I just posted a comment on a blog by an ActiveRainer to whom I subscribe because I care about what he says. He is an Eco-Broker whose perspective I respect, and I learn stuff from him that I don't find elsewhere. He asks this question - the one in the title of this blog -and then goes on to say he's starting another blog where no one cares about points. If that means he won't be contributing to Active Rain any more, I'll miss him. He makes a difference here, as so many members do.
In a way, I sometimes feel that attacks on ActiveRain points are attacks on ActiveRain high-pointers, almost personal insults. I can't take that lying down any more, so here's my feedback:
Most people don't go bowling to accumulate points. While some do care about their scores, most just wanna have fun. ActiveRain is kinda like that.
You may assume that participation of ActiveRain high-pointers is all about those points. The truth is quite different - most just participate, and the points automatically come.
If critics would do a little investigating, they would find that most high-pointers have made MANY more comments than they ever received points for. They've received many more points than one gets for "just" posting blogs - and that's because they write quality content that gets featured every now and then AND they earn lots of points from
other people commenting on those quality posts.
Many of us (maybe MOST of us) also give back to the community - by volunteering as group founders or moderators, contest judges, and the like.
People who are motivated solely by ActiveRain points, or sit around complaining about them, aren't here to learn and share or even socialize with others on ActiveRain. Those members usually get bored fairly quickly and just stop participating. (Or... sometimes they realize it's more fun to actually participate, and they end up as high-pointers themselves.)
What a wasted opportunity to enhance one's exposure, to learn and to share, when they do drop off of ActiveRain! (Not to mention the fun of racking up all those points.)
Before bashing points or blaming them for all that may be "wrong" with ActiveRain, critics should ask themselves if the problem is really the point system, or their own outlook.
If you're honest with yourself, you'll realize that members who have accumulated a lot of points on ActiveRain tend to have a positive attutude, good writing skills, good content, personality, and they're not judgemental (except at this moment, I admit to being judgmental - just this once) ... and ActiveRain points are not their main goal in life.
Kinda like bowling - you go for the fun, the comraderie, the exercise - seldom for the points. But you get them for playing the game. Of course, you could always play golf or tennis, or watch football, hockey or basketball...
Oh yeah, they have points, too. 'Just can't get away from 'em!
! It's the downfall of a lot of agents. I would stay as far away from that one as I could. They only have 2 associates, and the comments have been made on their blogs. They think points are evil and don't want any because they don't have any! They should go play somewhere else as my friend Gena said. It's all total CRAP!
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