So …. These notifications popped up on my WordPress menu recently.
If only Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin had realised that you could gain world domination by simply running a blog! It would make for a more peaceful world.
I suspect that this reflects an attempt to align WordPress with other platforms and tools. You can receive top fan badges on Facebook and learning tools like duolingo reward you for streaks (number of days without failing to go on the app) . They also have league tables.
It seems that the aim is to try and make these things “fun” and competitive. I find that sad. Shouldn’t there be enough enjoyment to be had in growing your language skills, writing articles about the things you find interesting or simply interacting with other people?
The idea that I can be a “top fan” or achieve world domination of course plays to the baser of my human desires. The truth is that it appeals to our need for status, recognition, achievement, power.
Perhaps we bloggers too need to be reminded that:
“What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul.”
Faithroots 