Hey Kids! Did you get your Super User badge yet? You can redeem your Networker tickets for cheap plastic toys at the Redemption Booth!!! And you can earn more tickets playing Whack A Troll!!! Weeeeeeeeee!!!! Blogging time is fun time!!!

Have you checked out HuffPo’s new comment system upgrade? If you haven’t, just imagine the arcade at a miniature golf course and you’ll get the idea.

That’s not to say that they didn’t make some improvements. As many of us suggested a long time ago, they are providing a structure of community moderating which is a good thing.  Still,  HuffPo has been morphing into a neon-flashing, distraction littered,  Chuck E. Cheese-styled “playground” for some time and it has all now come to fruition.

Badges and colors and categories are applied to users. The fanning led to a class system and cliques over there but this latest application of a variety classes, IMO, turns HuffPo into even more of a  High School  campus than before. IMO, it trivializes so much about blogging and sets up fertile ground for a greater degree of cliques and egos.

BTW, if you link to their Facebook page, you get your comments highlighted in purple! So, if you are a troll with only hate to offer, as long as you help HuffPo’s bottom line by linking to their Facebook page, your comment is highlighted and a reasoned comment from a good blogger isn’t.

What a circus HP has become, a parody of itself. Instead of the site encouraging discussion on issues, it continues to make the focus on the social standing and relations of its bloggers.

I think HP learned very well that many people there are addicted to the Chuck E. Cheese aspect of getting “tickets” and “points”, they love accumulating “fans”.  Some people over there are more interested in getting more fans than any issue that could be discussed. So this latest cornucopia of badges will be, IMO, a goldmine for HP in addicting many of the same people and more to competing on who can get the coolest badges. And if that’s not what blogging’s about, my name isn’t Dave or Buster.

As for me, I think blogging should be about substantive conversations on issues that matter. I don’t think that elevating some bloggers above others is Progressive, constructive or mature. I don’t think that turning blogging into a game of Skee-Ball where you can win badges is a step forward.

For me, when it comes to blogging, I don’t need no stinkin’ badges.

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Pepe Lepew
Member

Oh, this just keeps getting more bizarre.

Now, I have a *counter* telling me how many HP accounts I’ve had banned.

Apparently, since Nov. 2009, I’ve gotten 377 accounts banned — about 350 belonging to one guy, I’m guessing.

escribacat
Member

I don’t have that. You must really be part of the regime now! Hehe.

Pepe Lepew
Member

This is surreal. What is means is that people who are Level One moderators can see how many more people they need to get snuffed to move up to Level Two.

No motivation there to play games!

escribacat
Member

I have the level 1 moderator button (back after opting out yesterday) but don’t see that tally that you’re talking about.

Pepe Lepew
Member

I’m spatial.

Khirad
Member

I haven’t seen that yet, but tonight is the first night I’ve been back.

I enjoyed my first deletion though!

Power trip! 😆

I was already a level two, but if it rewards good behavior…

Like I say, most the bells and whistles are ridiculous, and the gaming aspect too, but…

Pepe Lepew
Member

I have apparently banned 380 accounts total.

I’m guessing about 350 belonged to one guy — You Know Who.

Khirad
Member

That’s who I figured. I should have quite a tally too.

dildenusa
Member

Oh Darn It! I’m not eligible for a badge. I don’t do facebook.

boomer1949
Member

From: boomer1949
To: badges@huffingtonpost.com
Sent: Fri, April 30, 2010 6:25:44 AM
Subject: OPT OUT ** boomer1949 ** OPT OUT

Thanks, but no thanks. I am an intelligent grownup and don’t require badges for my opinions or self-esteem.

Respectfully,
boomer1949

Chernynkaya
Member

I did the same thing yesterday, Boomer. I have a feeling that pretty soon, it’ll be a “badge” of honor NOT to have any badges.

Pepe Lepew
Member

That’s already happening. A whole slew of people got rid of theirs.

What I hope doesn’t happen, and I was already starting to see it happen, is open hostility toward the individuals who choose to keep theirs.

