are sailors particularly grumpy or what?

[HoffaLives]

i notice that a few guys took great exception to my "just because you can does it mean you should?" thread and gave me negative rep points. i find there are often quite hostile comments posted alongside these when i get them.
i don't get it. i'm part of other forums, and there isn't this kind of hostility and acrimony. having rep points is a dumb idea imo as it's open to abuse, but i don't care how many if get; it's more important to talk about what i consider real issues. why that galls people so much i have no idea.

some of the insults i've read on various threads, hate mail etc. also makes no sense to me; there's nothing constructive about it, nothing is accomplished, no debate is raised, just someone gets to vent their spleen.
sure it takes all kinds, but why don't i see it on the other forums i belong to?
i suspect thats one reason why there are often hundreds of views on a threads of a few dozen post; people not wanting to wade into the fray.

fully expecting more negative rep points

[Idiens]

Hoffa, to me, you are doing just fine, have a rep point.

[camaraderie]

Hoffa
why don't i see it on the other forums i belong to?

You obviously belong to the wrong forums! (g) Try SA for what happens in a totally un-moderated sailing forum.
I agree with you that rep points are stupid and pointless...especially since you get 'em simply by doing a lot of posting with no regard for quality.
On the other hand...negative rep points probably save me some work since otherwise some people would express their views in personal attacks on the forum.

[xort]

I read the just because thread and didn't see one negative comment posted toward you. Most were in agreement with you.
I almost never read the rep point comments. Methinks you fret & stew over meaningless trivia way too much.
File the complainers in the 'need to get a life' folder.

[TwentySeven]

Sorry for diverting the topic a bit. I didn't read bout the red points before. How do you notice you have been given them? and do they have any effect?

[Idiens]

Scroll down on the User CP page, 27. It lists the points and any comments added. I got my negative ones by daring to disagree with Americans on Off Topic themes.

[teshannon]

I'm with the posts above - I didn't see any negative comments and I think you're doing just fine. Charge on my man!

[retclt]

I think the Rep Point system should be disabled in the "Off Topic" Section. Keep it where it counts . . . in the sailing knowledge areas.

Of course if that were the case, I wouldn't get Positives for my good looks and damn good song picking . . . but I would also be immuned from Negatives for some of my more moronic statements.

[PBzeer]

Hoffa - judging by the threads you start, you seem inordinately preoccupied with what other people are doing, rather than doing things yourself. You'll probably take that in a negative manner, but it's only an observation.

[k1vsk]

Although sometimes interesting or entertaining, I try to stay away but in this case, it appears worthwhile to say that most of the posts in the OFF TOPIC category are both - off - and lacking any substantive topic. Given this, how and why some tend to react childishly is telling. What I fail to understand is how they, as demonstrated above, can't help embarassing themselves