Personally. I hate them. The last thing I will do is recommend that message. I don't even read messages anymore because most of them are "I'm in trouble" messages. If those people needed help so much, I'd imagine it wouldn't be sooo hard to use an ephemeral eyes and summon me. I drop the blue stone frequently, yet summons are extremely rare.
 
Anyone else frustrated by this?

I dont really see how its something to be worked up about really. Yeah, I would never recommend those messages, but thats all there is to it. I just ignore it and keep moving. Not actually hurting me in any real way.

I'll recommend them if they haven't been recommended too many times yet.  Some "I need help -- please recommend this message" have been rec'd hundreds of times, which I don't understand.  I always assume the person genuinely needs help, so the fact that they're there doesn't bother me really.

All i know is that this is harsh please evaluate me.... like right now.

Haha, I guess I do get worked up about silly things.
 
But seriously, why not just summon a blue? The messages really do distract from the ones that are actually helpful (or deceiving...). When I explore a new dungeon, I tend to go forward slowly, shield raised. Fairly common approach? Well, to read a message I need to stop and lower my shield for a second to be able to click read. We all know that can be a pretty bad idea. Plus it just ruins the experience.
 
I just realize I'm as much of a whiner as those cry babies are. At least I do it outside of the game :D

@Eisen: My best guess? They aren't even reading your recommendations, fall to their death and then post an "I'm in trouble" message.
 
Hmm, if people were using up their ephemeral eyes like crazy, I think I should get summoned more often. Maybe I'm wrong...
 
Or am I being too hard on them. It's just that I can't think of any valid reason to "be in trouble". Really. At least none that a little health boost at a random time would help with...

" Hmm, if people were using up their ephemeral eyes like crazy, I think I should get summoned more often. Maybe I'm wrong "

Messages give you health when some one rates it, that's the incentive to leave them, the I'm in trouble ones is probably someone looking for a little health any means necessary, if people rated it, and he got health maybe he'd do someone else, then we'd have a cycle of people using the system for why it was designed besides just helping.

What's the point of the "I'm in trouble" messages anyway? Wasn't the note system designed to help you first THEN the note inscriber?

Is there a good writeup of this game somewhere it is confusing the shit out me I watched the quicklook and I am still scratching my head WTH is the point of all this whats the story WHATS GOING ON?

@Evilsbane: Gamersnode gives a pretty good overview of the game. Not a very good review perhaps, but it should give you an idea of the game itself. 
http://www.gamernode.com/reviews/8300-demons-souls/index.html
 
@HomemadeZiggurat: Good point. Perhaps a bit off topic, but do you really think the range of soul levels in the various levels is that narrow? I mean after 1-1 it is really quite open where to go next. And I'm a lvl42 I think, so it should put me pretty much in the meat of things.

" What's the point of the "I'm in trouble" messages anyway? Wasn't the note system designed to help you first THEN the note inscriber? "

 I don't really have a problem with them, and I think it's kind of funny people are apparently getting upset by them. I'll rate them up occasionally, it depends on how I feel. Sometimes if their placement is cute or clever I'll rate them up. You saw them all the time in the asian version (albeit in the hilariously awkward translation of "This is harsh, evaluate me")
 
There are other things in this game that are a bit more broken.

" Messages give you health when some one rates it, that's the incentive to leave them, the I'm in trouble ones is probably someone looking for a little health any means necessary, if people rated it, and he got health maybe he'd do someone else, then we'd have a cycle of people using the system for why it was designed besides just helping. "

Oh god, it took me a while to realize that you were talking about Demon's Souls.  
I Had no clue what any of you were talking about. lolz

I haven't used them myself, but I usually try to rate them at least once just to be nice.  If I start to see a ton of them in quick succession I do tend to get a bit annoyed, though.

" If I start to see a ton of them in quick succession I do tend to get a bit annoyed, though. "

max soul lvl is 712 I believe. 8 stats, each maxed out at 99 and a starting level of 80.
 
@expletive: Well, sorry if I wasn't more clear that this was about demon's souls but I did post it in the demon's souls forum...
 
On a positive note though, the blood stains entertain me as much as the I'm in trouble messages annoy me.
 
And, I LOVE "this is harsh, evaluate me". PURE poetry!!

" Messages give you health when some one rates it, that's the incentive to leave them, the I'm in trouble ones is probably someone looking for a little health any means necessary, if people rated it, and he got health maybe he'd do someone else, then we'd have a cycle of people using the system for why it was designed besides just helping. "