Chernynkaya
Member

The thing is, the badge system is inherently divisive. I liked the idea that responsible posters could have more power in flagging, but I did not want to be publicly named as a moderator. I will not be hostile to those who keep their badges, but others are. So, what is their motivation for the badges? I think they wanted divisivness. Divide and conquer is an age-old strategy. I think maybe they also wanted to maybe break up cliques?

LiseLives
Guest
LiseLives

Cher, I agree – I think Huff has been flagrant about wanting those extra ‘clicks’ –
I think that’s at the bottom of this badge system, to create a stir, controversy & divisiveness –
Anybody who’s got any class will not want to participate in Huff’s manipulative tactics IMO –

Pepe Lepew
Member

Yup, it’s a better idea to handle it privately.

escribacat
Member

Yes, I’ve seen the word “snitch” thrown around.

escribacat
Member

I did as well and they went away, but they were back this morning!

Chernynkaya
Member

Same here, E’cat. When I first checked this morning, the badges were gone. Now they’re back. Whatever.

escribacat
Member

Okay so it’s not just me. I have to admit, from a sociological standpoint it’s all interesting to me.

Khirad
Member

I second that.

I often find such things interesting on a totally different level than intended.

PatsyT
Member

Mystery solved
It was Arianna in that Chucky costume.
Now I know how she got her start.

whatsthatsound
Member

There are three badges: the Foosball Badge, the Hendrix playing “The Star Spangled Banner” at Woodstock Badge, and the Superhero Grabbing His Crotch Badge. I have no idea what they’re good for, but the Hendrix one is the coolest looking.

Khirad
Member

I am a “Huffpost Community Moderator”.

I don’t care about the rest, and lord help me – I’ve linked to three very specific stories on Facebook, but a purple one would not be a badge of pride.

But, gosh, sue me. I sorta like that they are recognizing those whom flag responsibly. I haven’t tested my supposed deletion powers yet.

I haven’t checked e-mail for a while, so didn’t know about the opt-out. I’ll ride this one out to see how it goes.

But, “the follow this poster on twitter” had me gag.

I agree, it’s a lot of flashy neon that just ties up my computer and is super annoying and tacky.

But, I treat a poster the same whether they are new or not, and, having never fished for fans, sorta take it as a gauge of my thoughtfulness in some small part – like, I see a new fan often after leaving a comment on Iran.

Although, being part of the accepted crowd has most definitely contributed a great part. And many do lord over others with their fan tally.

LiseLives
Guest
LiseLives

I created an email address for that moniker only & didn’t keep the log-in info, damn it !

Questinia
Member

The idea struck me as very Republican.

LiseLives
Guest
LiseLives

Very elitist, very very cliquey, Republican, vain, arrogant etc. etc. Yep !

escribacat
Member

Or maybe some kind of Eagle Scout came up with it. It’s just plain weird.

LiseLives
Guest
LiseLives

Update : At Huff, it’s getting many ANTI votes – even from those with multi-badges –

Chernynkaya
Member

Let’s see if they really mean it by emailing their request to opt out. It’ll be interesting.

escribacat
Member

Yes, it’s interesting. I opted out this morning and got rid of my “badgers.” Most people still seem to have them even while they complain. I also was a bit surprised to see one long-time poster get a bit puffed up about the whole thing. Weird!!

Pepe Lepew
Member

There’s anger all around. Some of it justified.

But, that being said, It is REALLY funny reading all the whiny posts from the trolls, because almost none of them have any moderation powers. Only one that I know of.

AuntieChrist
Member

Hi, all.

I’m going to post to Huff… we’ll see if I get deleted (again)

img1

img2

LiseLives
Guest
LiseLives

Hi, AuntieC !!

You got 2-badge status there at Huff I see ! 😉

Do you dole out free burgers ? :mrgreen:

AuntieChrist
Member

LOL… flippin burgers?

mmmmm…. burgers……

I’ve flagged racists and predators – never to any overt extent though in all the years I’ve had my account.

…but… damn it, I AM hungry for that burger!

You must be in marketing? 😉

LiseLives
Guest
LiseLives

LOL – into marketing, yes, but not when it comes to burgers, oh noooo –

Just hungry too ! :mrgreen:

AuntieChrist
Member

See? You’re good.

