|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2014 10:26 am
gaia_star Introduction
We at the NSTG very rarely come out and comment directly on community issues, but we feel a strong ethical obligation to do so with regards to gold generators. A gold generator is an item that you can purchase and then open in your inventory with the guarantee or possibility that you will be granted Gaia gold. Here is a user-created list of the gold generators Gaia has released over the past year.
Gold generators, in short, cause tons of damage to the economy because they pour trillions -- yes, trillions! -- of gold into the Marketplace, causing item prices to increase dramatically. This makes it extremely difficult for anyone to keep up with the Marketplace unless they're extremely wealthy on Gaia or if they have expendable income with which to purchase Gaia Cash. This hurts newbies, who don't have many financial resources.
If this enrages you, pledge today to buy no more gold generators from here on out -- from the Cash Shop or the Marketplace! If you wish to take the pledge, please say something along the lines of "I take the pledge" in your post. (Here is a link to the old version of this thread, where you can see where the first 69 people took the pledge.)
Copy the code below the banner you want and paste it into your signature. Thank you, Eternal Rebellion, for your gorgeous work, as always! If these images with shortened links don't show up for you, their full codes are available in this post.
gaia_star Table of Contents
Post 1: Introduction and Table of ContentsWhat gold generators are, what damage they do, and how to take the pledge against them.
Post 2: The Damage DoneAn in-depth look at how gold generators damage the economy, the community, and those who buy gold generators.
Post 3: Gaia Cash and YouWhere to spend your Gaia Cash in a way that helps, rather than hurts, Gaia Online.
Post 4: Other Ways to HelpWhether you're signing a petition, writing a letter, or educating a friend, you're helping newbies!
Post 5: Further Reading and Other ResourcesIf you want to learn more about this issue, check out these links!
Post 6: We Say NO to Gold GeneratorsThese NSTGers have made the commitment to reject the temptation of purchasing gold generators.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2014 10:31 am
gaia_star The Damage Done
What do gold generators do to the economy?
They release trillions -- yes, trillions! -- of gold into the economy. Gold loses its value as it becomes abundantly available, which means that item prices skyrocket in the Marketplace. This phenomenon is called inflation.
In August 2013, on average, the Marketplace saw 5 billion gold in daily revenue. As of today, sees a daily revenue of a staggering 300 - 600 trillion gold. As more people purchase and open gold generators, the prices of items continue to rise at a shocking and unhealthy speed, putting them out of reach of anyone who does not purchase Gaia Cash -- and lots of it!
What do gold generators do to the community?
As item prices skyrocket, the only people who can afford them are those who spend real-life money on Gaia. This makes it so that those who do not spend real-life money on Gaia, or who do not have a lot of gold or expensive items, have no chance of having special items. Many of these people are newbies. Members become disheartened by the Marketplace trends, do not feel as though they can keep up, and give up on quests or leave the site altogether. This economic instability and class war make it difficult for members to help each other with quests and, more importantly, to form long-lasting relationships with each other.
What do gold generators do to me if I buy them?
You will have to repurchase gold generators over and over to try to keep up with the Marketplace prices that those who purchase gold generators have made possible in the first place. Eventually, you will not be able to have the items you want without spending lots and lots of real-life money. This is more likely to lead to frustration than to satisfaction over time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2014 10:35 am
gaia_star Gaia Cash and You
What if I want to get gold quickly?
Buy items in the Cash Shop and then sell them on the Marketplace for gold. If you have patience, you can even hold on to these items and sell them in the future, when they’ll be more expensive than they are now. This is not only good for the economy, but good for your wallet, too, as you will get the most value for your dollar. Items rise in value over time, but gold loses value.
What if I crave the thrill of opening gold generators?
That’s easy! Buy item generators instead, often referred to as chance items. The thrill and the surprise is still there, but you don’t damage the economy and you may win something extremely rare or expensive. You may also sell the unopened chance item on the Marketplace for an incredible profit.
What if I’ve already purchased a gold generator?
Simply do not buy any more of them. Try to spend your gold in high-tier gold shops, such as Dernier Cri and Loyal’s Bazaar. Check your header; there may be a Kickstarter going on, where you can donate large sums of gold to win some Achievements and rare items!
What's wrong with selling an item on the Marketplace that's "GCash Purchasable"?
When you put an item on the Marketplace, you will see this pop-up appear for the item you're selling:
As you can see, you have the option to check or uncheck the "GCash Purchasable" option. If you check that box, what it means is that, if someone should want to buy your item from the Marketplace, they will have the option to pay for the item using gold or Cash. If you uncheck that box, your buyer will have to pay for the item in gold.
You want to leave the "GCash Purchasable" box unchecked.
Here's an in-depth explanation of why this is. The current exchange rate of gold to Cash is 50 million gold to every 1 Cash. Keep this in mind.
When You Don't Check the "GCash Purchasable" Box
Let's say that you put an item up on the Marketplace for 50 million gold. When another user purchases that item with gold, 50 million gold will disappear from their account and you will receive 47.5 million gold (50 million gold minus the 5% Marketplace tax). No gold has been generated by this process. 47.5 million gold has been transferred from one user to another, and the 5% tax (2.5 million gold) has been removed from the economy. Removing gold from the economy prevents the Marketplace from becoming over-saturated with gold and thus prevents item prices from rising (i.e. inflation).
This is why this option is the right one.
When You Do Check the "GCash Purchasable" Box
Let's say that you put an item up on the Marketplace for 50 million gold, which equals 1 Gaia Cash. When another user purchases that item with Cash, 1 Gaia Cash will disappear from their account, and you will receive 47.5 million gold (50 million gold minus the 5% Marketplace tax). 47.5 million gold has been generated by this process. No gold has left the account of the buyer, but 95% of the item's sale price in gold has appeared in the account of the seller. Adding gold to the economy over-saturates the Marketplace with gold and thus prevents item prices from dropping (i.e. deflation).
This is why this option is the wrong one.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2014 10:42 am
gaia_star Other Ways to Help
I want to stop buying gold generators, but I don't think I can stop.
You might be suffering from a gambling addiction. A gambling addiction, just like any other addiction, can be very serious and have long-lasting or devastating consequences on all aspects of your life: personal, financial, academic, spiritual, or professional. If you live in the United States, please check out the resources available at the National Council on Problem Gambling, including a confidential hotline that is available 24/7.
What can I do to help the situation?
If any item in La Victoire (the Cash Shop) even promises the possibility of winning gold, do not buy it either with Cash or from another Gaian on the Marketplace. Choosing to buy Cash Shop items that do not pump gold into the economy sends a very important message to Gaia: that you do not support their decision, as a business, to continue selling gold generators.
How can I show Gaia how I feel about this?
You can post in Site Feedback threads, sign petitions, or write a letter to Gaia Online expressing your concerns. Here are two of my favorite resources:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2014 10:50 am
gaia_star Further Reading and Other Resources
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2014 10:53 am
gaia_star We Say NO to Gold Generators
Here is the list of NSTGers who have made the pledge:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
