I receive. Sometimes it is also to just let someone know I read their post but I have no comment to make. Some posts are very comprehensive and need nothing extra, just a big, "like". But I do try to not be stingy. I have no idea why, but those who never rate a post seem to give me the impression that they are one of those people who talk but never listen. I know that's silly but I figure it only takes a moment to hit that rating button so why not just do it!

 

There are several of those on here. I don't bother with them. What goes round comes round.

 

I sometimes think we need a button just saying read, at the moment the nearest is "like" which sometimes isn't really the correct reply.

 

I agree with you @pete . I sometimes use the i rating to indicate that I found the post interesting even if it was not really, to me, new information.

 

I've not posted very often, but I hadn't noticed the rating thing! Thanx for the info.
I'll try and remember to tick when I see something I like or I think is useful to myself or other people.