Any member can (if they wish) rep a post either up, or down. Each user has a rep score, and every time one of their posts is repped, they're score is changed. Clicky for example thread

You can see in the example above how some users have just one green square (not much rep, but all positive) and others have lots of green squares - so they have been repped lots. If a user gets negative rep, then they'll get red squares. When you get repped, you know who it was, which is nice. If you help someone in the help forum for example, you'll see that they said thanks.

On that particular forum you can also 'give gifts' which are the little icons which appear with the post count and rep etc, although I think that's a bit cheesey.

They are pretty irrelevant, but it gives newcomers an idea of who has been around a long time (spamming or not) and who's a relative newcomer.

When you see established boards that has members with large post counts, it gives you an idea who is most helpful when you ask a question.

Mr. Ark bloke had, like, 17 bazillion posts in the old place, and let's be honest here - he was a bit rubbish really wasn't he.

Oi Vella! I'm a mod here too y'know!
Pipe down.
(8+p

Mark

Oops. Yes sir, sorry sir, I'll be good now.

Or will I...?

I think we all know the answer to that one.

The question is, (or should be) would you guys have me any other way?