Is reputation worthless?

What is reputation used for if it can be bought and sold in the form of services like this thread?
http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?p=2871750#post2871750

I used to think that a member with much rep could be trusted.

Dictionary.com defines rep as
1. the estimation in which a person or thing is held, esp. by the community or the public generally; repute: a man of good reputation.
2. favorable repute; good name: to ruin one's reputation by misconduct.
3. a favorable and publicly recognized name or standing for merit, achievement, reliability, etc.: to build up a reputation.
4. the estimation or name of being, having, having done, etc., something specified: He has the reputation of being a shrewd businessman.

I don't think doing a digg or a stumble for rep qualifies one for any of the above. I am not trying to pick on the person that made this post, but I have been burned twice in less than a month by (now) banned members and have started looking to rep to supplement itrader when considering a transaction with a member. I started another thread about asking for rep in signatures, which is a less subtle way that is not quid pro quo, as in this example. But asking for rep for a stumble seems a little over the top, and may taint the system we have here. Your thoughts please.

 

It's a tool for admins to use to encourage good behaviour on forums. It means nothing and has no effect on your posting ability. I simply ignore it.

 

People give rep for a variety of reasons....

To thank you
To say they enjoyed your post because it was..
helpful
funny
made a point

or even just because they feel like it.

You can't go by a persons rep as to how trustworthy they are, that's what itrader is for... what you can assume from rep is how often someone likes something about the person and that may be that they did diggs for them.

Lisa

 

in my books, asking rep in exchange for freebies is an abuse of the system.

 

Yes it is.

 

Ya... but its PUURRRTTTYYY


And since I always had a bad reputation in high school for no reason, I figured maybe here I can have a good one for no reason!

Lisa

 

Yeah, I actually hate it when people ask for Rep and Greens or whatever it is called nowadays. I would think that if it is given because it is requested for, it cheapens the whole purpose of it. However, if it is given without being asked for then of course it would mean a great deal more.

Then again, there is no way to tell which reps are given willingly and which were made to be given. I go by iTrader comments and also by viewing the other posts made by others about that person in order to judge their reputations.

 

I agree with that. Rep should be earned, not bought/exchanged.

 

people can ask all they want, that doesn´t mean you need to give it.

 

That's true but there are probably people who exchange rep. (ex. Give me a rep point and you'll get one too or whatever)

 

I agree and I can only encourage everyone to spend that -1 on someone trying to abuse the system.

 

I don't think it is entirely useless. Those who opt to do such stumbling services are still doing the community good- and only those who have felt that they are doing such a worthy service will give reputation.

When I see a user with 10 blobs of green, I take his or her post seriously.

 

Rep. thingy is now fun for DPers now...

 

Same with me too.

I too had asked for rep+ once or twice. But now I feel bad. Those who are against begging for reputation please join me in taking the decision that we will not be asking for reputation again. We will be accepting it gratefully, if awarded, but will never beg for it. Lets build up our reputation by showing a model for others to follow.

 

rep is a way of self status or motivation

 

Rep is just rep. A mere accessory for forums and forum profiles.

--Joe

 

I thought you said its as good as s3x

hhehe

nah rep is when people like you alot, nothing to do with trust for example, i like joe, but for all i know he can be a mass murderer
right joe?

 

don't mind joe. when he changes his mind you know it's because he didn't get s3x.

 

you never liked me

i did getsome