The reputation system has two distinct ratings: Reputation Score and Reputation Power.

Reputation Score is an attribute of each member that indicates the quality of the member's posts as rated by other active members. A member's Reputation Score increases when other members who have reputation power approve posts by that member by clicking on the "Rate this Post" link in the upper right hand corner of the post. A member's reputation score can be seen by the number of small green squares in the upper right hand corner of any posts by that member. Comments given to a member can be viewed by that member in his or her profile.

Reputation Power is the amount by which a member can affect another member's Reputation Score. Reputation Power takes into account length of membership, number of posts, and Reputation Score. A member's Reputation Power can be seen in the upper right hand corner of any post by that member.

The green, blue/grey, and red squares in the Latest Reputation Received table on the My Profile page denote the effect of the comment on your Reputation Score. If the rater approved the post, and at the time of commenting had a positive Reputation Power, the square will be green. If the rater had no Reputation Power the square will be blue/grey. And if the rater disapproved the post the square will be red.

To get more insight into how these ratings work and to view the parameters that control these two ratings, see the page describing the settings in the administrative manual for the forum software: http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/m...ons_reputation

Originally Posted by fms

Sorry, but I do not see why it is needed. Also, it pretty much encourages people to cheat.

Originally Posted by kalle

My girlfriend is doing a research on how data management programs influence on the actual work getting done. Because the data defines the efficiency of the worker, the workers start to do tasks that give them more "efficiency points" - no matter if these tasks are the most important ones or not. And some important task are neglected, because the program doesn't value them (ie. "invisible work").

Just saying, that while this Karma exits, it can't be neclected. It will have an influence on peoples behavior. It's purpose just has to be clear: to indicate the activity (and usefulness) of the member to the community. If giving thanks to someone can be considered as a meaningful activity and therefore something we want to substain, then it should be rewarded with karma. But the amount oh the karma should be in pair with the importance and effort.

But I agree with qgil: the importance of Karma should not be emphasized - you should not start doing things that give you karma, you should be doing useful things and GET Karma. IMHO the amount of thanks on the site is now quite good (they are given, but not for every post), and giving thanks should remain sincere: "I thank you for writing this" and not "I thank myself for reading this".

Originally Posted by Milhouse

This is an explanation of the Reputation system that can be implemented on vBulletin boards (just like this one)

Originally Posted by fms

Sorry, but I do not see why it is needed. Also, it pretty much encourages people to cheat.

Originally Posted by ossipena

What about mailing list + correctly configured spambot with your email as sender?