As someone with a current -4 rep, who has never been rude or sworn or flamed anybody, I was wondering what people thought of the Rep system? We probably know what the people with the top Reps think, but I want to hear from the rest of us.
I am not even too sure what the Reputation system is meant for? Sure, you might get a plus for being helpful, which is what it may be designed for, but you might also get a plus because someone just agrees with you.
Equally, you may get a minus Rep for being rude or flaming or trolling, but equally, you may get one because someone just disagrees with you.
If you are middle of the road, never offend, maybe even be a little bit of a boot licker, that probably raises your chances of a high rep.
Be a little forthright, stand your ground, tell the truth when no one wants to hear it and maybe you stand a good chance of having a minus Rep.
Maybe worse of all is having a zero Rep, making you feel invisible.
Overall then, I am of the view that the Rep system doesn't really mean anything, whether positive or negative.
I certainly am proud of my minus 4 Rep, as I feel it means I have made people think, maybe take part in a more meaningful way than they otherwise would.
So given how I feel about my minus 4, i'd love to hear your thoughts on your Rep score, or the Rep system as a whole. If you know what it's actually there for and the point of it, please let me know that too!

Usually I hate systems like this, letting anybody rate anything. Mostly I think so because many communities consist of "idiots" for the most part. That is also why I thought the rep system here is not a bad idea, because so far I am liking this community quite well overall. But then again, seeing your -4, and believing that you are right with what you say, this doesn't seem to be a good idea after all.
My main point of concern now is how these reputation points can make people be prejudiced towards others. That is actually why I was glad to see that there is no post counter here, as these usually make "high counters" look like competent persons, whereas people tend to be less friendly towards "low counters". Now, like I said, I'm glad this can't happen here. Unfortunately, it looks like the "rep counter" is just the same, some kind of "competence meter" which people trust too much, even though it likely is not representative.

Personally, I couldn't care less. Having been an Allakhazam poster since.. well, I've been there for many years... I've seen the advantages and drawbacks of any rating system around. It's hardly going to break the forums, and it's hardly going to cause any problems.
Of course a fellow or two are going to get looked down upon by someone or other. That would happen anyway. No possible way to avoid that on the internet. However, the advantages of a rating system is quite obvious.
Senior members of a community is easily distinguished from others, and can be relied upon to know both gog.com inside and out, while also being a bit of an authority on the themes. If not, they wouldn't have had the rep they have.
And with a site like this, which automatically attracts mostly a bit older and mature set of gamers, you will see the rating system be far better used than on many other sites.
So no. There's no problem with having a rep system. One or two people are going to fall down the cracks once in a while. Not that anyone will care all that much, since most people who use the site will not fall through the same crack.
Here's a bit of prophecy for you all: The Rep system is going to work just fine. Most, if not even all of those with negative rep is going to have earned that rep.

I don't care, I'm stuck at 0 and cause I like read more than post, I'm happy like that :D

I'm not a fan. Such systems tend to punish those with opinions different to the norm.

I think it's fair to say I am probably the most hated poster on these forums, I think I've received more -1 posts than any other poster here. There is severe amounts of abuse on here. Because my posts for the most part are thoughtful, content filled, usually helpful. If they're not helpful, it's because I myself am either misunderstanding something or am trying to get some kind of illumination. I don't down vote peoples posts who don't understand how rest using a pipboy in Fallout 2, when the guide which is readily available could be read just as easy as posting. There are a handful of people on here who do harbor a grudge against me. And bandwagoning is in place as well.
It is a flawed system, but I think it's entirely possible that there is a fix.
EDIT:
I was going to post something like this thread previously but decided against it, because I felt I would be targeted. I'd like to thank you UK_John for posting this in my stead, regardless if you knew of my intentions or not. The system is flawed, as you say.

I am not entirely sure how you gain rep other than answering questions that get marked as solutions?
I have gotten a few -1 posts and several +1 posts. I try to be civil and cordial. But my rep is still at 0.
So I don't really know if I'm for or against this system.

it takes merely a few -1 to lose rep, but quite a few +1 to gain it.

The rep system has it's uses, but I think the ability to go below zero makes it more open to abuse.
I have the rep I have mainly due to answering questions. This is really where it should be at.
I too have received negative reputation. People may of disagreed with what I said, or I may of been wrong. Hopefully, I have not made an idiot of myself because then it would be well deserved!
As I've posted before, 'mob rule' can take place and people just begin to hit plus or (mainly) minus when they see a score. I imagine a few of us here have already encountered this.
Suggested fix? Have something to detect when people use their account to mainly/only -1 or +1 specific others, temporarily remove their ability to do this. 1 week, then 2 then 4 and so on after each occurrence. This should have a reasonable tolerance as it's quite possible you'll continue to come across someone where the +/- is valid.
Secondly, make a score of zero the minimum possible. Or remove it until they begin to gain points.

I'm another person who doesn't really understand how the rep system works, or what the difference between 'Rep' and 'Points' is.
It's potentially a good idea (in the long run, at least!), but I've definitely been seeing a ton of posts with negative 'points' for trivial reasons (ie. I had a post marked with -1 points for saying that Bayonetta looked like a fun stylish game).
Maybe there could be a sticky to explain the Rep/Points system?

TBH, I hardly use it. Clicked +/- perhaps half a dozen times in total.
A limit on how many times you can do it would mean only those really deserving posts got +/-.

What would be really good is if you could rate your own posts, indefinitely....

I don't really understand the need for this really... Also... There have been a couple times where I hit the wrong button too.. I wish you could change your rating of a post...
Really I only use the buttons on posts that really make very good points or come off as very rude and condescending... I don't rate every post I read... There is no point to that...

Users who max their rep are in for a surprise from the GOG.com team.