Reputation Points

It be an arduous journey point by point to reach the nervous ninnies
How many point are there per green icon and what is the maximum number of icons attainable ?

what is the maximum number of icons attainable ?

I don't think anyone has a clue!

How many point are there per green icon

We *think* everyone starts with one dark green block and each subsequent dark green block is worth 100 rep points, each "light" green block is worth 200 points.
(this is at best a guess - the 200 point increment may commence after the first of the light green... ie first light green after 500 points thereafter 200 per block)

To be honest this stuff isn't really documented - no-one really knows that much about it - there are a few bits and pieces in the Mod forum but nothing that is specific to this site (it can be customised I believe)

Rep. points received will vary depending upon the user status and post count of the "benefactor" - ie rep. bestowed by Mods, Gurus etc generate more rep points for recipient than a new user etc...

Ive just added up your points
and read title "DonkeyOte makes giving solutions look like childsplay"
where does that come from?
and whats next I still have "pike has an addiction to Excel"

Ive just added up your points

Yes I guess I have a lot of points but then I post a LOT more than everyone else as I do nothing other than sit on this darn site all day
(note to self: get a life)

...read title...where does that come from?

this changes every now and then... I don't know what they all are nor when they occur though I do know the "childsplay" tag kicks in on 1000 points - as of today (having just done a quick check via the Community listing) it would seem that NVBC also has this tag and given he's on here far far less than I am that's pretty impressive going I'm sure you'll agree so kudos to NBVC!

I think the key is not how many blocks people have rather it's how many they have in relation to the overall no. of posts they've made - I would say that would be (is) a far better indicator of a given users "reputation" on the board
Given the difference in weighting between blocks it would be better I think to just show their points and the ratio points/posts but that's just me
(a lot of us think the rep system is not really worthwhile given the main knock-on effect would appear to be promoting competition amongst those who post solutions and that isn't really the purpose of the board)

True there not really an indication but a good guide
I look at my example files and it is full of Andy Popes syntax and he has few icons
Cheeky Charlie yes you have made my day

I look at my example files and it is full of Andy Popes syntax and he has few icons

Exactly.

IMO: Andy, dll, Ron, Domenic, romperstomper etc etc (in no particular order!) should all be "sticky" reps. at the top of the pile ... the fact they aren't underlines the inherent flaw(s) in the system - IMO of course.

you could add rep points ,you must be worth 50, to help them
click on one of my post and I can tell you the precise figure????
its no problem

hmm.... I could give negative feedback - that would have the same absolute impact I'm sure, what do you think ?

(and I think Teylyn worked out that shg is the big-daddy when it comes to dishing out the points so you might want to ask him?!)

negitive points hmmm.....this post should be deleted

Originally Posted by d

As for the rep status being related to blocks per responses, I think that'd be a bit unfair to those who were on here for years before the system was implemented.

A very good point... on that basis given there is no easy baseline let's just get rid of it full stop !

It's an interesting one - the system has been discussed by the Mods in passing but I think this is the first real thread of any substance here in the Water Cooler (?) - what is the general consensus - good / bad / indifferent ?

I agree with darkyam,

For me "the number of posts" is more relevant.

In the end it is the (best) solution that counts. If you think you can do better/smaller/other/shorter (etc.) than the current solution, Please post. Not just to get your post count up.

A bigger issue to me is the [Solved] status.

I quite like the reputation thing, but purely because I find it nice that people actually bother to take the time to do it.
I don't understand what the points scales are and but it's comforting to know that I'm "attaining expert status" or something.

Edit: Just checked - apparently I'm very confident of my ability now. Which is nice, because I used to be so unsure...

I'm indifferent to the whole thing. I come here to learn and to help. I do notice quite a few regular posters with signatures including directions on how to increase rep, which speaks for itself in terms of it being important to some of the users on here. I recognize the fact that it quantifies a persons success in helping others, which is encouraging to some. I'll admit that it cheers me up when I get a response like "OMG You saved me tons of time and helped me so much! Thanks!". That means more to me than a little green blip, but everyone's different.

Summary - Doesn't matter to me, but it's meaningful to some. I think it should stay for that reason, but it does seem like it could use some revision. Maybe...

Implement an option box each time the original poster adds a post, to ask if the thread is now solved ( I think we'll all agree the majority of solved threads are never marked as solved ). If they answer yes, have them choose the poster/posters whose help resulted in the conclusion of the problem, and award points thusly.

mew?

Keep the points they aren't that easy to come by and are a good indication of proficiency, communiqué and long term commitment to the forum. It gives me feedback/understand of my own ability so dont sugar coat it and say every ones the same

LOL, what an interesting thread to read - esp in the context of my day at work today - sitting with a quality auditor discussing the validity of specific performance measures!

I guess any measure has potential flaws & they can only be considered indicators...

I have my days of going "wow, how can I provide solutions as if it's child's play?" & others going "why isn't this "guru" being more...? or more introspectively, What am I doing with that next to my name? - I'm still learning...".

I've found Shg to be one of the "big Daddy's" too, & for a day or so after some from Shg I did become competitive to try & garner more but now I'm more focused on being a Helper. I had a pleasant "lightbulb" moment when I saw Teylyn's signature & subsequently those of some other's that suggest adding to any poster's rep, rather than just stating "...please add to my rep". The latter is something I'm guilty of on more than the odd occasion

Along the lines of Ricardo, I try to provide solutions in as few a posts as possible & if I can offer an alternative approach I probably will - not usually () for oneupmanship but to be just that, an alternative.

