Badges and Points

[Giulia]

To my understanding this new "gaming" concept for our community is quite different than the last - uh, shall I call it "awards" system on the old platform.  On the Elgg platform anyone would get a "badge" just for joining the community.  Then they'd get one for posting a blog.  So spammers would have two badges to begin with.  Thus making the whole idea of badges irrelevant.

What is the intent of this new system of badges and points?  Perhaps a "badges and points" blog or commentary could be put up in the help section to explain a little more about the psychology behind it.  As was quite evident when the bad badges came into being in the first place and the community's reaction, you're going to have to win us over on this one.

To my understanding this new system is based more on actual earned accolades, so that the "system" is less likely to be misused and abused.  But then - once it's understood that you get points for the amount of "likes" you receive (for example), everybody and their friends are going to be "liking" everything or awarding badges - just because.  Which will then make the points and badges irrelevant too.  No?

[Mike.n.Atlanta]

So when I look at my standing on the leaderboard, there's a green number next to my point total. What does this number represent?

KOKO,

[crazymama_Lori]

it's the daily point accumulation, for what I have yet to figure out

[susan_m]

Right - or, sometimes it's a point deduction - that's alarming, LOL!

[CommunityAdmin]

If you're really naughty you might lose points for certain naughty behaviors  

Also as mentioned above when you awards someone with a badge and points. 

Mark

[susan_m]

Have I been naughty??!??  I sure hope not!  

[CommunityAdmin]

Doubtful.  We don't really have any troublemakers here on the site. I remove spammers when I encounter them.  In some communities, when you break the rules, points are debited from the members account.  There is no points debited for things like that at this time.  Hopefully there won't be a need for that.

Mark
EX Community Manager

[CommunityAdmin]

Updated: Fixed spelling error.

For your contributions around the site for the current day. Most everything has a point value associated.  It's social currency.  

When you you give a badge and send points with it it will reduce your daily gain and increase the recipient's. 

Mark

[susan_m]

All,

I "caught up" on this thread this morning, and would like to again give my favorite Stephen Covey quote: "The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing".  The main thing is to QUIT SMOKING and to STAY QUIT.  Are badges, points and leader boards contributing to that?  If we have smokers at they very top of the leader board, then the answer is NO.  If the leader boards were maintained and monitored as a resource to help those connect to very active members when first visit our site, then the answer is YES and we'd all be in support of it.  

As for the "gaming" concept of points, levels and badges - quitting smoking is not a game.  Anyone who thinks that a gaming approach will help someone trying to quit has likely never tried to quit.  As Lori stated moments ago, this is a support site - not candy crush.  None of us care about our points.  

I personally like the new platform, but really think we missed the mark on the gaming concept.  If ex-Exers are on the leader boards (I am sorry to hear that anyone lost their quit and now smokes), they need to be removed.

[CommunityAdmin]

/blogs/Mark-blog/2017/01/31/thanks-for-your-initial-feedback?sr=search&searchId=4d28d72d-49e1-444b-8...‌  Please have a read of my blog post from earlier today.  We've made some changes.  

Mark
EX Community Manager

[Mike.n.Atlanta]

HUZZAH!!! I'm number 53!!!