by Mandi -Watch where the chalk-white arrows go. To the place where the sidewalk ends. S.S.
Member since:
January 24, 2006

Gather Point Dreams

May 10, 2006 04:08 PM EDT (Updated: May 10, 2006 04:57 PM EDT)
views: 222 | rating: 9.2/10 (15 votes) | comments: 56

I have made 6500 points in 4 months and have spent A LOT of time on gather. I do not think I can afford to give any more than I do, so I will not be trying to make 3000 points a month for cash! It is nice that we can get gift certificates though I would definitely save up for some fun and sun if more vacation options are offered.

I was thinking a nice lazy tour of Greece or maybe a romantic tour of Italy in the spring.
I am not to keen on cruises as I get motion sickness bad! Besides as cute as I am I could get sold into a sex ring! (Yeah right) My own private island for week or 2 would be perfect, but I don't think I could write enough to earn that many points in a life time!
I would settle for a few airline tickets and a car rental, or even better a RV rental for a week! ROAD TRIP!!!

Maybe points in the future could be exchanged for unconventional things, like gift certificates to a tattoo parlor or for sky diving or race car driving!

I guess for now I will let my points grow and I will dream of a trip to the moon? How much would we have to write for that??

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Comments: 56

Carol Voigts May 10, 2006, 4:21pm EDT
for the moon? probably a kajillion.
My only gather points (TM) dream is that i can actually use them. *sniff*
Hannah is 'cause your canadian? ;-(

carol you are probably right! LOL!
Richard Frisbie May 10, 2006, 4:31pm EDT
So, Mandi, what does a sex ring sound like?

I think someone who could amass 5000 points a month would be an overbearing pain in the behind. Imagine multiple articles published daily, and almost endless comments - I have difficulty keeping up with that happening now! (I'd personally vote for a limit of one article a day.)

So, at 5000 minimum a month to cash in, I don't have to worry about making an income here. I'm just having fun and meeting lots of nice people. The points - they will be like my frequent flyer miles - they'll expire before I can use them.
gretel monster, excellent idea! ice cream fo everybody!

Richard it is 3000 a month but even at this rate I am only averaging 1900 a month... I don;t think I could squeeze out another 1100!
Aileen F. May 10, 2006, 4:40pm EDT
If we wrote that much, would anybody actually read us?
Faith H. May 10, 2006, 4:50pm EDT
*will write for gas*, standing on the street outside gather hqtrs. (With Mandi)
LOL everyone! I would be thrilled to get gas certificates! I drive an SUV!!!
Beckie Lynn May 10, 2006, 5:57pm EDT
it is sad that the vacation money, can only be used to go on certain trips... i was hoping i could earn enough to save my parents some money when they come to visit me in the fall... but i doubt that shall happen...
gretel we bought it for the bad winters up here in northern illinois about 3 years ago, not 6 months later gas went through the roof.. my husband had 2 minor accidents so our insurance went through the roof and we have some minor damamge on the car so we can't claim again with out fear of loosing our insurance and we won't get shit on a trade in with it damaged, so we are stuck with it for now.

Steve...uh yeah that's it.

Beckie, sucks I know ;-(
HGM Moya Goatley May 10, 2006, 6:36pm EDT
Gift vouchers for Amazon would be nice. No! A jet to Barbados would be nice but the vouchers are all I think I could aspire to - and a regular supply of chocolate ice-cream cones. Moya
Kendall F. May 10, 2006, 8:11pm EDT
You mean, these points are actually worth something ! I thought they were like rebates.
Barbary Chaapel May 10, 2006, 8:45pm EDT
Mandi,

I must be the most laid-back writer on Gather. I only have 787 points!

Online Shopping? Too funny!
Pearl 2 May 10, 2006, 11:22pm EDT
I can beat that Barbary... I gotz me 339 points...
Dawn M May 10, 2006, 11:23pm EDT
I gather that the gather points that I gather are not even available to me since I'm in Canada....is that why you dream of being able to gather them and use them Hannah?
Susan Budig May 11, 2006, 12:05am EDT
I am another who has no idea how to redeem these points (725 in 3 months).

I think they're incredibly gimmicky and honestly, I'm much too busy to bother with them.
Tanja Edwards May 11, 2006, 12:17am EDT
How does everybody get so many points? I guess I could publish more, but I have school and a job.
Sylvia Sheffield May 11, 2006, 12:50am EDT
I wish work didn't get in the way of Gather points - I could do so much better! Mandi - if you want sun come visit us in Phoeniz, this week to hit out annual 100 mark! Also wish Gather had spell check :-(
anna g. vanwinkle May 11, 2006, 1:33am EDT
I'd trade gather points for a massage this week!!
Summer Foovay May 11, 2006, 4:16am EDT
I've amazed myself by getting up to 1000 gather points in just under a month. I never really thought they would amount to that. I can't imagine what it would take to get to 3000 a month, although the cash would surely be welcome around here.

On the other hand, if I could trade those points for the new (used) car we so desperately need and cannot afford - that would be cool.

