DIS VMK Board - A Victim of its Own Success?

[blizzard]

Ok First of all a disclaimer - I am not talking about ANYONE in specifics. These are all general comments. If you choose to see yourself in any of the comments I make, well that is your choice. I do not have names in mind when I am making these comments.

In the past few months, we have seen an explosion of new people join the VMK Board here at Dis. Most of the people who have "found" the Dis Boards have been a great addition to the community, and have been great Dis ambassadors, both here and within VMK.

Then there are some other people who have joined the Dis community basically to "get free stuff". They have heard of the generousity of the Dis people, and come here to beg for things. Why try to trade for an item, when you can sign up here to get it for free?

This in no way is meant to be negative either towards the people, who so generously work to obtain extra items to gift others, or to those who for "legitimate" reasons cannot obtain items. It seems though, that some people will not even try to trade or work for these items. After all, it is much easier just to ask for something for free rather than have to give up some of your own rare items for something you want.

My own personal feelings are that I love to gift things on my own terms. If I know someone is looking for something, and I happen to have extra I will gladly give it away. My preference is to trade for things though. Don't get me wrong here though, if I know you happen to be a 7 year old and your greatest wish is a space suit, I will trade just about anything for it. (Including kelloggs furniture) Almost everyone will be much happier with an item if you had to work for it (either by earning or trading), or if it was a gift given with true kindness (not because your name came up on a list).

Anyway, I wanted to see if others feel the same as I do about this. Are Dis people being "too generous" to newcomers who are not contributing to the Dis community? (again not to say that all newcomers do not contribute to the community) Thoughts? Opinions?

 

[disvaclub92]

I do feel the same. I have often gifted in the past, now I am more cautious in my gifting because now people are expecting me to gift (like you said gifting under your own terms).

I love the game and love to gift - but isn't it more fun when it is a RAOK - instead of asking? I think so.

 

[Decoy]

I agree!!

Though I am relitively new to Dis, I have been gifting from my beginings in VMK. I don't not like it when people beg, or come to me everytime they need tables and chairs for a new cafe.

I like to give items that I see someone needs, or might like to have, when they have not asked.

But, trading is the best way, and I agree that sometimes, item for item is plenty good. (Even for Kelloggs Furniture)

-Decoy

 

[DarkSideMoon]

while i have not noticed on dis, i have seen an increasing number of people try to rip me off of stuff. example. i walk into a trade room, say hi, ask if anyone will trade me rocket couches or rare furniture for my 2 princess dresses i have on my girl mule, i get a trade request, i open it, and the person says they will give me a JC poster for it! i kindly say no, that i would like to get rare or beta for them, and they throw a hissy fit! it seems that 4 out of 5 times this will happen. they think just because i am dis that i will give away my virtual life.

 

[Califgirl]

Blizzard (canadian), I could have written your post word for word. I just didn't have the courage to actually post it. But, I agree with you 100%. Thank you for posting this.

 

[Roxane]

You know, I had noticed a large influx of new people recently too. I was also wondering about it. Your theory makes a lot of sense. The reason I had noticed was because of all the new posts with content I hadn't expected to see on this board. Now that I think about it, I think many of them were people asking for things. I suppose I'll just be going by my "gut feeling" when gifting.

 

[Goofy05]

I, too have noticed a lot more ppl wanting free items. I don't mind gifting, as I have many times. I don't like it when someone tells me to give them a crown or Sorcerer hat or whatever the flavor of the day happens to be. I worked on the games to earn credits. I let my rooms sit empty or nearly empty for many months before I earned enough credits to furnish them. I think everyone should at least TRY to earn their own credits.

Blizzard. I feel for you. You are way too generous! I did not post on the free space suit thread because I did not want anything for free. I may not have much, but I will always try to make a fair trade. People need to be reminded that the space suit that is being gifted or traded took time to earn. I'm sure you (and others who are gifting items) don't feel like playing Blast or Diver games 8 hours a day just so people can have a free space suit!

I'm glad there are more Dis members. It's just not right that, for some, all they came here for is to see what they can get for nothing.

I may not post often, as you can see I've barely made 100 posts, but I do check the boards daily. I only add when I have something of substance to say. I hope this post had substance! LOL

 

[NJ Mike]

And we havent even discussed the subject of pm's here on the dis..


People who know me somewhat, know i'm a prety nice dude, or at lest try to be. Am I like that all the time? no. Sometimes i'm in a bad mood, we all are, and sometimes i just plain dont like you. There. Somebody had to say it.

If somebody asks me for, or to buy them something as a gift flat out. Either publicly, or through pm's, they arent going to get it.

