Ashamed to admit....it's taken more than 2 yrs. (and 300 posts!) for "the light to go on" in my "noodle".....

I've often thought to myself:
"What in the world are those little boxes and pop up descriptions beneath everyone's forum avatar.....including my own?"
"How do they get there?"
I've only JUST discovered what is obviously obvious - well to everyone but "the retard".
Guess I should pay a visit to my User Control Panel occasionally...
So what's the netiquette?
Should one PM the "thanker" to thank them in return?
Meanwhile....thank you to the nice people who "sent a box of karma" my way.... perhaps in another 2 years I'll cotton on to the mystery of the "golden stars"

I guess I'm a retard too, cause I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about

Joined: Jan 2013
Location: Monterey, CA
Posts: 436

markonline1 has a reputation beyond repute

plus the karma box and the smaller boxes either side of it.

I prefer to balance out the good deeds by sending the occasional bit of negative karma. Especially to people like hungryhorace.

Proportionality please!
You're only a SEMI-retard (unlike me) since you've only been here 1/2 as long.
Plus - you're probably not a retard at all since, unlike me, you're obviously not fixated on trivia.
But, FWIW:
I'm referring to the little blue squares to the left of our posts, beneath where it says:
Joined:
Location:
Posts:
(....see them now?)
And I discovered today that they're not just sprouting like magic mushrooms - but are the result of other o-so-grateful-members - sending little and your way (not actual smilies - but acknowlegements in your "user control panel"....which it's taken me 2+ yrs. to explore)

Meanwhile, someone....what's the netiquette - does one thank the thanker?

Wow!
How do you do that?
We need a kick in the bum frowny

I meant, just send normal karma, but done in an abusive fashion!

Is that a good idea?
Karma is (are?) the vibes you send out.
You don't want to invite negative karma to be directed at you.
Or maybe you do
When you're a flamer (which YOU are not)

.....and now that I'm down in the trivia, how-else-can-I-waste-time weeds
....I've made another discovery (by clicking my own Karma button):
We're also awarded Karma Points!
Now if my checking account had a $ or better yet, given the current exchange rate, a £ for every Karma point in my :account" - I could be on a plane to Bali right now

Who awards those points?
You, Bob?

Anyone who gives you karma, gives you the points. They more they have, the more you receive.

And no, you don't have to "thank" the poster for giving you some. That's where madness lies, it's like the never ending thank you for the email chain

It's also the equivalent to the "like" and "dislike" button you see on some other forums, but private.

Site rules still apply to karma messages by the way.

aha...got it...thanks
But "inquiring minds" still want to know:
Whence cometh the gold stars?
Remember: This poster is a denizen of pie-in-the-sky - LA LA land - the nirvana where streets are embedded with golden s......

Ok, I see the little boxes but I didn't actually think they meant anything. I thought they were just for decoration. I'm still none the wiser .

Ok, I just clicked on a karma button. I get it.

I think they are to do with how many posts you've written. People who've posted more have more stars and newbies start out with none or one...I think. That was the only thing I could work it out as.

I don't think you can give yourself karma. I just tried, haha. It just told me how many points I have.

I never think to look at the karma thing or who has given me karma.

You are correct.

It's in the FAQ, somewhere on the site