No, they have high rep because:
- they are old goggers.
- they post a lot.
- they do generous giveaways (nobody would pay for rep..)

- they answer question threads
- they generally offer help to other forum members
- they give reasonable, polite, and well-considered responses in threads

That also!

Many times I've helped people get their games running didn't even get a Thanks!
ah Yeah in case you haven't noticed I signed up here in 2009 so the first even before HereForTheBeer signed up! and newer members have way more rep then I do? so the first point is Moot

Well yes, all points works together, even HereForTheBeer's.
If you're an old gogger but don't post a lot and quarrel with everybody, you won't get much..

You guys enjoy the "paygate" system, eh? That was kind of discussed...

I know, I suggested that option too in the past, but few agreed.

there are exceptions one of them is ne_zavarj
that sounds familiar

Yeah but you're also well known for your emotionally unstable, immature rants and your all around bad behavior. Other users who offer help are well regarded because not only are they helpful, they are very nice people who don't go around getting furious at people for no legitimate reason.

I'm glad the problem is being looked into. It makes me very warry to post in topics when people are down-repping posts, sometimes for no good reason.

<assumes professorial air of contemplation>

Hmmm, so those rep-bump suggestions come from the observation that the first post in a giveaway thread (from the giveaway-er) almost invariably leads to a "highly rated post" and thus a boost in rep. And the giveaway will often - but not always - come about after the giveaway-er purchases a game code for gifting. So from an observational standpoint, that would seem to be a possibility: pay money for a code, give away the code, and then gain rep means that giveaways are held in order to increase the rep.

Though I wonder what the reality is: does anybody actually make a giveaway with the primary purpose of increasing reputation, or do they come from a bit of altruism, wanting to share the experience of a favored game, or simply some old codes sitting around unused?

I see the "this led to that", but I don't think the "that" is the goal of the "this". Instead - and I'm speculating because I don't know why each person gives away codes - I think the rep bump is simply a consequence of something that the giveaway-er was going to do regardless of the effects on reputation. But sure, it IS an oft-suggested option. Just not sure that anyone actually holds a giveaway specifically for the bump. But surely that must have been at least ONE somewhere down the line, right?

<puts down pipe, pours a brandy, and considers suggesting to the hot brunette in the 2pm Psych 215 class that she come to my office after-hours for "extra study">

What's with the common assumption that people do giveaways to buy rep?
Maybe some of us are in a good place at the moment and see it as a chance to help out people who might not have a lot of disposable income to get a game they really want.

If someone is spending money to elevate an arbitrary number on a video game store forum, they need to seriously reassess their priorities in life.

Well,it's happening and it's not hard to see or figure out.

Maybe so, but that doesn't really concern me on a level of rep meaning some kind of inherent higher importance for a person. I go by what I see here, what people say.

Like real.geizterfahr said, it comes down to a person's actual reputation, not a high or low number next to their name.

It's worth noting that, even though the thread title was changed, the URL has not and still contains the original title.