SpawnPoint - Where Game Begins

So there's been a debate raging on for some time now regarding SpawnPoints plug-in for "Reputation".

Some people reckon it "sucks eggs".....and want it banned for all eternity.

Some people want to "hide" their reputation scores but still want to rep and be repped.

Some people reckon it's a MUST and that the SpawnPoint world would end if it was to be removed.

Now this got me into thinking.....Just what is "reputation" when put into a web based forum context.

Reputation by definition has multiple meanings: -

1. The state of being held in high esteem and honour.
2. Notoriety for some particular characteristic; "his reputation for promiscuity".
3. The general estimation that the public has for a person.
4. the opinion (more technically, a social evaluation) of the public toward a person.

So basically it's how the Community "view" you and whether or not they reckon your input and knowledge base is valued and honorable.

So....Do we need a "Reputation" count in the form of numbers and squares? Well I'll leave that up to you to decide.

Can you tell from web-based forum Communities who you learn to "trust" with their knowledge and who you learn to ignore with theirs.....

Does a person who has 350 "Rep Points" have a more valid opinion than someone who has 300 or even 200 and less than someone who has say 650??......Again I'll leave that up to you to decide.

My point is this....People make their OWN minds up as to whether or not to trust other forum community members....Not by a "score" or even a "title" but generally by forming "associations" over time......

If someone has only posted 6 times on a forum but each and every time they have posted well worded and knowledgable posts that have led to the correct answers required then, surely, that person should be held in high esteem....correct?......even if that only gave him say....60 +rep points?

Now, what about someone who has made dozens of posts.....many of them pretty menial and meaningless (I'll not say unhelpful) but, due to certain "friendships" and associations has managed to gain say 150 +rep points.....does that mean if he gave you some "help" and our six post friend gave you "other help" that you'd be more likely to believe the long term poster over the "newbie"???

See what I mean?

Surely "Reputation" (GOOD & BAD) is gained over time and over helpfulness (Or LACK of IT) and is to be decided on a community member to community member basis and perhaps not on "points"........?

I'll let YOU decide......

Later....

Rob