General Question - Hi. I'm here and I have a question.

Hi. I'm new here and have enjoyed finding solutions and even providing a few.

I'm not to the 10 post minimum to send private messages. I've been looking at the reputation system and have a question about when someone gives you ratings points:

Is there a standard here regarding acknowledgement? Should you send a private message? Should you thank for the points in that thread? Should you only thank for large numbers?

I don't want to go overload people with messages if thanks are not expected, but I don't want to be rude either if an acknowledgement is expected.

Any advice appreciated.

While none is required to participate in the forums, everyone sure welcomes ... rep points

As for PM, I wouldn't send one to thank a member as some don't like it.

Just give rep and everyone's happy.

Even if your rep power is zero, it's the thought that counts.

Even a "Thank you" as a reply is more than welcome

That's what I figured. Busy people already have full inboxes.

I'll just add a thank you...

I appreciate your time.

You are most welcome

Feel free to ask any additional questions you may have.

Hello vogtrg, and welcome!

But you need to realize the rep points are meaningless, other than showing that someone has wasted time in some of the lounge "rep fest" threads.

vogtrg,

Rep points aren't useless. They are often abused in the rep fests we have in the lounge, but so what? It's really just a game in here and maybe one or two people in the forum really let it get to them. ANYWAY, simply saying thanks will suffice, as that does mean a lot to someone who helps you. If you want to give rep points for someone who helped you, that's fine. The person receiving them will appreciate that...unless that person hates the rep system *hint hint*

Again, welcome to the forums

Even if you or I or anyone believes they are meaningless, someone extending that nicety is worth acknowledgement.

We all devote our time and knowledge here without expecting anything in return.
We do so gladly because we were there once and because being a part of this community is great.

A thanks goes a long way. Anything else (like rep points) is surely extra

the reputation system as whole is only a game.
you don't have to play the game, but if you do it can be fun.
it's just extra feature of the forum.

regarding the original question, I think PM is not needed: giving
reputation means you agree with something.. no need to say
thanks for agreeing.

The real problem with the reputation system is the attitude it fosters among the participants. The rep system encourages useless posting, encourages people to add unnecessary replies to topics simply rewording a previous reply all because they are hoping for some rep ("rep whores"), and generally reduces the technical professionalism of the overall forums.

So I was wrong when I said the rep system is useless, if it was simply useless it would be a benign annoyance. Unfortunately, the reputation system is actually a system that diminishes the value of these forums.

I have seen other forums where rep is taken very seriously,
here it is mostly a toy. By all means, agree or disagree with
a post using rep, but don't take it personally when someone
does it to you

In the forums where rep is taken seriously, you can get a
lot of animosity or even end up with an "enemy" or two by
disagreeing with a regular

I prefer the system here.

If someone has been particularly helpful then a simple post
saying thanks, or even that the suggested solution worked
is far more meaningful.