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Is there someone outside the US who can walk me through the crypto stuff? I am too stupid and disinterested in it to parse it, but would like to pay for my newspaper subscription. I am the demographic that would send a cheque, but geography says no.
 
Okay so, I wasn't sure where to post this but basically a rundown of an idea of how to handle NFTs if Null ever wants to add it to the forum to make a dent in the site expenses (kind of a rephrased repost):
Achievements on websites (like here) and in video games could be a fantastic use case for NFTs. They're essentially just mutated leaderboards, not much different from flaunting shiny achievements on your Steam profile. The twist is that NFTs would let you trade and sell these trophies to others who just want a flashy badge on their profiles.

If this idea gained traction, developers could potentially use a centralized achievements database to carry them forward to newer consoles, instead of scrapping everything with each new generation. These NFTs could also be downloadable into game clients, letting players show off their interests and accomplishments seamlessly. There's likely a lot more potential I haven't considered, but if I were a skilled developer, I'd create something like a plugin for RetroArch to enable achievements and challenges in older games.

It's surprising that Reddit hasn’t implemented something similar, considering how much it leans into showcasing user achievements. That said, I could see KF pulling it off. Plenty of people in here would probably like it, especially given the backlash he got when he deactivated sticker notifications (bit of karma whores). That said, I’m aware that people on gaming forums might not immediately warm up to this idea.

Yes, the idea of using NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) to implement an achievement system is theoretically feasible and aligns with several existing technologies. Here's how it could be approached:

1. Achievements as NFTs​

  • Concept: Each achievement a user earns (on a webpage, platform, or game) could be minted as an NFT. This would make the achievement unique, verifiable, and transferable.
  • Benefits:
    • Portability: Users can carry their achievements across platforms, games, and even generations of consoles.
    • Interoperability: Developers of newer platforms or games could read the blockchain to verify and incorporate these achievements.
    • Monetization: Users could sell or trade achievements. While this might seem like "pay-to-brag," it could cater to a specific market.

2. Implementation Details​

  • Blockchain: The NFTs would be stored on a blockchain, with metadata describing the achievement (e.g., "Defeated Final Boss in Game X").
  • Plug-in/Integration: Retroarch (or similar emulators) could have a plug-in to mint achievements for older games. Achievements could be based on emulated gameplay metrics.
  • APIs: Websites and platforms like Reddit, YouTube, or game platforms like Steam could integrate an API to display these NFTs directly in user profiles.

3. Challenges​

  • Proof of Authenticity: Ensuring that users actually earned the achievement, rather than buying or hacking it, would require secure verification mechanisms.
  • Environmental Concerns: Depending on the blockchain used, NFT creation might have energy consumption issues. Using eco-friendly blockchains like Polygon or Solana could mitigate this.
  • Scalability: Managing millions of users and achievements on a blockchain might introduce performance or cost concerns.
  • Cultural Reception: Some users might view the ability to trade achievements as devaluing the accomplishment aspect.

4. Potential Use Cases Beyond Gaming​

  • Social Platforms: Achievements for contributions, engagement, or milestones (like Reddit's current karma system, but tokenized).
  • Learning Platforms: Educational achievements and certifications could become NFTs.
  • Collectibles: Limited-time or exclusive challenges could result in rare, tradable NFTs.

5. A Business Model​

  • Platforms could charge a small fee for minting achievements.
  • Users could trade on a marketplace, with the platform taking a cut from transactions.
  • Partnerships with brands could create exclusive NFTs tied to promotions or events.

Why Reddit or KF Hasn't Done It (Yet)​

  • User Backlash: Platforms might be hesitant due to potential backlash from users wary of NFTs or monetization tactics.
  • Complexity: Implementing this requires blockchain integration, which adds technical and legal complexities.
  • Timing: This idea might still be too niche, but as NFTs evolve, platforms might adopt it.
If developed thoughtfully, this concept could revolutionize how achievements and digital milestones are perceived, stored, and shared. A skilled developer or team could likely create a proof of concept to test the waters!
Yes, both scenarios—engraving a username into the blockchain to make an achievement unique and leaving the achievement metadata "blank" to keep it generic for potential resale—are technically possible. Here's how each could work:

