What is "Rep" and how do I use it?

[Steel General]

I have a mind like a steel trap. Of course it doesn't work properly cuz I can't engineer my way out of a paper bag

and here I thought I was gonna see some rust comment or something

[Immolate]

Trying to be a better guild member by reading some of the background posts like this one and learning how to use the forum software, and I've come to the conclusion that perhaps I've been throwing the rep around a bit too liberally. Now there probably isn't any harm done, as I doubt I can give more than a point away at a time, if that, but I will need to moderate my giving.

Is there a way to tell how much bang I have in my rep-giving? I comprehend the argument that says that if you have a higher rep rating to give, then it's appropriate that you give more, but I think that most responsible people will be more careful and try to act responsibly when given weapons of mass promotion.

[Gamerprinter]

I believe those numbers exist in this thread, somewhere early on.

If I'm not mistaken, you need 10 points of REP yourself to be able to grant a point of REP. You get a point for each 100 points of REP, and one for each year as a full member.

I've been a member since July 2007, and I have 435 points of REP, but I seem to grant 9 points of REP when I give it out.

I sometimes forget to grant REP, but whenever I remember and see REP worth posts and maps, I freely give it REP when I can. Sometimes I find that I REPped someone recently and cannot apply new REP, so I wait until I can (I believe 20 handouts of REP between REPping the same person is the amount required) sometimes even handing REP to less REP worthy posts, but I'm really trying to catch up to older REP I wanted to hand out, but couldn't...

Does that help, Immolate?

Edit: oh, and the number of total posts give additions to REP granting as well.

GP

[Immolate]

Very helpful GP. Not as convenient as having it posted somewhere but at least you can see figure it out. Thanks!