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"Awards" Rant
Replies
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I agree with the fact that positive reinforcement is good and the little digital awards are a good thing, but when they are so frequent for every little thing, that just reduces their meaningfulness. At least in my mind. Like MFP gives me a little "pat on the back" every 5 days for logging in. Thanks MFP I feel so much better about myself for having logged in another 5 days in a row. Woopedoo.
I know, after a certain point it should be every 30 days or something.
I don't mind digital trophies or badges, it can be a nice reminder of how far you've come, but I agree there is a certain amount of diminishing returns when you get them for every little thing!1 -
tried to reply to wrong post0
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NorthCascades wrote: »The MFP logins thing is especially silly because you don't have to use the site or app to get credit. If I go for a hike or bike ride, my watch will sync, and MFP treats that as if I logged in.
This is why it's always funny to me when I see someone freaking out because they can't close their diary for low calories (whole other issue) and think they will lose their streak. I haven't closed my diary in months.
I've never closed my diary ever. What does doing that get you?4 -
NorthCascades wrote: »NorthCascades wrote: »The MFP logins thing is especially silly because you don't have to use the site or app to get credit. If I go for a hike or bike ride, my watch will sync, and MFP treats that as if I logged in.
This is why it's always funny to me when I see someone freaking out because they can't close their diary for low calories (whole other issue) and think they will lose their streak. I haven't closed my diary in months.
I've never closed my diary ever. What does doing that get you?
The "In 5 weeks, you will weigh ..." statement. That's it.4 -
NorthCascades wrote: »NorthCascades wrote: »The MFP logins thing is especially silly because you don't have to use the site or app to get credit. If I go for a hike or bike ride, my watch will sync, and MFP treats that as if I logged in.
This is why it's always funny to me when I see someone freaking out because they can't close their diary for low calories (whole other issue) and think they will lose their streak. I haven't closed my diary in months.
I've never closed my diary ever. What does doing that get you?
A badge. Or at least a note telling you how much you will weigh in 5 weeks if you keep doing everything exactly the same as you did on the day it closed.
Oh, and it shows up in you newsfeed I think.0 -
NorthCascades wrote: »NorthCascades wrote: »The MFP logins thing is especially silly because you don't have to use the site or app to get credit. If I go for a hike or bike ride, my watch will sync, and MFP treats that as if I logged in.
This is why it's always funny to me when I see someone freaking out because they can't close their diary for low calories (whole other issue) and think they will lose their streak. I haven't closed my diary in months.
I've never closed my diary ever. What does doing that get you?
A bogus 'if every day was like today, you would weigh this much in 5 weeks' message and an auto post to your news feed, if you're into that sort of thing.1 -
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*kitten* you guys are fast today!1
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kommodevaran wrote: »
The ability to eat all the foodz without gaining!2 -
quiksylver296 wrote: »kommodevaran wrote: »
The ability to eat all the foodz without gaining!
That prize is currently unavailable. How about the ability to pay your electric bill and mortgage for another month instead?3 -
NorthCascades wrote: »NorthCascades wrote: »The MFP logins thing is especially silly because you don't have to use the site or app to get credit. If I go for a hike or bike ride, my watch will sync, and MFP treats that as if I logged in.
This is why it's always funny to me when I see someone freaking out because they can't close their diary for low calories (whole other issue) and think they will lose their streak. I haven't closed my diary in months.
I've never closed my diary ever. What does doing that get you?
A bogus 'if every day was like today, you would weigh this much in 5 weeks' message and an auto post to your news feed, if you're into that sort of thing.
If every day was like yesterday, I'd have a consultant doing all my work for me, a lifetime supply of free coffee, and a lot of anxiety over a temporarily lost pet.
Remember that movie Groundhog Day?4 -
Then that is what you shall have!quiksylver296 wrote: »kommodevaran wrote: »
The ability to eat all the foodz without gaining!
All in the spirit of no need for sacrifice!1 -
quiksylver296 wrote: »kommodevaran wrote: »
The ability to eat all the foodz without gaining!
That prize is currently unavailable. How about the ability to pay your electric bill and mortgage for another month instead?
Wait. My paycheck is supposed to cover a mortgage?!?
Dammit. At least I have my "Awake by 9AM" badge.7 -
NorthCascades wrote: »NorthCascades wrote: »The MFP logins thing is especially silly because you don't have to use the site or app to get credit. If I go for a hike or bike ride, my watch will sync, and MFP treats that as if I logged in.
This is why it's always funny to me when I see someone freaking out because they can't close their diary for low calories (whole other issue) and think they will lose their streak. I haven't closed my diary in months.
I've never closed my diary ever. What does doing that get you?
