People say that rep is given too freely, but given that so many people (including more vocal members) have a ton of rep and it's kinda a given that everyone will eventually reach deity status -- I'm really of the mind to give newcomers rep points to help them on their journey to Olympus. For one thing, it makes the rep system seem less intimidating and like a 'popularity contest' and it's a useful tool in making new members feel more like part of a community. It's like saying, 'Let's get the party started!' Perhaps that's just me though. I also have to say, I enjoy the rep comments, it's fun! :nods:
Also, I guess I don't see rep as a popularity contest (and if it is, I'm bitter, hahaha) and even if it were, I don't think it would affect my posting on the forums or how I see members.
Even without rep and rankings, you know who the core posters are and people are constantly coming and going so there's a nice flux and feeling of growth as opposed to being a static clique for a small core of 'veteran' posters.
If people are afraid that's going to happen, I doubt it will happen anytime soon and I also don't think rep will have much of anything to do with it.
I dunno, I really don't think the maturity level and focus of the forum as a whole is as susceptible to posturing and popularity baiting as people seem to think. The rep boxes, while fun and a nice tool for connecting, are basically harmless and if anything fluff-y. The popularity rankings are more or less meaningless -- I don't see them having any hard currency in the forum.
The only sites where I've seen rep can affect threads and matters to members is in hardcore hobby forums like gaming or sports or tech forums where by nature, all members are playing who's got the biggest d*ck contest (you know, like rubber duckies) and being adversarial is more commonplace, even accepted. Moreover, membership in these forums is generally heavily adolescent to mid 30s males, with a high concentration of men in their early to mid 20s.