I have something direct and honest to say...

[Cehrabehra]

Oh please. All of you who are 'expecting' a pat on the back for reaching 10K are so far removed from the internet world. There are millions of forums out there, with millions of people posting on millions of threads. You and your post count are really not significant in the grand scheme of things. That is just the nature of the internet. You can either adapt to it, or find another outlet.

I think it's fair for the admins to only give the 10K gift to those that are immensely helpful in RT. Providing diamond information is the first and foremost mandate of Pricescope, the non-diamond chat forums are just the cherry on top.

Also, I get that people are upset that if only they reached 10K earlier, they would've received the gift. But here's the thing, marketing is a fluid, dynamic thing. You change your strategies based on what is needed - back then they needed long time posters to stay around and help increase volume, now they need those who are well-versed in diamond knowledge to stick around. It's quite simple, really.



ETA: Edited to add 'gift' after 10K

I think the focus in this thread is entirely way too much on the gift.

There is a certain culture here and EVERY message board has a different culture. Most message boards don't have rewards or gifts or whatnot, but some do and this isn't the only one. What we are discussing here more than anything IS the culture of this message board - be it acknowledgement or nonacknowledgment, be it in the form of gift or a word of thanks or just a congratulations. There is a LONG history here of acknowledging the 10k mark and just because you think it's ridiculous doesn't mean there aren't expectations built up around that based on the culture of this board and how it has been run since *long* before you arrived. I understand it could seem petty to point out that I was here for 2 years before you came and you have no idea what the overall feeling of the place was before that or how it shifted with the new admin arrived etc. but it is a fact that it has. I know that it changed more than once before I ever got here and even if I will never understand those differences, I am aware of them and I respect them.

The culture of this site fostered the importance of the 10k mark and I believe altering the gift is a GOOD thing, but acknowledging a long held marker is still important. Making fun of people who still find it important to them, on some level, isn't helpful. It's a coming of age thing, really.

 

[gemgirl]

Congratulations Cehra, you deserve some kind of acknowledgment. It doesn't matter how much time it takes someone to reach 10,000 posts, and it doesn't matter if that person is a Rocky Talky poster or not. The time spent and the dedication to PS is what matters to me. You could be on your computer doing a hundred other things with your time, but you choose to be here with all of us participating in the discussions, no matter what those discussions are about. That dedication is what helps this community to grow, and more than that, to have a strong foundation of experienced well versed contributors. You deserve congratulations in my book.

Celebrating you today!

 

[Maisie]

Congratulations Cehra, you deserve some kind of acknowledgment. It doesn't matter how much time it takes someone to reach 10,000 posts, and it doesn't matter if that person is a Rocky Talky poster or not. The time spent and the dedication to PS is what matters to me. You could be on your computer doing a hundred other things with your time, but you choose to be here with all of us participating in the discussions, no matter what those discussions are about. That dedication is what helps this community to grow, and more than that, to have a strong foundation of experienced well versed contributors. You deserve congratulations in my book.

Celebrating you today!

 

[Cehrabehra]

Gemgirl - you honor me twice... thank you Very sweet and kind of you

 

[Lady_Disdain]

Cehra - Congratulations for the mark. Since I am very rarely around RT, I only got to know you through Hangout. I like reading your posts and your views. Thank you for being a part of PS.

 

[Ella]

I apologize to those who have hit 10k and whom we have not acknowledged. We did not realize that it was important to you all because generally the focus seems to be on a gift. I know I am still learning when you all want me to pop in and when you don't.

We appreciate everyone's participation.

CONGRATULATIONS on this milestone!!!!

 

[Lady_Disdain]

Oh please. All of you who are 'expecting' a pat on the back for reaching 10K are so far removed from the internet world. There are millions of forums out there, with millions of people posting on millions of threads. You and your post count are really not significant in the grand scheme of things. That is just the nature of the internet. You can either adapt to it, or find another outlet.

We may be far removed from the internet world - I know I am. However, the 10k milestone has long been a part of PS and having a nice thread with people congratulating you and saying nice things about what you contribute to the community you are a very real part of.

Your post sounds very dismissive. Would you like it if your friends told you that there are billions of people in the world and your graduation/wedding/milestone was insignificant considering that? Sure, a wedding or graduation is much more important that 10k posts, but the feeling of being ignored is still there.

This thread isn't about the gift, but about receiving a pat in the back and a thank you. Cehra deserves both.

 

[TravelingGal]

I didn't get it either and I can see how you're a bit disappointed. I agree with you though that it didn't matter so much about the gift but for the fact that the admins didn't say a word of thanks.