I publish things here that I've written for my blogs & websites (I have like 13) as well as fiction and I really thing probably the writers challenges are the thing I use/appreciate the most. If I really tried to make 3000 points or 5000 a month, whichever it is, I'd never get anything else done!
Mandy, I could probably afford a cup of coffee with my points - if such can ever be cashed in Australia where I live. I'd love a digital camera so I could get back into a now defunct hobby of mine. I won't hold my breath.

More seriously, I'd like to donate my points to charity - if such is possible.

Magi
Dolphi D. May 11, 2006, 6:11am EDT
If I harbor any hopes of making money by writing 'Abspolutely Anything..' on Gather I better remind myself that there ain't any goldmine over there. I have made a laughably low of 185 points during my two weeks' existence here. Those magic numbers 1000.. 3000... 5000... are never reachable milestones for me... not even in dreams. Would anyone suggest any shortcut?
William Duda May 11, 2006, 7:50am EDT
I like your idea about using the points for unconventional items...mybe gather could work on an exchange for a Visa gift card, so Gathwerites could shop "wherever Visa is accepted"?
Rushmore J. May 11, 2006, 7:53am EDT
I think I will quit my job and just work for gather points! I must be doing something wrong - 6000 points - I'm not sure I can count that high. Maybe I read to much. Maybe I don't have enough groups? Maybe I should connect more? Is it sex - is that the answer Mandy? Is Gretel right? Let me in on your secret.
As for using them on Amazon - that's like Mobil giving discounts to Exxon - wait I forget there ony one oil company left.
sea gull l. May 11, 2006, 9:29am EDT
would trade the points for books..to be fair..but a vacation in Italy sounds good, perhaps we can gather for that..
Edward Nudelman May 11, 2006, 9:55am EDT
Me too, folks, way below 3000/month. It's not for the points, believe me! I think only ones potentially capable of cashing in would be folks with huge internet lists that could transfer their readership over and then get thousands of points via new members. Anyway, as I've said, I'm certainly not in this for the money, and echoing Richard Frisbie... it would be a royal pain in the arse. NEVERTHELESS, with my 10K points for 5 months work.. I could buy a very nice bottle of Premier Cru, probably Chateau Margaux. What better way to spend Gather points than sipping bordeaux? vs blueberry wine!
donna f. May 11, 2006, 10:13am EDT
Hey, I'm just tickled we can use them at all. I do like Mandi's idea for gas cards though.I have 1500 odd point for three months on Gather, and there is no human way possible to garner more, as I only post something a few times per week, due to having a job etc... I certainly do not see how someone could make $1000/month cash, unless they were literally glued to the keyboard. I also think quality of work may take a beating by those trying to merely earn points. Either way, I'm tickled pink to be able to get the gift cards.
0000-reenacter-0000 May 11, 2006, 10:40am EDT
Mandi I wish to post a general statement not directly applicable to you but Gather members. The idea of getting gather points for writing articles seems a mistake. An article that is to be published needs polishing as well as thought over a period of thought. At least for me and from what I have been taught. As a former pastor I know about writing and what works for me. I think Gather points encourage articles dashed off without enough polish. Also it it makes it tough to read the articles because there are so many. Anyone agree? Bert V
William Duda May 11, 2006, 11:11am EDT
Bert,

I agree on some levels. However, it is a highly protected secret as to how many points are awarded and for what. I have posted some articles that have received very few points, and others that have earned far more. I believe the Gather staff have a rating system. Based on what, have no idea. The system in turn awards points for article content, popularity, comments, etc. I think this was a well thought out process, so on that level I disagree with you. i don, however, agree that there are some individuals that may flood Gather with poorly written articles in an attempt to earn more points. I don't know if that can be controlled.
Susan Budig May 11, 2006, 11:12am EDT
Hey Bert,

I think you have a point there. (just not a Gather point, alas!) That said, I just wrote a front-page story for a newspaper yesterday. Interviews at 8:00 and 1:00, story submitted by 3:30. IOW, speedy writing doesn't equate sloppy writing/poor writing. At least, I hope not!

I agree with donna f and others who've mentioned that their life gets in the way of earning too many Gather points. Even with this new incentive, it's hardly enough to make me want to spend more than 30 minutes a few times a week at this site.
John S. (arizona) May 11, 2006, 11:33am EDT
Don't forget the charity option. What may seem like very little to us, may help out those less fortunate in a big way.
Patrick George May 11, 2006, 11:43am EDT
We all need to remember that Gather points are linked to the number of page views that are generated by the content we produce. The more content, and the more widely read it is, the more points we will amass. But page views are also dependent on the number of Gatherites using the site. As the audience for the entire site increases, the number of points that we generate per piece of content will also increase.

I'd be willing to bet that you folks earning 1000 per month now will easily surpass 3000 per month by the end of the year, given how quickly audiences can grow on the Internet. I heard Gather discussed on my local NPR station just the other day, and that kind of exposure will be sure to drive membership.

Now, for a poor sap like I, who has only amassed a measly 300 pts over the last six months, I'm afraid a bottle of Chateau Margaux is definitely out of the question...
Diana Raabe May 11, 2006, 12:26pm EDT
I can't imagine amassing that many points so fast; I don't know how so many people do it! How do you keep your house clean? Who cooks for your children? When do you exercise? Do you work outside your home? Do you sleep? How do you get the laundry done or do you just wear the same everything every day?! Read any good books lately?

