The reputation system was patched a while ago to not affect the score when given in the Geeks' Lounge. Nevertheless, time keeps proving, again and again, that the ability of giving reputation in the Geeks' Lounge is more of an instrument of discord than anything else, were the system is abused to just cowardly show discontent, intolerance and trolling behavior without accountability.
It provides the opportunity for the most part to just "throw the stone and hid the hand".
I'll say let's eliminate it from the forums that are just for casual and not so casual conversation, but that opinions is just that, an opinion, and should not be rated by the simple fact you don't agree with it.
Instead let the offended or discomforted, the stubborn and the quick to argue make a real effort in defending his/her position, by exposing his/her argument in a real post.