Please Read Regarding Gift Threads

[DCA_MillionaireFreak]

I sort of support this because it seemed like people would just keep requesting, and no requests would be fufilled.

 

[SorcererDonald16]

I just got back from vacation a few hours ago and am reading through the threads I missed. I wanted to comment on this first.

I can see why they all were closed while y'all try and figure out a less problematic way of doing it. Sadly I don't know what to tell you though in terms of suggestions.

Speaking for myself and the Jack Sparrow thread, most people were great about it. But quite a few also were terrible to me via PMs and in the game, along the lines of "Give me one right now" and "I deserve it, give me one" or, the absolute worst, "I will report you if you don't get me one and give it to me within the next day." Umm.. This of course being after I had already explained I had only one so far and would let everyone know if I got a second one and then randomly choose a person to give it to. As I said most people are great about it, and it's helpful when you want to help other people out. But even my good intentions got turned around on me so I got badly treated/talked to, and there's no need in it. Seeing a bunch of new people with only that one post on the gift thread is rather bothersome as well; most of them are probably honest, but in the back of your mind you figure at least 1 just joined the boards to get a freebie. Greed is everywhere, and sometimes it seems like the virtual world more easily brings it out than real life. All that said, I'm still trying to enter more codes and win another one to gift to a DISer.

Best of luck figuring out some kind of modified method for this. It's definitely not a job I would want. I guess the only suggestion I have is if you start the threads up again, no one with 1 post should be allowed to be on a gift thread until they make more posts/establish themselves as a DISer and show they are not someone looking for extras for a mule or for a gift only to abandon the boards until they see another gift thread. If that makes any sense.

 

[FrontierNatasha]

well hopefully they will be allowed again soon so my inferno gifting thread can reopen. i believe it is the only hope for most ppl including me to get inferno.

 

[punkskateboarder]

closed

i never got mine

 

[BriarRosie]

I think at this point, abolishing all gift threads would be best. I've seen
people who just join the DIS thinking that all we do is gift people free things,
and they take advantage on these threads. I wouldn't put it past some of
them to sign up multiple users to get items.

And I've seen what gifting does to the gifter, too. One friend was gifting
gold doors when they first came out, and she was ambushed in PMs and
in posts berating her for not giving them gold doors fast enough. Some
would abuse her for not getting the doors to them quickly enough!

Before people abused gift threads, I had no problems with most of them,
for things like the diver suits, space mountain rooms, space suits, Everest
and Buzz Cup codes....things that are normally "free" to most players who
can successfully get the codes.

But after I've heard (and seen) some of the abuse, I would vote to get rid of
those threads forever.

 

[VirtuallyMe]

You know I have to agree with Briarlori here- I've seen way too much abuse -it is one thing when someone gives up a little time and passes on a code for something once they figure out the secret to winning- and another entirely if you are trying to get something like in park quest items.

I think it was the Stitch hat gift threads that threw me over. It is also one thing when a person who has items to give starts a thread to get a list of people to gift- and quite another when someone who wants the gift starts the thread.

I do enjoy gifting from time to time- and think something like the "what do you really want" thread would be great- people could post their "wish list" of things they want and those who have things can look through the posts and decide for themselves if they want to share some magic. There is no expectation of getting the items- but it does serve as a good place for those who do want to give to other DIS members to see who needs what.

Of course another idea would be to have those who like to share their wealth- gift secret associate or the prize fairy and let them do the gifting around - but I know some like their name on the RAOK thread more than just the gifting...

But yeah- I do not think there is a way to prevent the harassment of the gifters if you do the make a list sort of threads- perhaps another thing- could be for things like game codes (space mountain, everest, pirate) that threads be started by mods (maybe even have one just for this so they aren't adding more work to our overworked mods) that way- the list can be updated- and have a rule that if they are pm'd about their "place" on the list- they are removed from the list.

Okay- I really do need to get to work sometime this morning. I just can't seem to stop rambling on this morning lol- sort of a long post here to agree with Briar lol

 

[aeryn]

I'll do what Me couldn't do and just simply say, I agree with both Briar & Me. Very well put.