ETA-the reason that I said it didn't matter so much about the gift was that I didn't think I'd receive it as I don't participate in Rocky Talk very much. Dreamer definitely 100% deserves the gift. It's a pity that we lost some other valued members due to it though.

Yeah I just saw the thread about Dreamer and now I feel pretty shmucky at my timing...

And thank you for understanding that it is an acknowledgment thing... I looked forward to this for a long time. Ut oh, my dorkus is showing!!

I'm glad to see you didn't know about Dreamer's gift, because I thought this thread was in poor taste the day after her gift was announced. Then again, it could also have been a little insensitive to announce a gift after a longtime poster just reached 10K. However, I believe the admins probably didn't see your thread either. Hence the issue.

I agree with the others that contributions to areas other than RT are very valuable and contribute to the "spirit" of PS. I guess that's where I see the worth. Like in the current case with dreamer (and what Gypsy mentioned in the I want PS 1.0 thread), I noticed that the majority of her time here is spent in GIVING. Advice on parenting, TTC, diamonds, etc. Then she spends time admiring new sparklies. Then there's time for chat. But the majority seems to be spent on helping...at least that's what I noticed.

A poster may chat a lot in other areas, but they are just posters that suck the life out of a community (I'm talking about internet forums in general, not PS specifically). Take take take. Gimme advice. Look at me. Whinge. I need attention. You are all my free therapy. That poster MAY be likeable, but are they really contributing? Except in the sense of giving people something to talk about?

Maisie, I'm sorry if my getting a gift yet having an opinion on this subject bugs you. However as I said earlier on another thread, it is what it is.

 

[Cehrabehra]

I apologize to those who have hit 10k and whom we have not acknowledged. We did not realize that it was important to you all because generally the focus seems to be on a gift. I know I am still learning when you all want me to pop in and when you don't.

We appreciate everyone's participation.

CONGRATULATIONS on this milestone!!!!

Actually, I bet I could speak for almost everyone in welcoming you to participate especially when you don't need to and just feel like letting your hair down. Magical things happen when there is a bit of social mixing

 

[Cehrabehra]

I apologize to those who have hit 10k and whom we have not acknowledged. We did not realize that it was important to you all because generally the focus seems to be on a gift. I know I am still learning when you all want me to pop in and when you don't.

We appreciate everyone's participation.

CONGRATULATIONS on this milestone!!!!

And thank you Ella... I feel a bit sheepish kinda having to drag it out, but I accept it in earnest

 

[Cehrabehra]

Yeah TG that crossed my mind too after I saw it but only for a second... I think both of us (me and admin) are guilty of the same thing so really what I want to say is - I'm sorry dreamer!

 

[Steel]

Congrats on 10k posts Sara.

Edit:
I see that you have another thread for congratulations - so this is the place for 'what you think' type posting.

I'm glad that it is gone. I felt frustrated to see posters racking up nonsense posts to hit the 10k mark.

One poster in particular drove me batty because I saw her posting everywhere with stupid irritating (+1, smiley face) posts and I knew what she was up to. She increased her posts from about 3k to 10k in months and I was delighted that she didn't get a gift.

But I hope that diligent contributors will be 'rewarded' however that comes about and as mentioned - all 10k posters should have acknowledgment from management.

 

[bee*]

Oh please. All of you who are 'expecting' a pat on the back for reaching 10K are so far removed from the internet world. There are millions of forums out there, with millions of people posting on millions of threads. You and your post count are really not significant in the grand scheme of things. That is just the nature of the internet. You can either adapt to it, or find another outlet.

I think it's fair for the admins to only give the 10K gift to those that are immensely helpful in RT. Providing diamond information is the first and foremost mandate of Pricescope, the non-diamond chat forums are just the cherry on top.

Also, I get that people are upset that if only they reached 10K earlier, they would've received the gift. But here's the thing, marketing is a fluid, dynamic thing. You change your strategies based on what is needed - back then they needed long time posters to stay around and help increase volume, now they need those who are well-versed in diamond knowledge to stick around. It's quite simple, really.



ETA: Edited to add 'gift' after 10K

I think the focus in this thread is entirely way too much on the gift.

There is a certain culture here and EVERY message board has a different culture. Most message boards don't have rewards or gifts or whatnot, but some do and this isn't the only one. What we are discussing here more than anything IS the culture of this message board - be it acknowledgement or nonacknowledgment, be it in the form of gift or a word of thanks or just a congratulations. There is a LONG history here of acknowledging the 10k mark and just because you think it's ridiculous doesn't mean there aren't expectations built up around that based on the culture of this board and how it has been run since *long* before you arrived. I understand it could seem petty to point out that I was here for 2 years before you came and you have no idea what the overall feeling of the place was before that or how it shifted with the new admin arrived etc. but it is a fact that it has. I know that it changed more than once before I ever got here and even if I will never understand those differences, I am aware of them and I respect them.

