Internet's first get-out-of-debt community - 123,000 members

All of the admin here realize together that we were in error to post the individuals names who were manipulating the points system and we do apologize for any humiliation that this may have caused. Our technical team is in the process of creating a moderators forum which will be password protected, so that moderators and admin can privately discuss issues in the future. In the meantime we will be deleting the thread that I started in hopes of converting what was negative into something more positive. Managing such a large community is a tremendous task, and Denny, Mike, Jason and myself are only human beings and we learn and grow each day.

In the spirit of democracy and what makes this community unique, we are asking all of you to participate in this poll, which will remain for 4 days. There are two options to choose from:

1.) We continue to give our new members during their first day of posting extra points for each post as an incentive for them to remain and grow in our community. By choosing this option, please understand that any current members who create multiple accounts, post for a day, and donate the points to themselves will be permanently banned in a private manner. Names nor evidence will never be displayed outside of the new private moderators forum that is being created.

2.) We will discontinue giving our new members additional points for their first day of posting. (Rather than earning $10.00 in their first day, they may earn $1.00.) By choosing this option, please understand that the three members who were banned yesterday for manipulating the points system will be unbanned.

I for one recognize and appreciate the generosity that Denny has displayed in sharing the adsense revenues with our community, knowing that he could very well be putting this money into his company or his own wallet. I want our community to grow and I think that the extra points that are being given to our new members is a very nice gesture and I would like to see this continue. Needless to say I am starting the vote off by voting for Option #1.

Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 12:27 am Subject:

Vote #1...To Give I kinda feel like a campaign manager... Confused

Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 1:34 am Subject:

I think it is great to give new members extra points in their first day. It makes them want to stick around......

Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 3:18 am Subject:

Polly,

Great job, you are truely a kind and giving person. I vote for #1. Just in itself, when I came here, I felt that someone through out a "life safer" and pulled me into this beautiful boat and safed me. I love all of you and thank god for all of you every day. God Bless and...........

All the Best,
james

Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 4:11 am Subject: To give or not to give

I vote for #1. Although I do not have time to be
on this site much, I agree you should keep #1.
Keep up the good work Polly.

Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 4:18 am Subject:

I also vote for number 1 even though up until about 2 weeks ago i didn't even know what these points were for! lol
Good job admins!
Ang

Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 4:43 am Subject:

Although it saddened me to believe that anyone, whomever, would manipulate the system as such...I think the point system should remain. There are many here to whom a few extra dollars are very important and I do believe it encourages participation. I promised myself I would save the points and after cashing them in would donate the money to a womans shelter...to help women out of another situation I am familiar with. With the situation I am in with ipdls I wouldn't be able to help if it wasn't for the points I earn here.

Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 4:45 am Subject:

Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 4:59 am Subject:

I too vote for #1
It is not fair to penalize everyone, especially new members, for the actions of others.

Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 5:16 am Subject:

Extra points for a new member may be a good incentive. I also realize I can't have my cake and eat it too.

I, like most members, didn't even know what the points were for until I was here for about 2 months. Needless to say I kept posting my first day, not because I was trying to rack up points, but because I had knowledge to impart. Along those lines, does it really serve a purpose if newbies don't really know they are earning "extra" points that first day?

If a tree falls in the woods, and nobody is around to hear it, does it make noise? If 99% of newbies don't know about the point system, or even that they get more points in that first day, then do they really feel betrayed when we turn off the extra points?

Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 5:21 am Subject:

Debt even if new people don't know about the points, as i didn't, can u imagine the surprise when u find out! It was a pleasant surprise and a much needed one for many!!
Ang - not trying to be argumentative just pointing out

And P.S. If a tree fell in the wood's we'd probably blame it on global warming and NOT care if anyone heard it! lol (sorry, j/k)

Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 5:30 am Subject:

LOL you're right we would be blaming the pollution from our cars. Yes, it was a pleasant surprise when I found out about the points. I just consider that "any" handouts would be appreciated, so even if the rules change there is still a pleasant surprise to be had.

Suppose under proposed rule-makine #2, a newbie has 2000 points before they realize what the points really are ($20). Do they realize then, that under today's rules, it could have been 3000 points? Do they look back in time and see their posts used to be worth more on the first day, and then feel betrayed?

Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 5:43 am Subject:

As a newbie myself....I also didn't know what the points were for...and just recently found out about the extra for the first day...so it wouldn't have mattered to me one way or the other. I came here for help..not for points and I believe this is true of everyone I have met on here. I can see both sides and will not be disappointed either way this vote falls. I think in keeping #1 and correcting the use of multiple names solves a problem that would be/is hurtful to the rest of the community. I too am saddened at the loss of members who were very helpful to me but have always felt the need to play by the rules. Isn't that one of the reasons we are all here? Just my opinion...

Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 5:54 am Subject:

My repeated posting are not meant to inflame anyone here or point fingers. Morningstarr you have a good point. I believe in playing by the rules too. But there never was a rule that said members couldn't have more than 1 user account. We/Admin created that rule after-the-fact and then applied it as reason for banning members. How can you play by rules that don't exist?

I would love to vote for #1. But since #2 is the only way to unban valuable members, that is why I choose.

Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 5:58 am Subject:

But c'mon Debt.... it's NOT the point of having more than one user id! Can u see this? I, also, have never cashed in my points, i have donated them to someone who needed more than i!
We're all adults here and can agree to disagree and still have respect for each other...
Ang
P.S. Glad u got my silly sense of humor, after posting it, was sweating a little! ha ha Just trying to lighten the mood here.... Smile

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