This idea is utterly horrible. Reddit's Karma is completely useless, yet people rabidly try to collect it and often post utter crap in the process. Just look at people like /u/gallowboob. Now you want to not only introduce a point system, but monetize it? This has disaster written all over it.
Here's the thing though. As long as the money is imaginary, this is just a game for the people involved in the experiment. There is no real investment, no risk of emotional loss or regret. There is nothing to gain or lose. If you actually went live with this, the results could be drastically different. Even worse, it could work out great initially, but then completely fall apart as it upscales. By then, you'll be too far entrenched and dependent on the system to remove it. Money has a ruinous effect on almost everything it touches if that money does not come about virtuously and altruistically.
I really don't want you to take this personally, because I respect you and value this website, apparently more than i thought because the very concept of this system fills me with dread. It feels like you're saying "Hey. We're looking at selling out here and we want you to take part in the whole sellout process." That's a painful thing for me to say but that's how I honestly feel. I don't even want to think about how this could attract all of those lame pakispammers we see. They'd probably try to flood this place in hopes of being able to cash out twice and they're bad enough already. You guys originally talked about turning to your users for patronage, and I've even see people step forward asking for a way to donate. What ever happened to that? I know I personally would be willing to give you guys every last cent I give to NPR each year and probably even more on top of it and not ask for or expect a single thing in return. I know I'm not the only one who feels that way.
Don't worry. I don't take it personally in the least, and I appreciate you sharing the concern. I think we have a pretty good track record when it comes to pursuing our goal. But, we are also ok with trying crazy shit along the way. Let's see how things look after this plays out.
mk's ego is not made of glass. By posting this he chooses to welcome criticism of all types, positive and negative, emotional, intellectual, informed, ignorant, and downright batshit insane. He asked for our genuine thoughts, I offered mine. They are not a criticism of him or this website, but only of his idea. If you read my third comment on this chain, the very first line to it is . . . To which mk responds . . . So no. I am not trying to be rude. I am however, deeply, deeply concerned about this idea. Also, see my second comment on this comment chain. Even if the experiment itself goes well, the actual concept in practice itself has the potential to go horribly wrong.I really don't want you to take this personally, because I respect you and value this website, apparently more than i thought because the very concept of this system fills me with dread.
Don't worry. I don't take it personally in the least, and I appreciate you sharing the concern.
Of course, no harm no foul. It's just tough for people to gauge tone in comments. I do my best to give the benefit of the doubt. Often I drop an 'IMO' when I am firing off an idea so that it's clear I'm trying to add rather than argue. Not saying you should. But I found it saves me time and energy clarifying.
In my defense, I usually do. However, over the weekend I was without a computer so I was posting from my phone. As a result, I kept my posts short and succinct. I think I sacrificed some humanity in my comments as a result. I'll try my best to rectify that down the road.