Cross-posted for those that may have missed it. I'll try to post all my various musings on the subject here.

tl;dr version "Rep is dead" and MAHAYO, make a human answer you by not dropping free-range codes.

As Blakstar pointed out to me...

"Five and a half years ago, our Polish friends (and a few others) brought forth on this Internet, a new website, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all users are created equal."

Let's take back our forum and turn it back into the amazing, wonderful place it always was but make it even better ;-)

Well it's clear to me that "Rep is dead". The trolls are de-repping
1) old GA posts where people were simply thanking the gifted,
2) the ninja thread about 100 to GOG knows when pages back (yeah, some people have been going back and trying to undo the "damage"), and
3) the even less well-known or recognized but insidious "Old posts where a post is low-rated and then uprated just enough to make the affected member lose rep while not showing a low-rating".

In addition, this infection is so bad that members are self-censoring themselves - when that happens it's a pretty clear indication that the forum is under attack. Indeed GOG's business is under attack when we see members start being afraid to post where ever they like. In this way, the trolls win, and this forum loses valuable, contributing members... Don't let that happen.

Rep is dead. GOG set up a system that could be "gamed" by trolls. That part is pretty clear. So first, let's start ignoring rep since the system is broken - badly broken. As human beings we need to start using our words when we're upset with another forum member.

I'd highly suggest using the PM-system first and foremost. Attempt to settle your difference with another forum member privately. After all, publicly calling out a newbie for taking too many games in the ninja thread is a common occurrence - a nice PM explaining how that behavior is frowned upon can easily solve the problem without making that new member a pariah...

Secondly, if you cannot resolve an issue privately, then contact support for help - let GOG actually do something for a change.

Thirdly, maybe we need a place for forum members to air their differences and let the community vote. Not sure how this would work but each person needs an advocate, especially if English is not their first language.

Next Issue, let's stop feeding trolls with free-range code drops - hence MAHAYO...(make a human answer you)

1) no free games for lurkers that don't even have to be a member . Try to understand that GOG posts are available to anyone and everyone on the internet - one does not have to be a member to see those free codes... All they have to do is program a bot to snatch codes out of the ninja thread and other well-known code drop threads.

2) for people who are members but just lurk to snatch games, this system actually makes them post to ask for a game and thusly they either become valuable forum members or become known as scammers just here for free games.

Lastly, it takes new members a while to get the "unspoken" rules of the forum - let's try to codify those rules. We have some good bones for that already but by sending every new member the link when they join and by expanding those rules to include info such as "ninja-thread - cool place to get free games but this is not a candy store - be polite, don't be greedy..etc..", we help new members become integrated quicker instead of feeling alienated.

Ultimately, since the rep system is being gamed by whomever, by ignoring rep, those that are members upset with whatever they are upset with will actually need to post their displeasure about their issues instead of silently de-repping everyone on their hate list.

So yeah, let's act like human beings and MAHAYO to since rep no longer functions the way GOG intended - ignore it and only base your interactions on the forum by the content of a member's posts.