Is the race for status affecting the quality of MP ?

Let's ban UA Insider. 1 post and 70 likes, obviously flaunting the system.

Supposedly these status points gains access to a super secret forum not available to us minions. If that forum is just for social talk, then I really don't care about that access. However, if the forum contains additional travel help, MR info, special deals, etc., then yeah, I'd like to be included in that.

Afaik, its only social . Gave you a like on your journey to Original...then hopefully Silver like the rest of us

I think all of this point gathering is despicable...

Please like this post -

I did....not for the post.......but for your signature

Playing games to acquire MP status isn't my deal, but I have no problem with other people who choose to do so.

Personally, I think it is a kick that Gargoyle already have 1,000 status points. WOW! Good for him.

For me, I am content to let my status come as it will.

I continue to be confused why the posting behaviors of others bother the few.

Why don't we just have a status forum? And put all those like-me-like-you status-chasing posts there?

I'm just an amateur. You should see some of the others!

One interesting thing is that, if you post content with long term value, likes will expand geometrically. A single good post could continue to collect likes for years, so if you have 1000 good posts, over time you'll keep gaining status even if you stop posting.

Like that bunny that keeps on going, a good content post will just keep on ticking.

I posted something similar last night, but I am surprised that people are surprised a site for people addicted to getting the most miles/points/status has people on it trying to get the most points&status.

I view this site as a forum where travellers help each other enhance their travel experiences.

I don't need a site for addictions....I just go to my meeting of FFA (frequent flyers anomymous)

Until they start expiring likes!

But then again, It might only require some minor like activity to prevent expiration

I guess finding ways to get the most for nothing is what we are all about or maybe a better way to say that is that we are all try to get the best bang for our buck so it's no surprise that we also do that on this forum too hence people trying to find the best way to get their MP status the fastest and easiest way.

"I'm shocked! Shocked to find out that gambling is going on here!"

That was hilarious.

I have my own educated guess about this topic which I thought best be posted on the Off Topic/Private section and it is entitled "Trying to Out-Game the Consummate Gamers?".

Beta time is play time.

Or in Chimpy's case, BetaTime for Bonzo.

I almost wonder whether the initial reward system wasn't, in fact, designed to encourage a posting frenzy in order to truly betatest the website.

Because I believe that Randy intended the aim of status points to be the identification of those who have positively and substantively contributed to the usefulness of the community.

Does posting a thousand times in the "I want to be liked!" thread contribute to the usefulness of the community?

Of course, as I have said elsewhere, maybe Randy never meant what he said about all of this; and maybe this place is actually supposed to be nothing more than a game of clicking "Like" links as many times as possible, and to hell with the quality of the site's content.

And i would argue it does, which I know strains credulity. But it's a simple reason in my mind: they are forming a community. I've been in the like thread here and there, though certainly not solely, and in all my posts in various other fora there are some people with minimal back and forth. In the like thread I've gotten to talk with, joke with and learn other members who I would never have learned about otherwise and most likely never have talked with. I'll tell you, if that isn't useful to the community please, please, let know what is.

So the site's content goes to pot because of a few fora? How does it infringe upon the other fora and make them less useful?

It certainly tests the platform

seems to me just about every single (major) "complaint" starts with the assumption that nothing is changing. not a good assumption considering beta and all the official statements.