1. Engraving the Username into the Blockchain​

  • How It Works:
    • When an achievement is minted as an NFT, the user's unique identifier (e.g., username or wallet address) is included in the metadata.
    • This could serve as proof that the achievement was originally earned by that specific individual.
  • Implementation Details:
    • Metadata Structure: The NFT would include a field like owner_username or origin_earner, which is immutable.
    • Verification: The platform would ensure the username matches the account earning the achievement before minting.
  • Advantages:
    • Uniqueness: Tied achievements to a specific user permanently, creating a sense of ownership and authenticity.
    • Prestige: If resold, the new owner would still show the original achiever's name, akin to owning a painting with the artist's signature.
  • Challenges:
    • Privacy: Users might be hesitant to have their username permanently visible on a public blockchain.
    • Resale Value: Buyers might find it less appealing if the NFT explicitly ties to the original owner.

2. Leaving the Achievement "Blank" for Resale​

  • How It Works:
    • When minted, the achievement's metadata could exclude personal identifiers (like username or account details) to make it generic and transferable.
    • Alternatively, the metadata could include placeholders that are updateable (via smart contract functions) by the current owner.
  • Implementation Details:
    • Blank Metadata: The achievement is minted with general descriptors (e.g., "Completed Level X in Game Y") but no personal identifiers.
    • Editable Fields: If supported by the blockchain, the metadata could have a mutable field where the new owner can add their details after purchase.
  • Advantages:
    • Resale Flexibility: Buyers could personalize the achievement or leave it blank, maintaining its appeal as a collectible.
    • Tradeability: Blank or general achievements might have a broader market.
  • Challenges:
    • Authenticity Loss: Without clear ties to the original owner, the achievement might lose some of its sentimental or authenticity value.
    • Exploitation Risks: Some users might intentionally mint achievements with the intent to resell, reducing the emphasis on actually "earning" them.

Hybrid Solution: Dual Metadata​

To address both scenarios, platforms could offer dual metadata:

  • Immutable Origin Data: Stores the original owner's username or wallet address permanently.
  • Transferable Fields: Allows current owners to add or update their name, creating a personalized touch while maintaining the original authenticity.

Technical Considerations​

  1. Smart Contracts: Achievements could be implemented via smart contracts that enforce the rules for metadata updates and ownership transfers.
  2. Blockchain Choice: Choosing a blockchain that supports efficient metadata storage (e.g., Polygon, Ethereum, or Flow) would be crucial.
  3. Privacy Controls: Platforms might offer options to encrypt or obscure usernames for users concerned about privacy.
This approach would let users decide how personal or tradeable they want their achievements to be, adding both utility and flexibility to the system.
Displaying achievements in a non-intrusive way is crucial to ensure they complement user profiles rather than overwhelm them. Your idea of a Discord-style system—where achievements are small, optional icons next to a username or fully viewable in a profile—works well. Below are several approaches for displaying achievements effectively across different platforms:

1. Badge System (Discord Style)​

  • How It Works:
    • Users earn small icons (badges) for each achievement, displayed next to their username or profile picture.
    • Hovering over or clicking the badge reveals detailed information about the achievement.
  • Advantages:
    • Minimal visual clutter.
    • Only users interested in viewing the details will interact with it.
    • Easy to implement on both desktop and mobile platforms.
  • Examples:
    • Discord’s Nitro and Boost icons.
    • Steam’s profile showcases for specific badges.

2. Expandable Achievement Showcase​

  • How It Works:
    • Profiles have a dedicated "Achievements" section that is collapsed by default but can expand when clicked.
    • Users can pin a few "featured achievements" that are always visible, with the rest hidden until expanded.
  • Advantages:
    • Allows personalization: Users can showcase what matters most.
    • Keeps profiles clean while giving depth for those who want it.
    • Suitable for larger achievement collections.
  • Example: Steam's "Featured Showcase" on user profiles.

