Appropriate use of reputation points

[KenWittlief]

I dont bean someone with a negative rep hit unless they are breaking the serious rules of the forum (like posting masked profanity) or being abusive

on many ocassions I have used the rep points to send a note to someone, telling them I dont agree with what they are saying, but I give them positive rep anyway, because sometimes it takes real guts to say what you want to say knowing it might not be popular. If someone is speaking their mind, they might be wrong, but I dont want to discourage someone from speaking up.

I have gotten the most red hits from people who dont like my sense of humor. How ironic is that? Would you really want someone in the FIRST community to have a 'bad reputation' because you dont get their jokes, or you dont think they are funny?

There is a golden rule I learned several years ago for reviewing someone elses work. For each negative thing you have to say, you must say three positive things first. People get demoralized quickly if you only have negative things to say to them, esp when it comes from a supervisior, manager, team leader or a mentor.