I have to admit that it’s hard to be as enthusiastic about 10k now as it was when, say, Augustlan made it, joining a handful. But for each individual it is still an accomplishment.
I have seen the questions that you refer to, @MissAnthrope, and you’re right, that is what people say. But I don’t actually believe there are many who really don’t care at all. I think few of us are actually chasing lurve (some are!), but most of us probably notice when a comment suddenly attracts a heap of GAs or when they post a question that really rings people’s bells, and that is as gratifying as applause for your speech or laughter at your wisecrack. In that sense I believe we do care.
The fact that it is not redeemable for anything, doesn’t evaluate to some rank or standing, doesn’t come in different denominations, and isn’t subtractable—AND that there are caps on it—makes it an ideally workable game token. And that is what it is. Everybody knows that Monopoly money isn’t real and you can’t spend it, it has no meaning outside the game, and the point is to play the game and have fun whether you get a lot of money or not. But within the context of the game you do care because that is how you play the game.
I’m not sure what you mean by “lurve devaluation.” We saw a big inflation when ABers joined and started ladling it out by the bucketfull to all their friends, sending newbies skyrocketing to 5k. But that was an aberration, and that wave has mostly passed now. Other than that, what is this devaluation?
@andrew, it would be technically possible to post a link to the party thread if you could choose an option or set a flag when posting the party thread question itself, validated by the subject’s actually having achieved 10k. Cumbersome, yes, but doable.