I do like the idea of the "what do you want most" thread...

 

[LoriR]

bumping it up

 

[qruthie]

Okay, I like the gift threads but don't usually use them. I don't care whether the thread is started by someone asking for a gift or by someone offering a gift or someone else. The thing I do mind is the sense of entitlement that some potential giftees have. I would be very unlikely to give a gift to someone who tried a game maybe five times and then gave up because they have decided they will never win the game. Sorry, I want to offer gifts to people who put in the effort. I also dislike it when people don't update the thread after receiving their gift.

Here are two things I would do with a gift thread if they were to continue to be managed in pretty much the same way the current lists are managed.

1. Encourage people who are giving gifts to give them to any person on the list. The order of the list just shouldn't matter. The thread would indicate that putting your name on the list does not mean you will be receiving a gift. Putting your name on the list is a request for a gift. If those are clear rules, then the one time posters won't have a leg to stand on if they complain that somebody got a gift before them. After all, the item belongs to the giver so they should be able to chose the person they want to have the gift. If there isn't anyone on the list who the giver wants to give to, then the giver should have the right to not give the item away without having people complain because their name is on the list. I also would support having a rule that when you are given a gift due to one of these threads, you must give an item to one of the anonymous Dis gift givers such as SecretAssociate. That would promote the idea of paying it forward.

2. Have the thread expire after a specific period of time, probably a week. At that point the moderators could lock the thread and probably even delete it. The old thread could hang around as a reference but it would probably be easier if it went away entirely. If people are still wanting or giving that item, they can create a new thread and start a new list of names. I think this would solve the lack of updating the thread problem. I would encourage people to update the thread during the time it is open but if they didn't, the automatic closure and possible automatic deleting of the thread would take care of that issue. People who already received the item or decided they don't want it just wouldn't add their names to the next list.



An idea for a different style of managing the threads would be to make the gift threads into trade threads. A list of names could be made but each person asking would have to list the item(s) they are going to trade for the desired item. If the person giving the item doesn't want anything in return, they could always refuse to accept the item(s). That would keep gifting from disappearing but would hopefully remove some of the entitlement.

 

[Pirate-Emery]

I think it was the Stitch hat gift threads that threw me over. It is also one thing when a person who has items to give starts a thread to get a list of people to gift- and quite another when someone who wants the gift starts the thread.

Boom. Game, Set, Match...

Being the unfortunate one, down on my luck, I don't have rare items (no Inferno or Sparrow has passed through my doors). Thus, I can safely say that Gift Threads really grate on my nerves for the above reasons that are said again and again. People feel like they are entitled to the rare items, even though they are in the majority. You have to work hard and diligently for rare items.

You have to approach gifting as what it is: you are depending on someone being very charitable, and thus you must be very thankful for their kindness. They go out of their way to make you happy: something they really don't need to do.

Early this July, the closest I've gotten to 240,000 is 234,000 and I've been playing since the end of March for that goal. Around Fourth of July I was graciously gifted two Fireworks Pins, one of which by our lovely mod, LoriR. I didn't deserve it, but she was so kind.

Now, our very own Days is doing something so nice for me, that I cannot possibly thank her enough.

I do whatever I can, whenever I can. On Pirate Quest Weekend, I gifted a couple hats... I've gifted a couple Blue Crates today (both actual gifts or purposefully losing at Ghosts).


So, it goes both ways: you cannot be self-centered in this game. It is about the magic...

 

[FrontierNatasha]

sorry but i dotn like some of the rules you ppl are posting. i dont want gift threads to be band forever or that you have to trade for the item bc some ppl can never get rare and i have rare that nobody ever wants. and i dont think they should expire bc the person who starts the thread would have to post it all over again i want to help those in need

 

[VirtuallyMe]

sorry but i dotn like some of the rules you ppl are posting. i dont want gift threads to be band forever or that you have to trade for the item bc some ppl can never get rare and i have rare that nobody ever wants. and i dont think they should expire bc the person who starts the thread would have to post it all over again i want to help those in need

Your wishes can still go in your signature like mine are- or in the "What do you really Want" thread- where people who are willing to give can see and give a gift without having a formal thread for it...

