I would very much like the reputation system to be used here.
Please vote on whether or not you think it is a good idea.
This explains it, if you don't know:
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...vb3_reputation

I think the system of "Thanking", by clicking the "Thumbs Up" icon for a helpful post is fine. No bad will, no whining etc.

The problem with a reputation system, is that a respected member can make an idiotic statement once in a while, just as a less respected member can say something insightful (presumably due to some intervention from the gods, but it can happen). For this reason I don't like the idea of assigning individual members a good, neutral, bad score on a traffic light system.

What's important is the contents of their posts. This is why I've always liked the "x out of y found this post useful" approach. There's an implied thanks mechanism in it, and if someone post something completely incorrect, there's a way to flag to others that they need to be wary of the contents.

I don't think the current 'thanks' scheme adds much of anything to the site.

The Thanks and Reputation schemes are like anything else, open to abuse and misuse. Nothing's perfect. Read a few of whatever member's posts, and use your own judgement and instinct.

If you search the LQS&F forum for the keyword "reputation" you will find that over the course of LQ's existence there have been about 30-ish threads, mostly started by people wanting to get some sort of "reputation system" going. What those and your threads have in common is that the OP feels strongly committed to somehow "show us the only true path to enlightenment" (and nearly always for undisclosed reasons I might add) but fails to come up with compelling reasons that stand a first test of discussion. I'm not against change or discussing things but without first offering good reasons useful discussion IMHO is like tea 'n crackers without cheese (impossible) and a poll being even more a case of "The Wrong Trousers" ;-p

A Wallace and Gromit fan?

I think it's good as additional information to add to the overall opinion of the member.
It's an additional thumbs up or thumbs down.
I've seen some other posts here, using the search, but they weren't really a poll or calling for reputation ... I guess I didn't search for long enough. They were mostly saying the post rankings and the thank you's don't really make much of a statement about a member. The reputation adds more information about the member.
Then again, if no one appreciates it and doesn't use it, you get random, pointless opinions. If everyone were to use it, it would be very legitimate.
I appreciate being thanked, but if everyone used reputation, and myself or someone else were to have a very good reputation, I would consider it to be very good information.

For the newbies and those who jump in to have a small number of questions answered, a reputation score can be helpful. For those who monitor a forum or a few forums on a regular basis, the familiarity with other regular posters and the quality of their replies (and questions) tells one all that is required. In the small number of other forums where I've seen a reputation factor applied, the reputation factor is almost always some function of the number of posts, and in that respect, is redundant where the post-count is already visible.
--- rod.

In my honest opinion I didn't think we, at least I'm not, are here on LinuxQuestions to build a reputation. I'm not looking for personal gain, profit or a 'name' in the community. Only looking for answers to my questions in regards to Linux and hoping to be able to return the favor once in a while. Even, although highly appreciated, the Thumb Up / Thank You option is not required for as far as I'm concerned.

LinuxQuestions is, again just my opinion, a community of the users and for the users and in no way a 'contest'. At least that's how I see it, or am I mistaking and in the wrong place?

Kind regards,

Eric

Agree 100%.

I'm not really trying hard to be recognized, I just think it would be a good idea if everyone used it. That's a lot of opinions.
I try to answer the easier questions or questions that I'm at least 95% sure I can at least help with ... maybe just point someone in the right direction. I'm pretty new at Linux.

Hello JoeBuffer,

If you want everyone's opinion then you'll have to make it mandatory to form an opinion, be it either good, bad or neutral. And what about the people, like me, who rarely form an opinion about people when all I have to go on is a part of their time in writing about some shared interest, profession or hobby? Would you 'force' those to form an opinion? In my opinion this is kind of against the 'spirit' of LinuxQuestions where is stated in various posts that we're all volunteers trying to help out each other.

I'm always gratefull for any help I get, be it the total solution or just a hint in the right way. And I feel very good when I can share what I've learned with someone who is learning without the need for even a thank you.

Kind regards,

Eric

I understand the current "Thanked" system has it's limitations but I don't feel LQ needs the reputation system. The reputation system can quickly get out of control and basically become a popularity contest. I've seen it happen on forums I run. Others use it as a game and even though you force them to 'spread it around' before giving rep points to the same person, users would get a set group and all give reps to every single post that the users of their group made. Clearly not what the reputation system was make for and a pain to police as an admin.
LQ might not be perfect but I for one appreciate the 'Thanked' system and would keep things just as they are for the foreseeable future.

As I said in the other thread, I do not believe that a reputation system is needed here. It just becomes one more thing to ignore.

I posted in the other thread that I didn't realize until just now that you could add a poll after the thread was already started ... I thought I had to make a separate thread.
I'm surprised that's it's such a bad idea to everyone.