IsaacT
0
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2010
- Messages
- 5,947
- Points
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On The Topic of Rep Begging
What it is and why you should avoid it:
Rep Begging is the act of openly asking for reputation points from your fellow forum members. Whether it is for a post, or a completed sale, I think we have all seen those people who ask you for rep points "If the sale went well" or "If that was funny" or "If that helped you".
This irks me. It irks me for a couple reasons.
First, rep points are a tool given to each member to do with as he/she sees fit. Some people give rep out frequently, some people do not. It is an individual's choice how, when, and where he/she will utilize his/her rep power. Secondly, it indicates a lack of humility, which conveys a sense of entitlement to those you beg for rep to.
Now, I think it is fair to say that most everyone enjoys being repped. It shows that people value your contribution to the forum and it brings validation. To give people an idea of what rep is given for, let me list my reasons I give rep:
1. Valuable information given with the sole perceived purpose of helping others. Even if at your heart you want rep points for your clever post with the information that others need, asking for rep or implying that rep should be given as a response indicates to the reader that all you wanted was someone's rep points. SELFLESS aid is always more likely to be repped.
2. A very smooth purchasing transaction from a member(aka not a storefront website). I expect customer service excellence when dealing with people with online stores. For the casual seller, however, promptness goes above and beyond and when I notice it, I typically give rep.
3. Entertainment. If you make me smile, chuckle, or full out laugh, your post is much more likely to be repped. EXCEPTION: If you spam tons of threads with anecdotes and jokes, you will be perceived as one who is attempting to merely up their post-count. I do not look for spam-clowns, but appreciate tasteful humour which takes advantage of specific opportunities to entertain his/her fellow forum members.
And that is about it. One surefire way to NOT be repped, however, is to ask for it. I immediately place someone on a mental list when this occurs. It is tasteless. Much like National Augusta, if you ASK, I will let you wait a few years before repping you.
Now, another note while I am at it:
Sticky Begging:
This bothers me even more than rep begging to be honest. If you want to make a thread to help people, that is great, and I will be there to rep you and enjoy the read. If you ask for recommendations that would make it "sticky worthy", I immediately view the thread as your attempt to become better known here and to stroke your epeen a bit. It is very presumptious and flies in the face of unspoken rules that most people know or understand. You do not ASK to be stickied. Other people nominate your thread, and enough people are in agreement, it happens. Asking to be stickied is tasteless. It makes me want to neg rep people(which I RARELY do).
A Message to the Eager:
Everyone knows you want to become a part of this forum. Reputation points are just a side effect of people's opinions of you, however. If you ask for rep points, regardless of whether you get them people will have an idea of you in their head. Rep points are not the way to become accepted. If you truly want to fit in and be valued, offer your knowledge, time, and goodwill to those here without the expectation of being "rewarded". Learn before you speak, do not speak condescendingly, cover up your desire for becoming well known: it is not attractive. You may be afraid that none of your knowledge will be appreciated, but it will. People don't always respond with pats on the back every time they see a prettily worded post or a gif file displaying something humorous.
I personally believe anyone can become a valued member, and I value greatly those who approach their initiations here with a degree of humility befitting those entering new circles.
Last remarks:
Don't focus on what you can get from this forum as much as on what you can contribute and you will go far. Don't focus on how you are better than your fellow members but on how your abilities compliment each other and you will be liked. Do not be transparent in intentions of fame as they may come across as insulting. There are many different cultures on this forum as there are many different nationalities. Play to the most humble cultures and you will avoid angering those who perceive your actions as signs of insolence.
I hope people who need to see this see this, and I hope people who have wanted to say this same thing for years can finally let that breath out. I have attempted to change font color and font size to keep this from being a wall of text, hope it worked. If not, I apologize for the wall of text.
Thanks,
Isaac
What it is and why you should avoid it:
Rep Begging is the act of openly asking for reputation points from your fellow forum members. Whether it is for a post, or a completed sale, I think we have all seen those people who ask you for rep points "If the sale went well" or "If that was funny" or "If that helped you".
This irks me. It irks me for a couple reasons.
First, rep points are a tool given to each member to do with as he/she sees fit. Some people give rep out frequently, some people do not. It is an individual's choice how, when, and where he/she will utilize his/her rep power. Secondly, it indicates a lack of humility, which conveys a sense of entitlement to those you beg for rep to.
Now, I think it is fair to say that most everyone enjoys being repped. It shows that people value your contribution to the forum and it brings validation. To give people an idea of what rep is given for, let me list my reasons I give rep:
1. Valuable information given with the sole perceived purpose of helping others. Even if at your heart you want rep points for your clever post with the information that others need, asking for rep or implying that rep should be given as a response indicates to the reader that all you wanted was someone's rep points. SELFLESS aid is always more likely to be repped.
2. A very smooth purchasing transaction from a member(aka not a storefront website). I expect customer service excellence when dealing with people with online stores. For the casual seller, however, promptness goes above and beyond and when I notice it, I typically give rep.
3. Entertainment. If you make me smile, chuckle, or full out laugh, your post is much more likely to be repped. EXCEPTION: If you spam tons of threads with anecdotes and jokes, you will be perceived as one who is attempting to merely up their post-count. I do not look for spam-clowns, but appreciate tasteful humour which takes advantage of specific opportunities to entertain his/her fellow forum members.
And that is about it. One surefire way to NOT be repped, however, is to ask for it. I immediately place someone on a mental list when this occurs. It is tasteless. Much like National Augusta, if you ASK, I will let you wait a few years before repping you.
Now, another note while I am at it:
Sticky Begging:
This bothers me even more than rep begging to be honest. If you want to make a thread to help people, that is great, and I will be there to rep you and enjoy the read. If you ask for recommendations that would make it "sticky worthy", I immediately view the thread as your attempt to become better known here and to stroke your epeen a bit. It is very presumptious and flies in the face of unspoken rules that most people know or understand. You do not ASK to be stickied. Other people nominate your thread, and enough people are in agreement, it happens. Asking to be stickied is tasteless. It makes me want to neg rep people(which I RARELY do).
A Message to the Eager:
Everyone knows you want to become a part of this forum. Reputation points are just a side effect of people's opinions of you, however. If you ask for rep points, regardless of whether you get them people will have an idea of you in their head. Rep points are not the way to become accepted. If you truly want to fit in and be valued, offer your knowledge, time, and goodwill to those here without the expectation of being "rewarded". Learn before you speak, do not speak condescendingly, cover up your desire for becoming well known: it is not attractive. You may be afraid that none of your knowledge will be appreciated, but it will. People don't always respond with pats on the back every time they see a prettily worded post or a gif file displaying something humorous.
I personally believe anyone can become a valued member, and I value greatly those who approach their initiations here with a degree of humility befitting those entering new circles.
Last remarks:
Don't focus on what you can get from this forum as much as on what you can contribute and you will go far. Don't focus on how you are better than your fellow members but on how your abilities compliment each other and you will be liked. Do not be transparent in intentions of fame as they may come across as insulting. There are many different cultures on this forum as there are many different nationalities. Play to the most humble cultures and you will avoid angering those who perceive your actions as signs of insolence.
I hope people who need to see this see this, and I hope people who have wanted to say this same thing for years can finally let that breath out. I have attempted to change font color and font size to keep this from being a wall of text, hope it worked. If not, I apologize for the wall of text.
Thanks,
Isaac