I dont think, personally, that i want to condone just saying "gimme gimme" and people get it.

Call me silly, i think giving should be at the discretion of the giver.

Now, there have been a few threads on this board where people postsed general desires. They werent asking from somebody specific. Also people have "wish lists" in their sigs both here on the dis, and in vmk. I think they are all cool. Because in all those cases, you may get it, you may not, and you arent in someones face saying gimme.

But the constant "who can gift one?" threads are bad enough, let lone the flat out "who can help me" or "who can give me" threads.

I created a mule this morning for the sole purpose (well ok the main purpose) of just seeing what his guest number was. Then i just walked up and down main street looking for guests with a higher number. Because these people just joined today. Could some be people's mules? Sure. But i walked around and gave out 20 sorcerer hats. Did anyone ask? no.

To touch on canaian's point, i did it because i wanted to. Not becasue i was asked to or felt obligated to. I think most people here on the dis are that way. They give when, if, and to who they so desire, and dont appreciate the constant plea for free stuff. But hey, i could be wrong about that. This is just my opinion.

I have always taken a sort of robin hood mentality with vmk. I take from the rich (vmk itself) and give to the poor (people in need, or who are new). But there is a difference between being robin hood and the local vmk welfare office. Sorry if that offends anyone.

And to get back to canadian's points. Theres a diference beteen somebody helping you get something you couldnt, and someboy giving you something you never tried to get ypurself. Or expecting something from someone because they have it.

Dont know about you, but i never walked into McDonald's and said "can i have a quarter pounder with cheese? you have so many and I dont have any."

Just my $.02, marked up to $.05 for the holiday rush.

 

[TLinden16]

I agree with this, Canadian. We do seem to have an increasing number of people who are coming here just to try to get stuff while not contributing to our community.

Now, I'm not as generous a gifter as some others around here, but I have been known to surprise people with items, but that is usually people I know who I know need a certain item. Or to kids of people on the DIS.

I tend to ignore the requests from people who just say, "Can you give me this item?" I would much rather surprise someone with an item they need.

 

[dippydawg]

Well, as one of the many who are gifting the space suits, I have to admit that I've started looking at the posts made by the people asking for the space suits, and have seen at least a couple where the person has made maybe two or three posts total, and those are just asking for free things.

I'm not saying that I'm flat out not going to give a space suit code to these people, but I am "moving them to the bottom of the list" so to speak, and trying to get to people who are at least somewhat active in the discussion boards, or have at least demonstrated an attempt to legitimately try to win but can't.

I know that most of these members are probably kids and most likely heard from a friend about the space suit thread and thought to give it a try, which is fine.

But I guess I'm with blizzard on the issue of gifting under my own terms. I'd like to see something other than one post by the person that says "i need a spacesuit."

 

[LittleRydia]

I know im a new person here also.. only been here a month or so. but i noticed a lot of gifting and begging and wanting on here.. sorry if im not allowed to say anything but i dont like it either XD

i can honestly say i havnt asked for anything, or posted on the gift boards. for the fact i injoy things more when i worked for it, like my chicken hat. i was offered to be gifted one if they get it, but i worked and got it on my own and told them.

I have also got a few PMs from people asking me to give them some of my costumes, since i posted what i got on that tread about costumes. I simply told them you wouldnt get anywere in life by begging. I started out poor, new and without anything but i worked and now have almost everything ive wanted since i joined. my goal now is inferno XD yea in my dreams.

but yes i think people are joining here just to get free things, since a lot of post on here are "who can gift so and so item" i havnt been to disney myself, and when i do go i plan to get extra just to give to some nice people here on dis. or as some of you say RAOK type thing to random people

 

[kitashus]

Thank you for posting; I agree with you. There does seem to be an increase in the "gimme, gimme" mentality here on the board. I tend to just look past those posts.

I have been gifting items when I can and when I see that there will be an appreciation for it (to be honest). This has usually been the case of something on someones wish list (where they are not asking outright for it). I feel good for providing something unexpectedly to someone that they really wanted. I have also been gifted some wonderful things (not only for me, but for my kids as well) and I am most appreciative. I have never asked for anything that I thought I could get myself and I have traded when I could. So I admit I would expect the same of others.

When I thought I would only be able to get one Herbie set, I got on the Herbie list and Pinkgirlygirl so kindly gifted me a set (out of the blue). I was thrilled. I bought my copy of the movie later that day so we had 2 sets. That meant DD and I could share a set and DS could have the other (since the suits are male/female specific). The next day my DH asked for code sheets at our local small video store and got 3! (I was surprised they had some). So that allowed me to gift out 2. And I am very happy to "pay it forward" as they say. But I admit, I have been selective in who gets them. I don't know if that makes me a bad person, but I have been selective for the very reasons that you discuss in your post. Many, many people here on the Dis board are so generous; I would really hate to see that generosity taken advantage of.

