Sta.sh
Donate 100 points or more and get 25% extra for FREE [details]
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Description
Starting in 2013, the number of watchers given per point will be reduced by 40% while the number of points given for each watch received will be increased by 67%. This measure reflects the shifting quality of users giving watches. Previously, nearly all accounts were permitted to earn points and thus the overall quality of the service was low. Over time, filters have been put in place against all forms of alternate accounts, ensuring that users giving out activity are of a higher caliber. However, these active users have not been compensated for their actions.
This policy change will affect all users who are featured in the donation widget at the start of the new year. Those featured now and for the duration of 2012 will receive watchers (and other services) at the current rate. After the new year, all users with outstanding balances will receive watchers at the new rate. Users who give watchers will receive more points after the new year.
Details
The existing rate structure for watch/fav/llamas is a legacy from the early days when this account was founded. Initially there were no requirements to receive points, so users were given few points for legitimate activity since their accounts were indistinguishable from alternate accounts (plz, point, adopt, etc). However, in an effort to improve the services offered over time, filters have been put in place to sharply reduce the number of fake accounts acquiring points, yet legitimate users have not been equally compensated. This has led to a build up of donors who can not receive the amount of activity currently advertised. To rectify this imbalance, the rate structure between donors and recipients needs to be adjusted.
At the start of the new year, the new rate will take effect immediately. This means that any users who are featured at that time will have their remaining balance given out at a different rate going forward and users will receive points from donors at an altered rate after that moment in time. Users featured during the transition period will effectively receive a mix of the pre- and post- new year rates. Users who donate now and until the end of the year will receive watchers at the current rate (For donating less than 100 points: [link]; for donating over 100 points: [link]). The users who have donated before the end of the year and are still featured at the new year will have their points distributed at the altered rate going forward. Those who initially donated 100 points or more will still receive 25% more activity, but after the new year this will be a 25% increase from the new rate. Before the new year, donors of 100 points or more receive 25% more watchers at the current rate, and then after the new year their balance is reduced at a rate such that they receive 25% more activity than those who have donated less than 100 points.
This policy will take effect at the new year for all donations made from now until the end of the year. I will contact those users who have donated before now and who are likely to have a remaining balance during the new year to ensure they will receive the advertised rate at the time that they donated (before this policy went into effect). Aside from the users who receive a note from me, no exceptions will be made, this affects all users equally.
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So yeah, that's all, I really have no major talk about the policy change just the donor's policy and how 100 will be 75 and 1000 will be 750. I will miss dahub for a while or permanent then. Ciao*
This article was written to answer the question you have just posed. I encourage you to read the article in its entirety
This measure reflects the shifting quality of users giving watches. Previously, nearly all accounts were permitted to earn points and thus the overall quality of the service was low. Over time, filters have been put in place against all forms of alternate accounts, ensuring that users giving out activity are of a higher caliber. However, these active users have not been compensated for their actions.
Before this rate change went into effect, donors were disproportionately benefiting from the historical pricing scheme. To avoid continuing to 'rip off' users giving out activity, the rate needed to be adjusted. Donors are receiving a better service now than they ever have in the past, it is only fair to the users receiving points that they be equally compensated.
There are many kinds of accounts on deviantART. Typically users have a 'home' account, this is where artists upload artwork, post journals, talk with friends, etc. These are the accounts that should receive points through the services I offer.
There are other accounts on deviantART that have been "pressed into service" to do other things. Accounts like mine, *100millionPOINTS, =Point-Master-Pete and others are primarily focused on trading points are referred to as 'point' accounts.
There are 'role play' and 'ask' accounts where someone logs in and pretends to be a fictional character, answering questions as if they were their favorite cartoon character. There are 'plz' accounts, these accounts are set up so that users can use the account's avatar in comments, journals, etc.
Users also change accounts from time-to-time. dA allows premium members to alter their usernames by transferring their associations, friends, journals, content, etc to the new username. However, for the remaining 95% of non-premium users, the username can only be changed by creating an entirely new account and abandoning the old one. However, users can still log into the old account and request points. These abandoned and alternate accounts are not permitted to earn points through my services.
> "quality was low"
In the beginning, all user accounts were permitted to earn points. This meant that 'plz' accounts, 'role play' accounts, and all those listed above received points. The average quality of users giving activity was low because you had these 'fake' accounts giving out activity alongside 'real' accounts (users using their 'home' accounts). However, I have worked over time to put in filters that would extract 'fake' accounts while still allowing 'real' accounts to earn points. There are now 'Activity' and 'Eligibility' requirements. The number of accounts that can earn points now is far more limited, but of a much higher caliber (ideally, they are all 'home' accounts) than when this account was set up. Prior to the rate change, donors were getting just as many watchers, but of a far higher caliber, than when this account was set up. This posed problems for the reasons listed in the article, resulting in the need to adjust the watcher rate.
The more advanced filters were implemented around the New Year, have you noticed a shift in the types of watchers you have received over the past month? If you don't mind me asking, what do you typically look for to determine if a user is giving a 'fake' watch?
I try not to pester donors with questions, and as a result I develop the filterers used on this account based on my own interpretations of what donors are looking for. I value any feedback I can get on how the service is performing.