<p>I think the credit and approval system does what it's supposed to do: highlight the best answers to a question. The fact that it inflates the ego of some vain people is not the problem of the moderation system: it's the problem of the people's vanity. In the same way we don't blame on cars the fact that some people drive dangerously.</p>

<p>You cannot blame a tool for what people make of it. A tool is not good or bad, it's just suitable or not.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-16T00:24:09.293Z
2015-02-16T00:24:09.293Z
Alessandro Macilenti
<p>Are we sure that the search for credit and for approval does not infect the ego of the users of this site?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-15T17:40:22.717Z
This question belongs on meta.buddhism.stackexchange.com, and has probably been discussed before. In my case the points system has inflated my ego in the past, more than once, so i do try to keep that in check.
Anthony
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-15T17:41:31.500Z
on the other hand the points system has its benefits to the community; if we have incentive to produce a better Q&A site, random people looking for answers will enjoy the benefits.
Anthony
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-15T19:05:45.677Z
@qweilun I totally agree. This would be an excellent topic for discussion on the meta site so I've flagged it for migration there.
Crab Bucket
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-17T23:14:58.180Z
I disagree this belongs on Meta. I see this as a question about Buddhist practice.
Andriy Volkov
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-18T08:43:12.423Z
@AndreiVolkov - So am I, Andrei. This belongs to the core of Buddhist practice.
Guy Eugène Dubois
<ethics>
Is the reputation system counterproductive to Buddhist practice?
# Is the reputation system counterproductive to Buddhist practice?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-02-15)

Are we sure that the search for credit and for approval does not infect the ego of the users of this site?

**Tags:** ethics

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: This question belongs on meta.buddhism.stackexchange.com, and has probably been discussed before. In my case the points system has inflated my ego in the past, more than once, so i do try to keep that in check.  
> **username_1**: on the other hand the points system has its benefits to the community; if we have incentive to produce a better Q&A site, random people looking for answers will enjoy the benefits.  
> **username_2**: @qweilun I totally agree. This would be an excellent topic for discussion on the meta site so I've flagged it for migration there.  
> **username_3**: I disagree this belongs on Meta. I see this as a question about Buddhist practice.  
> **username_0**: @AndreiVolkov - So am I, Andrei. This belongs to the core of Buddhist practice.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2015-02-16. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

I think the credit and approval system does what it's supposed to do: highlight the best answers to a question. The fact that it inflates the ego of some vain people is not the problem of the moderation system: it's the problem of the people's vanity. In the same way we don't blame on cars the fact that some people drive dangerously.

You cannot blame a tool for what people make of it. A tool is not good or bad, it's just suitable or not.


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