I haven't read through this thread yet, but I am reading through the locked one now and I have so many comments...

The main one going through my head right now? The reviews for free promotional items, for instance...

MANY people wrote those reviews with the idea that they were "giving back" to EF. Not everyone wrote them for points. Sure, some did. Others, however, thought... Eden gave me something for free, and I want to review everything that I get from Eden as a way of giving back to the company. It's as simple as that.


Also, some thoughts on point farming, because this seems to be all the talk these days...
I have a feeling we're all going to be considered point farmers -- even those of us who contribute meaningful content. I write reviews which many people on here will agree are high quality. I contribute to discussions, and yeah, sometimes the games threads where we say what time it is. I comment on reviews and vote on them on a daily basis, because as a review writer, I know that it feels kinda shitty when no one comments on your reviews. I like items on Facebook daily -- but this promotes EF.

But, ah... calling people point farmers is silly, because you can't claim that people abuse the system if your system tells them how to do it, and ALLOWS them to do it.

Don't want people commenting or rating reviews just for points? Cool, make it so that they won't receive points for rating or commenting on reviews without having to wait 10-15 minutes between rating/commenting. Don't want people to be able to spam the community? Put that same limit in place. BUT if your system allows users to point farm... honey, they're not abusing the system, they're just doing what you let them. And who could blame them when the homepage used to advertise that people could get free toys? Who could blame them when it's all over the site that they can earn free shit with their points?

The issue here is not what the people did; it's what EF allowed them to do. Pretending otherwise is simply passing the blame, and frankly, being really naive and silly. less

I haven't gone through the effort of seeing if my points would go against that criteria that Fred laid out, but I think they would. Getting the max number of points for posting in the forums and rating reviews is easy and I thought it was encouraged. I've often posted over the max in the forums. Then liking is advertising for EF. And I was locked out of my account and suspended from earning points for a month for being accused of point farming, although I didn't do any of the things that are listed in the EOC. I was surprised to recently find out that ProppertyOfPotter was too and that Beck and Kira were banned. I've also posted in those counting threads because they sometimes seem fun, and I figured that if they were against the rules they would be deleted. I've never seen any of them deleted or heard anyone say that it's wrong to post in them. They're just as pointless as the ones that are like, "do you like mayonnaise? yes or no?" but I haven't even seen those removed.

It's ridiculous that that thread was closed so quickly; I missed out on getting to post to it. I'm starting to wonder why I'm wasting my time here when I could be doing something more constructive like reading a book or get real compensation for my time that I can spend wherever I like, on whatever I want. less

It seems like it to me. I'm afraid of doing anything on the site nowadays. I'll just go back to shopping at a brick and mortar store nearby or on another site that doesn't treat its customers like citizens they desperately need to oppress in order to make money.

-sad, but leaving Eden because of the hostile ownership. less

It seems like it to me. I'm afraid of doing anything on the site nowadays. I'll just go back to shopping at a brick and mortar store nearby or on another site that doesn't treat its customers like citizens they desperately need to oppress in order to make money.

-sad, but leaving Eden because of the hostile ownership. less

Not to mention, when I sometimes open the new section and I see that Jopen just came ut with three new vibes, and fun factory came out with a bunch of toys in the same colour.... I do want them all so wish list them all in a short period of time. Is this really point farming or just massive excitement at new stock? less

I'm writing up a point reconsideration request, because I don't see there being any changes at this point. I'm upset that Fred said that a final decision would not be made without a consensus, but it seems he's taken that back, too. At this point, I don't want to risk not being able to use my points, so I'm writing a detailed claim. Trying to remain confident that I've done nothing wrong to be denied. Sigh. less

""5. If your request will be denied and you will publicly accuse Company, Company reserves the rights to publicly disclose its findings, including your personal information, to substantiate its decision."

So, if I apply for my points to be honoured, and you decide I am a point farmer, and I complain about it, you will post my personal information in public? Wow. Disgusting. less

Wow. I was just banned from posting on the forums for this post. That's really shitty. Especially since Airen (you remember. She told another forum member to 'go die') hasn't had their posting privileges removed.

I'm so sorry that you were offended that I referred to y'all threatening to PUBLICLY SHARE customer information disgusting. Next time I'll just tell someone to go die. That's far less offensive.

-Pixel less

I want to know where the Hell people were when the abuse began and why they ignored it. See? This is what happens when you ignore people telling you that there is abuse going on. I remember NUMEROUS threads of old contributors trying to get through to the admins and Fred that there was a lot of abuse going on and plagiarized reviews. No one did ANYTHING about it. Now, EF is in financial crisis and everyone suddenly cares about the gobs of free money given away to people who abused the system? Pff. less