You are rewarded with a "What if" statement that is wildly inaccurate.4 -
quiksylver296 wrote: »kommodevaran wrote: »
The ability to eat all the foodz without gaining!
That prize is currently unavailable. How about the ability to pay your electric bill and mortgage for another month instead?
Winter is coming. I guess that will work. :sad:2 -
NorthCascades wrote: »The MFP logins thing is especially silly because you don't have to use the site or app to get credit. If I go for a hike or bike ride, my watch will sync, and MFP treats that as if I logged in.
Ya.. I don't even fill out my diary. I get patted on the back for wasting my time on a forum
4 -
Some people find these kinds of things motivating, I suppose. This "gamification" is a pretty standard thing in digital life nowadays. MFP gives you a digital high-five when you log in for a certain number of days straight. Heck, I'm almost kind of proud of some of my untappd "badges", including the "Extraordinary" badge for 1000 unique check-ins:
Regarding 9 AM: When I was in grad school I'd routinely stay up working until 2-3 AM and then sleep in well past 9. Of course, you can argue that a PhD student isn't a "normal functioning adult".
1169 as of today
Love Untappd!
do we need to start a MFP untapped club i'm laggin behind you guys - i just joined 2 -
ExistingFish wrote: »I don't find it annoying at all. Positive reinforcement is a good tool for getting healthy. Getting up at 9 am is not the point of this, the point of this is to do something seemingly easy (most people can manage 9 am, that is why it's so late) to get the reward, condition the positive response to the reward.
So we reward a level lower than mediocracy, SMH.1 -
deannalfisher wrote: »Some people find these kinds of things motivating, I suppose. This "gamification" is a pretty standard thing in digital life nowadays. MFP gives you a digital high-five when you log in for a certain number of days straight. Heck, I'm almost kind of proud of some of my untappd "badges", including the "Extraordinary" badge for 1000 unique check-ins:
Regarding 9 AM: When I was in grad school I'd routinely stay up working until 2-3 AM and then sleep in well past 9. Of course, you can argue that a PhD student isn't a "normal functioning adult".
1169 as of today
Love Untappd!
do we need to start a MFP untapped club i'm laggin behind you guys - i just joined
Done!
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/128596-untappd-beer-lovers-of-mfp1 -
I don't find it annoying. Not motivating, but not annoying. Knowing that I walked the length of the Nile is fun. If the idea of gamification bothers you, look at these awards and badges as mini goals you've achieved or want to achieve, or just ignore them (like I did with the chit chat forum). I don't feel it's helpful to decide for others what motivates them and what doesn't. It's also not helpful to trivialize their goals, no matter how easy they sound to you.
Adults award themselves for all sorts of things with all sorts of things. I'm not even a little bit ashamed that I asked for a jigsaw puzzle for my birthday or that I play video games almost every day. I find fun what I find fun, no "grown up" label required. Laser tag last month was fun too, and it felt like "Achievement Unlocked!" because I didn't have the stamina to enjoy it or even play it in the past. I don't care that others may scoff at my "achievement".10 -
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deannalfisher wrote: »Some people find these kinds of things motivating, I suppose. This "gamification" is a pretty standard thing in digital life nowadays. MFP gives you a digital high-five when you log in for a certain number of days straight. Heck, I'm almost kind of proud of some of my untappd "badges", including the "Extraordinary" badge for 1000 unique check-ins:
Regarding 9 AM: When I was in grad school I'd routinely stay up working until 2-3 AM and then sleep in well past 9. Of course, you can argue that a PhD student isn't a "normal functioning adult".
1169 as of today
Love Untappd!
do we need to start a MFP untapped club i'm laggin behind you guys - i just joined
Done!
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/128596-untappd-beer-lovers-of-mfp
You spelled "untapped" wrong, dumbass 1 -
Tacklewasher wrote: »deannalfisher wrote: »Some people find these kinds of things motivating, I suppose. This "gamification" is a pretty standard thing in digital life nowadays. MFP gives you a digital high-five when you log in for a certain number of days straight. Heck, I'm almost kind of proud of some of my untappd "badges", including the "Extraordinary" badge for 1000 unique check-ins:
Regarding 9 AM: When I was in grad school I'd routinely stay up working until 2-3 AM and then sleep in well past 9. Of course, you can argue that a PhD student isn't a "normal functioning adult".
1169 as of today
Love Untappd!
do we need to start a MFP untapped club i'm laggin behind you guys - i just joined
Done!
