Reputations

[mark12_30]

H-I,

Thank you. You have said much that I bit my own tongue over. I essentially took time off from giving reps because repping had become too much the in-thing to do.

Well-said.

[davem]

To be honest, I hope I wear my rep lightly - mostly because even if I am in top position at the moment (currently at 984 points if anyone is interested) I certainly don't consider myself to be the best or most interesting poster on these boards - not by a long way.

Not to embarrass anyone who's currently around I have to say if anything I had posted was up to the standard of our much missed Squatterfor instance I would maybe feel my rep was deserved.

This is not to say that I'm not incredibly grateful for the rep I have been given - I am, & the real value it has for me is the indication of respect from other Downer's that it shows.

[HerenIstarion]

Dave, my previous was not directed at you at all, Eru forbid It was kind of, um, general lathspelling sort of forecast

I haven't stopped repping on that ground - to an extent I have given too much of it in the last 24 hours and have to try later. But the point is, what is it I rep for? - some post pleased me, one, and in return I want to please author of the post, two. What I wanted to stress upon is that to be pleased and to please are things good, but not the end in itself. One has to hold one's priorities firmly - it is repute for writing still, but let us be wary lest it becomes writing for repute soon, if you follow my meaning, kind sirs

On the other hand, perhaps I'm just a bit moody this evening, and nothing more...

cheers

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

but let us be wary lest it becomes writing for repute soon, if you follow my meaning, kind sirs

Ah! It is just as I warned my English teacher. I told him that the purest way to write was to write what you feel, and to write only for yourself... he said to heck with purity and that I could write to please myself all I wanted, but if it didn't please him, he was going to fail me. He is rather liberal with the non-high grading. What I've had to do is learn to write what I want while still catering to his moods, and that is just no fun at all.

So my highschool English class is rather like this reputation system... if I don't write what pleases you, you can all officially fail me.

Fea

[Lalwendë]

I just write what I like to be honest - hence the slightly eccentric nature of my posts, one day thinking up mad ideas about the breaking of light and the next things to do with custard. Luckily, other Downers seem to appreciate my mad mind, and I have to be honest and say I like to get rep because it makes me feel, well, not quite so barmy as the rest of the world seems to think I am. But yes, always write what you feel/think; this is not a competition and free exchange of mad ideas is what makes this a great forum.

[davem]

Originally Posted by H-I

Dave, my previous was not directed at you at all, Eru forbid It was kind of, um, general lathspelling sort of forecast

Oh, God, don't worry - I didn't take it badly. I do feel a bit undeserving of all the points. Mostly I just write whatever pops into my head at the time, so I feel a guilty about all the praise I get, that's all. I don;t think I've ever posted something in the hopes of getting any rep - though as we all know it is nice to be appreciated. Lalwende has just suggested (jokingly, I think!) that at 1000 points you should have to start again from scratch & I must admit the idea sort of appeals, if only to see if I could do it again. Maybe I'll re-register under a different name & see how far I get......

[Sapphire_Flame]

hence the slightly eccentric nature of my posts

Heavens, Lal, your posts are eccentric? I never noticed.

Abedithon le,

~ Saphy ~

[HerenIstarion]

Originally Posted by me

But the point is, what is it I rep for? - some post pleased me, one, and in return I want to please author of the post, two

It was too narrow a criterion, come to think of it. It happens (quite often) I do not merely 'approve of' of something as peer the author, but am awestruck and admire the post I rate as something better than what I myself would have been able of contriving, as an admirer (or worshipper not in direct, but in a good sense of that word).

Both attitudes are lawful, I suppose, but the latter helps to uproot one's arrogance - not a critic, but an appreciative reader.

The whole alarm system went off the instant I caught myself on two things - growing tendency of rating 'like peer' and instances of logging on to the fora with the purpose of checking if I've been rated lately, not with the purpose of checking what wonderfully new ideas were posted on the threads I'm interested in, and I grew afraid. So the whole rant above was for more or less my own sake, to bring my own self to sense, and carry those of you back who may have been in danger of catching the same malady

And it is funny how my 'alarm rant' is gaining me repute Not that I'm not pleased, but hence I'll try not to forget, and will remind myself now and again that the pleasure of approval is the secondary issue here, and the knowledge of truth (whatever that means) is what matters more.

The whole situation of having the posts debunking the system approved of by the system helps to clarify the issue - my most rated posts are precisely those in contriving which even the shade of thought about reputation haven't crossed my mind. And I suppose it follows the general pattern of all human activities. Can't help remembering C.S.Lewis here. My apologies for crumpled quote, I'm not sure it is exact, but it was something like:

Pray in the morning in your garden, paying no heed to the beauty and dew and birds, and you'll come back wonderfully refreshed by the beauty of nature. Go to your garden with the purpose of experiencing feeling of wonder, and you will feel nothing nine times out of ten

it is to be found in 'Four Loves', if anyone has the book handy, be so kind to post the correct one, please

I hope I haven't mutiliated the quote beyond recognition. It really seems governing imperative for all things transient.

Or let us (or me, in the first place), remember that Gloria mundi always tends to transit. What will be the sic in the process, is of no significant consequence