3. Achievement Tabs​

  • How It Works:
    • A separate tab or section (e.g., "Achievements" or "Trophies") is added to user profiles.
    • Users need to actively navigate to this section to view all achievements.
  • Advantages:
    • Perfect for users with extensive achievements who don't want clutter on their main profile.
    • Keeps the main interface free from distractions.
  • Examples:
    • PlayStation Network profiles with dedicated trophy sections.
    • LinkedIn’s "Skills" or "Recommendations" tabs.

4. Dynamic Achievement Rows​

  • How It Works:
    • Display a scrolling or swipable row of achievements near the top or bottom of the profile.
    • Only a few are visible at a time, with navigation arrows or swipe gestures to view more.
  • Advantages:
    • Gives a quick glance without overwhelming the layout.
    • Works well for mobile-first designs.
  • Examples:
    • Netflix-style carousels.
    • Facebook Stories format for quick, swipeable views.

5. Contextual Display​

  • How It Works:
    • Achievements appear contextually based on the interaction. For example:
      • In forums, icons or numbers beside a username indicate relevant achievements.
      • In games, achievements can appear as a banner or card during gameplay or in results screens.
  • Advantages:
    • Prevents unnecessary exposure; only shows achievements where they matter.
    • Reduces clutter in non-relevant contexts.
  • Examples:
    • Reddit’s karma system icons.
    • In-game achievement pop-ups (e.g., Xbox/Steam).

6. Gamified Achievement Cards​

  • How It Works:
    • Users can collect and display "achievement cards" in their profile, similar to trading cards.
    • Cards are interactive and can expand into animations, descriptions, or stats when clicked.
  • Advantages:
    • Makes achievements feel like collectibles.
    • Encourages engagement and personalization.
  • Examples:
    • Steam’s collectible cards.
    • Trading card games like Pokémon or Hearthstone as inspiration.

7. Public Leaderboard Tie-In​

  • How It Works:
    • Users can opt to display their achievements on public leaderboards or rankings.
    • Achievements contribute to visible rankings without cluttering profiles.
  • Advantages:
    • Encourages competition without overwhelming individual profiles.
    • Achievements are seen in a communal context, not just individually.
  • Examples:
    • Speedrun.com leaderboards.
    • Fitness apps like Strava’s ranking boards.

Non-Intrusive Design Principles​

To avoid overwhelming users:

  1. Scalability: Only display a few key achievements prominently, with the option to expand or drill down.
  2. Minimalism: Use small icons, subtle animations, and muted colors to blend with the overall UI.
  3. Optional Viewing: Ensure achievements are visible only when users choose to interact with them.
  4. Consistency: Achievements should fit seamlessly with the platform's existing design language.
A combination of badge systems (for visibility) and dedicated sections or tabs (for depth) works best for most platforms. This ensures achievements feel rewarding without being intrusive.
Incorporating user-generated art into an achievement system or profile customization platform could significantly enhance competition, creativity, and engagement among users. The implementation could go beyond something like the "Bored Apes" NFT model by tailoring it to the specific dynamics of the platform, fostering a sense of individuality and encouraging community-driven original content. Here's how it could work:

1. User-Generated Art as Achievement Badges​

  • How It Works:
    • Users can submit or design custom art to represent specific achievements they've unlocked. These designs could be reviewed and approved by moderators or AI systems before becoming public.
    • Art could be tied to personal achievements or used to create unique, collectible badges.
  • Advantages:
    • Personalization makes achievements feel more meaningful.
    • Encourages creativity by letting users showcase their own artistic flair.
  • Challenges:
    • Moderation is necessary to prevent inappropriate content.
    • High-quality submissions might create a disparity between users with artistic skills and those without.

2. Art-Enhanced Profile Customization​

  • How It Works:
    • Allow users to create or upload custom art to decorate their profile’s achievement section. For example:
      • Custom frames around badges.
      • Unique background designs for achievement cards.
      • Animated designs for specific milestones (e.g., reaching 100 achievements).
  • Advantages:
    • Drives engagement as users invest time in personalizing their profiles.
    • Showcases community talent directly on the platform.
  • Challenges:
    • Storage and rendering of custom assets could increase platform overhead.
    • Protecting against copyrighted or stolen art uploads.

