great photo! for some the "competition" seems to the whole point. i try to keep in mind that friends aren't a result of levels.

Gamification is everywhere these days, and many have come to expect it from dating apps. I will help folks up a level, but I am not as concerned about it for myself.

competition itself is definitely healthy, I know personally it drives me to do better, better work, be more innovative, casual competition can make mundane tasks fun, serious competition can and has moved our whole species along

the emphasis our culture puts on winning can be a problem
the way some of us react when we win or are winners can be a real problem
the entitlement that many people feel when they are winners is a real problem

being competitive is not a bad thing, thinking that you are better than or more deserving than another person because you won some competition is one of the bigger issues facing society today (outside of god)

Does it really matter to you what "level" you are? If so, why?

I think competition is healthy when it creates actual benefits. Athletics can drive you to improve physical and mental toughness, elections ideally give you the best candidates (I know...), competitive grants, scholarships, etc. drive is to do our best, most out-of-the-box thinking. Competition at it's pinnacle forces us to be our better selves. Are there negatives that come with it? Sure. The points system here definitely help generate some of the shallow "click bait" posts we've all come across. But in creating more interactions in general, you're bound to get some detritus. It's a case of not throwing out the baby with the bath water.

Why should there be any "competition" for points in the first place? I never looked at the point system as a competition. Am I missing something or is the person with the most points awarded a trip to the moon?

Is this really a competition or a recognition for being a contributor..???

For the most part, I'm with you on this one. Not sure about it being competitive, but I do suspect there is a lot of system gaming going on. Since the site offers points for participation and perks for advancing up the ranks, there are those who would take advantage of that, but where competition would be concerned, I think it would either be easily identified and I would tend to avoid those people. Personally, I use the like feature for responses to my posts, not so much to get points, but to genuinely thank people for providing meaningful comments. I'm not a fan of the 'pointstitution' scheme and will often skip those posts. There's no rush - I'll get up to where you're at soon enough.

I liked it when I got higher level but it was not to pass up someone else it justs shows interaction no bragging rights/

Quality is always worth more than quantity. I think the majority of people here see gaining points as just a bit of fun and have a friendly rivalry with other users - so while they might talk about it and even ask people to give them a bit of a push when they get near to moving up a notch, it's not the be-all and end-all of their membership here and they make interesting posts and replies for their own sake rather than for points (in those cases, I'll often help give them the push to move up). On the other hand, there are undoubtedly a few members here who do seem to be primarily concerned with points and collect them either by making lots of fairly inane points or being deliberately provocative in an attempt to get more replies (this might also be an issue with private groups - it wouldn't be difficult to create one as a points factory, unless points were not awarded in private groups).

So in other words, I don't worry that much. I know the people here who say things worth saying and I read their posts and replies when they make them. If someone has reached a high level by posting rubbish, I'll be aware of them as someone who doesn't post anything particularly interesting and won't pay much attention to them.

I agree with you in that the point system generates some unwanted (really) and unnecessary activity by people who are just point whores. Personally, while I think the point system is fun (and I think I'll be stuck at L7.whatever forever, LOL) I don't post just for the sake of posting and don't comment just for the sake of commenting.

It doesn't bother me that other people ask for help getting points, but I think that when people gain points just for posting "like this post" garbage, it devalues the level system.

The stated purpose for points is to reward people who contribute to the growth of the site. I wonder how much does it contribute to anything just asking for help to gain levels.

The points and levels not really competition as I see it. The fact tht the lower levels have to have posts approved by someone in the higher levels means that the haters wont' stick aroudn here long, and the sie remains a nice place to visit.

If there is a competition, I'm not playing it that way.

Don't so much care about the points, or promoting that. I am really just interested in quality posts which, to me, are thought-provoking, or funny, or musically pleasing, for the most part.

PS: I love the photo!

I do get a kick out this competition for points on here! Since competition is such an inate human instinct maybe it’s their main competitive outlet. Personally I prefer scoring points on the tennis court or golf course.

I don't think about the points as a competition. It actually pushes me to interact a bit more if I feel I've been antisocial for a little too long. If I've been hanging out at the same point level for a while, maybe I need to get more involved and share more. That's a big step for me and the points become a reward for taking that step.

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.

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

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

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.

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)

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.

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.)

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