They build up slowly, because certain features are available only after one full hubwheel has been filled. That way, it's easier to not let bots come in and start gumming up the works. The theory goes, if you've accrued a full wheel, then you're probably a good contributor who's been around for a while. Also, there's no such thing as negative scores here. It's kind of our philosophical bedrock. If people don't like your contribution, then they won't follow you.
I went back and forth with mk when we designed the hubwheel (as the karma/clout sort of meter) about it being faster to accrue, but he insisted on it taking a while (but it used to take even loooonger) and I now fully agree. It should take some investment in the site before that thing makes a full rotation. But once it does, you are definitely in. organicAnt, you will have your first badge to give and you will be able to add community tags to posts. Given the amount that I've seen you engaging the community, I would guess that you aren't too far off. Right?there's no such thing as negative scores here. It's kind of our philosophical bedrock.
Well said. I would add that on many sites, points are accrued so quickly and easily that it becomes about earning points rather than submitting quality content and engaging in a meaningful way. Titles become bombastic and people tend to agree with one another just to garner fake internet points.
I totally agree and I'm by no means complaining about the reward system here on hubski. I'm just trying to understand it better. Yep, 2 dots for a full hubwheel. I also want to add that, despite not having been around for long, I'm really enjoying the hubski experience. Even though I started with the wrong foot and came on too strongly on my first couple of comments (thenewgreen will remember), I feel quite welcomed. I also feel a bit isolated regarding certain topics but I'm sure this will be resolved as the community grows, which I'm sure will happen sooner rather than later since there's a real unique warmth in this community nonexistent somewhere else....on many sites, points are accrued so quickly and easily that it becomes about earning points rather than submitting quality content and engaging in a meaningful way.
I would guess that you aren't too far off. Right?
I also feel a bit isolated regarding certain topics but I'm sure this will be resolved as the community grows, which I'm sure will happen sooner rather than later since there's a real unique warmth in this community nonexistent somewhere else.
Thanks for the kind words. I have enjoyed having your perspective in conversations. If there are topics that you care about but that you think lack the following here, by all means invite others to swing on by. This is how we have grown, by word of mouth. Glad you're here oA.
Thank you thenewgreen, that's kind of you. I have been trying to spread the word about hubski (in Twitter for example), but unless people are unhappy with their current social sites and looking for alternatives, they tend to ignore it. I've got to work on my persuasive skills : ) As an afterthought, I wonder how big the community is right now. It'd also be nice to see how many users are online at any one time. Any thoughts from devs?
I'm loving this speed that it's at right now. In fact, it's making me take a step back- analyzing how I can slow down my internet experience and declutter. Followers, points, and reblogs aren't as satisfying as this process, which was completely unexpected. It's probably that unique warmth that organicAnt is talking about.I went back and forth with mk when we designed the hubwheel (as the karma/clout sort of meter) about it being faster to accrue, but he insisted on it taking a while (but it used to take even loooonger) and I now fully agree.
Right now I believe it's just the ability to badge someone's post or comment (since you get a badge to give out every time you fill a hubwheel) and contribute to the community tag on posts. We're working on ways to better inform people about the new features, as they aren't the most obvious unless you stare at hubski all day like some of us do :P
Thank you b_b, that's helpful. Do you have any thoughts on my last comment to thenewgreen?
Currently, we have somewhere around 8000 users, so definitely a small corner of the internet, but I can't really say how many people are on at any particular time. Of course we appreciate any users who is promoting Hubski to their friends and acquaintances. Spreading by word of mouth is all we've ever done, so keep it up! We've never tried any advertising or promoting, because we like the people we attract naturally, and we feel like active promotion might attract the wrong crowd. Even 8000 we're proud of right now, because when mk started Hubski (I think in early 2011) it was just him, his wife and a few buddies. Our main growth spurts have happened when well known redditors have made a post about or at least mentioned us, notably syncretic and kleinbl00. Such is the power of Reddit. Of course, even though we love this place how it is, we would love it even more if we could grow by another order of magnitude. I think then it would be a really self-sustaining place.
Maybe that's what makes it feel so cosy and huggy. In a selfish way, I'm kind of reluctant to spread the word, in case it changes lol And he's done a fine job of creating a user friendly experience and an intuitive website with a minimalist interface and brand new, engaging creative features. Where's the bitcoin donation box to thank this man? : DCurrently, we have somewhere around 8000 users, so definitely a small corner of the internet...
...mk started Hubski (I think in early 2011) it was just him, his wife and a few buddies.
We don't have a donation box, because we don't want to seem like beggars (not that there's anything wrong with that, it's just that everyone is constantly being poked for funds at every goddam website, either through begging or advertisements; we will keep this thing free to the user for as long as we possibly can).