How do I interpret those little green squares at the top of posts?

I can't find a pattern. The number of squares does not seem to be directly related to number of posts, or reputation. The first squares are dark green, and in some cases are followed by more squares that are lighter green.

Couldn't find anything about it in the FAQ. What's the secret code?

Those indicate your reputation level..

At first you'd get one for every 100 posts until a certain point, then it jumped to 1 for every 200, then it suddenly stopped at I think when you reached 1000 or 1500 reputation points.

However, if you hover over anyones green boxes, you will see differing messages, sometimes even if you have the same number of green squares.

I think the maximum visibility is reached when the hovering message says something like:

"6StringJazzer has a reputation beyond repute"

That is probably when you pass 2000 rep points... then we stay stagnant....as far as green squares and hover comments are concerned.

What about dark vs. light? You have some light squares, mine are only the dark ones....

The dark ones are 100 points each, the light ones 200 (as NBVC mentioned, they stop at 11 in total)

And, since not all forums run with the VBulletin software are used by people who work with numbers, the dark/light composition also helps counting the rep icons, especially for people who need two hands to count to 10. Looks like the developer of the concept had a sixth digit on one hand, though.

For some reason, I always think of Soylent Green (geek reference).

Much underrated movie IMO.

Ok, so now we all understand the rating system. Are you able to explain how it is determined as to how many rep points are given or earned. I haven't quite been able to figure that out. It seems that if you have a lot of rep points and give rep to someone then they get more than from someone who has fewer points, but I cannot discern a definitive pattern. Is it a percentage of how many points a person currently has that are awarded? Or some other factor?

Alan

I don't think we have been told ourselves.. it is kind of a surprise. All I know is that it depends on your ranking.. so Admin/Moderators giving you rep earns you a large amount probably around 20 or 25 reps... whereas a newbie gives only 1 rep.... and then there are the rest in between.... each having their own values...

The system as configured here is not well documented (obviously) but in general terms:

http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/m...ons_reputation
http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/m...utation_levels

needless to say the system has been tailored and therefore the content in the above does not mirror the settings used here but it's a general overview.

As the others have said - the greenies are capped - a rep hover of "rep beyond repute" basically means the system's done (though you still accumulate).

Thanks--understand. We call that FM as in freakin' magic. Same as what makes systems work for the uninitiated.

Alan

Now, I see that I have received a rep from a member, but it is blue--not green. What is that all about?

Alan

Depends on the rep power of the user - you might come across the odd user who has a neutral (blue) rating for one reason or another.

....and don't forget...NEVER select "I disapprove" when you really mean "I Approve", somebody did that to me once......

Daddy.....
Got one of those already. One of the Mods fixed it for me.

None of the mods ever fixed mine!

Oh -- wait, those were deliberate ...

Somebody accidentally gave me one of those; luckily when I mentioned it to DO, he kindly gave me some +ve rep which MORE than compensated.

Do you mods actually give out rep points?

Yes, mainly to each other

Maybe you need to offer more cheese with your Whine.

Moderators can't change rep points. Only the administrator, i.e. RoyUK can do that.

I don't know about "blue". Maybe that depends on the skin (I'm using the old skin and do not see any blue rep icons, but some gray ones). If you get rep from members who have not yet posted, these reputations will result in 0 points and will not show as a green icon in your user CP. Only members with at least 1 post will trigger positive rep points.

As has been mentioned earlier, the rep power is determined by an algorithm, which is a mystery to us all. As far as I know, it is a combination of tenure, post count, member status, (and whatever secret ingredient).

Originally Posted by teylyn

Moderators can't change rep points. Only the administrator, i.e. RoyUK can do that.

Any Mod can adjust rep points if necessary via the Mod CP - user profiles [edit: in retrospect though we can see the Points it's unclear if we can actually modify & save]
We (mods) can't remove the rep "log" - we think Admin can.
As Rory has said I have in the past given +ve rep in recompense to someone who has received negative rep. improperly (accident/other)

Originally Posted by teylyn

I don't know about "blue". Maybe that depends on the skin (I'm using the old skin and do not see any blue rep icons, but some gray ones). If you get rep from members who have not yet posted, these reputations will result in 0 points and will not show as a green icon in your user CP. Only members with at least 1 post will trigger positive rep points.

Nothing to do with skin - it's as you say - related to rep power.
You might come across the odd experienced poster who for one reason or another has no reputation power - this could be a glitch or by design.
AFAIK - the Mods can not change the rep power of a user - Admin perhaps.

I do give rep for posts I think deserve it, whoever made them

I accidentally negatively "repped" DonkeyOte recently - I tried to change it but it seems that the "edit" would only allow me to change the description......that's probably as it should be.

FWIW I'm not really keen on the rep points system at all (and ultimately, presumably, we'll just end up with large numbers of contributors at the top level in terms of the rep display), but I do use it for contributions I consider to be innovative/exceptional or anything that falls into the category "Why didn't I think of that?"

Originally Posted by daddylonglegs

FWIW I'm not really keen on the rep points system at all (and ultimately, presumably, we'll just end up with large numbers of contributors at the top level in terms of the rep display)

I agree 100% re: having the system in the first instance.

The fact we have perhaps half a dozen folk at that level already given the shortness of time the system has been in place calls into question the present configuration.
(not the quality of those individuals but that the level is obtained too quickly to be meaningful)

shg put it nicely some time back:

Originally Posted by shg

Any system that has me having more of them [rep points/"greenies"] than Andy Pope is clearly broken

I think that sentiment probably holds true for the greater majority.

My bad. Roy actually fixed the rep points -- not any Mod. My newness to the forum has led me to fumble the titles. Thanks for clarification, however.

Alan