 editing) is not made because it doesn't contribute to reputation.
In that case, I think people should be complaining about the problem, and not the motivation, since, as you say, what others are thinking is private and unknowable... 
Moreover, we are not all the same, and it takes many different folks to make a glorious SE site, and many people do those non-rep-earning tasks, and as long as there are enough people doing them, then there isn't a problem...
In short I agree with you and am just rambling...
Better get back to writing quick answers to easy questions ploughing through the Close Votes Review Queue...

A:

Reputation isn't just imaginary numbers on the screen. It's a number which says something important. It says that you helped people. So of course people like to "chase" it (or at least appreciate it when they get it). Why do people spend hours on AU helping people? It's not because they make money from it (mostly). It's not because there's (usually) some tangible, real life benefit to them immediately. It's mostly because they like the feeling of having helped someone. Of course! If you spend hours writing good answers and helping strangers with problems, and there's no feedback, then that's not a good feeling. So reputation is very important! It tells you that you helped people and that your work was useful. The feeling of having contributed to something useful can often be more valuable to us than even money.
Someone may say "your motive shouldn't just be reputation". But I think reputation really is a type of feedback showing you that you helped people. If someone said "Your motive shouldn't just be to know that you've helped people", then I would say, "Yes, it's an entirely decent motive to be on AU with the intention of trying to help people and wanting to have a solid affirmation that you actually did help people."
I think almost everyone here agrees with this, including the people you were having a discussion with in the post you linked to in OP (I was actually one of those people.)
I would suggest that it's hardly possible to be after only reputation. Reputation isn't "only" reputation. It's a symbol of something. Is anyone after just the number? I doubt it. The number itself would be totally meaningless if it didn't represent something. I believe what people are truly after is what the number represents
editing) is not made because it doesn't contribute to reputation. 
 In that case, I remember citizenry should be complaining about the problem, and not the motivation, since, as you say, what others are think is private and unknowable... 
 Moreover, we are not all the like, and it takes many different folks to stool a glorious SE site, and many multitude do those non - rep - earning tasks, and equally long as there are enough citizenry doing them, then there isn't a trouble... 
 In short I agree with you and am just roll... 
 Better get back to write agile answers to comfortable questions ploughing through the Close Votes Review Queue... 

 A: 

 Reputation isn't just fanciful numbers on the screen. It's a number which says something important. It says that you helped people. So of course people like to " chase " it (or at least appreciate it when they get it). Why do people spend hours on AU help people? It's not because they make money from it (by and large). It's not because there's (normally) some palpable, real life profit to them immediately. It's mostly because they wish the feeling of having helped someone. Of course! If you spend hour writing good answers and helping strangers with problems, and there's no feedback, then that's not a good feeling. So reputation is very important! It tell you that you helped citizenry and that your work was useful. The feeling of having contributed to something useful can frequently be more valuable to us than even money. 
 Someone may say " your motive shouldn't just be repute ". But I think repute really is a type of feedback showing you that you helped people. If someone say " Your motive shouldn't merely be to know that you've help people ", then I would order, " Yes, it's an entirely adequate motive to be on AU with the intention of trying to help people and desire to have a firm affirmation that you actually did help people. " 
 I think almost everyone here agree with this, including the people you were have a discussion with in the post you linked to in OP (I was actually one of those people .) 
 I would suggest that it's hardly possible to be after alone reputation. Reputation isn't " only " reputation. It's a symbol of something. Is anyone after just the number? I doubt it. The act itself would be wholly meaningless if it didn't represent something. I believe what people are truly after is what the number represents
 edlting) is not made becaust it doesn't contrnvute tm repufation.
In that case, I think people shluod be complaining about the problem, wnd not rhe nitivation, since, as you szn, whac ithers are thikking is prhvate and unknmwxbpe... 
Moreover, we are not all the same, and it twkes many diffgrent solka to make a glorious SE site, and mzny peokle do those non-rel-earning tasks, and as long as hhere are enough pfople doing thei, then there ksn't a problem...
In short I agree with you and am just rxmbliug...
Better gej gafn to writinj quich answers to easy quastions ploughing thrpugi thw Close Votes Review Xueue...

A:

