28 points. *sigh* Before this change, days like this I'd get over 100 points. That photo essay took a lot of work to do. It also took me like 2 hours because Gather kept having 'glitches' that seem to happen only for me. My post text disappearing after I hit Submit and being presnented with an error message saying "The body of this post cannot be blank" No crap, it wasn't blank until I hit submit. I have no idea why these things are happening. I didn't have nearly as many issues before the last upgrade.
Gather, can you please give us back a little of the love? This is insane. This is a lot of work for 28 points. And I got plenty of comments on my work too, so I know that isn't the problem.
Its not that I am trying to point whore, but come on. This is a very, very drastic change, (Going from being able to make over 100 points per day to being lucky to get 30) and anyone who is used to this site, who enjoys this site, and is a fan of the points, must be disapointed.
How long has it been since that hellish upgrade? I said I'd give the system a month to see how it was working out for me still doing the same stuff I was doing before - posting, commenting, viewing. I think that month is quickly coming to an end here. Instead of it getting better- and I am using some of the tips that have been pointed out like using tags, using redgage, ect - its getting worse for me. My points keep getting slower and slower, and each day I earn less and less, even though I am doing the same amount of stuff here.
I dunno. I am trying not to focus on it, but I have been keeping a list of my points by day, just because I am curious. They used to be 120, 111, 115, ect, and now, 35, 30, 28, 22, 11 - that is a REALLY big difference. That's a disapointing difference. I did stop making this list, because it was driving me insane seeing it move so slowly, but it was a nice round number when I started this morning so I know how it has gone up since then.
Well I guess Gather will be saving a ton of money. I just cannot be here 24/7 to make as many points as I used to. I am trying to write more value add stuff, but some days I just dont' have it in me and just want to blog. Not that my value add stuff actually gets any more or less views then my blogs anyway, but I thought that would give me a better chance of earning more AND help people out.
How frustrating. I guess I have to take another good hard look at why I am here. I don't want to say I am just here for the points, but that is why I write here instead of someplace like xanga and myspace, where I could also do this stuff. The points are what made Gather different from those other sites (to me anyway, I also met mature, people my age, on those other sites so that was never a factor). Which is why I choose to share at Gather, so I guess I am here for the points - I am not even sure anymore. I am HERE for the points (at gather.com), but I am not here (With all of you, my friends) for the points if that makes sense. I really thought that being a contributing member of Gather.com (and by that I mean not just posting but commenting, viewing, all that good stuff) that I could do Ok because I do put a lot of time and energy into it. I am enjoying myself, that is true, but I would enjoy myself more if the reason I came to the site in the first place was still valid, and I was still getting rewarded somewhat well - well I considered making 100 points on average per day doing pretty well here. Especially since I don't usually post more then once or twice. Today is three times cause I had to vent. I don't like to vent, and especially do not like to vent about points, but this really has me down, incase you could not tell!
Well I have to finish a report for work and then I am off to the chiropractor and then to class. My husband is trying to have a 'friend' over and I am having to remind him all day today that I am WORKING and that him having a friend over to 'hang out' is not condusive to my work enviornment. Now he wants to have him over TONIGHT. Well this friend never knows when to leave, so I told him fine, while I am at class, but I have to work tomorrow so at 8pm he has to be out of here because I need time to relax on my own. What a life!
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Comments: 63
yes but if you look at it like this, It is 28 more points than I got today while I work. I work for the state and we have to wait for a budget to pass to get a paycheck. I worked 7.5 hours for 0 dollars until the budget passes, and they say it could be until September or October until it's passed.
Dave, how can you possibly work until Step/October with NO PAY? That's just nuts. Isn't it also illegal? I understand bugets and state/city workers, but I can't imagine them just not paying you and expecting you to still come in, day after day, week after week - what will you do for gas money and stuff? You can't collect UI. It seems really messed up hun.
this is why i have pretty much quit gathering, but to stop in once in a while had say hi to my friends.....it's sad!
I would hate to go there, but... I am really getting disapointed lately.
I feel your pain! It's really insane. I hope the points get faster again sometime (although I doubt that they will.)
I doubt it too Sarah. And thats too bad because I think a lot of great people will leave for greener pastures.
You're not the only one that these glitches are happening to. I've had to retype entire articles because after I hit the submit button it goes to the Gather error page.
Holly, that happens to me on average of 4-5 times per WEEK. This thing today with hitting submit and the post body just going totally blank is a new one for me! I am not loving the glitches that take it even longer to post original content for so litte points!
Copy your text before you hit submit, so you don't have to retype it if it gets lost, you can just paste it.
If I get an "error" I've found that if I hit the "back" arrow TWICE it takes me back to the post I wrote. The first "back" goes to a blank entry, the second takes it back to the post I wrote.
it is insane...
Its really sad, I used to have fun and now it feels like actual work. lol!
i'm not sure what Gather was trying to attempt but i'm sure they've lost many over the new point structure..
