Welcome to Gaia! ::

I've made no secret (neither here, nor anywhere else) of my burning, violent detestation of RIGs. Because it's pertinent to the conversation, I'll make a direct copy and paste of what I said to Rose, earlier.
"Oh, chance is 100% of my problem. I mean since I moved and found the rent higher and the job prospects lower, I went from a 'Have' to a 'Have not' and haven't really been able to give the site as much money, but I don't resent those for whom this is not the case. I do resent the fact that they expect real money and give no promises in return.
"In fact, if RIGs were gold-only, I don't think that I'd resent them. In fact, I think that would be a fine and much-needed gold-sink around here. There's something special about the combination of the Real Money/Random Prize that makes it so detestable. "
I think nearly all of you are well familiar with my rationale. If not, it's summarized rather well above. The argument that many make is that RIGs are necessary to maintain the site and on this I call "Bullshit." Do you know how much they make on ads alone? I'd bet a large sum of gold that if they had to, they could run the site on those alone, with minimal staff cuts and almost no loss of speed or quality. Add in MCs, and you're already guaranteed a larger-than-strictly-needed staff. Add in MCs and you're already promised that the people in charge will be filthy-stinking rich. Add in aquariums, the people that buy GC to spend on Gold-store items, zOMG purchased and other Cash shop items and it already seems like enough to glut the wallet of even the greediest, right?
Let me make it clear; At this point, I don't have any problems. Sure, the prices are a bit high, for pixels but I have no serious, irreconcilable problems with the arrangement. So far, so good.
Then come the RIGs. This is a serious case of sticking it to the user and yes, if you buy them, you are helping them stick it to us.
What's that, you say? You bought them, but you're blameless because you used gold? Sad to say, not so. That item was bought as a RIG by someone that KNEW he could sell it for gold. By buying it, you are telling him that he is right and promising that he can get what he wants by buying RIGs and he is even more likely to do it next time, thanks to you.
Here, you may cry "hypocrisy" as I do, in fact, own one RIG item, myself. I bought the Shark tooth item, that gives me the fanged smile (the only one that doesn't look like s**t). I also even bought RIGs, of my own, but this was back before I knew what kind of monster they would become... And that brings me to the worst of it all.
Another things that would make RIGs acceptable: using already existing items. If you just wanted to spin the wheel and see what you'd get, I would be a-okay with that... but that's not the case. Look at the items released over the last year. All of them. How many were released as gold shop updates, cash shop updates, or EI poses? Okay. Now how many of them were released as part of a RIG? Yeah... Starting to see it now, aren't you?
If you bought a RIG, from anyone, then you are telling Gaia that it's fine to stick it to us by allowing about 50% of all items released (or at least all of the ones that we really want) to be given to us only if we are willing to piss away real money and hope for the best or pay someone else who has.
And that, my friends, is why RIGs are killing Gaia.

Fixed. =P

But yeah, basically all of that. The worst thing though, is they'll probably never stop. They've found the ultimate system, and now will put only the best stuff into a million to one gamble. Forever. And to be honest I don't think theres anything we can do to change that. Lets be real. Everyone loves the items. They are, quite intentionally, of the highest quality and of some of the things most demanded by users. So a sitewide boycott? Not gonna happen.

It truly is the cancer thats poisoning the site. And I'm actually ashamed to admit to playing a part in feeding it. But these days, its either dig in to the buffet of s**t, or miss out. And you better believe they know it.

Yeah, I agree. I've never put real money into Gaia, because...well, there're no items I want that badly, I guess. Still, I don't mind the MCs and other things, it's just the random prize ones that don't seem right, to me.

Yes, for the record, if I feel that a topic is finished, I send it to the archives. Otherwise, it's just waiting (days, weeks, months, or even years) to be reactivated. Necromancy is not a problem, here. Threads that are left in this sub-forum are not dead; just sleeping.
Otherwise, very well put.

Well s**t, I didn't have to wait long for the answer. Thanks, Gaia, for satisfying my curiosity in so timely a manner.

Exactly. Gaia has the best of both worlds; introducing the kiddies to gambling AND profiteering off of the worst environmental disaster in US history in the guise of charity. It's a win-win situation.

Hell, the only way Gaia could get more slimy at this point is to either start selling used cars or to open up their own law firm.

I just love the "Fight corruption" idea that the have. The irony of fighting corruption by supporting the most brazen and bald form of corporate greed is just palpable.