See, I am already moving towards excellence. I went down 5 points since I started this thread (which I expected). And this is from one person, obviously with two accounts, each with overly inflated rep points gained with honor
crawling on his belly like a worm through the rep point thread.
http://www.ladyofthecake.com/mel/saddles/sounds/shotass.wav
More importantly though, it did nothing for my April boredom (I always get a little restless with the change of seasons). How predictable that some one-dimensional creature would think it was clever to give negative rep points to a person who started a thread about rep points. It turns my stomach… how cliché, and unimaginative.
I know this is a free forum, but I expect more for my entertainment dollar here, DAMN IT! Yeah, I know, I’m high maintenance.
This is the kind of person I would not want to see a movie with because I would keep having to tell them what is going on… the kind of person who is responsible for the current dismal music scene for lack of soul.
You know… the guy that actually feels hungry after seeing a Hardees commercial. In the social sciences we call this “Inappropriate Affect.”
Anyone can beg at the rep point thread (Alms… alms for the poor…) it means nothing. People like me know its there, but won’t go there even if no one would know. But everyone does know. Do a search of anyone’s user name in that thread.
In the old days before everyone was begging for points, a solid 4 or 5 was pretty good. A 7 was excellent. What’s happened to us?
There are two types that go to the “New Rep Point Thread” Well, maybe three:
1) Frightened little rump-rangers (groupies) that are quite naturally accustomed to bending over to get through life.
2) Others that are cleverly pointing out how ridiculous the rep point system really is by pushing their numbers into the stratosphere... actually making light of it.
3) Some that feel they have to pad their points so they can speak their minds with impunity… since everyone’s points are now so inflated.
I know who is who. Not everyone who frequents the rep point thread is a weasel. You get to know people over time; so can pretty much figure it out.
Now, the ones that are seriously going there out of social pressure… well, ouch! I’ve heard of such things.
So if this was, say an Olympic weight lifting event for example… instead of actually bettering yourself to lift the prescribed weight you would crawl to the judges with your ass in the air and plead with them to declare that 100 lbs is “Heavy.”
Or like the person who defines excellence by shooting arrows at a plain piece of cardboard, and only then drawing bullseyes around the arrows where they landed.
One other thing – I don’t leave negative rep… ever. Partly for the same reason… it means nothing. I leave the negative rep games to the impotent, which have no other means, physically or intellectually, just as I leave parking spaces marked disabled to the infirm.
Besides I don’t have to give negative rep. Let me just say Internet anonymity is a feeling, not a reality. It’s only software guys.
http://www.vbulletin.com/
But my positive rep has value, because I really mean it, and it’s given for making a contribution that improves our little community. Yet it still isn’t needed because I usually give kudos as a reply to a post.
In general I think the optional rep point feature, which HR.com has chosen to enable does more harm than good, because for the vast majority it stifles the open exchange of information. It is no real measure of a person’s expertise. It only allows the children to run the classroom.
How many blind-leading-the-blind forums do we need out here in cyberland anyway?
I’ve received negative rep just for preferring analog, or my political views in the cave. What is that supposed to accomplish? (well, there was that one time I got negative rep for threatening someone with physical harm… but you get my damn point).
I don't know, maybe I shouldn’t be too judgmental of those whose only recourse is to leave negative rep points (should I or should I?). They have no other options… even the obvious option of presenting a counter-argument for all to consider in the public forum.
On the other hand, maybe negative rep is a valid (though pathetic) form of communication. After all (call me crazy) but I think even Gabby Johnson has the right to say what he's try'n to say in the way only he can say it.
http://www.ladyofthecake.com/mel/saddles/sounds/gibbersh.wav
