lMP0RTANT: Post with Quality not for Quantity.
Good Morning (on my time) Familia, 
I felt it was important to make this post because when I ran a search for a topic/post with this info, none appeared. 
Recently there has been a mass influx in posts that seem to stem from the illusion that Rep Points make you something important here. While it shows you participate alot, it DOES NOT mean you're helpful. People are coming here, and instead of posting quality threads, they're posting for quantity and even asking for us to vote for them. 
This is absolutely ridiculous, due to the fact that isn't the reason we have a Rep system here in the first place. 
Sure, it is fun to earn it, and makes you feel great when you look back at like 20, 40, or maybe 100k (very few have) and say, "man, I remember that first 10k". BUT, when you look back, you should also be thinking, "man my Spanish was terrible, look at those corrections." As well, afterwards, "jaja, now I'm the one making the corrections and proofreading for people who share that learning passion." Learning Spanish and English is why this site and forum exist, and it's the reason we all come here and participate daily... to learn. Of course we have games, and funny posts to keep the learning interesting, but it's for that exact purpose, to learn. 
I was extremely tempted to mention an offender in specific, but as I thought about it, my adult/educated side kicked in and said that embarassing that person (who is very irritating lol) would not solve anything. 
I am writing this thread to redirect everyone's attention to what's important. You're all my amigos and you're all welcome to ask me questions (sensible please) anytime, because I will probably do the same. 
Anyways, if you don't read anything else in this thread please read this! The Rep system is pointless if that becomes everyone's focus, it is in place to show the more experienced learners and speakers, that way you know who to ask, and who can offer the best answers (most of the time). Please, continue enjoying the forum, but enjoy responsibly (sounds like a beer commercial lol). Post with care, and post quality, not quantity! 
Saludos,
DJ Huero ((( d(-_-)b )))
15 Answers
I can see the point of the silly rep & badges system: it keeps people motivated, and it is one incentive to keep coming back.
I believe that people who just get in for the sake of raking points, eventually get bored and drift off. Yes we do have a few active members who have accumulated a few K of reputation through posting and participating in silly games, while showing little interest in learning.
But altogether, when we look at the members with astronomical reputation scores, there's no doubt that they have earned those points, and that they do contribute very significantly to the learning part of this site.
And most of the members with reputations above 20K can be seen actively participating in discussions that do have to do with learning, as well as asking good questions, providing answers, and helping with corrections.
So while I agree that Reputation really means "participation" more than "sheer skill", altogether the system does work. It is very unusual to see a 20k-plus member asking mindless questions, or posting truly misleading or abysmally wrong answers.
Great point. Yes...I've been noticing recently that people start new, pointless threads in an attempt to get reputation points. But, reputation points aren't the be all and end all.
I for one like the point system and everything about it. I would hate to see it go. I like being able to give people a thumbs up when they deserve it.
All that I'd change is I'd have a thumbs down button, flagging is often too strong, but if someone says something mean or unhelpful or insults another nation they should lose a few points.
I'd say that it cost a point to take away someone else's point as well. Because negativity should always be discouraged, and that way you've already paid your karmic debt.
The problem clearly comes about when people take it (the points system) too seriously. This goes for everything in life. :D
DJ, you have made some excellent points here and said things that needed to be said! Yes it is about the quality not the quantity of posts or answers that is most important!I agree wholeheartedly with that!
You said **it is in place to show the more experienced learners and speakers, that way you know who to ask, and who can offer the best answers (most of the time)
Yes, that is true and should be the case but people asking for help need to check people's profiles which should ALL be filled in indicating their level of ability this should give you some idea of what level of ability they have.in Spanish or English.
Most importantly people looking for responses to their posts should read the comments below people's posts. Other, more-advanced speakers will often make appropriate comments, either of encouragement, correction or both. If I make mistakes I endeavour to correct them immediately/ as soon as possible/as soon as I become aware of their correction They may vote too, if they think it is an accurate answer. In this way natives and other speakers can provide some check on the quality of responses offered.
I would also encourage and advise new people to this website, especially beginners, not to rush into choosing the best answer but wait and see what kind of responses other more experienced speakers make to the posts.in their thread.
I still don't have my badge for posting 50 questions: I feel like such a slacker. 
Well said. I voted for you anyway.
Now you have spoken, DJ. I felt tempted to put this thread as well, more than once.
I would even do away with the actual current reputation points system, I find it just childish.
The problem clearly comes about when people take it (the points system) too seriously. This goes for everything in life. :D
I am voting for this one, jeje, very wise
I agree with all the above, even though, I must say, Lorenzo, how is that possible, jeje, so you have almost never asked a question? 
Good point DJ, I agree with quantity does not guarantee quality, but for some , this rule is valid for all of us.
I'm not wrapped up in rep points either. I want to learn and participating in the games really is a great way to learn. I am putting sentences together and there was a time when I could not do that. I check the corrections under my posts and those of others. It helps me to know what homework I need to do and I am actually looking things up between my posts. I only have 3K :( (joking). I have commented on other posts that I am not wrapped up in the reputation points and I would still participate if there were no rep points. My focus is on learning myself . Bien hecho DJ.
Amor y paz
Good point, DJ, although I must admit I've seen similar threads on the forum before and not much has changed after. Some members are still after knowledge, taking the collection of points as a side effect and others never gave up running after reputation.
I guess it's the matter of personal choice and it derives from our inner need for wider recognition, which contributes to our better self - perception.
I always vote for the posts which I identify as a sincere attempt to learn and avoid to vote for those which seem to be created for solely gaining rep.
The biggest problem I see is that the reputation point system does not indicate the user's level of expertise with language. If it did, my point level would be much less than 1K.
My biggest concern with the point system is that some new member may see a response from me and, based on my reputation points, acquire the misguided notion that I know something about Spanish. Then, believing that to be an accurate response, go out and commit some hideous grammatical error in public.
I don't need to be concerned with old members, though. They all realize I know very little about any language.
Excellent and timely post! Thank you. I believe this site should be about learning and helping one another, and having fun too! It's not a competition!
DJ - this looks like a thread I might have been tempted to post.
I found my outlet by admonishing useless posts with gentle criticism, an answer worth thinking about, a link worth visiting, or in the worst case citing forum rules and requesting compliance.
Only an administrator can and perhaps should do more.
Now.... Vote for me!
This points and reputation thing - its got to be an American idea right
Most British people would be embarrassed to amass "reputation" points purely for "participating" !
I have only been reading\contributing to the forum for about a week - before that I studied all of Paralee's lessons and read the Reference Section. However, in this short period of time I could name about half a dozen extremely helpful people (I'm sure there are many more though lol) I dont need to refer to the number of "reputation" points to know who has been a great help to me.
In time I hope to help others - erm, my Spanish (and English lol) needs to improve quite a bit first though 
Dogwood made an excellent point: ''The biggest problem I see is that the reputation point system does not indicate the user's level of expertise with language''
Maybe we should have a distinction made so that a differernt kind of points system could be used to reflect and distinguish between proficiency in the Spanish or English languages and contribution points gained through participation.
I am not trying to make extra work for the admin team ... God knows they work their socks off as it is! 
but I am simply highlighting a situation where beginners in Spanish and new people to this site may not know which answers provide the most accurate response to their question!
Just a thought/ just an idea
