Ninina
I am sure many Gaians remember the famous giveaways parties thrown by people such as m0nkeb0y. Many items were given away in an atmosphere of comradery and frankly... non-stop partying.
Recently, many people who have seen the generous response some Gaians have towards such initiative, have decided to jump in the bandwagon and start alleged "giveaways" themselves.
You can see these giveaways everywhere from the Exchange to the Chatterbox, but what you may not see is that sadly most of these threads, if not scams, are maliciously misleading.
Watch out!
The first thing that should make you think twice is the fact that all of them ask for donations in one way or another, and this donations are not necessarily to be given away (there is no place in the threads were such donations are accounted for). The second warning is that they do not provide enough information about the alleged items or gold to be given away or whom have they been given to. The third thing is that many of these giveaways include the contradictory information that the thread creator is doing such giveaway to help him/herself on quest.
When you put it this clear, it may seem hard to believe that anyone should fall for this, but that is not the case. The information provided by such threads is in most cases stated in such a way that people cannot see the ulterior motives clearly.
The basics of an honest giveaway
All giveaways threads should make clear:
1) how many items are available to give away
2) what specific items will be given away (regardless of the fact that they are giftwrapped)
3) the criteria used for selecting "lucky" users
4) a list of people who have been given items already.
This will help gaians make an informed decision as to whether they should keep posting on a giveaway thread or not.
A new word for the gaian vocabulary: fundraiser!
It is important that questers stop having "giveaways" with the purpose of getting more funds towards their quests. (This is the truth behind the now famous phrase: "donations will increase your chances to receive a gift".) It is blatantly ridiculous.
If a questor wants to encourage donators to help his/her cause, and with this purpose in mind the questor organizes an event where random prizes might be given to donators, that is called FUNDRAISER, not giveaway.
It makes no sense otherwise that someone questing and looking for donations is allegedly giving away wrapped items.
Mods: keep an eye on this people!
It is just dishonest: a questor organizes a false giveaway and encourages people to donate in order to get "something mysteriously giftwrapped", and also encourages naive gaians to bump the thread non-stop in the hopes of getting a gift.
Could it be more shameful? He or she is getting free bumpers to collect donations to his/her quest, without explicitly saying so.
It is disrespectful that questors are having bumpers and donators, lured with the false promise of some giftwrapped gift.
The search for popularity
Last but not least watch out for people who just want to create a "popular" thread. Yes, believe or not, many of these new giveaways with impressive titles are just looking for fame and recognition even though they do not deliver what they promise.
In giveaway-threads, people are so excited that they just don't keep track of the facts and become gullible, posting non-stop at the mere chance of getting anything.
A final word
False giveaways just contribute to make the generous gaians out there more skeptic about giving. Also, they rely heavily on the use of newbies that are just happy to think they might receive a gift from a stranger...
If you come to think of it, gift from strangers will be less and less common in Gaia if we let this opportunists walk away with the last laugh.
Recently, many people who have seen the generous response some Gaians have towards such initiative, have decided to jump in the bandwagon and start alleged "giveaways" themselves.
You can see these giveaways everywhere from the Exchange to the Chatterbox, but what you may not see is that sadly most of these threads, if not scams, are maliciously misleading.
Watch out!
The first thing that should make you think twice is the fact that all of them ask for donations in one way or another, and this donations are not necessarily to be given away (there is no place in the threads were such donations are accounted for). The second warning is that they do not provide enough information about the alleged items or gold to be given away or whom have they been given to. The third thing is that many of these giveaways include the contradictory information that the thread creator is doing such giveaway to help him/herself on quest.
When you put it this clear, it may seem hard to believe that anyone should fall for this, but that is not the case. The information provided by such threads is in most cases stated in such a way that people cannot see the ulterior motives clearly.
The basics of an honest giveaway
All giveaways threads should make clear:
1) how many items are available to give away
2) what specific items will be given away (regardless of the fact that they are giftwrapped)
3) the criteria used for selecting "lucky" users
4) a list of people who have been given items already.
This will help gaians make an informed decision as to whether they should keep posting on a giveaway thread or not.
A new word for the gaian vocabulary: fundraiser!
It is important that questers stop having "giveaways" with the purpose of getting more funds towards their quests. (This is the truth behind the now famous phrase: "donations will increase your chances to receive a gift".) It is blatantly ridiculous.
If a questor wants to encourage donators to help his/her cause, and with this purpose in mind the questor organizes an event where random prizes might be given to donators, that is called FUNDRAISER, not giveaway.
It makes no sense otherwise that someone questing and looking for donations is allegedly giving away wrapped items.
Mods: keep an eye on this people!
It is just dishonest: a questor organizes a false giveaway and encourages people to donate in order to get "something mysteriously giftwrapped", and also encourages naive gaians to bump the thread non-stop in the hopes of getting a gift.
Could it be more shameful? He or she is getting free bumpers to collect donations to his/her quest, without explicitly saying so.
It is disrespectful that questors are having bumpers and donators, lured with the false promise of some giftwrapped gift.
The search for popularity
Last but not least watch out for people who just want to create a "popular" thread. Yes, believe or not, many of these new giveaways with impressive titles are just looking for fame and recognition even though they do not deliver what they promise.
In giveaway-threads, people are so excited that they just don't keep track of the facts and become gullible, posting non-stop at the mere chance of getting anything.
A final word
False giveaways just contribute to make the generous gaians out there more skeptic about giving. Also, they rely heavily on the use of newbies that are just happy to think they might receive a gift from a stranger...
If you come to think of it, gift from strangers will be less and less common in Gaia if we let this opportunists walk away with the last laugh.
Community Member
Anyways, watch out for scammers!