Reputation and Badges [10]

I started my Forums career on the HowToGeek forum - long before I was here. There everybody was 'member'. Only moderators, the owner and MVPs had a separate mention. And that's how it is still today. I never operated differently on that forum than I operate here.

I think the badges, stars and bips look fancy, but they don't do anything. But we do it to ourselves. Every time someone has an additional badge, bip or star, there is a big congratulation orgy. I think that increases the badge focus. I participate only in very exceptional cases.

The ultimate badge inflation they have on Stack Exchange. For fun I made a handful of postings there and I already have 7 badges,

whs said:

Every time someone has an additional badge, bip or star, there is a big congratulation orgy. I think that is uncalled for and I participate only in very exceptional cases.

I think this post is uncalled for.

If you dont like it, dont participate it. But if it is not violating the forum rules, I will do it every off and on. I will be glad to be a part of the congratulation orgy everytime. That builds and strengthens friendship and fellowfeeling, which is most important to me. You cannot address any of my forum activities as "uncalled for", as far as admins and mods are there to decide about it.

Sorry Arc, I did not intend to step on anybodies toes. Maybe the English word 'Uncalled for' was a poor translation from my German. What I meant to say is that we augment the meaning of the badges etc. by making a big celebration. And you probably know as well as me that there are people that e.g. make postings to fill the post count.

In any case, I don't think that all the tinsels add anything to the quality of the forum or the postings. But I can live with that.

whs said:

What I meant to say is that we augment the meaning of the badges etc. by making a big celebration.

This celebration is just an excuse to have an informal chitchat. After doing that lot of hardcore troubleshooting, we deserve this space. :)

whs said:

And you probably know as well as me that there are people that e.g. make postings to fill the post count.

I know. I know about their final destination too. Some occasional kids.

None of our long time friends is involved in it.

Personally, I think, at least the majority of us, are here to help people and solve problems. If there were no rep system here, many of us would still be posting and helping. Reps are not the reason we do what we do. However, I don't think I am alone in feeling good, when I make a post and someone I post here with and respect, sees my post and takes the time to basically say, hey, you did a good job there. So no, Reps are not the reason I post here and if I did not have a single badge, I'm sure I would probably have the same number of posts. However, it is human nature to like it when someone says, you did a good job. I will also say that some of the Reps I enjoy the most, come from members who may have only 5 posts here. When they say thanks for helping me, it makes me feel like I helped someone who needed it. My rep points probably go up 3 points, but that is not the point. I think that is what most of us are here for, to help someone else. A Rep system for someone to say thank you or some of the regulars to say you did a good job, I can't understand why anyone would object to that. Are there those who will abuse the system and try to get more badges and Reps? Sure there are. I don't think I know of any system you won't find a few that abuse it. But, they don't usually last very long here. So, maybe I'm just a little dense. But, I fail to see what all the fuss is about.

I have changed the wording in question. I really do not want anybody to feel offended.

PS - look at my logo on the bottom. That's how I like it - plain and simple.

Wolfgang, I don't think your last post was intended for me. But, my feelings are that one of the really great things about this forum is that you are entitled to your opinion and I am entitled to mine. Our opinion may differ greatly. We may argue about it and at the end of the day, neither of us has changed the others opinion. But, we can stroll down to the "Virtual Pub" together, have a drink, laugh about our argument, and still be friends. So, as for me, I am not offended by your post in the least bit.

I won't lie, it is always a good feeling to get a Rep. I do enjoy my Medals and Badges. I never made a single post hoping to get some, but as has been mentioned, it did/does feel good to get them. As for post count...I also never post to run up my count, but I am not shy, and won't stop posting because of it either, lol.

The MCCA is nice because it came from outside the forum...but the Supporter, and the Team badge most of all are what I am most proud of. If I could only have one, I'd proudly wear just the Team badge

Confess your sins, they say, it makes you feel better. OK: I just remembered that a few months ago I was a lousy point or two short of the next medal at one of these forums of ours. Had not posted anything worth rep in ages so those bloody missing points annoyed me. I think it was at the Eight Forums.

Anyway, although I posted a day or two ago here about never repping a rep beggar, I must confess that time I did beg myself. First, last and only time I have done it but I simply sent a PM to an old and good friend who I knew for sure would understand it, and asked if he (or she ) could do a favor and find something worthy rep.

He did rep me, got my medal.