 

[BriarRosie]

I agree about this issue 100%. I have been generously gifted, but I have
also done the "pay it forward" thing Kitashus mentioned. I don't think there's
anything wrong in being selective.

Like Mike, I've given things to people who don't beg.

If the items are hard to acquire, but others have no problem getting them,
I don't see a problem gifting. The Tomorrowland arcade game prizes come to
mind. I find the idea of gifting a seagull hat to be insulting, because many
people had to trade for theirs, and it is still difficult for many of us to find
people willing to trade it.

I don't see anyone gifting hard to find items, especially if the items have a
high trade value. I've been guilty of mentioning that I'd love two hard
to find items, but I don't expect anyone of gifting them to me since I know
their intrinsic value.

Thanks for voicing this, Canadian.

 

[VirtuallyMe]

I have to agree with this too- I've been one who was fortunate to benefit from others here and have tried to pass it along when I can. I was in a room the other day with a friend of my dh's she mentioned that she didn't have enough credits to get the gray mansion suit but had managed to get the others even though on vacation- she never asked for the suit- was just participating in the conversation- so I gifted her one.

She was very appreciative and sent a thanks and later gave me some furniture for dd's room saying she knew my dh had mentioned she had wanted to get these things- (it was nothing expensive) but a way of making someone happy in a simple way.

I don't know how many times I am confronted in the game with the gimme's that it is amazing that it is expected-

I have no problem with the wish list threads- we can all look at those and help to make someone's day or not- but I think it is the ones who come on the board and their first or second post is starting a thread to get something given to them- or they keep creating similar threads or bumping theirs when no one responds to it. Of course what that makes me do is just pass over that person's post- but with all the talk people have done about creating mules, power-nedding and more to get things that come up for sale a lot of the things asked for don't need to be requested here.

So I guess this is my long and rambling way of saying, "ditto"

 

[qruthie]

I pretty much agree with what has been said.

I will also confess to being someone who has taken advantage of the generosity on this board. I joined some time after discovering the prize codes thread and gladly using them. I have also had my name on the various gifting threads - diver suit as a gifter; space suit (for chair only since I already had a suit) and Herbie (I've asked to be removed from the list because I bought the DVD and got my own code). That's the end of my confession. To make it clear, I don't believe the original post is directed at me. I just felt the need to confess.

The important thing for me is that I have been very honest about asking for those gifts. I never expected anything for free, I expected to trade for the items I was asking for. The gifters have just refused to accept anything in return. That has been very inspiring to me so now I try to gift items when possible. Sometimes I trade for a less valuable item, sometimes I loan the item. Oh, I almost forgot, as soon as I received items I was asking for, I reported it so my name could be removed from the list. Thankfully, almost everyone I've met up with from this board has the same type of values and goals that I do. You guys are definitely nice!

I will continue to do my best to help others acquire the items they wish to have. However, as others have said here, I don't have much desire at all to gift or even trade items to beggars. In real life I will help a beggar even if it just means stopping to talk to them for a while as I do feel a certain amount of sorrow and pity for someone in that position. But vmk is an entirely different situation. Everyone has the opportunity to earn credits. It takes some effort to build up credits but it's not that difficult. Patience is a virtue. Put all of that together and there is no reason to become a beggar.

If you would like an item I have and feel the need to ask me to trade:
1. Ask politely if I will trade the item.
2. Respect "no" if I say I'm not trading the item. Repeatedly asking for the item won't get you anywhere with me, instead I will avoid you like the plague. And, no, I won't be your friend.
3. Offer a fair trade if I say I will consider trading the item. I understand if you don't have super rare items. Just offer something fair. I'll gladly consider accepting 10 crates in exchange for my crown.
4. Respect "no" if I decide not to trade. I'm not obligated to trade with you just because I opened the trade window. Some trades don't work out. Maybe we will be able to work something out later.

Those rules don't apply if I approach you with an offer to trade or gift an item from your wish list. In that situation, you can expect a lopsided trade or gift that is in your favor. Yes, I said you can EXPECT that. The key thing is that I'm approaching you with the generous offer, you're not begging me or even asking me for anything.