I am not knocking it. I'm just amazed!
Serina Matteson May 11, 2006, 12:34pm EDT
Mandi, I just went and looked at the uncommon goods site. With no more points than I have there is not a lot to choose from. I was hoping to get my daughter some kind of unusual gift for graduation. I quess I better do something different if I want too. What is your secret?
Holy cow!!! I didn't think I would get this kind of response! I don't spend all day on gather, I even skip a day or 2 ;-) connections are the key... the more the better, also try to publish something at least once a day. I write from my gut about every day things. My life, my past, my kid, my kitchen renovation, my animals... people respond to what they know and like.

Now get to writing everyone!!!
Susan Budig May 11, 2006, 1:44pm EDT
Well, I still think Diana Raabe makes excellent observations. If I were to "get towriting" here at Gather, um, when would I have time to do my paid-writing?

It just seems to me that the people who really have time for this point-piling endeavor are either retired or not employed. Am I way off base with that speculation?

I am a mostly at-home mom to four kids. I do freelance writing, with one 1000-word article about three times a month. I do not consider myself to have enough time to garner many points.

What about you others?

I suppose I should write a new article with these thoughts (and earn points! hahah)
Mark Jepsen May 11, 2006, 5:00pm EDT
So, I'm guessing that my grand total of 56 gather points accumulated over my first 3 weeks of membership is not much to brag about... gee whiz, I was getting ready to throw a party when I hit an even 100! On the other hand, I haven't actually published anything yet.
jessie voigts May 12, 2006, 12:24am EDT
travel and books are my choices. then, food. that's my real life, too./ how nice to get some $$ for it!!! yeah, gather!
jessie are you maing 3000 points month??? you must be exhausted!

thanks everyone!
Alankrita P. May 13, 2006, 11:41pm EDT
something like a million points.... hmmm
I am trying for that million, Alankrita!
derek addams May 17, 2006, 9:49pm EDT
mandi...im trying to cash in the points for gas!....un less i move to china..they pay .89 cents per gal....because they import 42% of their oil from Angola.....so how much of a royal screwing are we getting with saudi oil dependancy?.....4 bucks per gal not so far away!
Priscilla (wishing I was in Costa Rica) ~. May 19, 2006, 12:26am EDT
I think I'll have to let mine grow for awhile too...maybe they will start mulitplying!
Opal Richardson May 20, 2006, 8:42am EDT
I think I win for the least amount of Gather Points TM - I have 16 - but I only read and comment - and not real often - I come on here in spurts.
Molly Pockets May 20, 2006, 11:29am EDT
Greece sounds nice! My sister is there now for a 2 week tour. Apparently it's amazing.
But the sex ring sounds...exciting?
Keep on earning!
thanks ladies!

Molly??? exciting!!!???
Mark Jepsen May 21, 2006, 4:03pm EDT
A sex ring for Gather points?!!? Just exactly what kind of a ring is it? ... what does it do? ... and WHERE does it go?! (Ok, so I don't get out much.)
sheryl r. May 27, 2006, 3:21pm EDT
all the barnes and noble gift certificates in the world would not help me as there are none within 50 miles of me and where they are,I do not travel.I guess i can just save them up. too bad gather does not have an online store of Gather Mugs and tee shirts for all of us poor souls. Mandi, I think a gas gift card for a number of gas stations throughout the world would be great for all of us.
Mark, I am with you.
Sandy,the ice cream thing sounds great,but again,no Baskin Robbins around me that I know of.(any ice cream shop like Dairy Queen will do)
sherylll barnes and noble on line... they will shop your books right to you...

thanks!
Arielle K. May 28, 2006, 11:19pm EDT
I'm a bit over 1,000 Gather points and although I would want the B&N gift certificate, I hear that Gather takes FOREVER to send them in the mail and since I will never in a million years be able to be on here enough to get 3,000 points a month, I'll probably end up using my points towards one of the charities. Gather should look for a variety of charities to donate to i.e. maybe an Alzheimer's charity or a the American Breast Cancer Society or the American Heart Association. Things like that. Even though it's always nice to give to charity, I'd much prefer the trip to Greece (minus the sex ring...my boyfriend would not be happy at all). I could definitely use the vacation! I think they should create "The Send Arielle on Vacation" charity where Gather members can donate points to send me away. TOTALLY KIDDING!!!! LOL
Arielle ;-)

My gift certificates came in 10 days....
Evelyn M. S. May 28, 2006, 11:39pm EDT
Funny when i began here I never dreamed of gathering points like some competition-too repetitive for me actually. Matter of fact, I never noticed my points! I Just pop in when I can and when I feel like typing-well have fun with all your points everyone-don't know what my point was now-lol
Arielle K. May 29, 2006, 10:43pm EDT
Mandi-Good to know they come quickly. I have a friend who is also on Gather and said it took forever to get his "reward!" Maybe he claimed it when everything was just starting!

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