Do professors care about their rating on websites such as RateMyProfessor or Koofers? I am wondering if a professor is already an Associate Professor, do they still care about their reputation in the eyes of the department considering tenureship is already granted?
I occasionally check RateMyProfessor, and I do care (a little) about what students say: my feelings are hurt by negative comments, and I am encouraged by positive ones. I know some people who do the same; others never check the site at all.

However, these ratings are never taken seriously as an evaluation of effective teaching. I have never heard them seriously discussed in any hiring, tenure, or promotion meetings. Anyone who brought them up would likely provoke a very negative reaction from their colleagues.

Why is the site not taken seriously? My negative reviews include the following:


"The amount of homework was unreal. I spent on average, 5 hours a week on this homework, which is also graded on correctness."
"Only take this class if... you like learning on your own."
"He is a really tough grader and will take off points for little things (i.e. forgetting an equals sign)."
"He... marks off on tests if he doesn't know how you got an answer."
"Also, the homework is graded on accuracy not completion..."


If my colleagues cared at all, they would see these reviews as positive.