Do you agree...?

I think that rep points (up or down) given in the Off Topic section should count. There are some very interesting, entertaining and funny posts on here and I don't see why they shouldn't be included. In fact quite a lot are more inventive than those on the Dark Souls General Discussion section, which, although it is a valuable source of information, does tend sometimes to be about the same old stuff. What do you think?

I don't. The rep system was originally meant to help newbies figure out who they should listen to in regards to advice.

It has to remain objective, i.e. only used for the validity of advice.

If people are up-repping you for a funny comment or an opinion they don't like about something unrelated, then your rep will have little meaning to those who question the validity of any advice you give pertaining to DKS.

The website YELP which allows users to write reviews of businesses has rep based on either funny, cool, or helpful criteria. I don't know exactly what "cool" is supposed to mean, but a funny person and a helpful person are two different things.

I guess I'm with Slake then, I think they should count because you're still making contribution, a different sort of contribution, but one nonetheless.

:@: Big Time Master. So what you are saying is you can't be funny and helpful? With respect, I disagree and I haven't noticed that the DKS's Discussion section totally lacks in humour.

its fine the way it is to be honest... you dont receive any points in "off topic" but your comments can still get repped up.

SlakeMoth wrote::@: Big Time Master. So what you are saying is you can't be funny and helpful? With respect, I disagree and I haven't noticed that the DKS's Discussion section totally lacks in humour.

No, I'm not saying that. Helpfullness is not exclusive to seriousness. I just mean that rep is meant, IMO, to represent helpful advice/contributions, rather than just be a personality/popularity contest. It doesn't really matter that much to me, I was just sharing what my view of the rep scheme is.

Is there no way to implement another sort of system like that where by the users contributions to the off topics section are represented.

I don't agree, just because i'd have a disproportionately high amount of rep compared to my knowledge of the game

In seriousness though, the reasons rep is given all over the place varies, I mean you can get a load just for putting up a hilarious commentary on pvp or something, or you can get one for being helpful, or making a resourceful thread etc. This is the same in off topic, rep will always be dished out for funny comments thats just how this forum is, so it wouldn't matter for us if off topic rep counted due to it's relaxed and friendly nature.

However, as a general rule of thumb for the forum providers, it's easier for them to say off topic doesn't count, as in many forums the vibe will be a lot different and the helpfulness and rep thing probably counts for more with other less friendly communities

BIG TIME MASTER wrote:

No, I'm not saying that. Helpfullness is not exclusive to seriousness. I just mean that rep is meant, IMO, to represent helpful advice/contributions, rather than just be a personality/popularity contest. It doesn't really matter that much to me, I was just sharing what my view of the rep scheme is.

This.

So you earned your high rep score solely from being helpful and popularity had nothing to do with it Tolvo? Impressive.

Slake if you've listened to Tolvo before he will freely admit he got a lot of rep for his joking whihc he regrets, because he thinks you shouldn't get it for being funny and making jokes.

DoughGuy wrote:Slake if you've listened to Tolvo before he will freely admit he got a lot of rep for his joking whihc he regrets, because he thinks you shouldn't get it for being helpful.

?

I guess that last phrase was a typo Dough.

Yep, I'll fix it now.

I did not start this thread because I wanted to pick a fight with anyone but I have to say that Tolvo's stance is a clear case of 'shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted'. Ah, the luxury of hind sight.

That's the second idiom I have learned from your post.

Thank you.

Tolvo wrote:

BIG TIME MASTER wrote:

No, I'm not saying that. Helpfullness is not exclusive to seriousness. I just mean that rep is meant, IMO, to represent helpful advice/contributions, rather than just be a personality/popularity contest. It doesn't really matter that much to me, I was just sharing what my view of the rep scheme is.

This.

This.

You're welcome.

It does not count because people used to boost up friends reputation daily in any comment. Then Fex removed rep system in off topic section.

No matter. It's not the end of my world either way.

Slake, I also post often very helpful threads and answer questions in most threads when they are asked. I've contributed somewhat to the Wiki and I try to settle any disputes that come up. I regret how much rep I have gotten from jokes, but 200+ of it is still from just being helpful. As well I can't help what people rep me for. So that's pretty unfair to hold against me.

Tolvo wrote:Slake, I also post often very helpful threads and answer questions in most threads when they are asked. I've contributed somewhat to the Wiki and I try to settle any disputes that come up. I regret how much rep I have gotten from jokes, but 200+ of it is still from just being helpful. As well I can't help what people rep me for. So that's pretty unfair to hold against me.

I don't hold it against you sweetheart, honest. I know you've contributed an enormous amount to the wiki and this forum and you well deserve your rep points and please don't regret earning some from jokes. These are just as valid and we all need to laugh.

Another thing to consider is everyone in the Off-Topic knows each other basically. So if you post in it people already have a pretty good idea of who you are. What would be the point of having a reputation based off of it. Suddenly posting in say, a PvP thread with 100 Rep from jokes with people wondering, "Well wait, why does he have such a high rep?" Another thing to consider is what it reinforces. People tend to try and be funny on their own. But they don't always go out of their way to be helpful without some incentive.

Carphil, I hope you understand that rep can also be used for such things, not just in off topic. People can be helpful at times in off topic too.

The Reputation is what it is, reputation. It should not be just defined as something helpful. It is opinion of viewers. Readers. Of what is written, the user, or both... And trust me when I say, users have gotten both negs and plus for not being helpful or unhelpful.

It is what it is, Reputation. Off Topic is still a place of opinion. If they see that it should not count as part of Reputation, well that is their choice to say... It is however a place of Opinion and part of the Community here, as a whole.

I see your point Slake. However, off topic is the place to go for stuff off the beaten path, and for the more opinionated and sometimes contentious topics. When the conversation is focused on Dark Souls, the general tone of the discussions and the subjects discussed within generally fall within explicit parameters. We aren't often broaching into politics, religion, etc. via Dark Souls initiated talk. Once those topics do come up in Off Topic, where they are appropriate, having rep count would run the risk of an unpopular opinion being piled on with negative rep, which could lead to exclusion. For example, a thread on the recent US election could quickly have devolved into a rep war. The rep accrued or lost from that thread would also not accurately reflect that individuals contributions to Dark Souls.