3. Achievement NFTs Featuring Custom Art​

  • How It Works:
    • Achievements could become NFTs that allow the original earner to add their custom art as part of the metadata. If sold or traded, the art stays tied to the NFT, attributing credit to the creator.
    • For community-driven events, platforms could let users contribute designs for limited-time achievements or trophies.
  • Advantages:
    • Combines art creation with the achievement economy.
    • Adds value to NFTs, especially if they are aesthetically pleasing or rare.
  • Challenges:
    • Not all users might want to monetize or trade their creations, creating a divide between creators and collectors.

4. Competitions and Community Events​

  • How It Works:
    • Platforms can host art contests where users submit designs for specific achievements, with winners having their art featured globally.
    • Limited-time challenges could let users unlock "exclusive" achievements tied to specific artwork created by community members.
  • Advantages:
    • Drives competition and engagement, especially if rewards are tied to popularity or quality of designs.
    • Fosters a stronger sense of community as users vote for or celebrate featured creators.
  • Examples:
    • Similar to seasonal events in games like "Overwatch" or "Fortnite," where users unlock unique skins or designs.

5. Collaborative Art Projects​

  • How It Works:
    • Allow groups of users to work together to create "collaborative achievements" where the final artwork is a mosaic or layered piece contributed by multiple participants.
    • The platform could automatically combine these contributions into a single artistic representation of the achievement.
  • Advantages:
    • Promotes teamwork and social interaction.
    • Creates a unique, platform-wide piece of art tied to community engagement.

6. Exclusive and Dynamic Visuals​

  • How It Works:
    • Users with artistic achievements can dynamically showcase their art:
      • As animated badges/icons.
      • As dynamic profile backgrounds tied to their achievements.
      • In public leaderboards, where top contributors' art is featured.
  • Advantages:
    • Makes the platform visually engaging for all users.
    • Incentivizes competition for recognition.

7. Art Integration into Gamification​

  • How It Works:
    • Use tiers or rarityto gamify user art contributions:
      • Higher-tier achievements could unlock the ability to use advanced tools (e.g., animated artwork, 3D models).
      • Limited-time events might grant access to art-related tools or premium customization options.
  • Advantages:
    • Encourages users to engage more to unlock artistic tools.
    • Creates a cycle of contribution and achievement tied to creativity.

Would This Drive Competition and Engagement?​

Yes, introducing art into achievements has significant potential to increase engagement and competition:

  1. Creative Incentives: Users are motivated to showcase their talents, leading to original and high-quality content.
  2. Social Recognition: Featuring user-generated art fosters recognition and social validation, which can further incentivize participation.
  3. Rarity and Exclusivity: Limited-edition or event-specific art creates urgency and drives competition to earn or create it.
  4. Community Interaction: Voting, commenting, and collaboration on art pieces enhance the platform’s sense of community.

Examples of Platforms Benefiting from This​

  • Discord: Allow users to display custom art next to their badges or in profile banners.
  • Reddit: Enable users to design their own karma awards or subreddit-specific trophies.
  • Gaming Platforms (Steam, Xbox): Integrate user-created skins, badges, or avatars tied to achievements.
By blending art and achievements, platforms can transition from being passive tools for tracking progress to dynamic spaces for self-expression, competition, and creativity.
If we get a bunch of other sites that are shitposting and user driven like r/drama or the fatrick stalking forums in it, it might have enough of a niche market to make a dent to the site expenses.
PS: Sorry if Null ever had an opinion that gave away what he thought of them and how he would handle them and I am just shooting my shot to someone with an already made up mind. I didn't find any statement if he did.
 
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harmacist said:
mailing a bag of dimes would be more useful than an NFT
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Unlike shitcoins NFTs are more proper for a community event thing. And let's not forget that infamy is actually good when it comes to NFTs as stonetoss sold all of his NFTs in half an hour. I would definitely buy one if I was some crypto shitposter. It's at least a buck worth.
Null said:
i'm not doing a fucking nft. we've kicked this around before.
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Can I have my pink triangle back for drunkposting offtopic and spamming your email shitfaced with rants about Israel being shit?
 
Null said:
Checks will take 2 weeks to settle. Do not send anything to this address you want to be received by me personally.
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What is the P.O. Box for gifts you would like to be received by Null personally? I realize this might be somewhat secret for opsec.
 
