[LordTalps]

I would expect most people here use the reputation system with a fair amount of maturity. I've only been so much a part of this forum, as my postcount shows, so you might need to take that with a grain of salt.

I have seen, however, others using the system quite immaturely. A friend and another user exchanged a few replies, whereupon an academic means my friend proved the other wrong. The other user decided to "get back" by casting some negative reputation in his direction. What makes it worse, is I've seen a fairly prominent member of this forum (and a member, no less) do the same thing.

If I could offer advice concerning rep, think objectively AND subjectively about why you're giving a person rep. Has how a person said something been incredibly disrespectful? Not just deserving a comment about tone, but deserving a permanent mark for them to remember? Can you see yourself making such a statement and thinking you deserve some neg rep hating? Subjectively should be easier, and oddly enough it isn't. Is what they're saying offensive? It might be offensive to you if you're on the losing side of a discussion/debate, but unless it's strictly matter of opinion, SOMEONE is going to be wrong. Don't start throwing around hate just because someone proved you wrong. Take it gracefully, and learn from it, that is why we have discussion and debate...

Past that, remember it's a number most people don't look at. I know I'm going to look at the content of every post before I ever look at their rep bars.