Is it Better to Give than to Receive? / myLot

Cambridge, England

September 16, 2016 6:38am CST

One of the supermarkets near me has a scheme whereby, when you buy something, you receive a number of green tokens (depending on how much you spend). By the exit there are two or three boxes where you can deposit your tokens depending on which local charity you wish to support. It seems to me that MyLot works rather like this because, every time you post a response or a comment, you aren’t earning anything yourself but you are telling MyLot that such and such a discussion, response or comment is worth supporting. Of course, when you post a discussion, you are also putting your box by the door and hoping that others will donate to you and, naturally, they are much more likely to do so if you have given something to them. It seems to me that, the more we get into the frame of mind of GIVING (rather than of ‘earning’ something for ourselves), the better it is for MyLot and the better it is for us. What do you think?

42 people like this

34 responses

M.-L.

@MALUSE (69388)

• Germany

16 Sep 16

This is an apt analogy. To stay in the picture: I've just put up my box at the door and am waiting for your green plastic coins. :-)

9 people like this

vanny

@vandana7 (99256)

• India

29 Oct 16

LOL...green plastic coins..lol

1 person likes this

Heather Echola

@GardenGerty (158132)

• United States

16 Sep 16

First off, I like your store scheme. . . we sometimes have to be asked at the register if we want to add on our bill for usually a food bank. Secondly, I do like your analogy. I also find that since I am so busy lately and not having as much time to give, my poor box for tokens is not doing as well either. I know that the more I give the more I receive.

9 people like this

Anna

@LadyDuck (461741)

• Switzerland

16 Sep 16

You explained this so well, but it seems that too many still do not understand how this site works. I like so much to visit and "give" here, that writing is not my main purpose.

7 people like this

Anna

@LadyDuck (461741)

• Switzerland

26 Oct 16

@Bluedoll Sorry, it was not my intention.

2 people like this

AbbyGreenhill

@AbbyGreenhill (45496)

• United States

16 Sep 16

I think they should give us some little green token too LOL.

6 people like this

Just an Ordinary Owl?

@owlwings (43915)

• Cambridge, England

16 Sep 16

That might be an interesting way of rewarding people. Collect green tokens to give to other people or to good causes.

3 people like this

AbbyGreenhill

@AbbyGreenhill (45496)

• United States

16 Sep 16

@owlwings Not sure how that would fly LOL

3 people like this

Betty Belekis

@BettyB (4117)

• Summerville, South Carolina

20 Sep 16

You're right. I know I don't spend as much time reading and commenting as I should, but I'm trying. I get frustrated with the people that post every hour but never comment.

4 people like this

Just an Ordinary Owl?

@owlwings (43915)

• Cambridge, England

20 Sep 16

You can only spend the time you can afford, so don't feel bad about not spending 'as much time as you should'. There are no rules on how much time anyone should spend here!

3 people like this

hora_fugit

@hora_fugit (5862)

• India

26 Oct 16

@coffeebreakwhatever Well I don't intend to cause that effect with this single line comment of mine, but how is a one-liner annoying considering that it could very well be a conversation opener or some kind of challenge between people who know each other well and usually have special meaning upon themselves for each kind of words and sentences which is not the case here, however, though I did manage to put everything in one line!

3 people like this

vanny

@vandana7 (99256)

• India

27 Oct 16

@coffeebreakwhatever .. It is an art to transform even one liners into a basis for interactions. I admit I lack it, but I do see many who are able to do it very well.

1 person likes this

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Thelma

@thelme55 (76614)

• Germany

17 Sep 16

I think that same thing about Mylot. The more we give, the more chance we have to receive something in return but it is not always the case.

6 people like this

celticeagle

@celticeagle (160751)

• Boise, Idaho

16 Sep 16

That is true.

3 people like this

Jabo

@jaboUK (64360)

• United Kingdom

16 Sep 16

You've hit the nail on the head - that's exactly what it should be like here.

4 people like this

Sharon

@simone10 (54189)

• Louisville, Kentucky

22 Sep 16

I think you are absolutely right and I love your analogy. It describes it perfectly.

3 people like this

Wendy789

@Drosophila (16573)

• Ireland

17 Sep 16

Though, I think if one never responded back to my comments, then I would just give up

4 people like this

Just an Ordinary Owl?

@owlwings (43915)

• Cambridge, England

18 Sep 16

There are people who don't and one does tend to learn to ignore them after a while. It's the same with real-life conversations: some people are just uncommunicative and one either has to make a special effort with them or just let them slide out of one's circle or friends.

3 people like this

Wendy789

@Drosophila (16573)

• Ireland

18 Sep 16

@owlwings ya, or put up with awkward conversations for a long time

1 person likes this

susan

@sueznewz2 (10409)

• Alicante, Spain

17 Sep 16

very true.... it does work so much better that way round.

3 people like this

The Horse

@TheHorse (208196)

• Walnut Creek, California

19 Sep 16

MyLot seems to be set up in such a way as to make giving and receiving the same. The more you comment, the more you receive responses, and the more pennies you earn.

3 people like this

Just an Ordinary Owl?

@owlwings (43915)

• Cambridge, England

19 Sep 16

That is true, of course. I think that I am speaking more of an attitude, approach or a way of thinking. There will, of course, always be those for whom the 'bank' is more important.

1 person likes this

Tokz

@ilocosboy (45157)

• Philippines

16 Sep 16

That is a nice comparison about giving and helping to mylot. Well, its better to give when you have more in your hands but sometimes if you want to receive, you also need to give more.

4 people like this

Manisha

@ms1864 (6886)

• Bangalore, India

17 Sep 16

Wow...such a good explanation. I guess this is how it works here...

3 people like this

Bluedoll

@Bluedoll (16774)

• Canada

26 Oct 16

If wow goes unnoticed it doesn't work

2 people like this

Manisha

@ms1864 (6886)

• Bangalore, India

26 Oct 16

@Bluedoll

2 people like this

Bluedoll

@Bluedoll (16774)

• Canada

26 Oct 16

@ms1864 Cheer up it got noticed.

3 people like this

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Sue H.

@CinnamonGrl (7083)

• Santa Fe, New Mexico

26 Oct 16

I think that's very true. I haven't been able to give much here lately, having issues with typin. BUT I find that's how it works. I love to go down the comments and "like" everybody. It's just fun to give a boost. I like the idea of the tokens in that supermarket. We don't have such a thing here. There are usually donation boxes at the checkstands for one thing or another, though.

2 people like this

Kimberly Cass

@Butchcass4 (5895)

• United States

4 Nov 16

I agree with you it is better to give than to receive.

1 person likes this

Loretta

@noni1959 (9922)

• United States

18 Sep 16

I believe it goes both ways. We all need something and helping each other will enable us to reach our goals. Here, if you don't put your box by the door, no one will deposit and you won't reach yours. If you deposit in others all the time, you will do without.

2 people like this