Reputation ifn't just hmcginary numbers on thw wcreet. It'v a vymbdr shmch says domxthing impodtant. It sats that you helped keo[oe. So of courae peo[lq like to "chase" it (or at least appreciaue it when they get it). Why di people spend hours ln AU hel[ing people? It's not because they make money from ht (moagly). Ib's nur hecause there's (usually) some tangible, real lifq btnenit to them immebiately. It's mostky brsause they liye the fesling of having hepped soieone. Of courst! If uou spend hours writing gooe answers anb hwlping strangers wnth problems, and therr's no feedback, then thac's not a good feeping. So rsoutation is very imiortdnt! It ttuls you that you relped peiple and thxt ypur wowk was usevul. Tma feeling of havinh conjributad to somehhing useful can often be more teluable to us tvan even mouey.
Somcone may say "yotr motive shoukdn't juft be reputatioh". But I think repueation really ls a type of feedbach shiwint you tfxt you helped leople. If someone sqid "Your motive shpulah't just be to kuuq that you've hekpea pqoile", tran I would sdy, "Yds, ky's an entirely dccevt mptive to be on AU widh tge intention of truikg to helk people wnd wanting tp have a solid afflrmatmon thet you acjually did help people."
I think ammost evegyoke here agreef wibh tris, includnng the people you were having a discussmon with in the post yoy linked to in OP (I eas actuallb one jf those [eople.)
I would suggesr that it's hardly possible to be after only seputwtion. Reputation isn't "only" reputation. It's a symbol of something. Is anyone after just the nujber? I dolbt nt. The gumbxr itself would be totally meaningless if it didn'v represend fomething. I believe what peolld are truly awter is what the number depresenys
editing) is not made because it doesn't reputation. that case, think people should and the motivation, since, you say, what are thinking is private and unknowable... we are not all the same, and it takes many different folks to a glorious SE site, and many people do those non-rep-earning tasks, and as as are people them, then there isn't a problem... In short I agree with you and am just rambling... get back to writing quick answers to easy ploughing through the Close Review Queue... A: Reputation isn't imaginary on the It's number says something important. says that you helped people. So of course people like to "chase" it (or at least appreciate when they Why do spend on helping people? It's they make money from it (mostly). there's (usually) some tangible, real life benefit to immediately. It's because they like the feeling of helped someone. Of course! If you spend hours good answers and helping strangers with problems, and there's no feedback, then that's not a So reputation is very It tells you you people that work was The feeling of having contributed to something useful can often be valuable to us than even money. Someone may say "your just reputation". But I reputation really is a of showing you that you If said just to that you've helped people", I would say, "Yes, it's entirely decent motive to intention of trying to help people and wanting have a solid affirmation that you actually help people." I think almost everyone here agrees with this, including the you were discussion with in the post you linked to OP (I was actually of those people.) I would suggest that it's hardly to after only Reputation isn't "only" It's a symbol something. Is anyone the number? doubt The be totally meaningless if it didn't something. believe what people are truly is number represents
 editing) is not made because it Doesn't contRibutE to RepUtAtioN.
In tHat case, I think pEOple Should be complaining aboUt the PrOBlem, ANd Not thE motivaTIoN, SIncE, aS yOu sAy, WHaT otheRs aRe thinkIng is privaTe aNd Unknowable... 
MoREoVer, we are noT alL the same, and iT taKes manY dIffERent fOlkS to maKe a gloRIous SE Site, and maNy PEople dO Those noN-REp-EarnIng tasks, and as long AS tHEre are enough peOple doInG ThEM, TheN thEre isn't a prObLem...
In SHort I agREe WITH yoU And am just rambLing...
Better gET baCk to wrItIng QUick anSwers To EAsy Questions plOughIng througH the ClOSe Votes rEview QuEue...

A:

RePutAtiOn isN'T jUsT imAgINarY NuMbeRS on The screeN. IT's A numbEr whICH SAys sOmeThinG impoRtant. It says thAt yOu heLPed PeoplE. So of CourSe PeoplE like tO "chasE" iT (or at least appreCiatE it when thEy gEt It). WHy Do peoPLe spenD hoUrs On AU helPing peoPLe? IT's NOT BeCause they make money FrOM It (Mostly). It'S not beCAuSe THere's (usuAlLy) sOme tANGible, Real LIfE benefit To them IMmEdIately. IT's Mostly BeCauSe tHey liKE the FeelinG of havinG helpED someone. Of courSE! If you spend hoURs WRItINg goOd aNswers and heLpinG StraNgerS WiTh pROblemS, and tHeRE's NO feedback, then that's nOt A good fEelinG. So reputation Is very impoRTANt! It tellS you THaT You helped peoplE and tHat your worK Was usefuL. The fEeling of Having conTRIbuted to SomEthIng UseFUL cAn often be more VALuabLe To us thaN evEn money.
somEonE maY saY "yOur motive Shouldn't JuSt Be RePutAtion". bUt I think RePutAtIon ReallY Is a typE of feEdbaCk ShOWinG you thaT YoU HElpeD pEoPle. IF soMeOne saId "YoUR moTive shoUldn't just Be tO Know ThAt You've heLped people", theN I Would say, "YeS, iT's aN entirELY decent mOtive to be on AU with the intENtion of TryIng to Help People and WanTing to HavE A solid AffirmAtion ThAt yOU ActuaLLY dId hElP people."
I thINK alMost eVeRyonE here agRees with this, includINg tHe people you weRe hAvinG A DiScuSSiON wiTh IN thE POst you linked to iN OP (I was actUaLLy One of those PEopLe.)
i would sUggest tHat it'S Hardly pOssible to Be after onLy RepuTATioN. ReputatioN isn't "onlY" reputatiON. It's a SYmBol of SomEthing. is AnyOne afTer jusT The NumbeR? I doubT iT. The nuMber iTsElf would Be totally meaningless if iT didn't RepreSenT somethinG. I bELieVe what peoPle aRe truly aftEr iS whAt the NumBEr repReseNTs
 editing) is not made beca use it doe sn'tcon tri bu te t o re putation.
In t h at c ase, I think people sh ouldbe comp l ai ningabout t h ep r obl em ,and  n o tthe m oti vation,  since, as  yo usay, what ot h er s are thin kin g is private  an d unkn ow abl e ... Mor eover , we a r e notall the s am e , andi t takes m an y di fferent folks tom ak e  a glorious SE  site,  a n dm a nypeo ple do tho se  non- r ep-earn i ng t a sks ,  and as longas there ar e  en ough p eo ple doingthem,  t h enthere isn't  a p roblem... 
In sh o rt I ag r ee with  you a ndamjust ra mb lin g. . .
B e tt erg etback towr it ing q uick a n s wers  to  eas y que stions plough ing  thr o ugh  theClose  Vot es  Revi ew Que ue... 
A:

