Club 1000, Club 100 badges [closed]

Question

I am not, and never have been, a badge collector. However over the past 10 months I have made over 10,000 contributions, and received Club 1000 badges for only 5 of them. One month I made 2,187. I wonder whether it is time to stop the 100 badge? Let's face it, if you're making less than 250 a month you're scarcely pushing the envelope.
It is also disheartening to see how many people make only a few more than 1000, as if that was their intention rather than contributing to the Wikitree community. Perhaps we should have a yearly contribution badge? Perhaps awarded to those who have contributed more than 12000 over the previous twelve months.

Now I am sounding like a badge collector myself!!

Comments

I have always said "badges, shmadges" and pay no nevermind to either them or points or any other of what I consider nonsense for anyone past toddler-hood.

There is one thing I remember, though, from when I was a new member and clueless about what all these badges were.  When someone told me that the club 100 was for people who made 100 contributions in a month, I was flabbergasted.  I could not believe how anyone could do that much, yet now you're suggesting that anything less than 250 is somehow unworthy.

Another thing is that I haven't checked but wouldn't be surprised if I'm one of the ones you're implying has the intention of just getting to a magic 1,000 number.  That's probably about my normal working pace, although sometimes I'm completely absent for weeks at a time.

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I remember struggling to get to 100 when I was new, too.

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Hi Steve,

"I am not, and never have been, a badge collector ...

Perhaps we should have a yearly contribution badge? Perhaps awarded to those who have contributed more than 12000 over the previous twelve months ...

Now I am sounding like a badge collector myself!!"

I agree - you do sound like a badge collector.

But regardless of what motivates you or anyone else to contribute here, thanks to you and all the other members for contributing to WikiTree (whether it be 1 or 12,000 "contributions" here).

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Every person who contributes to WT helps us create a better tree. Whether they create 1 immaculately sourced profile with a complete biography that tells the story of the person, or if they add 1 source to to 927 profiles.

We all start somewhere and we all have lives outside WT, I commend all the people who take the time in their often very busy personal lives to contribute.

Please do not dismiss them as not doing enough.

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@M Ross - I wish I could star your comment. I agree with it so much. Every single contribution is important. Each of us does as much as we are able. If I were not retired, I'm sure I would be down in the hundred contribution range rather than where I generally land. Working people, particularly working parents, don't have the time to make hundreds of contributions, but I'd rather the 100-contribution badge stay as an incentive for them and others to stay involved in WikiTree.

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Gaile,

I did not say nor did I mean "unworthy", although your comment might be thought of as such.

I have to say I wish I had never raised the subject if that is the sort of riposte I get.

Some very senior Wikitreers with 10s and 10s of thousands of contributions have been less than thoughtful in their contributions.

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Steve, I think a statement such as . . .

Let's face it, if you're making less than 250 a month you're scarcely pushing the envelope.

asked by Steve Bartlett

. . . is very open to negative interpretation - specifically, being seen as a criticism of those who do not, or can not, make more than 200-250 contributions per month.  (I know some folk struggle to make 100, but every one of those contributions made to advance the Tree, is valuable, and valued.)

Perhaps there might have been a different way to word it.

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I like the comment that whether we make one contribution or 100, we are helping each other.

Answer 1

This is a very different view/opinion for those specific badges.

I may not personally agree with this view, but I do understand yours.

I feel that the Club 100 badge isn't as much as who did however much contributions in WikiTree, but I believe it's more like a form of encouragement/accomplishment to those who doesn't have allot of time to spend on WikiTree and achieving this badge is another way for WikiTree to tell those individuals "a job well done" & even a "thank you for your time and contribution towards the One World Tree". At least that's how I felt when I saw them awarded to me.

Though I would want to add that it would be great for a "Club 500" badge since I feel that more make it above 500 and even just shy of 1,000 and may/might be sorta bummed out when they receive recognition for 100 Contributions (especially if they make it between 700 to even 999). LOL! :-D

This is only my personal opinion and thanks for bringing this topic up.

~Brian Kerr

Answer 2

I have been on WT for about a year.  Right from the start, I was astonished at the high numbers of contributions, as in hundreds of thousands of points, many Wikitreers have made. I am unlikely to ever see those kinds of numbers for myself. I am on WT most days, and usually get a 100 badge for the month.   I did get over 200 points one week, but only because I was doing a fairly easy challenge.

I could certainly increase my count by hitting save every single time I add even one source, and I sometimes do if that's really all I can add, but I don't see a good reason for doing that in general.  Also, I think I'm perhaps more cautious than a lot of Wikitreers.  I generally don't create profiles when I have little information or sources to go on.

Answer 3

Wait... you want that the 100 contributions badges aren't given out anymore?

The philosophy of WikiTree is that *every* little contribution, be it a source added to a profile, a correction on the location, a sentence added to a biography, *improves* the Big Tree. Every profile added improves the Tree, because it improves the possibility that someone googles the name of a relative and finds WikiTree. And yes, there are people who add one profile at a time and work slowly, because they first make a basic profile and then immediately after that, look for more sources and write a biography. Just a few weeks ago I heard of someone: "For the first time ever I completed the 100 contribution badge." And he was happy about that.

So basically, in my opinion at least, your idea is a bad idea.

Answer 4

"Let's face it, if you're making less than 250 a month you're scarcely pushing the envelope."

That depends on what you're working on.  Some profiles, and some projects, take a lot of research.  Also, some members have a LOT of job/family responsibilities, and yet they still find time to come and improve the tree.  Why begrudge them a badge for contributing?

Comments

I'm absurdly proud of my unofficial Tortoise Club badge, which I've managed to maintain for two and a half years straight despite work and family obligations.  Slow but steady wins the race!

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Goodness, I'd forgotten about the Tortoise Club badge. I need to check how long it's been since I hit 1000. I think it's been a while, thanks to The Job That Pays for My Genealogy.

(Update - darn, hit 1000 last April.)

Answer 5

The number of contributions don't in anyway measure the time involved prior to the entry on wikitree .  It depends upon  on ones focus and the way an individual works.  I haven't been so active on wikitree recently but when I was I  didn't always achieve 100 contributions even when  working  'full time' on wikitree  related research. I doubt I've often contributed 250 contributions in a month. 

Heres  4 contributions for a  transcript which took very many days to transcribe.  https://www.wikitree.com/index.php?title=Space:Will_of_Lora_Pitt_Widow_of_Stratfield_Saye_Hampshire_1750&public=1 . How many contributions would it have been had I transcribed line by line ( or even word by word) on wikitree and then saved each 'contribution'?  The testator's  profile has 3 photos requiring 'field trips' to different places plus research using primary and secondary sources: 15 contributions for again many hours. She's no relation to me so the only motivation is to get the wikitree profile correct.

My thoughts are that the  contributions badges don't   signal anything  particular about qualitative contribution or even  time spent on  researching individuals for wiki tree. Personally, I take more note of the ratio of thankyous to contributions.

Answer 6

"It is also disheartening to see how many people make only a few more than 1000, as if that was their intention rather than contributing to the Wikitree community."

Why do you think it is disheartening to see someone make just a few more than 1000? If someone has 990 should they stop there so they do not receive the 1000 badge but the 100 badge instead? That person has contributed a lot in a month which adds to WikiTree. Good for them - that person has the time and puts out the effort to do that. Others may not have that kind of time but still contribute what they can. The badges are a perk of encouragement and thanks for the time and contributions. Why deny that to anyone?