ulcer factory participation

Is there any way for an invisible forum to be set up for those of us so unlucky as to have no apples? There we could put in requests for those so favored to put our opinions into their threads, or start a new one. (Of course, they wouldn't have to.) That way we could all participate, sort of, but things would stay "nice."

I thought the bar should have been set higher, at perhaps 29 apples. (if you're reading this in 2014 when I'm at 200+, note that I was at 29 on the day it was written )

I've heard that some of these subjects are bait for spammers. The apple count is a way to prevent them from infecting this area. It's been my experience that relative newcomers are more likely to deal in name calling, conspiracy theory, pseudoscience, religion and flame baiting. They have to earn a pass to the executive lounge.

Good luck in your quest.

Or perhaps you could devote your time on permies to doing the sort of thing that attracts apples?

Really great posts with loads of photos of your projects are apple magnets. And good questions that trigger lots of replies and new ideas. And good answers to other people's questions. And links to really interesting things. Reporting spam is often rewarded by apples, or volunteering to do podcast summaries. Use your imagination!

Sorry if this question is super lamo redundant question, but how exactly does one go about getting apples at the permies.com forums?

Have a read of this thread - What does the apple next to my name mean?

I've heard that some of these subjects are bait for spammers.

It is not so much as 'spam bait' as it is 'troll bait'.
There are 2 basic types of trolls:
* Those who just love to argue, fight, or otherwise just fuck up somebody's day.
* Corporate trolls. A corporation actually pays them to search out subjects, and then 'publish' the Corp's view on the subject.

Many of the threads in the Cider Press are like magnets for both of those types of trolls.
By having a qualification need to post in those threads, we have made it very difficult for them to just pop in and spew their garbage.
It helps to keep the topics created and responded to more inline with a permaculture point of view.

As far as requesting somebody who is qualified to post on your behalf, don't forget that those with the power to grant apples, also have the power to take away apples. If it were known that somebody was posting somebody elses' agenda, their apple count might drop to the point that they could no longer post in the Cider Press. We might view them as 'sock puppets', and sock puppets are not worthy of publishing in the Cider Press.

That's my thought/opinion on this.

Hello,

Yes, I guess you are right.