How about a little bit of positive rep?

Don't have a my face or space book account ( I find them to be utterly pointless ) so I don't really understand the +/- issue or the like button. I speak my mind. I am not looking for a 1st grade smiley face or points in my cool column. Strange to me, almost like you don't want to hurt anyones feelings. I think it was devised by by someone who got a trophy for just participating!! Touchy feely metro fellas!!

I agree with speaking one's mind; however, there is a difference between doing that respectfully and doing it in a condescending, judgmental, or argumentative manner. Over my years on this forum, and well before the +/- button, I have tried to become more respectful while still expressing my own opinion. At times I succeed, and at other times I fail, but it has nothing to do with getting a "smiley" or getting "points in my cool column" as you put it. It is about treating others as I want to be treated.

The +/- is very useful for marking fishing posts that I find to be very informative. That is the only time I use it.

Agreed. Kinda what I was trying to say. I just put it in my own twisted sorta way!