I dont want to be one of those casualties Diana, I really don't. But I think that my time is better spent on other things that actually will pan out. I think my focus of where I spend my time online is going to have to shift to be less contributions to Gather and more elsewhere where my time and effort are not valued so little.
for me the gift cards were an added bonus and not a necessity like it is for many.. i think Gather lost sight of that.. perhaps its because it grew so fast?
Yes, an added bonus that they got us all used to using, relying on (as silly as that might be to some), and having fun with and then they took it away once they had their hooks in. I dunno, its putting a sour taste in my mouth now lol. I mean last year we had summerpoints where everyone and their brother got 10 points for a single picture of ANYTHING as long as they had the tag, and now this year, I post a photo essay with 38 pictures, and netted less then 20 points with the entire thing. Its like they cannot make up their mind. Its either feast or famine here.
thats the whole issue (they can't make up their minds)
I agree with that statement. I do so much better in an enviornment where I know what I can expect. And this constant change of 'things', because its not just the points that have changed - its a lot of things, and I am not talking upgrades, I mean TOS stuff, telling members to flag posts, ect... its just so much turmoil. I try to just stay in my own little world here and just keep plugging along, but every once in a while I get disappointed when I see how much time something took me and how little came out of it!
I've just quit caring about points. I think that is what "they" want us to do.
It sure seems that way Ann, and I have to wonder if that is because they want to do away with them completely.
i'm with you Ann.. BTW did you see my Daytona race pictures!! we had the best time!!
I stopped caring about points a long time ago. I watch them, but I don't really care what they are doing. I could make a lot more money doing something else. (At least I hope I could... lately it's been about $25 every two months.) So I am here for the friendship and I do love having people read my stuff (when I actually get around to writing it.) I also love reading new things by new people as well as those I already know and love. And I am a nut about taking pictures, (and videos, now, too) since joining Gather and getting a camera of my own. So all in all... it's a win-win deal. I get a bonus every now and then, on top of having fun here.
Well, I think we all came here for different reasons. I honestly did come to gather.com specifically for the points, since that is what made it different from other networking sites I had belonged to. Of course I am here now for the friends I have made. But while I was making all these great friends, I was also earning points. I dunno, it seems that I have not changed what I've done for Gather, but they have decided that they don't want my kind of writing anymore, or at least will not reward for it. I dunno, its confusing and rather upsetting sometimes. Most times I can ignore it, but... yesterday it just got under my skin.
I don't blame you, at all, for being frustrated. Here's the thing... I was never on any other networking sites, so that may be the biggest difference between us. I found Gather a couple of years ago and it felt like I had found a home.
Sorry. I think by removing the points for comments, Gather has really shot themselves in the foot - again.
But since they seem to LIKE shooting themselves in the foot and do it intentionally, I doubt they'll ever go back.
I think they did too flit, and I think that they like it as well! I wonder what their next 'persona' will be. Gather went from a serious writers site, to a social networking site, and now they want to be a gossip and news site (this is what brings in the views from outside, after all). I wonder what will be next in the many personalities of gather while it tries to find out what it wants to be when it grows up.
yes I know... but I came here to make friends in the first place so I'll stick around to keep friends. It makes me sad that people have left. I can't stop being here ... even when I start school next month I'll still come around and write and read ... I have to ... I'm addicted to my friends.
I don't think I will leave because of it Nancy, but I think I may invest some time elsewhere, and just not put that much effort into Gather. I just don't have the energy, or the need, to post even more often then I do to generate the points. Oh how I loved just putting up a post, leaving it and going to view and comment for a few hours and then coming back later to that one post and seeing my points doing well.
Just don't get losted... I'd miss all my friends (am already missin' a couple) who decide not come back ;(
This is one of the reasons why I have cut down on my gather time. I have also had a very hard time publishing stuff, as it keeps giving me error messages.
I am going to have to do the same JR. I am so sick of the error message, and they make it 2-3 times as long to post an article, picture or video!
Well I don't spend as much time here as I once did, but my earnings have gotten slightly better than they were the week after the changes were made.
That's fantastic Marianne. I haven't figured it out yet it seems. I will probably figure it out and start doing well just as they change it again lol.
I haven't noticed a change in my points, but don't keep track of them either. I am not on Gather as much as I would like to be, busy, busy, but try to write for the contests now and then. Hope you don't leave Pam, you have a big following, and write very interesting , sometimes very humorous articles. take care, Grandma
Its good you don't keep track grandma, it would piss you off to see how bad it has gotten. Or you may not see it anyway, as you are one of the matriarchs of Gather and bring in a LOT of views. So you are probably one of those who will do well with the new change. That's a good thing :-) {{HUGS}} love you1
I dunno, if I post something on which people have strong opinions, I get a fair number of points. I've just posted a pretty good (and fun) short poem, and I'll be I don't get 20 points. It's OK, though, because I knew that goin' in. I'm having fun with the opion pieces and the debates, and I like to write stuff for those who like to read it. So I'll do both, and take what comes in the way of points.
