(04-22-2015, 03:38 PM)Warren Castille Wrote:(04-22-2015, 03:26 PM)Zhavi Wrote: You could do a week long test where you hide it (without destroying reps) and then ask people about perceived changes, maybe with a poll.
My concern with that: There's already an existing attitude towards anyone with a certain number of reputation bumps. I won't invoke the off-topic "P" word but a week won't change any single person's opinion that's already on this board: The red names and green numbers are already noted by the people who will take umbrage with them.
I will admit that I thought I was doing a small service for the folks posting on the Welcome Board. When you're someone new to a community and you're making a post where you're not sure if you're going to be received well (if at all!) I thought it helped to see someone with an older date and a big number of posts and such greet you. It's one thing to slip quietly into a new community, it's something else to walk into a party and have someone wave you in and go "Hey! You're here! Awesome!"
Maybe I'm wrong, though. This whole thread's made me feel very insecure and introspective about how I come across, and honestly? It's just made me want to post less. There's this stigma of "P" word that I can't metabolize, and in the face of not being able to openly discuss issues because of my own guilty conscience I'm going to opt out every single time. I don't want to get into another argument about that particular term but it's stupid and wrong. RP isn't zero sum, and I can say that I personally roleplay with far, far fewer of you all than I'd like.
I cant' speak for everyone, obviously, but I've never had a problem with your posts as a whole (I've disagreed with you! But you and I have a lot in common, so - and I generally enjoy your posts). Then again, I haven't felt that way towards anyone. There will be times, in certain threads, when I'll get annoyed with someone or feel aggressive towards their posts, but once I dip out or take a break I forget about it. It's a forum. I generally respect everyone on the board, to varying degrees, and don't dislike anyone -- though I do dislike recurring attitudes or behaviors that I find unproductive.
I agree that there is a positive impact that can come from high reputation, when it's used right. Hell, Blizzard recognized that when they created their VIP program for their forums, where consistently helpful and positive people were given green names and post texts. Now, I don't think that would work here (too small, imo), but there are other ways for people to determine longstanding community members: namely join date, post count, and general posting tendencies. There are plenty of people I have never spoken directly to who I recognize by avatar, name, and/or signature.
I like the reputation system. I love being able to +1 someone and let them know 'hey! I think your ideas/writing/whatever is awesome!' -- but I can also see how that might change perspective over time, as well as perpetuate the 'celebrity' sense that some people have towards others in the forum.
