No, I don't think so..Besides it's not as if the points really count for anything.

No way! AB'ers love to give a shout out just to give a shout out and not for the points. I love it when I get to congratulate someones achievement,birthday or new baby...whatever it is I love that they share it. We are sort of like family here and isn't that what families do?

Seeing as everyone is saying no and being dr'd I know what to expect. No. Why? Because I love it when I see I'm congratulated and I know that I can't be the only one so I want to spread that feeling. So what if a lot of points goes along with it, the person who's congratulated feels good and that's what counts.

No, not most people. I think they want to celebrate and everyone joins in and makes everybody feel nice, especially the one being congratulated. Maybe it doesn't mean much to you but most people like being recognized and make others happy. I'm not just here for the dry knowledge and information. I'm also here for the community atmosphere and the people here as individuals. If we can make someone happy for only a moment by saying "Good job!", why not? So people get points in return, I think we'd still do it at least the ones who care about the community as a whole.

I see that too, it could be, just to get points, or to actualy to say what they are saying, or both, i dont care if they do that just to get points, i feel sorry for them, and its a cheep way to get points, and go way to far like 200 points for saying a quetion like that................rember to always give points to every ABer too if you think they deserve it :)

I hope not. It might SEEM that way to some. Most of the people that ask that questions are genuine in their solidarity. I give the benefit of the doubt to people even if I don't answer all of those questions.

1) I asked one of these questions and I never got so many points for a question (well, my question was somewhat special): http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/404954 2) The rank is not arbitrary, it is Sage or higher, most of the time. I have not yet reached that rank, I am Level 45 Brain, and I can tell you it was much work for me to get there, so I think you deserve to be congratulated for this achievement. 3) 13 out of the most popular 25 questions in last week's leaderboard were congratulations for levels or other achievements. So many Answerbaggers seem to like these questions. They give also some cheap points to the answerers. 4) I am usually not fishing for points, but I do like cheap points at times, other points are sometimes so expensive! 5) A very intelligent question. I think it is good if people spending more time here get more points. And people being friendly and polite too. But maybe it is too much. And some may use these rules just to make points, they will concentrate on answering many questions and these cheap questions, without any interest for the quality. 6) But I think also that these people will not really be appreciated, even if they get many points, and that they are just wasting a lot of their time and energy. I appreciate points, but there are a lot of other things - and people - that I appreciate here, and for which I love this site.

No we give Props to people in all walks of our lives and it is just another nod to them for a 'job well done!" I think the negative points are overdone and should be avoided on questions like these. Some people just don't want to see others happy or congratulated. I would venture a guess and assume that a number of people even avoid making any comment, let alone award them points. Points are the cherry on top. The good wishes/answers are what's important.