How karma at MobileRead works

[Mindy]

I concur!

[pshrynk]

Perhaps an "Award for Bookish Delights"?

[TadW]

Badges... how do special-purpose achievement badges sound?

[pshrynk]

I'm already first in line for a Top Secret Captain Midnight Decoder Badge for a project they're working on.

[desertgrandma]

Wow, I was under the impression the karma button was for those who were especially helpful and kind on this site. I"ve given Karma to people who answered my questions, or welcomed me warmly, because I thought thats what you were supposed to do. Didn't realize it was meant for certain people. Those who post/upload books, and keep this site running are obviously more than worthy also, will try to remember to 'karma' them. Altho, by their actions, they are already on the fast track to paradise......whatever that may be to them. So someone explain......what is the criteria for giving Karma? I will try to follow the rules so as not to cause such dissension..this site is way to valuable to have little nit picky wars like this.

[vivaldirules]

Thanks, Alexander. I'd love any change in the system that would let us acknowledge and support the worker bees of the forum (you, the mods, several helpful others) and still let us give hugs and kisses, if you like, to those that make us giggle. I come here to give and get info, help, and giggles and I think most people do.

I was counting the seconds until someone posted it but I will: We don't need no steeeenking badges! (that's just a joke, see)

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Alexander Turcic

Can we all try to relax and unwind for a moment? Thank you. First of all, I understand and care about this issue. So I promise I will try my best to work on a solution that everyone could agree on.

On the one hand, we have hard-core members who spend a lot of time and energy actively contributing to our community. For example, our e-book section is only a little over a year old; yet it's been immensely successful and steadily growing thanks to those members who have been so meticulously converting, formatting and sharing with us some of the most outstanding literary works. These members have earned our utmost respect, and it's only natural that we'd like to portray this respect in form of giving them Karma.

On the other hand, we have a growing community where members with an exceptionally diverse set of skills and interest love to hang out and have fun. This is wonderful, and I am very proud of this! I personally find many of the so-called off-topic posts relaxing and refreshing, and certainly I don't want to miss a single one of them. If giving each other Karma turned into some kind of sport, then, at least for me, this is one way of judging how positive and successful our community has become.

So the dilemma is that our Karma system currently serves different purposes.

I propose: We add another award system to specifically honor members with special achievements in our community. This system would go along with Karma points and neither would affect the other.

Before I continue contemplating this solution, I would like to hear your constructive comments. But please, before anything else, let's stop with the accusations and be nice to each other again.

Thanks again!

Alex

aw alex, we'd be nothing without you. thanks for being so indefatigably friendly and level-headed, and most of all for making this wonderful site where we all can be helpful / informative / curious / novices without fear of scorn / silly / absurd / squirrelly. you deserve more completely un-ironic karma than anyone, willy-nilly or otherwise.

Originally Posted by TadW

Badges... how do special-purpose achievement badges sound?

i like that idea ! they could be little icons with different meanings (explained using title tags), like the ICQ icons. we could have a whole set of them, or different levels, like badges plus stars for marking milestones. take a look at some of the member profiles on the site iconbuffet.com if you want a concrete example.

Originally Posted by pshrynk

I'm already first in line for a Top Secret Captain Midnight Decoder Badge for a project they're working on.

yeah, but don't forget i'm first in line to play with it, when you get it ! (and what about my Top Secret Decoder Ring ??)

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

I was counting the seconds until someone posted it but I will: We don't need no steeeenking badges! (that's just a joke, see)

damn ! you beat me to it...

[pshrynk]

Ahem. The proper quote is: "BADGES! We don't need no steenking bagdes!"

[desertgrandma]

"I propose: We add another award system to specifically honor members with special achievements in our community. This system would go along with Karma points and neither would affect the other."

Cool! "Superstar" "Friendliest" "Most Helpful"

[nekokami]

Originally Posted by Alexander Turcic

I propose: We add another award system to specifically honor members with special achievements in our community. This system would go along with Karma points and neither would affect the other.

Before I continue contemplating this solution, I would like to hear your constructive comments. But please, before anything else, let's stop with the accusations and be nice to each other again.

All this sounds great to me. Along with recognizing people who have uploaded large numbers of books, I'd like to be sure to recognize people who have contributed software development to the various device-specific communities. My iLiad is tremendously more useful to me because of those folks, and while I have no problem with giving karma to members for helpful or entertaining posts, I'd like to see some specific recognition for some of these more "serious" efforts.

Regarding the "smiley controversy," I guess I've already indicated in this post where I fall on the spectrum between "Smilies are the rot of all evil" and "posts should consist primarily of smilies." I would add that I find the popcorn smilies invaluable as a humorous way to remind participants that we've seen plenty of certain topics (i.e. DRM) before. I do appreciate that the members here often write at a level that helps considerably in interpreting meaning, but sometimes I think the smilies still help.

[zelda_pinwheel]

i agree neko-chan, it would be excellent to distinguish valorous coders, bookmakers, and other gourous specifically for their inestimable contributions.

not that i'm saying we have to do exactly like them, but here are a couple of examples of some of the iconbuffet badges. on the 2nd photo you can see the tooltip which is visible when you hover over a badge. each badge is for a different milestone. there are dozens, and more are added regularly.

[nrapallo]

My take on this is that karma is nice to receive (and give). I wouldn't want it removed altogether nor abused so that it is becomes meaningless.

In my case, I do what I do, not for the karma, but because I want to do it. Period!

I don't view this as a competition of sorts to see who has the most karma points, though if there was a line where 'free karma' was being offered, I know where I would stand! That's human nature.

It is nice to reward each other for our various special gifts and talents. Case in point, I have never enjoyed nor laughed so hard than while reading some of the threads in the Lounge. Really, VR's avatar switching escapade was priceless - I'm sorry you missed it HarryT. I've already publically stated that the best karma I've given was to Taylor514ce and that I think that zelda_pinwheel is a catalyst that sets Mobileread afire! All truly worthy of the karma given!

Though some might argue we need to restore some balance, I don't view what has already transpired as a "negative" occurence. In fact, the antics here are part of the reason I frequent this ebook community.

And a heart felt thanks, to all who have "lightened us up" as well as "enlightened us"!

p.s. a smiley free message!

[DixieGal]

OK, alls I's saying is: I have a daily allotment of karma to give, and I try to give it out until the limit cuts me off.

I give it for selfish reasons: It makes me feel good to send a little "Thanks!" or "You made me smile" or "I'm thinking of you today" memo to fellow MRers.

I don't have much else to offer in the way of helping, so if a little karma encourages someone else who is working hard for the cause, then I'm satisfied.

[TadW]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

not that i'm saying we have to do exactly like them, but here are a couple of examples of some of the iconbuffet badges. on the 2nd photo you can see the tooltip which is visible when you hover over a badge. each badge is for a different milestone. there are dozens, and more are added regularly.

I like them!!!!!!!!! Could we use them?