I've been using forums for quite some time and the one thing I will never understand is why there are forum "awards" for posting, being nice, taking out the admin's dogs for a walk. Isn't this just a place for communication? Are there situations in RL where people strive for similar feedback within their compendium of conversation? I'm interested to know if anyone else questions the absurdity of the whole thing... maybe I'll receive an award for this post!! *Hopes*

*not really*

Well, the way I see it is, it doesn't require any extra effort on my part. The admins decided they wanted to program something like that in, that's their labor.
It doesn't hinder me.

... Huh?

are you bashing the badges we have here, because I, for one, think they're awesome

Have you got some problem with our badges?

Ninja'd Toughie clan'd

I was pleased when I got my Socialite badge. It's kinda fun to get one.

It's when some idiot is gonna start using the badges as proof of credibility, then it's gonna become a problem.
You know, when someone says something like, "You don't have such and such badge, so your opinion means less than mine. I win."

theghostofsin:
Ninja'd Toughie clan'd

Yes! the Toughie Clan lives outside the Purple rain thread!!

Shoots gun into air

it's a question... not a bash... I'm just curious how the culture evolved to this point.

I've setup my own php forums in the past and have had fun with the badges and such... just wondering what people think about them in a candid discussion.

why the immediate defensiveness?

I remember a time without badges here at The Escapist...
However, as I don't know when they were started up that's rather pointless since it could have been the day before I started posting after a few month break.

As for the point of the thread, I will quote the first reply as my own reply as well.

SargentToughie:

theghostofsin:
Ninja'd Toughie clan'd

Yes! the Toughie Clan lives outside the Purple rain thread!!

Shoots gun into air

It lives everywhere, if there is another election thread it should contend, we aready have a recruitment poster...

Quel0:
I've been using forums for quite some time and the one thing I will never understand is why there are forum "awards" ... Isn't this just a place for communication?

Because, as the shepherds of the site, those things you mention are things we want to have more of here. So we add in code that encourages people to do the things we want them to do. It is utterly transparent, shameless, and fun.

Also, creating them entertains us.

Say's one of the people with the best badges, the staff ones

Virgil:

Also, creating them entertains us.

Earning them is pretty good-o as well.

Virgil:

Quel0:
I've been using forums for quite some time and the one thing I will never understand is why there are forum "awards" ... Isn't this just a place for communication?

Because, as the shepherds of the site, those things you mention are things we want to have more of here. So we add in things that encourage people to do the things we want them to do. It is utterly transparent, shameless, and fun.

Also, creating them entertains us.

Shepherds is an appropriate term. No offense to anyone, but those who say, "I'm gonna participate in so many forums just because I want a badge." Pretty sheepish behavior. But like I said, doesn't hinder me.

TheGhostOfSin:
Say's one of the people with the best badges, the staff ones

Yeah, that gear one is pretty cool looking.

Virgil, you should make a Banhammer badge for the mods.

Silent Biohazard Solid:
Shepherds is an appropriate term. No offense to anyone, but those who say, "I'm gonna participate in so many forums just because I want a badge." Pretty sheepish behavior. But like I said, doesn't hinder me.

Oh, certainly, that's what at least a portion of the people are going to do. But the real intent of that is to get people to at least look at some of the other forums.

If someone who normally only comments on articles takes a look at the rest of the forums and decides to join in on a more regular basis, then that makes it worth while. And if they only jump around and post once or twice just to get the badge, no harm done.

TheGhostOfSin:
Say's one of the people with the best badges, the staff ones

Well, I did build the thing. Only the gears are staff-only though. The others are automatically awarded if you get an article or review published, so if you want them, check the user reviews forum or the submissions page.

TheGhostOfSin:
Virgil, you should make a Banhammer badge for the mods.

I think there's a few other staff badges being worked on - that might be one. They're lower priority though, so it takes a while.

