Guess I'm more of a cooperative kind of person, except when playing card or board games but those aren't that important. ?

Competition? I never really thought about it that way. I'm here to benefit from the accumulated knowledge and experiences of all the members here. And have fun, which is exactly what in getting. Didn't even notice my level until I achieved level 5! Then I checked and saw that most of my points come from talking to people about what interests me. I only make a post when I need advice haha different strokes for different folks I suppose. Do we get super powers at level 10. Lol

I think competition breeds success. This site is not competition. As for posting "provocative" items, provocative is in the eye of the beholder and some people actually have thought provoking ideas. One of the purposes for the site.

Very interesting point. I raised a point that displeased rather conservative members who were all to willing to send volleys of insults my way. So i got rewarded for being a shit stirrer.
I made similar experiences in real life where i was given peanuts for tasks that would have dignified an ape and for some monkey jobs i was rather handsomely rewarded.
It was as an illiterate that I was given the most financially rewarding jobs, combined with other perks. In contrast for really good work I was often not paid at all.
Here at least the points are given whether I excrete verbal garbage or something slightly better.
Pecunia non olet ... neither do points.

I am here for interaction, for conversation, and for pissing off conservatives. Oh wait, I meant for community. I love how the conversations can range and the stuff I learn. I love hearing the opinions of others. I love the support and the camaraderie that has developed. The points are nice, but I'm not here for the points. I am not so focused on getting points that I'm going to spend more time here. I've been out of work/retired for a week. I've got other stuff I want to get done. If I was driven by points I'd be here more. I just don't/can't multitask like that. I've been here for about 9 months and I don't have plans to drop off anytime soon. I'll just keep plugging along and let the points come as the come.

I enjoy competition, with the provision that it's not life or death so I don't take it more seriously than a fun challenge.

This site rewards people with high levels by making them work. It's fairly easy to get to level 8 without really trying. It's a long way to level 9, and IMO only obsessive people would actively work towards it.

I’m not sure that points or no points makes a difference to discussion and discourse. Doesn’t make an interaction more or less valid!

Never thought of this site as a competition but healthy competition I see to be a good thing it brings out the creativeness of those involved.

Enjoy your points!!

So is this just a post to gain points then? Maybe i shouldn't reply ?...shit, too late now ?. Nice beach though ?

If you are talking competitions like American idol I think the idea is beyond ludicrous. It is like blaming someone for not having a gift of talent when they are rejected. On the other hand giving a goal to achieve that all can achieve a little completion is welcome to encourage others to complete a given task and reap the rewards of satisfaction.

Yep, there is a lot of padding going on. Posts about nothing, not even aimed at creating any controversy. Dumb posts. Lots of stuff. I don't pay any attention other than to ask occasionally what someone means or consider why in hell they even bothered. People are people and any site represents a microcosm of our civilization. I think we're fortunate here in that, because of the site's nature, we are spared a certain amount of what is aggravating elsewhere.

Points? I haven't even checked them yet. I'm shocked I haven't already been kicked off this site like I was on Facebook and Twitter and aol. ?

in what way is it even a competition? in a competition there are winners and losers. here, no one loses points when you gain them, or even fails to win them when you gain them. we're not competing for the points. we're being rewarded for our activity, independently of each other's rewards. that is not competition.

yes there are people who take the points so seriously that they post garbage just to get the points. that's rude. there are rude people in the world. this may seem like another world but it's just another part of the world; you can't come here and expect to escape rude people. but their rudeness, while annoying, does not prevent you from gaining points, nor take away the points you have already gained.

it's not a competition.

g

This is the sort of thing that pops into my head all the time.

It's nice to have a place to share it where maybe a few people will appreciate it.

Yes when we get near a level - we want the points to level up if we notice it happening.. most of the time someone else tells me. Ok I'm at 8.9...

But I'm not changing my style. I just might mention I've got another Level 7 and a half to go...

Your post is just a thinly veiled attempt at getting more points. Nice try. ?

Honestly, I didn't even know what the points meant. I don't think I still do (or care).

With or without points, you're gonna get people who, in your view, post in a frivolous manner. I personally don't find it to be detrimental or distracting, but we all roll in our own lanes. Maybe the administrators can make it so the display of any points is an option you can toggle if you ask them. And honestly, I want that purple t-shirt. (Got a ways to go, however.)

At this point, the points system (and the idea of levelling up) is all that keeps me here.

After being treated downright horribly by certain members who seem to feel they are high priestesses of this place (quite ironically), and the complete and total lack of response from admin, coupled with connecting with members who aren't completely horrible people off-site, the points are literally the only thing keeping me here.

In my short time here it seems to me the point system "pros" seem to outweigh the "cons. "..
As was mentioned above (below?) Once a person hits level 3 it's not a major incentive ..
Sure .. some are just trying to level up, but I think seeing interaction (even if it's not high quality ) is better then some groups getting nothing..
(If that makes any sense)

The possible issue I see is people assuming those that interact a lot, whether through posting, commenting, showing appreciation for someone sharing by offering a like, or whatever, is doing it to accumulate points.

My 2 cents is on a community site, people shouldn't be made to feel like they're doing something wrong for communing. I'm assuming moderators keep an eye out for spammers.

Good post. I find the comments interesting in their contradictory nature. heh

Lots of replies to this - did you post just for points?

No one has a performance obligation here. Those who are motivated by influencing a semi-objective measurement of desired performance (basically, engagement and commitment to site community-building) can do it. Those who aren't so much ... don't have to.

In real life (IRL) I am not a very competitive person, other than perhaps with myself. I think some people may misconstrue self-competitiveness as something to take personally though.