Question: I want to camp this summer and do some simple caving.

When you ask a question, you own that question and then when peers answer it you can accept the best answer (in your opinion). This will give the member who put the effort in to give a good answer more reputation. It will also let other people browsing the site a quick way to see the best answer.

Peers can vote on questions and answers that you submit. If you ask a good question or give a good answer other members will vote that contribution up. You will be awarded reputation for each vote you get. You will then begin to build credibility within the Chatter Forum.

If you see a good question or answer then vote it up. This will give reputation to the member who put in the effort to submit a good question or answer. Alternatively, if you see a bad question or answer then vote it down. This will help other members to see at a glance which answers are good/bad.

As you carry out certain tasks you will also be awarded badges. These will again help build your credibility within the Chatter Forum. Please see above for an explanation on badges.