The culture of this site fostered the importance of the 10k mark and I believe altering the gift is a GOOD thing, but acknowledging a long held marker is still important. Making fun of people who still find it important to them, on some level, isn't helpful. It's a coming of age thing, really.

I'm glad that I saw your post Sara as I was about to write something similar. We're not talking about the whole internet world, we're talking about here on PS and 10k posts were always acknowledged. I think it's clear from how much time and how many years many of us have spent here that we don't want to find other outlets.

 

[Maisie]

Congrats on 10k posts Sara.

Edit:
I see that you have another thread for congratulations - so this is the place for 'what you think' type posting.

I'm glad that it is gone. I felt frustrated to see posters racking up nonsense posts to hit the 10k mark.

One poster in particular drove me batty because I saw her posting everywhere with stupid irritating (+1, smiley face) posts and I knew what she was up to. She increased her posts from about 3k to 10k in months and I was delighted that she didn't get a gift.

But I hope that diligent contributors will be 'rewarded' however that comes about and as mentioned - all 10k posters should have acknowledgment from management.

Who was that? I need to know!

 

[Laila619]

Congrats on 10k posts Sara.

I felt frustrated to see posters racking up nonsense posts to hit the 10k mark.

One poster in particular drove me batty because I saw her posting everywhere with stupid irritating (+1, smiley face) posts and I knew what she was up to. She increased her posts from about 3k to 10k in months and I was delighted that she didn't get a gift.

I agree, and it's pretty obvious when posters try to do that. I do not think they should be given a gift, nor should anyone feel entitled simply for reaching 10k. It's incredibly generous of PS Admin to do this.

I think what bugs me is in the past, some of the more popular posters have been given the gift simply because they were, well, popular! I don't agree with that either. I think the guidelines should be more clear--anyone who tirelessly contributes and helps others on Rocky Talky absolutely deserves the gift, regardless of how popular they are, and I think Stone Cold and Dreamer are very deserving.

Anyway, congrats Cehra!! I know you didn't start this thread about the gift--you just want acknowledgement!

 

[Ella]

I apologize to those who have hit 10k and whom we have not acknowledged. We did not realize that it was important to you all because generally the focus seems to be on a gift. I know I am still learning when you all want me to pop in and when you don't.

We appreciate everyone's participation.

CONGRATULATIONS on this milestone!!!!

Actually, I bet I could speak for almost everyone in welcoming you to participate especially when you don't need to and just feel like letting your hair down. Magical things happen when there is a bit of social mixing

Thank you Cehra. There have been a few posts in threads when members have said that they don't like us dropping in, hence why I have not, even in the 10k threads. It was not my intention to make anyone feel badly. I just did not want to intrude.

I will try and pop around more often.

 

[Maisie]

I apologize to those who have hit 10k and whom we have not acknowledged. We did not realize that it was important to you all because generally the focus seems to be on a gift. I know I am still learning when you all want me to pop in and when you don't.

We appreciate everyone's participation.

CONGRATULATIONS on this milestone!!!!

Actually, I bet I could speak for almost everyone in welcoming you to participate especially when you don't need to and just feel like letting your hair down. Magical things happen when there is a bit of social mixing

Thank you Cehra. There have been a few posts in threads when members have said that they don't like us dropping in, hence why I have not, even in the 10k threads. It was not my intention to make anyone feel badly. I just did not want to intrude.

I will try and pop around more often.

Wow. I haven't seen anyone saying they don't like the mods dropping in. Thats not very nice. It would be lovely to get to know the mods a bit better. I know you have to keep a sort of distance but it doesn't mean you can't make comments.

 

[iheartscience]

First of all, congratulations, Cehra!

I don't particularly care about the $1000, because I can earn that much money (and be able to spend it on anything, with any vendor) in a lot less time and with a lot less effort than posting 10,000 times on an internet forum. However, the idea of playing favorites leaves a bad taste in many peoples' mouths, and I guess I can be included in that group. Several posters have received the 10k gift after Andrey took over the site, and not all of those posters were prolific in RockyTalky.

I also don't think that the often short time posters who use RockyTalky for e-ring advice and then bounce are what makes PS vendors (and then Pricescope itself) the most money. I would wager that the people who stick around, keep diamonds on their mind, and continue to patronize PS vendors for earrings, necklaces, upgrades, etc., are who make PS vendors and eventually Pricescope the most money. Aside from my e-ring, I've gone on to buy 2 wedding bands and a pair of earrings from a PS vendor (WF), and I've sent two friends their way for e-ring purchases.

