Reputations

[Boromir88]

There was a discussion a while back on whether RPG posts should be repped. I think that, if someone particuarly enjoys an RPG post, then they should rep it, just as they would rep a great insight during a book discussion or a witty post in Middle-Earth Mirth.

Occasionally I will give a rep to a really, really, well-written, intriguing post in an RPG. After being in a game that was fun, and conducted well, with very minor bumps (if any) I generally rep all the gamers that I enjoyed weeks of back and forth writing with. I think it is something that should go noticed. We have some talented writers here.

[Hookbill the Goomba]

I can't see why repping an RPG post would be a problem. I got repped for writing a poem in one, and that was nice. So I can't see what the problem is.

[Child of the 7th Age]

Ironically, the most repped post (as of eons ago) came from The Green Dragon Inn.

Whoops! Now you've got me started.

Why should that be 'ironic'? As a Shire moderator I probably have a bias here, but I do not see why a creative attempt at storytelling should merit less consideration for rep than a scholarly analysis of some aspect of Tolkien's writings.

Moreover, I frankly feel that Tolkien would have said the same thing. What primarily draws us to this site is Tolkien's creative work: his ability as a teller of tales, rather than as an academic. Yet, in the Letters, we are repeatedly reminded that Tolkien was somewhat embarassed by the amount of time he spent on his "private hobby". He felt defensive about his creative efforts and wondered if his fellow professors at Oxford would privately chide him for spending time on something as commonplace as storytelling and invented languages when he should have been engaging in more 'serious' pursuits. Tolkien's contributions as an academic are indeed very great. Yet as much as I value the commentator on Beowulf or the translator of Gawaine, it is the storyteller who holds the dearest place in my heart. If there is one thing that Tolkien teaches us, it is that we are all part of a greater story and that stories must be held dear....and that includes even the honest if flawed attempts that many make on this website.

Tolkien, moreover, intimated that his world was not a closed one. Perhaps knowing that he would never truly "finish" the Legendarium, at one point he suggested that others bring their talents to bear to flesh out the tales. This is certainly not to say that every RPG post rises to the level envisioned by Tolkien, but then neither does every book post. There is a range of quality in both. There are book posts that make me sit up and think, and for those I am immensely grateful. There are others that seem little more than tearing apart something that might be wiser to leave whole. (I am, of course, paraphrasing Tolkien here.)

At its very best, a strong RPG (or fanfiction story) not only shows evidence of the posters' writing skills and a strong mastery of the facts, but something more than that....the ability to reflect back Tolkien's spirit of Middle-earth in a believable fashion. That is a gift and should, in my opinion be acknowledged by a tip of the hat or the granting of rep.

Indeed, there is one thing that intrigues me. I may be off base here, but I wanted to share this thought and see if others felt the same. When I first came on this board a number of years ago, there were many serious threads directed at the material in Silm and HoMe. I remember drawing back and feeling rather intimidated because I feared I lacked the in-depth knowledge to contribute to such discussions. Today, there seem to be far fewer threads focusing on this "historical" material (meaning pre-LotR). The best of our current book discussions tend to be literary or philosophical in nature treating the history only in passing. The one place on the site where 'history' now dominates are the RPGs. More and more of these tales explore the earlier history in some form or fashion. And I do think that is worthy of acknowledgement, whether by rep or some other means.

Rant over....

[Mithalwen]

I am all for repping RPG - it is just that I don't read a lot of it unless I am involved in it. I have been known to rep particularly cunning / skilfully crafted Quiz questions or answers. They may also be manifestations of great knowledge and love of the Prof's work.

If I have made a change in my repping, it has been to try to cast my net wider. I don't always succeed but I regard it as a failure if I get the command to spread it around to often... but then it is hard not too when some folks post so well so consistently.......or just make me laugh so much...

[mormegil]

The way I look at the whole thing is this: It is my rep and I will give it out to whoever/whatever I feel deserves it. Weather that is a crazy caption/ RPG/ a good point that I may or may not agree with but made me think. I don't think there is anything right or wrong to rep just so long as the person who read it enjoyed it and felt like giving it. I've probably been "guilty" of giving rep to post that the author didn't find overwhelmingly great but I enjoyed...so there!

[alatar]

First, let me confess that I'm a rep junky. There's nothing like a cup of percolated coffee, a frosted donut and a rep to start the day off right.

But it's not the points that are the addiction, but the comments that are attached. As I don't 'PM' (whatever that is), or email, or correspond with other wights beyond postings and rep, I find rep to be my little message board for the BD world. Rep is somewhat like "you've got mail from the Barrow."

I give rep not only to acknowledge a great post, but, as others have stated, for posts that are unusual for some reason - they make me smile, think, laugh, act, etc. As I was encouraged by rep when I started here, I've hoped to do the same now that I'm 'older.'

And as I'm confessing, I would let it be known that I'm a hypocrite in regards to rep. I enjoy a detailed rep explanation, but have more than once sent "Nice post" as my comment. With time and therapy, would hope to change that.

[mormegil]

So people actual do appreciate a bit lengthy of a rep. I tend to cut mine a bit shorter than I would like because I thought people would get annoyed with a longer than average response.

Anyone else have opinions on that?