Should RP members be able to "cash in" their Influence Points for cool stuff?

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 15:02:25 -0500

A long time ago at RP, we kicked around the idea of making it possible for RP members to cash in their Influence Points for stuff like discounts on cool gear, merchandise, gift cards, etc.

The tricky part was how to make this work on both sides -- on the one hand, RP members wouldn't care about this if there was nothing compelling that they could cash in their points for. See what I mean? Like, if I have 100,00 Influence Points and I can only cash them in for like $1 off of a pair of boots, then who cares? It's a waste of time.

On the other hand, we obviously can't bankrupt RP as a company. Like if a member has 1,000,000 points -- can that person cash them in to get a free $500 pair of boots? If so, then RP would have to basically cover that cost. And that adds up quickly. Like right now across the entire RP community there are probably tens of millions of points out there. Yikes. It would be like the collapse of Lehman Brothers all over again, lol.

So...who has any ideas about this? How interesting would this be for RP members?

Open to ideas.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2022 3:14 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 15:14:59 -0500

CPT Aaron Kletzing I vote no since these are only influence points. We do not want to bankrupt RallyPoint. I would rather have the money spent on maintaining RallyPoint and maybe adding software improvements to enhance the user experience.

Response by COL Randall C. made Nov 9 at 2022 3:25 PM

COL Randall C. — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 15:25:43 -0500

I think Lt Col Charlie Brown would go for it if she can redeem points for coffee...

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2022 4:36 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 16:36:52 -0500

They can have my points, I'm on RP for my brothers and sisters. Definitely not for the politics.

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Nov 9 at 2022 5:16 PM

LTC Kevin B. — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 17:16:48 -0500

I think it would be kind of cool to do something like this. RP could view it as a marketing expense to help spread the brand with some merchandise like shirts, hats, coffee mugs, etc.

Regarding influence scores, I'd set thresholds and limits. Maybe once you pass a couple of thresholds you get something (mug at 1m, t-shirt at 10m, etc.), and then stop after someone has received 2-3 items overall. People game the influence point system, so I think high thresholds and limits are completely appropriate.

Moreover, I'd strongly consider providing something for members who provide valuable insight and advice to the community, regardless of the number of influence points they have earned. I've seen a handful of members who are always helpful in the main forum answering military-centric questions. To me, that's much more valuable than someone who stays in a corner of RP just tagging dozens of people over and over just to get upvotes (to run up their point total). Likewise, for members who are always just posting about their friends as "member of the day".

So, maybe have quality (helpfulness) and quantity (total points) aspects to whatever the RP team decides.

Response by Maj John Bell made Nov 9 at 2022 5:40 PM

Maj John Bell — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 17:40:25 -0500

I think the point system has become its own monster. I understand and applaud the intent: get people interacting. But I think you've got a volume vs quality problem created by people trying to rack up points. There is a whole lot of chaff on RP.

Response by SSG Byron Hewett made Nov 9 at 2022 5:51 PM

SSG Byron Hewett — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 17:51:43 -0500

No reason to bankrupt over it unless you have a store to sell stuff for real money you can cover costs but to make money you got to have money like an investment that pays out regularly.
So no nice idea but bad financially

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Nov 9 at 2022 5:54 PM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 17:54:29 -0500

I think it is a good idea, in principle.

I see to way to "reward" the "good contributors" vice the folks gaming the system.

I also think "influence" may have been the intent, but I do not think this is what it measures anymore.

While this is a different discussion than the one at hand, I feel it does feed in to this discussion.

If the goal is just to make goals for people to work towards, great. If the goal is just to build awareness, great. But if we are trying to incentive and build a closer more supportive community? I don't see this achieving that, specifically because of gaming the system.

There is already some resentment against the folks gaming the system. I have seen snide comments here and there. Not many, but they exist. This has the potential to accelerate that.

Response by Cpl Vic Burk made Nov 9 at 2022 6:47 PM

Cpl Vic Burk — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 18:47:18 -0500

IF, Rally point did do something like this, there has to be a limit to the number of points you can cash in per quarter/year. Personally, unless it is something really cool that I want and can't get anywhere else I probably won't cash in my points.

Response by Maj Robert Thornton made Nov 9 at 2022 6:51 PM

Maj Robert Thornton — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 18:51:37 -0500

I don’t think either of the choices has much merit. I would leave the points as they are! Cheers

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2022 7:41 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 19:41:58 -0500

I'm here to answer any military related questions I can, counter misinformation, bring attention to social justice issues, and advocate for separation of religion and government. I could give two hoots about points.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2022 7:42 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 19:42:56 -0500

Influence points are kinda trivial. The people with the most points only interact the most, they don't always provide the most valuable contribution. Free swag for points would only drive up the volume of low value add posts and comments.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2022 7:58 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 19:58:43 -0500

I like the concept but you so many people that don't really do much but say "Hi" and really don't contribute. I have asked some serious questions and often I will get a comment saying how when they were in they didn't have that issue or something that doesn't help. It would be just a means to get clout for those that are here just for clout. I think a featured member monthly was cool when we did it.

Response by CPT Richard Trione made Nov 9 at 2022 9:13 PM

CPT Richard Trione — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 21:13:03 -0500

Thank you!

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2022 10:02 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 10:02:21 -0500

I would cash in points for an RP coffee mug

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Nov 23 at 2022 12:08 AM

SSG Roger Ayscue — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 00:08:03 -0500

Sir, I would leave it alone. If you incentivize the Influence Points, you will have people clogging up the legitimate questions just for the points. As it is right now, a person can log on, ask a legitimate question and most times get a great answer. Leave this site as it is, a place for Service Members to interact, gain knowledge and exchange ideas

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2022 7:07 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 27 Nov 2022 19:07:48 -0500

I like challenge coins. If there was an opportunity to purchase challenge coins as you achieve different levels via your influence points, in a sense earning the coin by being active in the community, then I think that would be meaningful and fun.