LiseLives
Guest
LiseLives

Big hug because it’s good to see you 😉

KQµårk 死神
Member

Yeah but I bet you always thought your flags were anonymous. I have no problem with flagging trolls, racists and predators (aren’t they all the same people anyway) but I digress. It just seems like HP broke a trust with their users on the “community moderator” thingy.

KQµårk 死神
Member

AC cheers for the shameless plug last night. I saw you plug the Planet when reading through the comments.

AuntieChrist
Member

It got yanked in no time, so I did a screenshot before I did the next refresh — because I KNEW it wouldn’t last.

KQµårk 死神
Member

Wow I was luck to catch it then. The walls have eyes over there don’t you know.

Chernynkaya
Member

Hey Auntie C! Good to see you. I just read the FAQ’s and AH’s column about this:

“Of course, if you don’t want to participate in HuffPost Badges, you can easily opt-out by sending an email to badges@huffingtonpost.com. Be sure to send your email from the email address you used to register your HuffPost account, and include your username.”

I just did that.

Questinia
Member

I love that. I’ll bet you influenced other people.

LiseLives
Guest
LiseLives

Fabulous, feisty & hilarious !!! My kind of recipe ….!

Questinia
Member

I think it’s a social experiment. Someone’s going for a post-doc.

LiseLives
Guest
LiseLives

Post-yuck, methinks 😉

escribacat
Member

Actually I think HP social scene would make a very interesting research project!

Pepe Lepew
Member

Hey, I said that about a dozen times!

LiseLives
Guest
LiseLives

At this pivotal moment, I’d ask that everyone give me a :worship: / :bow: smiley – cause I need to know how incredibly reveled (no!, not revolting) I am –
:mrgreen:

Questinia
Member

All those carnival bells and whistles gave me a seizure and since I’m a nobody, I was left for dead on the side of the thread.

Big mistake. Stupid as that “forum/smilies” fiasco at FRT.

KQµårk 死神
Member

😆 :mrgreen: 😀 😉 😎

I could not resist.

LiseLives
Guest
LiseLives

Whew – it felt like a virtual smiley desert here for a while 😀

LiseLives
Guest
LiseLives

Q – I hope you’re kidding –

Truthfully ? If I got any more stoopid badges than anyone else, I’d ask them to remove them – it’s all so silly !

& ditto re : the OTT smileys, esp. the overuse of :3 hugs: & the :worship: one for mediocre, random statements ? – ugh !

escribacat
Member

Sounds like that was something worth missing. I never hung out over on FRT but heard a lot about it.

LiseLives
Guest
LiseLives

I don’t want to badmouth any 1 individual, but the site lost something ‘real’ for me, became like automatons-on-parade …..

Questinia
Member

They have those at HP?

LiseLives
Guest
LiseLives

Ooop, I meant kidding that it bothered you – having no badge is a good thing IMO –

LiseLives
Guest
LiseLives

I want a PlanetPOV badge …..NOW ! I want special status !!
wahhhh (soooo kidding)
:mrgreen:

KQµårk 死神
Member

I’ll give you a pass to post about anything you want. You can even post with over 250 words, pictures and videos. They may have access to the “kiddy pool” there but here you get to relax with only adults in our “adult swim”.

BTW “adult swims” in our community pool growing up were awesome. I could not wait to turn 18 (as he shows his age). You were able to BYOB, play volleyball, swim and they even had rock bands. We lived about 250 meters away from the pool and a couple parks so we could hear the music on our front porch even when I was too young to go. I’m sure all that is gone now but great memories.

LiseLives
Guest
LiseLives

As I swing on my porch swing 😉 : yes, those were the days alright –
I can remember late, late night skating in Quebec on natural frozen ponds, when it was SAFE for kids to be out ’til all hours for a special night under the stars ….

PatsyT
Member

We just can’t get enough of the Badges Line!

PatsyT
Member

When my kids were little they were terrified of that big live
Chucky that walks around the place!

LiseLives
Guest
LiseLives

I’m going to Chuck E. Cheese tonight, & getting a badge, that’s all there is to it !