word choice - What's a less offensive substitute for "rep-whores"?


This is a frequently thrown-around term on Internet forums in general and Stack Exchange specifically. Although it conveys a lot of meaning, I'd much prefer a phrase with a less offensive origin.


Urban Dictionary defines a "rep-whore" as:



A person who is obsessed with their status on an internet forum so bribes/ does favours for members of that forum in an attempt to achieve higher rep points.



Is there a nicer alternative phrase?


This is not a Help Vampire, who is more concerned with having others solve their problems.


It's not merely What do you call someone who is addicted to a Q&A website?. I'm not interested in how to deal with "rep-whores", but what to call them.



Answer



If you want to put a positive spin on it without straying too far from the sound, try rep-hound.


From



hound n
1.1 [with modifier] A person who avidly pursues something:
'he has a reputation as a publicity hound'



(see Oxford Dictionaries: hound)


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