[PLUG] Web design software?

Bill Thoen bthoen at gisnet.com
Thu Jan 3 16:33:47 UTC 2013


On 01/02/2013 10:17 PM, John Jason Jordan wrote:
> [...]
> Upon signing up they automatically get 10 "site credits." These can be
> used like money to buy things that people have posted on the site. When
> a user posts an item on the site the user states how many site credits
> he wants for it, and if someone pays him this amount the poster is then
> required to ship the item to the "buyer" at the poster's expense. You
> can get more site credits by posting things of your own that you no
> longer need so that others can benefit from them. The idea is that a
> new user can get one item free, but in order to buy more things the user
> has to reciprocate by posting things for others to "buy."
>
> To post an item you must fill out an information sheet, which will
> include a required photo, location, etc. The purpose is to ensure that
> posters include adequate information. Postings automatically expire in
> seven days, or immediately when someone "buys" it.
>
> All communication is via the users' e-mail addresses.
>
> Note that no money changes hands on the site. Nothing is for sale. All
> site credits are in the user profile. There is no need for shopping
> carts, PayPal, credit cards, etc.
>
> [...]

So you want to create an economy?  It'll be interesting to see how 
people "game" your system. For example, if there is a limited number of 
credits, say at most, 2000 (200 users starting with 10 each) what's 
going to stop someone from carefully "buying up"  all the credits, 
driving up the value and thus being  a significant and unpredictable 
influence on the system? Or worse, since it's not imperative to be a 
part of this economy, what do you do when people run out of credits and 
have to trade more and more valuable things to keep in the game, they 
just abandon their membership? It'll be fun to watch any rate!



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