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I will never participate in weird internet caste systems

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Re: I will never participate in weird internet caste systems

#11

Post by roncesvalles »

chrisco255 wrote: post #2

Man there's plenty of amazing examples of caste systems on the internet, but Discord Nitro ain't it. Discord is a free app without ads. Nitro is a reasonable monetization strategy for a chat app that works incredibly well and fosters probably millions of communities.

TFA's point isn't that Discord shouldn't be monetized - it's that the monetization model is based on creating visible class differences.

A different monetization model is easily conceivable that gives paid users better functionality instead of (what the author calls) "aesthetic perks" that only serve to evoke class envy, as if like jewelry.

I don't have a strong position on the author's point. Just making sure the right thing is being discussed.

Re: I will never participate in weird internet caste systems

#12

Post by langsoul-com »

Internet caste systems is just social status hierarchy. Or rather, showing off to others you're higher on the ladder.

People don't buy sports cars, or extremely expensive clothing because it's functional. But rather to project their above the plebs.

Games have skins or icons marking how high up you are. Most importantly, very expensive skins.

Honestly, discords isn't bad, you're not constrained by being a free user. In fact, we should thank the nitro users cause they keep discord free for us.

Re: I will never participate in weird internet caste systems

#15

Post by ZekeSulastin »

roncesvalles wrote: post #11
chrisco255 wrote: post #2

Man there's plenty of amazing examples of caste systems on the internet, but Discord Nitro ain't it. Discord is a free app without ads. Nitro is a reasonable monetization strategy for a chat app that works incredibly well and fosters probably millions of communities.

TFA's point isn't that Discord shouldn't be monetized - it's that the monetization model is based on creating visible class differences. A different monetization model is easily conceivable that gives paid users better functionality instead of (what the author calls) "aesthetic perks" that only serve to evoke class envy, as if like jewelry. I don't have a strong position on the author's point. Just making sure the ri…

As noted in the post, Nitro users do get enhanced functionality for things like file upload sizes and streaming quality; I imagine that more intrusive better functionality than that would cause a much higher uproar than avatars or emoji, and given that this is a chat/voicechat/streaming app any functionality is necessarily going to be quite visible to other users.

Re: I will never participate in weird internet caste systems

#17

Post by purduekenny »

roncesvalles wrote: post #11
chrisco255 wrote: post #2

Man there's plenty of amazing examples of caste systems on the internet, but Discord Nitro ain't it. Discord is a free app without ads. Nitro is a reasonable monetization strategy for a chat app that works incredibly well and fosters probably millions of communities.

TFA's point isn't that Discord shouldn't be monetized - it's that the monetization model is based on creating visible class differences. A different monetization model is easily conceivable that gives paid users better functionality instead of (what the author calls) "aesthetic perks" that only serve to evoke class envy, as if like jewelry. I don't have a strong position on the author's point. Just making sure the ri…

What's the difference between functionality and aesthetic perks? Isn't the fact that one good is held by a group that is not you what evokes the envy? It doesn't matter if it's themes or if it's the ability to send larger messages. I find the distinction useless.

Re: I will never participate in weird internet caste systems

#18

Post by kmbfjr »

kashkhan wrote: post #13
adamnemecek wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Has that ever worked?

yeah except the capitalists killed it. napster, bitorrent etc... being tried now with mastodon et al...

Arguably, Napster and Bitorrent had issues that made killing them a tad easy.

Wonder what they were?

Re: I will never participate in weird internet caste systems

#19

Post by fastball »

roncesvalles wrote: post #11
chrisco255 wrote: post #2

Man there's plenty of amazing examples of caste systems on the internet, but Discord Nitro ain't it. Discord is a free app without ads. Nitro is a reasonable monetization strategy for a chat app that works incredibly well and fosters probably millions of communities.

TFA's point isn't that Discord shouldn't be monetized - it's that the monetization model is based on creating visible class differences. A different monetization model is easily conceivable that gives paid users better functionality instead of (what the author calls) "aesthetic perks" that only serve to evoke class envy, as if like jewelry. I don't have a strong position on the author's point. Just making sure the ri…

Isn't the current model better? Is it not (objectively) better for free users if they get all the same functionality as premium users?

Re: I will never participate in weird internet caste systems

#20

Post by lmm »

kmbfjr wrote: post #18
kashkhan wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

yeah except the capitalists killed it. napster, bitorrent etc... being tried now with mastodon et al...

Arguably, Napster and Bitorrent had issues that made killing them a tad easy. Wonder what they were?

Nah. They were easy to kill because those in power wanted to kill them. The same excuses would have worked on plenty of other things that weren't killed, because those in power were happy for them to survive.
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