I love this website for how its users are able to aggregate information and I enjoy it for the shitposting. I have bought merch and donated to it. So I have to point out that yesterday's antagonization of the general userbase because of one particular sperg made me decide at the time that I would not contributing again. I'm glad you rolled back the spur of the moment change but I want to emphasize here that antagonizing the general userbase is immensely counterproductive especially with your stated goals in mind.
 
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not william stenchever said:
I love this website for how its users are able to aggregate information and I enjoy it for the shitposting. I have bought merch and donated to it. So I have to point out that yesterday's antagonization of the general userbase because of one particular sperg made me decide at the time that I would not contributing again. I'm glad you rolled back the spur of the moment change but I want to emphasize here that antagonizing the general userbase is immensely counterproductive especially with your stated goals in mind.
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Then I guess we're fucked. Happy to help. Please enjoy your stickers!

Edit: And just to clarify, I handle all hosting, all development, all hardware, all software, and all technical aspects of this site - on top of staffing, general direction, both legal management and legal futureproofing and mitigation - and then also all community management. I do it all.

So when there's a fucking problem and I try to fix it, because to be completely clear the use you are complaining about is a unintended feature and undesirable outcome, people freak out at me. 50 pages of freaking out. I wake up to literally 100 notifications of people just hurling absolute fucking bile at me.

As a result I give you what you want. You want to use something broken in some bullshit way? Here you fucking go! I got other shit to do, so here's what you fucking want back! Fair warning, it won't stay this way forever!

Then you have the fucking temerity to hammer this bullshit at me after the fact, after you already fucking have what you've been pissing yourself over, and you tell me...

"Josh. You didn't smile when you did it. That's unacceptable. I've always liked you but that time you told me I was doing something stupid and then didn't smile when hundreds of people shit all over you? That's not right bro. I'm WITHDRAWING ALL MY SUPPORT FOREVER but I will keep using the shit you make for free, also forever."

So I am expected to continue to handle all aspects of everything almost entirely by myself but I'm expected to do it with even less compensation than I already am because I just can't give you that SERVICE WITH A SMILE you so RIGHTFULLY DESERVE.

Fucking NIGGER.
 
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Null said:
Then I guess we're fucked. Happy to help. Please enjoy your stickers!
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It's not about the stickers so much as it's about you getting mad at the people who like you, like this site, and want to help you because some random idiot did a stupid.

Edit: I'm not upset about you getting mad when people do retarded shit, Josh. I'm upset when you put effort into punishing the people who like and support you because a retard or group of retards did retarded shit. It's counterintuitive.
 
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Internets are pretty srs bzns but if you went through all the trouble to be here just to flounce off when you can't see if someone asspatted you or mocked you, both you and this site are better for your absence.
 
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Fabio Socialist said:
Internets are pretty srs bzns but if you went through all the trouble to be here just to flounce off when you can't see if someone asspatted you or mocked you, both you and this site are better for your absence.
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And if you find a website significant enough to invest in for its' continued survival and the overall goal of making the internet less fucked up it's natural to expect the ooperater to not actively fuck it because some fucking idiot made him mad.
 
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Null said:
Then you have the fucking temerity to hammer this bullshit at me after the fact, after you already fucking have what you've been pissing yourself over, and you tell me...
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Josh I love you bro, I am glad you rolled it back, yes. But I was also genuinely puzzled why you broke it like that. You really shined a spot light on a problem that didn't need to be highlighted. It would have been much better to handle it quietly and just roll the change you did today. But hind sight is 20/20, and it's not fair to back seat drive and I am not aware of how it feels to run a site under so much duress.

Also, just because you did something I didn't like or agree doesn't mean I hate you or don't want to support you. Just because one user is being unreasonable and trying to carrot and stick you doesn't mean it's how everyone feels. Yes it was kinda weird, but it's not a big deal to people with cool heads.

I disagree with you about a lot of things, but I am not here because of the things I disagree with you about. At the end of the day it's your site, break it or not I can only say my peace. That much is all any of us really have control over at the end of the day.

Have a good one.
 
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