The amount of reputation that can be handed out increases as the giving member's own reputation and post count goes up.

As the years on EF roll by, it has lately gotten to the stage where some long-term members have accumulated so much rep-giving power that they can dole out as much as 15 or more points per post.

This has the effect of skewing the system over-overwhelmingly in favour of long-term members and makes it less encouraging to newcomers.

For example, if an otherwise well-intentioned newcomer gets off to a false start, and is unlucky enough to be whacked with, say, -17 on their first day, it can take them weeks or months to recover from that.

So in order to make the system a little fairer, the rep giving is now capped at +/-5 per post.

People have "rep-power" because they have earned it- this is a decision in light of the current problems on the EF comes as a strange priority.

Most of the long-standing members do not give or take "rep-points" without reason and most of have had to endure a rough beginning on the EF; may it be by repping or by comments.

It is well known that 22yards did adjust a members by 200 points and other times adjusted as he felt "necessary"... so who abused their power?

http://www.englishforum.ch/xtra/rep_standings.html

The amount of reputation given or received is a range from 1 to the max. A more intelligent (i.e. in terms of the software, not Editor Bob!), would be to restrict the amount that can be given to members of a specific level. So a newbie can only be given or have one taken away, for example. Which is what I do (did) anyway.

The problem with the new system is that it mean that people with a lot of +/-rep are even more protected/unable to climb out of their hole than previously.

Apparently it's a good thing I'm moving to Switzerland as I seem to remain perpetually neutral on the reputation front!

I don't imagine people are sad enough come on here for rep', and if someone does get neg' rep' (or positive) then it is normally deserved peer management by the members.

I can't see that this sort of interference brings anything to the EF table, why not just control the content and ban any form of banter, it's turning into a Sunday school on here.

Spot on in your observations (especially how people with high rep will now pretty much never lose it, even if they deserve it), though the rep system should just be scrapped outright imo. I think the forum would be a lot more chilled out without having to worry about petty crap like this.

The rep system adds a negative dynamic to the forum, and definitely does little to serve the common good... God knows there's enough bickering in this place without the extra element of worrying about if you're getting green or red blobbies from someone.

From what i've seen over the last year and a bit, the system is basically there to serve an elite minority, and from what i've heard is often abused by some of the most "upstanding" members of the forum and their cliques, using it to really whack heavy neg rep onto people they have an issue with, using it as some sort of e-bullying tool.

While in real terms it shouldn't matter to anyone, the sad fact is that people DO take it seriously, and as such I think the forum would be much more relaxed without it.

Its probably been answered somewhere before (sorry but im a bit of a n00b on this subject) but why do we need two systems of reputation. I mean, you have groans and thanks (which are useful i guess), and then some silly little green thingos that nobody even notices. Can't we just do away with them?

As a long term member I agree with this.

I've seen new members get "raped" by the rep system on more then one occasion. I've used my rep power to get them back on an even keel after some members have given them three red blobs just because they disagreed with their first post.

Its also ridiculous that members who post the type of inane tripe like Dougal have (had) such a high rep power. He doesn't organise events, rarely gives advice and instead posts drivel and then reps or takes away rep beyond belief.

Yet he does it with such style...

As always, where there are many different opinions on a subject someone has to take a decision.
What on earth is so complicated about that ...

Anyone cares for a croissant? mmmhhh, lovely.

Off topic....is this really appropriate to this thread? there is a reason why DB has such high rep, he may be many things but he never was (and never will be) a rep whore....
as to his outside contributions? he has done nothing but support GG in his stall, at cheese events, even helping at his farm. (but not sure why i need to even bring this up)
FWIW i say scrap the whole rep system.

Why do we need rep system? If posters are interesting, people will read them, else they get ignored and the boring posts die away, that is a decent way of regulation. Plus there is the thanks/groan anyway

As always Sada, your wisdom and insightfulness never ceases to amaze.

I find this a lovely idea.

Just because I write a lot, doesn't mean I qualify for being an author. Or that I'm a better rep giver than others.

And please leave DB alone. We had a deep, meaningful relationship, parted on a good terms and he was very generous with giving me hush money. You'll never hear a bad word from me about him until the money runs out.

EF existed quite happily without any reputations system for its first couple of years. It was introduced during a software upgrade. When it was introduced it thought it childish and wanted to get only negative red blobs - I failed.

Today too many members are obsessed by their blobs. Don't mess with this system - kill it...

Just gave someone points. I could only give a max. of 4 points. Does that mean I'm not an oldtimer and still without wrinkles?

Is there anyone who would like to link how many times repping has been discussed?

I'll give max rep to that person. I would love to do it, but I have too much work today.

Does anyone actually give a f u c k?

I love giving red blobs and watch the reaction, but I'd like to be able to dish out even more, the 5 pts only rule doesn't suit me at all.