Alas, I shall never get one of the best badges as I am a decididly poor writer, a paragraph is quite a lot for me, nevermind several hundred words...

TheGhostOfSin:

SargentToughie:

theghostofsin:
Ninja'd Toughie clan'd

Yes! the Toughie Clan lives outside the Purple rain thread!!

Shoots gun into air

It lives everywhere, if there is another election thread it should contend, we aready have a recruitment poster...

we may have to edit it when another election appears though... it mentions Ninjas, but I agree, next time the escapist holds an Election, the Toughie clan shall run

EDIT: you heard it here first... escapist

SargentToughie:

we may have to edit it when another election appears though... it mentions Ninja's

Well that all depends on who else runs doesn't it.

TheGhostOfSin:

SargentToughie:

we may have to edit it when another election appears though... it mentions Ninja's

Well that all depends on who else runs doesn't it.

*in fear of being hit by the banhammer for derailment*

so we all agree, the badges are rather cool

(Ghostofsin...*Checkyourinbox, cough*)

I'm not disputing the "cool" factor of it all. In fact, I find the awards given to be much more appropriate than post count. Aside from that though, I just find the subject interesting since I could care less if this was just all plain text or I was awarded a "partypooper" award or somesuch.

My guess is that most of them work as achievements and some work as way of encouraging the user to follow the rules.

For example, the badges given for simple things such as updating your profile or getting a personal profile picture is to introduce you to the awarding system.
You find them neat and you'll probably want more.

Then there's the badges for posting in several forums or for commenting on a number of topics, I'm guessing these badges are for rewarding and encouraging the user to stay in this forum and to become a regular.

Then there's the badges for example "100 posts without moderator wrath" as well as "thread with over 100 replies", these badges awards the user for following the rules and for making threads that people don't find utterly useless.

Dunno they just appeared they're nice thats about it lol.

Virgil:
Because, as the shepherds of the site, those things you mention are things we want to have more of here. So we add in code that encourages people to do the things we want them to do. It is utterly transparent, shameless, and fun.

Also, creating them entertains us.

Ya beat me to it, darn xP

They're rewards for not being a jerk. I think it's a great idea.

Now that we're at the topic... what's going on with that forum vagabond badge? How can you post in 10 different forums when there are only 7? Mysterious...

poleboy:
They're rewards for not being a jerk. I think it's a great idea.

Now that we're at the topic... what's going on with that forum vagabond badge? How can you post in 10 different forums when there are only 7? Mysterious...

WarCry forums, I think.

Quel0:
why the immediate defensiveness?

Precioussssss!

Though in all seriousness, I'd wager the defensiveness is in direct proportion to your original post starting 'on offense' by calling it absurd. You may not have intended to come across that way, but your choice of words communicated that.

Regarding the Vagabond badge:
http://www.warcry.com/forums/

Personally I love the badges. The badges are part of what attracted me here. Small rewards for taking part in discussions and becoming part of a community. The old Weeble & Bob forums used to have a currency that you earned for posting. You could spend your money on account enhancements. Keep up the cool work on the badges mods!

ah yes... i should have worded it better... from my perspective it does seem a little absurd, maybe I should have used superfluous. I apologize if I did insult anyone with that. Really I just find it unique and culturally capricious how forums have evolved and was interested in if other people feel somewhat the same on the matter.

Dammit... I got a badge...

And I was hoping they're be a badge that says "Anti-Badge" made for me =)

Quick ones to get are by having an avatar and posting a bio.

You get badges in real life as well except they're usually stories.

"Remember when Quel0 drank that drink we couldn't?"
"Remember who he woke up with?"

That sort of thing. :)

I've never been that fussed over the badges.. I dont think I'll go out of my way to get them.. Does anyone?

Awards make me feel "Spekal"

You put a bunch of people in one place in communication with eachother, you're going to get a community.
You put a bunch of gamers in one place, you're going to get badges/awards/achievements/goals.
Makes sense, I think.