A reminder about the reputation system

[sirdarksol]

This is a reminder that the reputation system is primarily present for newer users to be able to identify members who give good, well written, and polite information about fish.
Giving positive rep to someone just because you like them and giving negative rep to someone just because you don't like them is not in keeping with the system.
Further, merely disagreeing with someone is not, in my opinion, enough to warrant giving negative reputation. Only when the information is truly bad, or when a post is particularly negative, should negative reputation be given out. There are some things that people are going to disagree on that are not all that cut and dried. Before giving out negative reputation, please think very carefully about whether or not a given post is actually bad information, or if they simply have a point that you disagree with. In the latter case, feel free to politely disagree with them in the thread.

Lastly, the reputation system should largely be left alone in the Hot Topics section. Those issues are subjective by nature, and disagreements should either be out in the open where they can be debated or should be left unsaid. Using reputation to "prove a point" in a debate is not acceptable, and it is likely to cause problems in a forum that has, so far, remained polite.
The one exception to this is if someone posts something really, really well. If someone makes a well-worded post (especially one that you disagree with but have to say "I can see your point"), then it might be okay to give positive reputation, not for their point of view, but for their work at writing something well and being polite about it.

[capekate]

Hello SDS,
Good post and reminder. I can see one problem tho, the rule should clearly state that NO rep points be left in the hot topic forum. And that means.. good or bad rep. Since as you say, the rep system is for those new here to be able to recognize good advice on fishkeeping. Postive rep in the hot topic forum does not follow this rule.
Why not keep the rules simple and easy, (in the hot topic forum) to understand and not have to figure out whether a certain post was 'well put' and deserving of a rep mark. Who determines that it is well put and deserving of a positive rep mark? This is not what the rep marks were created for, at least in the hot topic part of the forum.

[sirdarksol]

Originally Posted by capekate

Why not keep the rules simple and easy, (in the hot topic forum) to understand and not have to figure out whether a certain post was 'well put' and deserving of a rep mark. Who determines that it is well put and deserving of a positive rep mark?

Mostly, in my opinion, simply because the entire system is subjective anyway.

I always like giving people the benefit of the doubt in their ability to make decisions. It's pretty clear that the majority of the forum does not abuse the system. I just wanted to remind people of its purpose. I didn't mean for this to come out as an official set of rules.

[sirdarksol]

Sorry about this little bit of necromancy, but I don't see any point in re-writing this thread rather than just resurrecting it.
The discussion of rep made me think this should be bumped (after a year and half )

[aquarist48]

Good morning,

Bumping this for a friendly reminder.

Ken