So it makes sense to want to keep longtime posters around, and for some (many?), the gift is a goal to work towards. Why shouldn't the people who see the ads every single day be rewarded, too?

I highly doubt I'll get the 10k gift when I inch my way there-oh well. That said, I do think I've contributed plenty to PS, as have almost all the other long time members, even if they aren't Rocky Talky experts.

 

[Cehrabehra]

I apologize to those who have hit 10k and whom we have not acknowledged. We did not realize that it was important to you all because generally the focus seems to be on a gift. I know I am still learning when you all want me to pop in and when you don't.

We appreciate everyone's participation.

CONGRATULATIONS on this milestone!!!!

Actually, I bet I could speak for almost everyone in welcoming you to participate especially when you don't need to and just feel like letting your hair down. Magical things happen when there is a bit of social mixing

Thank you Cehra. There have been a few posts in threads when members have said that they don't like us dropping in, hence why I have not, even in the 10k threads. It was not my intention to make anyone feel badly. I just did not want to intrude.

I will try and pop around more often.

Really? That surprises me... I mean I suppose if everyone is in a dogpile and you're the lone voice of reason... I can understand them not wanting to hear it lol But for regular stuff? Maybe it is because I've moderated... but you aren't a machine, you're a person, I'm assuming a woman, I'm sure you can relate to things just like the rest of us.

 

[Steel]

First of all, congratulations, Cehra!

I don't particularly care about the $1000, because I can earn that much money (and be able to spend it on anything, with any vendor) in a lot less time and with a lot less effort than posting 10,000 times on an internet forum. However, the idea of playing favorites leaves a bad taste in many peoples' mouths, and I guess I can be included in that group. Several posters have received the 10k gift after Andrey took over the site, and not all of those posters were prolific in RockyTalky.

I also don't think that the often short time posters who use RockyTalky for e-ring advice and then bounce are what makes PS vendors (and then Pricescope itself) the most money. I would wager that the people who stick around, keep diamonds on their mind, and continue to patronize PS vendors for earrings, necklaces, upgrades, etc., are who make PS vendors and eventually Pricescope the most money. Aside from my e-ring, I've gone on to buy 2 wedding bands and a pair of earrings from a PS vendor (WF), and I've sent two friends their way for e-ring purchases.

So it makes sense to want to keep longtime posters around, and for some (many?), the gift is a goal to work towards. Why shouldn't the people who see the ads every single day be rewarded, too?

I highly doubt I'll get the 10k gift when I inch my way there-oh well. That said, I do think I've contributed plenty to PS, as have almost all the other long time members, even if they aren't Rocky Talky experts.

Great point thing, I didn't look at it that way. But you can be damned sure my DH's pocketbook is lighter every year I stay on PS.



I on the other hand, would probably earn $1k quicker here in my never ending hike to 10k than IRL. <----that is my sad face.

 

[klewis]

I had noticed the 10K gift mentioned from time to time and I thought it was exceedingly generous. Wow $10,000.00 to spend!
Then the penny dropped

Congratulations Cehrabehra on your 10K post milestone!

 

[Upgradable]

Since I've already congratulated Cehra, now I'm going to add my thoughts on the 10k/$1G subject.

I post here because I want to. I came because I wanted information on how to get the best diamond for my money. I continued to read because I liked learning about diamonds, jewelry, and gemstones. I stayed because I became a serial projecter. Never once did I ever consider that my presence, contribution, or posts merited any award besides the intrinsic ones I was already receiving.

All this talk about who does and who doesn't deserve a $1000 gift is distasteful to me! Come or don't come because you find value in Pricescope. If someone gets a gift, good for them. It does not impact my ability to still enjoy and benefit from this site. This feeling of expectation or entitlement is !

How presumptuous to believe that we should be able to conscribe the terms, or have any expectation regarding it. Blech! Blech! Blech!





Now, I've gifted you all with my 2 cents. I'll continue to give it (or not) when and where I choose.

 

[Laila619]

Come or don't come because you find value in Pricescope. If someone gets a gift, good for them. It does not impact my ability to still enjoy and benefit from this site.

It doesn't impact my ability to enjoy PS either. PS will always be one of my fave forums--I have the diamond bug!

 

[cellentani]

Uppy, I could not possibly agree more!

