yes i bother, i give out rep all the time and not afraid to take it away either. I probably rep more then anyone (well probably not firemedic). But i feel most members forget about the rep button and dont use it enough. but i love the fact u cant access certain parts without having rep and access, it keeps out people signing up just to sell things

__________________

Maybe I was just being nieve, but great point about it keeping people out who just want to sell things. I never really looked at it that way. A point worthy of a rep demonstration.

yeah but so does the:
must be on the board for a month
& 50 useful posts

aspect of being allowed to post stuff.

__________________

Selling on here should be a privilage not a right. So I think all 3 is the only way to go. A month and 50 useful posts is not really enough by itself to keep people out who just want to sell. If it isn't broke why try and fix it? I've seen quite a few posts in my short time here where people post a pic of someting then say now show me some green. They never get it they get warned about neg rep instead. So since you have to earn it actualy it works great. I gave it to Fonz because of a good point that I liked, and I know hes not fishing for it. So IMHO he earned it.

I agree that it should be a privilege & not a right... & I'm not trying to change anything, nor am I even knocking the system.

Seeing as how it basically single handedly determines whether or not you'll ever be allowed to offer your goods up for trade or sale on this forum. I am asking is in a poll format "personally, do you bother with the REP button?"

and it seems that some do, some don't and some don't know anything about it.

__________________

I think you are looking at the reputation system all wrong and breaking it down to to simple of a function. While earning reputation points is the only way to access certain parts of the forum it underlined meaning is much more than that. The basic function of the system is to allow access to the BST as a starting point to make sure that you are a member here because you want to be part of the community, not just here to sell stuff. Does that mean that I could not simply join, stick around for 30 days, make 50 good posts and hopefully earn 50 point so that I could sell things? Sure I can, but more people are not going to take the effort that would take and will leave here to go someplace else. And thats fine becasue unlike other forums, they can leave and never return, we don't want people here like that. Quality over quanity has always been what the A5OG has strived for in its history.

Here is where the reputation system gets deeper. If anyone is helping others and answering questions in hopes of getting rep points, then they have the wrong motives. I don't answer a question or take the time to write a helpful post expecting to get repped. Thats not what is about, its about helping one another and the rep system is a way to thank people.

Not only is it a way to help people, but a way to show you disapproval as well in something that say or do on the forum. Like others have said, its a starting point for the forum to police itself and allow member to hand out positive and negative reputation. Abuse of the system should be reported so that the Staff can research and determine whether anything is going on that should not be.

__________________

yes I understand that in addition to the "unlocking parts of the forum" function (which is not it's sole purpose), that it is a feedback gauge.

I may have misconstrued my own words when I put in the poll options but I was in a hurry & it seemed like the best example at the time.

This poll is not about "should we have to earn our way into the B/S/T area" or even what the REP points mean...

This poll is about whether or not you feel that you yourself give out rep points (pos OR neg) as often as you think you should.

once again... do you bother, NOT do you agree with.

__________________

I think it is a good thing to have.

It keeps people out of our BST that would normally just go there to blow up our good BST reputation. Some people go around purposly trying to reek havoc just for fun.

I also believe that it is a unique thing to our OG sites. No other sites really have something like this to decifer between members except posts.

__________________

it's amazing... almost every one of you have missed the point.

congratulations.

__________________

I understand your ? do you bother? Yes I do, and probally not as much as I should. I do try though. I guess the "just sell it on ebay" option got us all a little of your intended subject. I also wouldnt consider giving rep to be a bother. I am sure you probally dont mean it that way either though. It is a great way to add a little something to the thanks for the help. Or whatever reason a person is inspired to give it. If someone feels appreciated for what they did they are more likely to keep doing it. I am sure we can all agree on that after all its only human nature.