Ok,
I've noticed from a few recent places how people have been saying how much Toribash is declining now and how great it was back in the "glory days" (2008 or so) with all the "tc flowing like rivers" and "artists fighting over requests" and I was wondering, what was different about Toribash then that has changed now? What was there that caused everyone to stand up so much straighter. Try so much harder. Put in so much more effort?

It was recognition. People, naturally, want to be praised, respected, noticed etc...And that's what the rep system provided. It was an every day peer judging tool that awarded you for good and smacked you on the hand for doing bad.

If you were good, you get encouragement and if you were bad, people let you know so that you could lift your game. Since that's gone now, there's nothing to strive for. Nothing to achieve.

So lets discuss the effectiveness of the rep system, its problems, and how it would affect the community were it brought back. Also discuss the differences between bringing the rep back from where it left off as opposed to resetting everyone and starting fresh.

Poll attached is just out of interest to see if you guys would like the rep system back.

TL:DR
Talk about the rep system Toribash used to have.

I'm down, last time I checked my rep said that I was "A diamond in the rough"
Lets do it ;)

Also discuss the differences between bringing the rep back from where it left off as opposed to resetting everyone and starting fresh.

I'd like to have it the way it was left back then. I mean it could show us how we were back then and make us think about how much we've changed since then.

Referring to the most recent one.

The inherant problem with the rep system, as has been stated before, was that people farmed it.
As soon as it was re-introduced a little while ago, people would just farm it and within days be able to gloat at the sheer amount of rep they had, when they didn't deserve it.
Not only that, but often people would just rep up their friends, and forget about other people. Regardless of whether they deserved it (or they were even trying to farm it) or not.
In addition, i can imagine people who frequently posted in discussion got disproportional amounts of rep change.
If people disagreed with what the other person said, then their way of countering, without writing an argument would be to down-rep that person, who may just be expressing their view in a totally legit way.
Having said that, if it could be harnessed properly, then i think it could be quite cool.
For example, every time you gave someone rep you had to put a reason, and so it took a bit longer to give rep.
Also if the reason was 1 word or something, you could have some kind of mod reverse it.
Although i imagine that would be terribly time consuming.

Hi, I would very much like the reputation system to return for a simple reason. When I did use the market actively it was actually useful because it let you see who you could trust or not. Someone with a good reputation is very unlikely to turn out to be a scammer or cause problems with finishing the deal.
The market can use that.

Bring it back, it sounds cool, but if you can wipe out the problems like rep farming, then do it please.

I joined a bit after the rep system was taken out, so this is the opinion (or more of a suggestion) from an outsider's point of view.

So I was thinking how about making a limit to how many times you can give somebody rep. That way it has more of a meaningful value. 3 points per month or something really strict, so farmers at least don't have it as easy.

Posting grey list for rep. Min: 10 posts.

And accounts with the same IP can't give each other rep.

That's the way I see it working really.

Also, people with a rep moderating job might be a bit sketchy especially if they're allowed to control the amount of rep somebody has.

Floop78 has some good points.
If certain restrictions were put in place it would work like the system should.
Of course, any mention of rep in posts would be against the rules since it's meant to be a natural like system, and not a fishing pond.

Also, what would you think about having rep enabled in only certain areas of the forum where it would be good.
For example, no rep in discussion because as others have said, if someone disagrees with you they'll just -rep you.
But there could be rep in the market so that users can see easily whom they can trust and who is deemed by their peers to be better.