[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by Zebra_Fact_Man

I find it funny to me that (with the exception of the guy above me) everyone posting in this thread has like a gajillion bars.
To me, this whole thread is like: "No, I don't pay any attention to the rep system" says the guy who's maxed out the rep system.

I guess it's like money: everybody wants it, but once you have it, you realize it doesn't really matter.

It's easy to see this statement as being valid from a certain point of view but you have to remember that even those who have a 'gajillion bars' have also had their share of red reps as well. No one is immune to being repped in a negative or a positive way, depending on the post being made. What (I think) a lot of the folks who have posted in this thread are saying to the OP is not to worry about the the gajillion bars too much. People realize when a poster is new to the forum and they recognize that it takes time to develop a reputation.

One thing that has been pointed out in other discussions but I haven't seen much of in this one is the fact that people join CD in the fall and very close to Kick Off. Kick Off is a busy time for FRC teams and CD becomes very noisy with lots and lots of posts regarding the rules and the new game and chatter. Typically, new members are very susceptible to being given red reps. I fall in the camp of being more tolerant with doling out the red reps and not so quick with hitting the button. That could be what some of the posts in this thread are talking about - some who have a lot of greenies try to help the new member who has received the red reps. Some new members stick around and become valuable CD participants. Some leave as quickly as they come. Some stick around and continue to make careless or obnoxious posts and then they merit the reputation they decide to build.

It's an option to use or not and it provides opportunities because it is made available.

Jane