# What is the reason to not use reputation points?

**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/what-is-the-reason-to-not-use-reputation-points/32961
**Category:** Feature
**Created:** [6 בספטמבר,‏ 2015,‏ 2:25pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/what-is-the-reason-to-not-use-reputation-points/32961 "2015-09-06T14:25:07Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 3

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### Author: ![erlend\_sh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/erlend_sh/32/119475_2.png) [@erlend\_sh](https://meta.discourse.org/u/erlend_sh)
#### Post date: [6 בספטמבר,‏ 2015,‏ 2:48pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/what-is-the-reason-to-not-use-reputation-points/32961/3 "2015-09-06T14:48:06Z")

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Can’t we just continue that discussion here?

> [@Reputation Spec: Proposal and Critique](https://meta.discourse.org/t/reputation-spec-proposal-and-critique/29696/8):
>
> > [@Reputation Spec: Proposal and Critique](https://meta.discourse.org/t/reputation-spec-proposal-and-critique/29696/3):
> >
> > I can only see this as a plugin. I think this would have some possibly severe repercussions to community.
> 
> Can you elaborate please?

Based on the anecdotal evidence of having participated in many such communities, I think reputation systems have a high tendency to create an involuntary “I’m better than you”-effect, similar in nature to the “IT’S OVER 9000!-post count”. Think the /r/thebutton experiment - a self-formed class society of “Greys” and “Reds” - without the “we’ll all laugh about this afterwards” roleplay factor. It’s borderline creepy sometimes, the effect a number (compared constantly to other numbers) can have on someone’s psyche.

Yes, these concepts exist on a forum like Discourse as well; post counts are still there, as are trust levels, but they’re hidden by default. They’re played down, not up, and that makes a big difference. Discourse distinguishes between “Member” and “Regular”, but it doesn’t distinguish between RegularUserX and RegularUserY, which is the point where you may start to value your worth as a community member based on an arbitrary number that’s inflated by behaviour that doesn’t necessarily benefit the community as a whole.

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