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So I really don't need all this rep, and figured a fun (and fast) way to get rid of excess rep would be to put 500 point bounties on questions that I haven't accepted an answer for and then immediately accept the answer - thus turning the 15 point accept rep increase into a 565 rep increase for whichever (lucky?) meta user I choose for the answer.

The only drawback I can think of is that some people might not consider the answer 'worth' the extra rep.

  • Beyond that, though, is there really a problem with this behavior?
  • What unintended consequences could this behavior have?
    • Assuming only one person did this on a regular basis
    • Assuming several high-rep people did this on a regular basis

If I did this on a regular basis (about one-two 500 point bounties per week to keep me just above 10k) would this make you more likely to participate in my questions?

Note that I am NOT doing this on SO - I occasionally use SO to answer some difficult questions, and I'm keeping my rep around for when I need to spend it on those.

This really only concerns Meta, where, as far as I can tell, rep really doesn't matter (if It did, I certainly wouldn't be getting it so easily...)

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15 Answers 15

Bounties weren't really designed as a "way to get rid of excess rep." True, rep doesn't play quite as important a role on meta as the other systems. We've been given quite a bit of latitude to have fun to keep the mood light here but I feel like meta plays an important role in the trilogy.

I feel like we should maintain at least a guise of playing by the rules. Especially so when so many, how shall we say, non-meta regulars come here with support questions.

So, while you're free to do whatever you want with your rep, I would say it is gaming and shouldn't generally be encouraged. Rep and community moderation still guides people's behavior. Maybe not yours personally, but the rules and system behaviors are there for a reason. Social networks can fall apart fast. I'd hate to see this become a race to the bottom.

I know that I'm overstating the significance of what you are suggesting, but I'm just making the point as part of a larger guiding principle. No fuddy duddy-ness intended.

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I object to this not because of the rep, but because you are permanently marking someone's answer as the "correct" answer to your meta question.

Unless you honestly believe that to be the case, it's kind of abusive.

EDIT: related to this, we are adding a 1-day delay between the time a bounty starts and when it can be awarded.

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550 points?? That would increase my rep total 26 fold! There's never a convenience store around when you need to buy a lottery ticket. :)

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Oh whats rep got to do, got to do with it
What's rep but a second hand emotion
What's rep got to do, got to do with it
Who needs a heart
When a heart can be broken

Personally I see no problem with it on Meta itself. Since rep is more used as a form of voting on feature requests and what not. I "could" see an issue with it on the trilogy itself, but then again the rep is yours to give away and as long you aren't 'targeting' a friend just to give them rep I would see no issue either.

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This will now be my new favorite search (I've already memorized the number):

Pollyanna

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My opinion is rep on meta does count towards something: towards knowledge on the engine itself.
Although it's easier to get rep on funny posts, I like to think high rep users know what they're talking about when they answer questions about using the other sites.

I feel it would ruin that meaning for me.

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I'm not so bothered about meta rep, the only benefit for me would be if I reached 2000 on meta I have another inbound non-nofollowed link to my SE site, which is always welcome. So if you feel the reputation weighs heavily on your meta-shoulders and you want to lend a hand to an SE site owner then feel free.

Update: botheration, I tiptoe past 2k on meta and the powers that be decide to remove around 500 rep from me. I'm sure it's not personal. Is it? Is it?

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  • Beyond that, though, is there really a problem with this behavior?

Well, as Robert C. Cartaino said, I don't think it's really "playing by the rules". However, I don't feel strongly enough about it that I won't answer in the hopes of winning the lottery.

On SO, I think it would be different because people (rightly or wrongly) equate reputation with knowledge. Here, reputation measures either insanity or boredom, near as I can tell.

  • What unintended consequences could this behavior have?

People might answer in the hopes of winning the lottery.

By the way, have I ever mentioned that you're my bestest friend in all the world? I still haven't, but let's pretend I just did.

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After reading Jeff's and Robert's weigh-in on the matter, my funny jokes seemed less funny. And so while I've got an acceptance speech all written and in my vest pocket, perhaps it's best if I just wing-it and thank The Academy Tavern, and my lovely dog Spot, and the FSM.

Thank you for the 500 rep bonus :p

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Meta is essentially useless as far as rep goes - it doesn't get you much of anywhere.

However, for the sake of bragging rights for that lucky individual, I strongly recommend continuing this practice!

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I can see one (probably) unintended side effect to this:

Once people realize what's going on, they won't respond at all to the question until the bounty is started. So although you'll no doubt get more participation in the bounty questions, you'll end up with almost none where there is no bounty.

If every high-rep user did this, I think we'd all turn into bounty hunters, starving questions from the lower-rep users.

I probably wouldn't call it gaming the system... unless you're taking bribes. Are you taking bribes? Let me know.

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You really ought to accept Robert's answer, purely for the cognitive dissonance it would cause.

Or this one, because I'm being, y'know, meta about it.

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Some people give out laptops on meta, some give rep! Shouldn't be an issue.

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If I did this on a regular basis (about one-two 500 point bounties per week to keep me just above 10k) would this make you more likely to participate in my questions?

Yes.

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Gimme da bounty!

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