In every case where I remember someone having a significantly negative rep it wasn't the rep that was resulting in bad first impressions.

Exactly.

I would guess you are in the minority in that opinion. I used to be an admin on a relatively big forum and people who thought trolling as a sport wore me down so completely I closed down the forums. People got hurt and left, even when they didn't have anything to do with the arguments. It was a stressful situation to anyone who didn't like the friction, which was most.

What comes to downrepping in here, I don't personally usually even remember the who rep system, but I do wish people who get constantly downrepped would take the hint and clean up their act or leave. Most of these people are not here for the benefit of anyone else, and ultimately can only blame themselves if this happens to them. Some do think they should have the freedom to say anything they want without ill consequences. That's not how it goes. If you act like an ass, don't be surprised if it bites you later. You made your bed!

Still, downrepping harmless posts and being too quick to judge someone as a troll is just harassement, and counter-productive.

I got into a few arguments here in Gog, but I didn't resolve into downrepping someone. If your making a post or comment in the internet, we have to be open minded and broaden our perspective. If you are involved into an argument and you can't handle it, just leave the thread for a while, unwind and let cool things down. But people are not all the same. I'm totally agree with you, there's a lot of a harmless post here that receive a lots of negativity.

I can understand why my initial post was downrepped (rageposting), but seing my every post
in my thread dowrepped was just... hilarious :D

Btw. If you don't want to have to click to unhide every downrepped post, you may change that in
forum settings, to always show downrepped posts.

What is really worrying, you may see posts being downrepped simply because people don't agrre
with you - like SimonG posts in "GOG released more old games in 2012 than in 2011" thread. He
didn't say anything offensive, he just posted his statement.

But hell, downrepping is not that worrisome. What I'm worried about, is that downreping by
people who don't participate in conversation feels just immature. ANd it looks like there are
more and more "immature" people here.

Usually when there is a downrepped post, there is uprepped nearby. It looks like a lot of people have nothing interesting to say, but think "Oh, I dislike this post! Oh, but I like this one! What do I do, what do I do!!!!" - hilarious.

Welcome to my world
Won't you come on in
Miracles I guess
Still happen now and then

Step into my heart
Leave your cares behind
Welcome to my world
Built with you in mind

That's...sad. Personally, I think it's annoying there are so many giveaways and secondly, it's better to go by join date than rep system when it comes to giveaways plus whatever game (rules) you'll apply to avoid scammers. If you solely go by rep system I would never fault a scammer in that case.

I'll just post this:

I can't speak for anyone else who use the down rep button but it's not about having an argument with someone, it's where it won't lead anywhere regardless of how polite and well-written argument you may lay forth. Suffice to say, the buttons negative protest has its use then. I rather use a the down rep button than resort to pointless flaming with someone just because [insert reason].

And while I can agree that's rather immature to down rep someone only because of someone's opinion, the down repper's "voice" is also just that, an opinion.

Okay guys, thats just low - downrepping THIS thread? Come on, please?

I certainly noticed a higher amount of low/high rated posts lately. Maybe more people realized
there is such functionality? This system is simply prone to be used. It's like Eurogamer with
its console users down-reping everyone saying anything positive about PCs.

I down-rep people who have a mouth like a sewer in here. They can join their local kid's gang to practice that.

FYI, I noticed that thread and while I don't agree with Simon, I up-repped him together with timppu's.

The problem with that is that a scammer could just create a bunch of accounts, wait a few months, and then enter all the random giveaways with all those accounts. Having a rep requirement prevents this.

I hope it doesn't turn into a forum like that!

And if that feature comes online, he will be instantly ignored by majority of users. :)

I personally have never had a problem with being down-repped, and I have said some things that many people have disagreed with (mainly in political type threads). I'd like to think it is because I try hard not to make my arguments personal (I do fail at this occasionally) or obvious flame-bait, but maybe I have just been lucky. I have no idea.

Generally speaking, I agree with DarrkPhoenix on this issue. I like the idea of a fairly self-moderated community, and reputation is one way to achieve that end. However, I have seen a few folks down-repped for reasons I think don't warrant it. My solution is to just up-rep the post in question and move on. In cases where I notice massive down-voting for what I feel are questionable reasons, I tend to leave a post expressing my bewilderment/objection as well. I am not sure what else can be done about it.

In the end, I think a forum reputation is secondary to how people actually think of you. Regardless of what someone's forum reputation is, I tend to judge them on the content and merits of each individual post. I would suppose most people think the same way; at least anyone whose opinion I actually care about. That is what people mean when they say that forum reputation doesn't matter.

Few points from me:

1. There is a saying in my country:

"If one person tells you that you're drunk... don't bother with him
If several people tell you that you're drunk.... go to bed!"

Unless you think there is one person with multiple accounts (which hasn't really been a problem since Gamerager), then maybe, just maybe, the problem is with you (the guy low rated). Maybe some particular posts are ok and not worth a downrep, but there is certainly a problem with you and the way you express yourself. But of course, it's easier to blame others, than to look at yourself as the problem. Especially since there are enough "good samaritans" ready to uprep you back. Not before making a post of how awesome and understanding they are obviously.


2. Give us an ignore function already!


3. I use of the +/- system quite liberally. I just don't have the time to engage in endless and pointless debates over every little thing. So if I agree I press +, if I don't agree I press - (by "don't agree" I actually I mean I think the poster is an ass or an idiot). If people don't agree with me, no harm done. If people agree with me then the post becomes "high rated" or "low rated", and maybe the person involved learns something. it's doubtful that they will, but I'm always optimist :))


4. I wonder if this post will be downrated or uprated. Or maybe just dontgiveashitated.

I couldn't find the "dontgiveashitated" option, so I just uprated you instead. :)

Seriously though, I do agree with your points.