 

[anitabee]

CONGRATS CEHRA!

i've been a lurker for years and a member for a while and have noticed you've been consistently contributing interesting and indepth posts. you're very engaging and i simply want you to know that I ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR 10,000 posts!

not sure that means much but i can understand how frustrating it would be to not get a simple acknowledgement of your accomplishment. no matter how you slice it, 10,000 posts = committed pricescoper!

 

[lyra]

I agree Uppy.

The only undeniably fair way to distribute the "gift" IMO, would be to take all the defined eligible contestants, and do a lottery. I can't think of another way that is more fair than that, except to announce that henceforth, there will be no more gifts at all. Which would you choose?

 

[iheartscience]

Sorry, but I have to call BS. People who have been posting since the 10k gift was given to all PSers who reached 10k posts aren't entitled or presumptuous in thinking that they would probably receive it, too. That's how it was done, and it was clear who won and when they got the $1000, because admin creates stickied threads letting everyone know about their generosity.

I don't think I'm entitled to anything. I don't think I'll get the 10k gift now that it's only given out to whoever is deemed worthy. Would I like to get a $1000 gift when I hit 10k posts? Of course-everyone likes recognition and free money. But $1000 isn't going to make me or break me, and it isn't going to affect whether or not I post on PS.

And I give opinions on anything and everything, for better or worse, as anyone who has seen me post probably knows. So I'll go ahead and PRESUME to give my opinion on this topic, too. I don't own this site, so I don't make the rules, but that doesn't mean I don't get to have an opinion about the rules. I am a member and the policies do affect me, so I think it's reasonable to share my thoughts on the subject.

 

[Steel]

by thing2of2: Sorry, but I have to call BS. People who have been posting since the 10k gift was given to all PSers who reached 10k posts aren't entitled or presumptuous in thinking that they would probably receive it, too.

So, it is a matter of legitimate expectation?

 

[LaurenThePartier]

Sara, congratulations again. It's a milestone that PS does not reach often (as compared to other forums where, for example, I have over 45k posts because of higher traffic and vastly varied topics), and I wanted you to know you were greatly missed when you were gone, and I was sooooo happy to see you back and posting again when you returned. I'm thrilled to be able to offer my congratulations to you for hitting this milestone as you were one of those posters who I missed dearly in your absence because of not only your contributions to the diamond side of the site, but your honest posts in many other areas.

You're a long timer, and I understand why you're disappointed, but the policies changed before we hit 10k posts, and it's unfortunate that it took this thread to get your other one stickeyed as an acknowledgement of your long term status and a milestone most of us from the old days look(ed) forward to.

Since I've already congratulated Cehra, now I'm going to add my thoughts on the 10k/$1G subject.

I post here because I want to. I came because I wanted information on how to get the best diamond for my money. I continued to read because I liked learning about diamonds, jewelry, and gemstones. I stayed because I became a serial projecter. Never once did I ever consider that my presence, contribution, or posts merited any award besides the intrinsic ones I was already receiving.

All this talk about who does and who doesn't deserve a $1000 gift is distasteful to me! Come or don't come because you find value in Pricescope. If someone gets a gift, good for them. It does not impact my ability to still enjoy and benefit from this site. This feeling of expectation or entitlement is !

How presumptuous to believe that we should be able to conscribe the terms, or have any expectation regarding it. Blech! Blech! Blech!

Now, I've gifted you all with my 2 cents. I'll continue to give it (or not) when and where I choose.

Couldn't have said it better myself, Uppy.

I spend a lot of time on another male-dominated forum (45k+ posts) doing a lot of basic Rocky Talky type of work and sending folks to Pricescope to gather more information from people more educated than myself on many of the cuts I clearly don't have the answers for. I'd much rather help in the capacity I know best, and if that's not driving traffic directly to PS from somewhere else, it's driving traffic to our PS recommended vendors based on their strengths and the needs of the poster of the thread. I don't get any gifts for that effort, but there are a lot of "thanks for your help" posts, which I appreciate because no one "has to".

I come here to share in projects others have going on, play in CS, share my projects, and get and give inspiration. Coincidentally, this thread is occurring the day after I learned that someone lurking PS took inspiration from my ring to Brain Gavin and he made as close a replica as I've ever seen, and ya know what? I couldn't be happier that someone felt it worthy of being inspiration for THEIR forever ring. Couldn't be more thankful that this place is here and I've "met" all of you because of it.

 

[y2kitty]

Cehra, congratulations on 10k posts. I know how it feels to not be acknowledged. Every year all the administrative staff at my work get flowers for Admin Professionals day, yet I, the IT specialist gets nothing, nor my own day. Really stinks, and I think it must feel the same so you have my sympathies!