Breja: Nah, the thread isn't stupid- if someone is new they may very well not realise how meaningless rep has become, and being active and helping solve some questions is a very good thing. You just need to realise your're earning real reputation this way, as in recognition from the fellow users, and not "rep points".
As for "rep" I'd really like for it to be totally removed. As established, it's meaningless, there are some great people here with low or even negative rep, and nasty ones with 1000+. But as long as it's here it invites trolling by downvoting, downvotng someone instead of actually discussing stuff, and introduces a unnecessary "score" to forum activity. And cofuses new users, who think it does matter. Throw it out the airlock I say.
*points napoleonic era musket at you* come on now mate! drop the stars as you don't need them! DROP 'EM!!! ALL MINEEEE I'M IMPORTANNNNTTTT GOG RULEZ!!!