Initially, I'd have said I'm indifferent to the rep system because some days I look at it & some days I don't. I did pay more attention to the captions as a newcomer but that may have been because the rep system didn't exist (?). To an extent I ignore the member captions now but that is purely because I've been here long enough to build my own informed list/opinion (in no particular order) of the real "gurus". However, the more I think it over...it certainly is nice to "celebrate success", "get a pat on the back" etc so although it has it's flaws I vote to keep it.

I have very few posts on Simon's TheCodeCage site, but recently I noticed & I like...
a short transparent/factual statement in the header, eg "Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post", (one day that will increase! ) because it appears to be absolute & have no weighting against the thanker's status.

Rob

I like the rep thing as a way to say I Liked what you posted.
Also nice to get a positive feedback for the time that has been spend trying to help solve a post. If by chance ive provied a user a solution in the past and they didnt bother to mark the post solved or say thanks in anyway. Wouldnt be so inclined to try help in the future.
And for all like me learning im sure we all get a little kick out of getting positive feedback from the more knoledgable members here.
Though is the rep somthink that need to be displayed for all to see NO. I rember solving a post and a knoledgable member saying please see D's post above and the Op went on the thank them for the solution.

Originally Posted by donkeyote

(and I think Teylyn worked out that shg is the big-daddy when it comes to dishing out the points so you might want to ask him?!)

how often do I have to say this: HER


[$0.02]
The whole reputation system is completely configurable. It's a feature of the bBulletin package. Refer to http://www.vbulletin.com/ for details

In the end, it's the admins who decide how the system is set up and how the points are distributed and which levels are attained at which <variable> and what the pop up text is for each.

Don't fret. It's all relative.

Congrats, Pike, it's good to see your second rep icon. I wish it were me who pushed you over the edge. You deserve it.

The accounting side of me keeps my own personal log of reps received per month/day/#of posts etc. It's fun to see the rep points grow. It motivates me to keep at it.

Sometimes I get over-enthusiastic THANK YOU, YOU JUST SAVED MY JOB replies to a post, but no rep. Sometimes I just point somebody at a custom number format [h]:mm:ss and get 4 rep points because they happen to have more than x posts themselves.

I think, the rep icons are just decoration. Yes, I do like the ones I have, and I am kind of proud to have achieved them in the time frame that I have, but, then again: my (what I think) most valuable posts and most clever solutions never made a single rep point.

It sure helps to catch the attention of the big wigs in this forum to up your rep, but unless you can count on many individual one-point-reps, your overall rep progress will be slow. Currently I average one rep point for every five posts. I'm sure I won't be able to keep up this average, since the big wigs will be ever more wary and critical of my contributions, and not part with a rep so easily.

I give rep very spontaneously. Impulse, really. If I see something I would never have thought of myself, if I absolutely/completely/totally agree with a solution, if a first time poster puts up a file with before and after scenario explaining the logic that leads to the solution ...

For me, giving rep is about patting you on the back. In this minute, for this impression.

For me, receiving rep is a great pleasure. I value the rep points I receive and I make a point of individually thanking the poster. If they take the trouble to click my scales icon, I'd better at least take the trouble to acknowledge their thanks. It's all about communication.

I give rep to mods when they ban posters. I give rep to noobs who come up with a good answer.

This is about building a community.

I joined here a bit more than a year ago. Some of you weren't mods at the time, but are now. Some of you scared the sh*t out of me. (Hi, NBVC, Hi shg!) I got my red card (NBVC, can we discuss the details, because I think it was unwarranted )
I kept posting what I considered my best efforts, dilletante as they may seem to me now in retrospect. I kept reading and learning.

Then the rep points started to come in. I've had rep from first time posters and rep from mods. This really motivated me to keep at it. I like this forum. I find that I get a hang of what makes people tick. I can see it from what they feel worthwile of a rep.

The most valuable (for me) rep I ever received was not for a brilliant Excel formula, but for a bit of common sense I offered for a situation that was almost impossible to solve with Excel means. So, there ...

To make a long story ... ehrmmm ... longer.. Yes, I do appreciate the rep system, although I still have not figured out how it works (although I understand that it's beyond my control). I find that the rep system offers an additional level of satisfaction, on top of the thanks that you may (or may not) receive in individual posts.

There are, though, a lot of valuable posters in this forum, MVPs and other knowledgeable folk, who, due to their infrequent posting, do not have the rep they deserve. This may tilt the picture a bit, but then, it's up to them to contribute.

Rep is relative.

As long as you keep that in mind : Enjoy the rep you have. You've earned it from honest people on this board and every point counts!

[/$0.02]

PS: several times I've received rep from noobs, but the points were not related to a post. how did they do it? I have not figured out how to give rep points unrelated to a post. Can someone enlighten me, please?

Originally Posted by Teylyn

how often do I have to say this: HER

If you read the thread carefully you'll note that I was in fact referring to shg ...

I think I'm more of a scrooge when it comes to doling out points (not that mine count as a windfall for the recipient), just because I've never seen earning points as the purpose of helping others. I'm not at all saying that some of you are helping just to earn points, but that I just didn't want to get sucked in to caring about them. It is nice to receive feedback, but comments like "BIG HUG!", the closely related, "Hopping up and down", and "Holy cow..." (the last from shg, which meant more just because it was a mod who said it) make me smile far more than any points I've received.

If I could design a feedback system, it would be similar to what we have, just with no points. Feedback could be posted on every user's CP, but there'd be no little boxes to worry about earning.

I guess I should do a little more unto others as I would have them do unto me, eh?

I think I should get automatic rep points for being a kitty. You think it's easy being all mew-ey all day all the time!? PSHAW!!!



mew!

ahh cats get -100 points per post! as it's dogs who administer this site !
grrr bow wow bark gruff