Reputations

[The Saucepan Man]

The original purpose of this thread was for people to post FAQs about the Rep system. There has been some interesting and instructive discussion since on various aspects of it.

However, recently (and despite the best efforts of littlemanpoet and those who responded to his questions to raise the level of the discussion) it has become little more than a facility for members to publicise the reps that they have received or the rep levels that they have achieved.

Quite apart from the comments made by Mithalwen and pio about the confidential (or at least two-way) nature of the rep system, which I wholly endorse, it's all becoming rather (to adopt Mith's excellent expression) unseemly.

I believe that this is a trend which we should look to curtail.

[Child of the 7th Age]

Thanks, SpM.

Sometimes I worry we've reached the point where the tail is wagging the dog!

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by The Saucepan Man

I believe that this is a trend which we should look to curtail.

As I have said I seldom neg rep but, in a good cause, maybe we grumpy old folk should neg rep the braggarts?

[JennyHallu]

NOO!! I'm sorry! I'll discuss!!!

Actually, I wish that when you look at the reps you've received, there was a button you could push to open a PM window (if it was signed). That way we could write thank yous without having to resend it two or three times until you realize your repper has an accent over the e, or just has a complicated to spell name, and used a shorter nick to sign.

[Gurthang]

Although that sounds like a good idea, Jenny, I'm not sure that it's possible.

If you have a button there to reply to the repper, then it would probably always be there, whether the person who repped you signed the rep or not. It would essentially eliminate the anonymous-ness of the system.

I don't know that for sure -- maybe it is just as simple as adding an 'allow PM reply' box that you can check when you rep someone -- but I really doubt that it would ever be put in place even if it is possilbe. It just doesn't seem to fit with the way reputations work.

I want to also point out that people saying thank you for anonymous reps is, while nice, unnecessary. If the person wanted to be thanked for the rep, they would probably have signed it in the first place. Personally, I give reps without any thought of a thank you. It seems too self-gratifying to rep for a thank you, and the rep system was certainly not designed to be self-gratifying.

[The Saucepan Man]

Originally Posted by JennyHallu

That way we could write thank yous without having to resend it two or three times until you realize your repper has an accent over the e, or just has a complicated to spell name, and used a shorter nick to sign.

You can click on a member's name (in a post or the Member List) to PM them.

But, really. I don't thank people for reps and I don't expect to be thanked for mine. It goes without saying that people will be grateful. What else would they be?

It is, perhaps, all getting a bit out of hand.

But then I am a grouchy old soul who is generally very selective which posts he reps ...

[JennyHallu]

When someone gives me a rep with a long and thoughtful comment, I find I learn all sorts of interesting things by PMing them with a thank you, and continuing to discuss the particular point they appreciated. Sometimes, you find neither of you really agree with the original statement at all...

And I know I can get to the PM window from a post, but sometimes people sign with only a brief nick, and that sometimes obscure.

I know I sign reps with a rather obscure nick...

EDIT: And I really can't speak to your grouchy problem.

[Kath]

This replying to reps dilemna is interesting as there seem to be such opposing viewpoints. If someone compliments you in everyday life you thank them, no? To me it seems just good manners.

Also, PMs sent due to a rep can lead to friendships that might not have formed otherwise due to people spending time in different threads.