Context:
Slashdot
The points system awarded to slashdot users for posting on Slashdot and stimulating intelligent discussion. The system is used to award consistently good posters
points to increase the base score of their initial posts.
A filtering system will allow Slashdot users who dont
want to see the whole picture to read only the highest
scoring posts.
The system is not perfect however, and just like a truly democratic system, lends voice to the mainstream line of thought at the expense of those that make one think.
Like any system, it can be hacked on, such as via the slashdot karma collection formula.