Ok, I like the new badges (sorta) but, really miss my reputation points being on display.
It was sorta like an epeen, showing it off, and sometimes throwing it around. If someone had one bigger, well then you always know someone who is...well bigger than them.
Now I gotta go look at someone profile to figure out if they know what they are talking about.
Yes, yes, I do realize some experts do not post that much, but, hey I figure they are just above such things or they have a rainman thing going on. Besides, it was a source of pride if I didn't know something I could call on the appropriate person on any subject based on their overall knowledge or specific people who are masters of their craft.
BECAUSE, those numbers to me equated their knowledge of such matters. Example Claw/SR @Bill Z Bubba or dark/dark @Snarky or market economy @Yomo Kimyata.
Those people and others have high reputation because they are masters of those areas and help alot of people because of their knowledge. Now, I know there are others who post stuff just to talk or they are whimsical in their process to discuss things and they have high reps but, in their own way they contribute and face it, these people get those high numbers because other people like what their laying down.
Obviously people are going to be mixed on this but, honestly I used to look at those numbers as an accomplishment and as a point if the advice they were giving was something that could be trusted.
Do I trust Bill Z telling me about def numbers or do I trust Larry fart smacker with 2 points?
I think you know my position on this.
Final note don't hate on this its an opinion.