I think the problem is people hear how generous the Dis people are and come to get free stuff without bothering to get to know other VMK Disers- I find everyone to be very generous- but no one is suckers here- and no one should have to be subjected to the harrassment that some of the gifters have been in the past-

There are a few things out there- that I doubt I will ever get- things like Stitch Hat and Inferno and the Jack Sparrow Costume now- are just too much to be asked to be gifted

And other things will get more and more common and some people can be gifted- or you can trade buyables or credits for items that used to only be obtainable with other rare items.

 

[Maleficent2]

sorry but i dotn like some of the rules you ppl are posting. i dont want gift threads to be band forever or that you have to trade for the item bc some ppl can never get rare and i have rare that nobody ever wants. and i dont think they should expire bc the person who starts the thread would have to post it all over again i want to help those in need

No body said that gift threads were banned forever.

We people?

 

[qruthie]

sorry but i dotn like some of the rules you ppl are posting. i dont want gift threads to be band forever or that you have to trade for the item bc some ppl can never get rare and i have rare that nobody ever wants. and i dont think they should expire bc the person who starts the thread would have to post it all over again i want to help those in need

My trade suggestion wasn't intended to mean people would have to offer rare items. Offering some Expedition Supplies (50 credits) for a Diver Suit from the Tomorrowland Arcade would be acceptable. Most important, the person trading the item to you would always have the option of just giving the item to you.

Expiring threads aren't as horrible as they may seem to you. It would require some moderator effort which is unfortunate. I don't like to add to their already time consuming work.

If someone who wants to be given an item doesn't want to offer something in trade or doesn't have the motivation to create a new thread and maintain it for the week then frankly, they don't deserve a gift from me. That's the sort of attitude I'm talking about when I say entitlement. It seems like many people expect everyone to do the work for them and just hand them the prize. I can't speak for other people who give gifts, but this attitude offends me and keeps me away from the gift threads. Asking for a gift is really just begging for an item, classy people realize that.

Here's an example of what I prefer to see as a gift request:

I've been playing FrustrationGame for a week now and I can't get past level one. I would love a FrustrationGamePrize. If anyone has an extra FrustrationGamePrize, I'd like to arrange a trade.

Note there is no asking for a gift, they expect to trade. If I saw this request and had an extra FrustrationGamePrize, this would be the first person I'd offer it to. Then I'd tell them it is a gift, there is no need to offer something in return.

A real life example: Coriander suggested CL_OutOfMyMind as being deserving of a gift of a Dancing Inferno Pin. I made note of that selfless act of kindness. When I won another Dancing Inferno Pin I gave it to Out. Out, being the classy person he is, tried to give me something in return. I said no, it was a gift.

 

[Disney Dreams]

... Out, being the classy person he is, tried to give me something in return. I said no, it was a gift.

That's because you are the picture of class, Q! (Well, ok, not when you are asking the dudes in the pirate prison if they are taken, but..... )

Honestly, class act Ms. Q.

-Disney Dreams

 

[BriarRosie]

Here's an example of what I prefer to see as a gift request:

I've been playing FrustrationGame for a week now and I can't get past level one. I would love a FrustrationGamePrize. If anyone has an extra FrustrationGamePrize, I'd like to arrange a trade.

Note there is no asking for a gift, they expect to trade. If I saw this request and had an extra FrustrationGamePrize, this would be the first person I'd offer it to. Then I'd tell them it is a gift, there is no need to offer something in return.

I can substitute my story for FrustrationGame prize trading examples.

I cannot win those Tomorrowland Arcade games, no matter how much I try.
I wanted a Space Mountain Room code. So I found someone on the trade
board willing to trade me the code. I made the trade, both of us got
something good out of it.

I am actually able to win the pirate ship FrustrationGame, much to my
relief.