What does "reputation" mean on the sidebar?

[Texas88]

What does "reputation" mean on the sidebar? How is it determined?

Sorry to make it a thread; I'll delete it after I get an answer.

Thanks

[margee]

whether people like you or not.  I just gave you a rep point.  It can go positive or negative.  Once you get 50 posts, you can start repping people.

It's effectively stupid, but I suppose some people are gonna use it as another measure of prestige.

And that, my friend, just earned you another rep point

[Texas88]

haha. I love it. So we get to start ranking OURSELVES now, like we've ranked the law schools. Priceless.

We must all give each other points; I don't want anyone at UT to seem TTT. 

[hotdiggity]

I have a terrible rep, because about a month ago there were a couple idiots who made up fake names and started threads about other people on this site.  It was very pathetic, well I stuck up for the person they were talking bad about and they took their revenge the only way they could.  By hitting my reputation every time they could.  Some people here are just that stupid. 

[Texas88]

That's so mean! Why would people do that on an academic/professional message board? Well, wear your reputation as a badge of honor.