Rewarding users for their posts

Webnauts · #1 (**permalink**) 06-06-2006, 09:29 PM

I saw a brilliant users reward system at www.googlecommunity.com.

More about see here: http://www.googlecommunity.com/about1744.html

What do you think?

sands · #2 (**permalink**) 06-07-2006, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Webnauts

I saw a brilliant users reward system at www.googlecommunity.com.

More about see here: http://www.googlecommunity.com/about1744.html

What do you think?

Er....... all I saw was this message:
You are not allowed to access this forum. Do not panic!
If you feel this message is appearing in error, please contact the webmaster for more information.

Anyway, here you help while you learn! Isn't all the stuff you get to learn here enough of a reward? :-)

**mike** · #3 (**permalink**) 06-07-2006, 03:15 AM

I tried to get there too but couldn't. I'll try it again tomorrow - maybe they're having some issues?

Generally speaking though, something just feels a little fake about incentivizing forum participation thru some sort of rewards system. The inevitable result is that you have people participating not neccessarily out of interest in the forum or community but out of interest in a reward of some sort.

It can certainly be done, I am just not a fan of the concept myself. I just think it kinda undermines the idea of community. That and I think you are opening yourself up to a huge increase in spam and other 'junk' posts. We get more of those than I care to see as it is. I can only imagine what it'd be like... if people think posting = getting me something. Makes my skin crawl a little to be honest.

Now, understand I haven't been able to see your link yet and I certainly will give it a look. But that's my 2 cents on the concept going in.

Webnauts · #4 (**permalink**) 06-07-2006, 03:20 AM

Well, sorry for that. It was just an idea. But it would be worth to have a look how it works.

**mike** · #5 (**permalink**) 06-07-2006, 03:27 AM

I got to the site finally. They have some network issues or something going on I think. I have seen mods similar to this just here in the last week or so when I was putting things back together here at WebProWorld.

I wish them all the success in the world but it aint gonna happen here. The potential for abuse is simply too high. I have a laundry list of reasons beyond the abuse factor but I don't think it would be appropriate (let alone cool) for me to sit here and pick on some other forum's policies/practices. Not my bag really.

Thanks for the suggestion though. I do appreciate the thought.

Webnauts · #6 (**permalink**) 06-07-2006, 03:46 AM

Got the point Mike. You are right! Lets forget it. :)