"Buy SW Coins"

@Prettybratbi1tch @NerdyPotato Is this a real thing? People are actually spending real money to buy SW coins?

@DrWatson they're really for sale but I can't speak on if anyone actually buys it or not.

@HootyTheNightOwl

One reason I am surprised is what I read about "coins" as a topic in the help menu. The admins sound very guarded about controlling coins, and not allowing anyone to give coins as gifts to anyone else, because they are supposed to be rewards for being a good "SW citizen." They say they have a complicated algorithm for awarding them. Selling them seems to undercut all of that.

The other reason is a matter of personal preference. I had no idea that people would spend real money to purchase virtual gifts. The internet is full of free images we can download and send to other people when we want to celebrate with them. But, apparently people feel differently, and while I am surprised to discover that people are so emotionally invested in the gift shop here, I certainly do not have a problem with it.

@DrWatson How do you define a "good citizen of SW", though???

I mean, I and another member of the site triggered the algorithm to throw up the anti-bullying warning by having a laugh on a post that was clearly written to joke on - even though we never said a word about each other, we were just laughing with each other. Are we "bad citizens of SW"???

What if you share an obvious joke with a friend - does that make you a "bad citizen of SW".

Or if you speak up in support of a member who is being abused in real life???

The "algorithm" is a joke at best. It can't possibly know what is appropriate or inappropriate in every given scenario. It is just AI that is triggered by the use of certain words.

Selling coins makes sense when you consider that the site needs income to keep the lights on. It's a business, no different to Facebook, YouTube or any other website out there... so sales are good for business, be it coins or VIP membership.

We wanted whiteboards... yet, in my experience, the whiteboard is possibly one of the most underused features we have - I mean, I haven't had anything left on mine since 2023, even though you say that there are millions of free images available to share online...

@HootyTheNightOwl I don't define it at all!

All I am saying is that I am surprised that the same admins who posted that about coins are the ones who sell coins. I am not defending or attacking anything. I am just pointing out what I see as inconsistency, and the only reason I am doing so is that you asked me why I was surprised. I really don't care one way or the other.

@4meAndyou Yes, so I have learned!