If you never want to trade with me:
1. Follow me around the game whining, "I want a crown." I'm a mother of two kids. Whining doesn't work on me. I'm an expert at ignoring it.
2. Ask me to give you anything I'm wearing. I may be generous but I'm not about to give you the shirt off my back in a virtual game.
3. Come into one of my rooms and tell me I'm rich and then say you want something. I can see through that crap.
4. Ask me to dismantle my room so I can give you the furniture for your room. I spent hours playing Ned and stacking crates to make the Hippodrome. I won't take it apart to furnish my own rooms. There's no way I'll do it for you.

Well, this has gotten long and I need to do more Nedding. Again, I'd like to thank everyone on this board who has been generous to me and to others. You are great people and I am very happy to "hang" with you!

qruthie (the 'q' is silent)

 

[redbaybound]

Ok, this is sort of OT but it relates to what we are discussing here.

My uncle was a professional beggar. No joke, he made about $35,000 a year back in the early 80s. He was of course a horrible embarrassment to our family but he taught me a good lesson. Of course I am going to share it with you! LOL

You can't tell a "true" charity case from a con. If you want to give to someone less fortunate, do your research and give to an organization you can trust.
As far as DIS goes, I try to gift to those who are not constantly asking for something.

I am not saying that asking for something you can't earn on your own is bad. After all, how can we know you want something if you don't tell us. By the same token, if you can earn it, then try. I could have asked for my fireworks pin but I tried for four months before I finally got it on my own. WOOT!

I know that some people are less capable of earning some things; for example, people with low connection speeds, little kids who have a hard time mastering the Blaster game, those of us who can't get to a park and those of us that stink at trading(me being one of them, lol). I don't have a problem giving gifts to people like that.

I know I've said it before, but I enjoy random gift giving. I was also very fortunate to receive my first gift from BobRichmond(thanks again Out!) without coming right out and asking someone for it. So I try to pay it forward.

 

[BriarRosie]

I am not saying that asking for something you can't earn on your own is bad. After all, how can we know you want something if you don't tell us. By the same token, if you can earn it, then try. I could have asked for my fireworks pin but I tried for four months before I finally got it on my own. WOOT!

I know I've said it before, but I enjoy random gift giving. I was also very fortunate to receive my first gift from BobRichmond(thanks again Out!) without coming right out and asking someone for it. So I try to pay it forward.

I had similar experiences with fireworks, but I had to trade quest stuff for
my first pin. I thought I'd never earn my own, and one day, I did!
I was able to earn extras, and I've gifted fireworks to people who haven't
begged for it but I know had a hard time earning it on their own.
These people made the effort to try to earn it, so I felt they
deserved a gift.

 

[Captain Brain]

I agree with the points above.I do gift if I have extras.I have had wishlists in my signature.Read my posts in the RAOK thread.

Today I was gifted by MickeysMagic.She asked me if the magic I was wearing was all I had.I told her yes.She then opened a trade window and gifted me Fireworks.(a game my computer won't play)Did,I ask?No I didn't.I rarely ask for stuff or beg.

I do like everyone else,do ask if a person is trading something.I have never gone right out and said"give me a space suit for free"I think that the new dis people,have a slight tendency to go right out and ask.I love the dis for two reasons.
1:nice helpful people
2: people who think the same i do

It is well known that that some players make mules just for begging.That is just crazy in my opinion.People sgould try to trade at kease 2 times before asking to ift.I like to make trading threads so I can tell everyone what I'm looking for and trading.My main point is thislease people,don't be greedy.

 

[mtlhddoc2]

Im not very good at "giving" mostly... but when I do, I try to give to someone who gives (like MiaKoda) -n I dont trade much, but I ahve traded a few times, I traded stuff I knew I could get more for to people who were "less fortunate" or were just decent contacts on VMK, someone who asks before trading, someone who offers MORE than is nessecary will get back more than nessecary. I have even traded for things I already have, just to help someone out. I did make a mistake early on trading away my black rocket before I knew they were removed from the store (yikes) anyway, not the point and I am a rambler... I have asked a couple of times, but only when people were offering (like the space suit and black ears) but I got my Fireworks the old fashioned way... traded away my herbie stuff for it! LOL I have never been able to break 240 on that game

 

[Maleficent2]

I hope no one thinks bad of me for starting two of the threads mentioned in this post.

The Space Suit and the Diver Suit.


I totally agree with everyone who has posted here. In fact I hinted to such in a few comments I made on the Space suit thread when newbies with only one post were asking and rather rudely I might add to be gifted.

I would never ever as a newbie ask to be gifted by anyone befor getting to know or be known by members of that group.

as far as the space suit and divers suit thread goes I think they are now closed to all new giftees.

No one else will be added to the lists on either one. Please update me if you gift or have been gifted so I can adjust threads. But I will not be adding new names as of tonight.

Mal