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/128596-untappd-beer-lovers-of-mfp
You spelled "untapped" wrong, dumbass
It didn't kitten that?!?2 -
quiksylver296 wrote: »Tacklewasher wrote: »deannalfisher wrote: »Some people find these kinds of things motivating, I suppose. This "gamification" is a pretty standard thing in digital life nowadays. MFP gives you a digital high-five when you log in for a certain number of days straight. Heck, I'm almost kind of proud of some of my untappd "badges", including the "Extraordinary" badge for 1000 unique check-ins:
Regarding 9 AM: When I was in grad school I'd routinely stay up working until 2-3 AM and then sleep in well past 9. Of course, you can argue that a PhD student isn't a "normal functioning adult".
1169 as of today
Love Untappd!
do we need to start a MFP untapped club i'm laggin behind you guys - i just joined
Done!
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/128596-untappd-beer-lovers-of-mfp
You spelled "untapped" wrong, dumbass
It didn't kitten that?!?
Nope.
And yes I was amused by that as well.
Did ask to join though.0 -
deannalfisher wrote: »Some people find these kinds of things motivating, I suppose. This "gamification" is a pretty standard thing in digital life nowadays. MFP gives you a digital high-five when you log in for a certain number of days straight. Heck, I'm almost kind of proud of some of my untappd "badges", including the "Extraordinary" badge for 1000 unique check-ins:
Regarding 9 AM: When I was in grad school I'd routinely stay up working until 2-3 AM and then sleep in well past 9. Of course, you can argue that a PhD student isn't a "normal functioning adult".
1169 as of today
Love Untappd!
do we need to start a MFP untapped club i'm laggin behind you guys - i just joined
Done!
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/128596-untappd-beer-lovers-of-mfp
I can't join. I hate beer :sad:2 -
Tacklewasher wrote: »
Always says?4 -
deannalfisher wrote: »Some people find these kinds of things motivating, I suppose. This "gamification" is a pretty standard thing in digital life nowadays. MFP gives you a digital high-five when you log in for a certain number of days straight. Heck, I'm almost kind of proud of some of my untappd "badges", including the "Extraordinary" badge for 1000 unique check-ins:
Regarding 9 AM: When I was in grad school I'd routinely stay up working until 2-3 AM and then sleep in well past 9. Of course, you can argue that a PhD student isn't a "normal functioning adult".
1169 as of today
Love Untappd!
do we need to start a MFP untapped club i'm laggin behind you guys - i just joined
Done!
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/128596-untappd-beer-lovers-of-mfp
I can't join. I hate beer :sad:
Same. Shall we go for margaritas, @pinuplove?1 -
Tacklewasher wrote: »deannalfisher wrote: »Some people find these kinds of things motivating, I suppose. This "gamification" is a pretty standard thing in digital life nowadays. MFP gives you a digital high-five when you log in for a certain number of days straight. Heck, I'm almost kind of proud of some of my untappd "badges", including the "Extraordinary" badge for 1000 unique check-ins:
Regarding 9 AM: When I was in grad school I'd routinely stay up working until 2-3 AM and then sleep in well past 9. Of course, you can argue that a PhD student isn't a "normal functioning adult".
1169 as of today
Love Untappd!
do we need to start a MFP untapped club i'm laggin behind you guys - i just joined
Done!
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/128596-untappd-beer-lovers-of-mfp
You spelled "untapped" wrong, dumbass
Untappd spelled untapped wrong 4 -
Tacklewasher wrote: »deannalfisher wrote: »Some people find these kinds of things motivating, I suppose. This "gamification" is a pretty standard thing in digital life nowadays. MFP gives you a digital high-five when you log in for a certain number of days straight. Heck, I'm almost kind of proud of some of my untappd "badges", including the "Extraordinary" badge for 1000 unique check-ins:
Regarding 9 AM: When I was in grad school I'd routinely stay up working until 2-3 AM and then sleep in well past 9. Of course, you can argue that a PhD student isn't a "normal functioning adult".
1169 as of today
Love Untappd!
do we need to start a MFP untapped club i'm laggin behind you guys - i just joined
Done!
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/128596-untappd-beer-lovers-of-mfp
You spelled "untapped" wrong, dumbass
Untappd spelled untapped wrong
It's so nice that you didn't resort to name-calling, like some people...0 -
NorthCascades wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »They are organizing a step challenge at work, Some of my group was going to do it so I took a look. It involves measuring steps with a tracker or phone app. Since I don't have a tracker, I looked at the recommended phone app.
When I looked at the app, this "challenge/award opportunity" came up. WTF, some app developer feels the need to "award" adult behavior (2nd or 3rd shift workers not included in this rant)?
For what it's worth, developers just write what the spec tells us to. There was a product manager, a designer, and a graphic artist involved in this decision.
If they'd had a Business Analyst, they'd have discovered the actual need the app could meet and developed towards that instead.
*Steps off soapbox
(Yes, I'm a business analyst lol)3
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