credits/crinkles/diapers going extinct?

[Moo]

As you know, I introduced credits (also known as crinkles) to the site to provide a way for users to track their activity stats better.

Frankly, my main motivation for doing this was that I wanted to encourage people to post more threads. Because, I have found, more threads = more active forum. But there was no way to do this with the existing tools, because thread count isn't displayed anywhere.

I implemented the credits system with a focus on new threads to try to encourage this. But people quickly complained it was yet another ranking system, and one with dubious value.

So I changed it to be a private number only displayed to each individual person. Then people said that since they couldn't compare their score with other peoples', the number was meaningless.

In the end I decided the only solution was to find some way to put a "threads created" counter on postbits and profiles. So, a lot of requests, some php and mysql programming, and lots of reading later... this is done.

Your postbit (the bit on the left next to each post) now shows how many threads you have posted. It also shows how many gallery uploads you've made. Your profile will show both of these things, along with a "threads/uploads per day" counter.

Now that these improvements are in place, I'm considering removing the credits system. Currently it is still installed, but invisible.

On the one hand, having it installed and active means that things are slightly more complicated than they need to be. On the other hand, people might like it.

So... please vote.

[Point Blanch]

I'd be okay with either the second or third option. I just wish there was something we could do with the crinkles - you know, a little shop to buy meaningless trinkets or some kind of nifty thing or maybe extra smilies, stuff like that. I don't really see it as a competitive thing but if it becomes that then hiding it is okay with me.

[ayanna]

I voted enable it and let credit scores be visible to all (or whatever it says (I've forgotten already)).

The reason I did this was 'cause...well...I'm competitive :-D

[Thallis]

I voted no. It's a spam fest waiting to happen.

[Tigger]

It really doesn't make any difference to me, if the system stays then good, if it goes then no matter.

[Lone_Wolf]

I said no also, i agree with Thallis it could be a spamming issue in the future

[Rance]

I didn't use crinkles for any way other than a quick notification to me to let me know, each time I log on, if a conversation I was a part of or a thread that I had started expanded! I know there are other ways to look at those things, but I knew in an instant by seeing that the numbers had changed that there was activity that had happened concerning a thread with which I was familiar.

I voted for keeping them visible and not hiding them. Why not? Numbers are great!

[Corri_aka_Drew]

Well, I said disable them, and uninstall.... due to the fact that they really don't serve much of a purpose.
Unless...
If there was some way to implement them for something..shall I say, fun?
Like maybe little e-prizes Like a custom avatar, Dj for a day (still getting the server tweaked), Extra smiles, access to a secret forum like the VIP, or for those java scripters out there maybe a little "room" that you use crinkles to deck out, and a crinkle lottery.
Just floating ideas....cause all I see right now is a number.

[Martin]

I don't like the idea of credits to be used for buying stuff etc. because I think it'll be a hinder for what I think this community is so great for: Just being a tight community where the main thing it's all about is the other members. See it as a community center (how we are now) VS a mall (how it'll be when we implement that.)

Like I said, I think adding that will take the focus off each other and put it on what you can buy etc.

[Lukie]

Right now, credits are pretty much useless to me. A store or something is an okay idea, but I wouldn't be thrilled about it. Either way, I'm still going to come here and post as I always have.