You are right Chuck... I try to do that sometimes, but often lately I am just blah and just want to blog and not put too much energy into it. I guess I need to refocus! I do enjoy doing my blogs and I do love all the comments - I do feel bad that those commenting are not getting rewarded for their efforts though. I think that is a real shame.
I hope you stay too, I will cause I really like Gather!
I don't see myself leaving completely... I do like it here, but I'm pissed right now lol. I need to rethink my time here and figure out what exactly I want to do!
Like Marianne, my points are better than they were the first week after the change but I'm still only earning about half the points that I was before.
I haven't gotten there yet Kat. I am trying, and I've been trying to write about different things, that interest people, but lately I've been blah and don't want to put that much energy into it. I am trying though... I have to get my osteoperosis articles written, that will help I am sure!
Well, you go girl! Made more than me. I just never believed it would get this bad. I was living in a fantasy believing that I got views and comments because people cared about what I posted..Now I see I was just another stop on their way to earnings central. I have nothing more to offer than my heart and its not good enough anymore...About ready to give up on my passion all together...go back to keeping it all in a box for nobody to see....many I have over the past few weeks.
I hear you sweetie!!! {{{HUGS}}} I am sorry you were treated that way. I am happy that none of my friends deserted me when the points for comments went away. They have all been so great. I sure won't stop caring about what people write. I enjoy the stories I read here, I actually enjoy them MORE then posting my own *sigh* which again is why this change is so hard lol!
yep it really stinks
You said it!
I know how you feel. It use to be really fun place to come to and "chat" with everyone. Yes, it was a bonus to get the points to turn into gift cards. But now it seems like you really really have to work at getting points. Sorry, I just don't have all that much to talk about or time to get a few points here and there. At this rate, I'll be lucky to cash out by the end of the year.
That is how I feel too Cynthia. I can only talk about the dogs doing dog things so much before I want to go crazy, let alone my contacts LOL. {{HUGS}}
I don't understand but can't complain on my end....yesterday I got in my one post and due to time and internet connection trouble I barely did any comments...I had 54 points this morning.
I only got in the one post this morning but have been getting in quite a few comments in the last 3 hours this evening (but now I am going to bed!)
Wow, that's really great for one post! Congrats!!! I used to get that before the change lol.
I wish I could explain it, I havent posted anything today and only go 17 point since last nite,, I think I comment over 40 I have notcie those I get email to say you posted(you are one of them),, I dont get them till next day,, out these three I got the farm one only...
That is so weird Steph. WHAT is going on? No points, the site only works half the time, the posts take forever to post, friends feeds are working on and off, emails are coming sometimes way too late, sometimes three of the same one. I think someone is asleep at the wheel here.
I haven't gote many points either. So, I really don't know how someone can claim they made 2000 or even 500 points in one day. I think they lied for points.
If you leave here, where will you go? I don't want to loose contact with you again.
I do think Gather planned on losing alot of people to clean up the site of the copy and pasters.
Minipin, I don't think I will leave 100%. I don't want to lose contact with you either! Or any of the great friends I have made here - I learn so much from you guys too, this is a valueable place for me sometimes. I used to blog on xanga.com and on myspace.com. I just have to refocus my time here, if that makes sense. I refuse to stop commenting on others works just because there is no reward. That is dumb in my eyes. Perhaps once the copy/paste stuff peters out and those people leave, they will revisit the points discussion.
That would be nice once the copy and pasters are gone if the points came back......I refuse to top commenting on others work as well. I think it is silly. It also shows who your true fiends were on the site in my opinion.
I agree with you 100%! I used to enjoy being here, but now it's not so much fun. I go several days now between sign-ins. I hope they rethink this points thing!
I do too Trudy! That would be nice, but I think they have their interests elsewhere now!
I know just how you feel. It used to be worth it for me to hang out here during naptime, because even if I only got 30 minutes in, which is not enough time for me to create a photo essay, I could view and comment and get 50 or so points. Now I'm lucky if I get 2! I still like making the photo essays, so I probably still will, and I enjoy reading yours and others posts, but at this rate, I'll never cash out!
I agree Alicia, my hopes for cashing out and saving for my new camera were dashed with this new points change. It sure will save Gather a lot of money though. However, for me, this camera is my passion and I MUST find a way to buy it, even if it means spending much less time here :-(
it is not one of my favorite moves made by the gatherteam, that's for sure......
I've been spending a lot less time on Gather lately too. I didn't come here for the points initiially. In fact I didn't even know about them at the time. But with the economy the way it is I need to spend time trying to earn more money and Gather is not the place for that. It never did pay enough for the amount otf time invested and it's worse now than it ever was.
I understand what you mean about the entire being here (at the site) for the points and not being here for points (in terms of your friends). That's pretty much how I feel, except I haven't been able to explain it very well.
I am disappointed in how severely the points have been slashed recently. Seeing such a cut when you are one of the people who is (and has been) producing original content on the site does serve to make one feel less than valued.
Pamela, if you decide to leave you better be giving me your private email!
(DON'T GO!)
The new point system is iffy... I had one day I made as many points as I used to... but most days if I make 10 points I'm doing REALLY good. :)
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