I have come to enjoy the Stack Exchange community as a whole over the past few weeks. Originally, I started out seeking computer help from a couple of subcommunities where I could learn and get help with my computer problems. Itself  is a great idea and there are a few forums that offer similar help resources.

What makes Stack Exchange different is that it expands across so many arenas with a single account making it a very expansive place to give and take. For example, I found myself on the English Learning site where I actually have a lot to contribute. I am actually an English teacher but I have computer problems sometimes.

One thing though, the reputation points don't carry over across subcommunities which I think is a bit detrimental and defeating the purpose in a way.

My arguments are:


If the purpose of reputation points is to build a character reference, then shouldn't it be global? For instance, I can be helpful in one community and have a ton of reputation but a complete 'weirdo' in another. Whereas a universal point system wouldn't allow this. Reputation as a whole builds your identity across multiple communities.
I join a new community and I am limited to what I can post (even if my post can be useful or helpful). Specifically, I ran across this during commenting. I had a perfectly viable comment to help a person but wasn't allowed because I didn't have reputation but I had reputation in another community. I had to post it as an answer and then I got 'moderated' by the community on where I should post and was down voted for leaving a comment in the answer area. Thus, losing reputation.
It doesn't seem to create a way for incentives in some cases. For example, I have computer problems and I can't say I am phenominal at solving or answering computer questions. I could ask a question that may not get answered but if I have enough reputation I could put a bounty on it as incentive to get people to answer it. BUT WAIT!! I can't really earn reputation on a computer community to put a bounty on a question because there is nothing I can really answer or be helpful with.


However, I am great at writing, editing and dealing with international students!!! But, what is the sense of me just racking up points in a community when I will hardly need to ask a question much less put a bounty on it? Sure, points are great. It's nice to have a lot of points but what if I need them elsewhere?

So, when I need computer help desperately I can use my reputation collected from another community to put incentive in trying to get a question answered. Essentially, I'm a good guy and helpful at something but I am not a computer whiz. 

Everyone is good at something and thats what the community at large should be in my opinion.

Just my opinion. I used my situation personally to explain but I am sure other people have experienced a similar situation or have had a similar thought.


Question: What does the different coloured smoke in Once Upon a Time mean?
Answer: As far as I know, the meaning behind the colored smoke has never been explained. Each magic user seems to have their own personal color that tinges the magic they do, but if there is any deeper meaning to those colors it has not been specifically addressed.

It has been addressed that the colors are intentionally distinct. Regina recognizes the "green smoke" as being a signature of the Wicked Witch from Oz.

The colors do seem to be chosen intentionally to represent the person that uses them. Zelena's entire motivation now is jealousy (of Regina) so green fits her well, and Rumple is a very angry person, so he gets red. But I don't think it's as simple as the user's emotions choosing their color: remember that Zelena's magic was always green, long before her jealousy emerged and caused her skin to change. And Regina's purple smoke is the color of royalty, fitting her status as Evil Queen, but doesn't really match any of the emotions she tends to exhibit.