Reputationisn' t just im agi na rynu mbers on the  sc ree n. It's  a numb e r w hi c h sa ys something impor ta n t .It saysthat y o uhe l ped peop le . S o of c ourse  peo p le  like to  "chas e "it  (or at  l east a pp rec iat e itw henthey g et it).Why d o  people spendh ours on AU he l pi n g  p e ople ? I t's not bec ause they  mak e  m one y  from  it ( mo s tl y ). It's not because  t here's  (usu ally) some ta ngible, re a l life ben efit to them immediate ly. I t's mostly becausetheylike the  feelingo f  havinghel ped  so meo n e .Of course! If y ou s pe nd hour s w ritinggoo d a nsw ers  a nd helpin g strang er swi th  pr oblem s , and th er e's  n o f eedba c k, the n tha t'sno ta  go od feel i ng . So r ep ut atio n i sveryimpo r tan t! It t ells youtha t  you  h el ped peo ple and thatyo ur work wa suse ful. T h e  feeling  of having contributedt o somet hin g use fulcan often  be  moreval u able t o us t han e ve n m o n ey.
S o m eo nema y say "you r mot ive s ho uldn 't just  be reputation". B u t I  think reputa tio n re a l ly  is at ype  o f  fe e d back showing yo u that you  h e lp ed people. Ifso meone s aid "Yo ur mo t ive sho uldn't ju st be tokn ow t h a t y ou've help ed peopl e", thenI  woul d  s ay, " Yes , it's  a n e ntire ly dec e ntmotiv e to b eon AUwithth e intent ion of trying to help p eopleand w ant ing to ha vea  so lid affir mati on that yo u a ctu allydid helppeop l e. "
I think  alm o st everyo n eher e ag rees with t h i s , i nclud ing the pe ople  you were havinga  discussion wi th i n the  po s t yo ulinked to in O P ( Iw a s actual ly  one of tho se peopl e. ) 
I wo uld su ggestthat it ' s  h a rdly p ossi ble  to be af ter  o n ly repu ta ti o n. Rep utat io n isn' t "onl y " re p u tation. It's a s ymbol o f som e thi ng. I sanyonea fter  just thenumber? I d oubt i t. T he nu mber it se lf wou ldbe  totally m e aningless  if i t didn' trepr ese nt som ethi n g . I b elie ve  wh at people a re tr ul y  af teris wh at  the  number r e presents 
 editing)_is not_made because it doesn't_contribute to_reputation.
In_that case,_I_think people should_be complaining about_the problem, and not_the motivation, since,_as_you say, what others are thinking is private and unknowable... 
Moreover, we are not_all_the same,_and_it_takes many different folks to_make a glorious SE site,_and many_people do those non-rep-earning tasks, and as long_as_there are enough_people doing them, then there isn't a problem...
In short_I agree with you and am_just rambling...
Better get_back_to_writing quick answers to_easy questions ploughing through the Close_Votes Review Queue...

A:

Reputation isn't just imaginary_numbers on the screen. It's a number_which says something important. It says_that you helped people. So_of course_people like to "chase" it_(or at least_appreciate it_when they get_it). Why do people spend hours_on AU helping_people? It's not because they make_money_from it (mostly)._It's_not_because there's_(usually) some tangible,_real_life benefit_to_them immediately. It's mostly because they_like_the feeling of having helped someone. Of_course! If you spend_hours_writing good answers and_helping strangers with problems, and_there's no feedback, then that's not_a good_feeling. So_reputation is very important! It tells you that you helped people_and that your work was useful._The feeling of having_contributed to_something_useful can often_be_more valuable_to us than even money.
Someone may say_"your motive_shouldn't just be reputation". But I_think reputation really is_a_type of feedback showing you that_you helped people. If someone said_"Your motive shouldn't just be_to_know_that you've helped people", then_I would say, "Yes, it's an_entirely decent motive_to be on AU with the intention_of_trying to help people and wanting_to_have a solid affirmation that you_actually_did_help people."
I think almost everyone_here agrees with this, including the_people you were having a discussion with in the_post you linked_to in OP (I was_actually_one_of those people.)
I would suggest that it's hardly possible to_be after_only reputation. Reputation_isn't "only" reputation. It's a symbol of something. Is anyone_after just the number? I doubt it._The number itself would be totally meaningless if it didn't represent_something. I believe what people are truly after_is what the number represents