I miss WatchCrunch, but my disappointment outweighs the nostalgia
[TL;DR: This is a blend of self-analysis and a plea from someone feeling mistreated by a digital service.]
From the summer of '23 to January '24, I developed a genuine fondness for WatchCrunch—a vibrant community of enthusiasts radiating a level of positivity rarely found elsewhere on the Interwebs.
I diligently posted a #WRUW every day for 180 days, establishing a daily routine of engaging with the platform—or rather, the community. I cherished the interactions with fellow watch enthusiasts like @drcarter13 and @Yonder.
However, everything changed when the backend system of @WatchCrunch between the 9th and 10th of January, reset my Wristy 180 badge. Consequently, I didn't receive recognition for my consistent daily contributions, regardless of my whereabouts or activities.
As an old nerd who's been part of digital communities since the late 1980s, I endeavored to do the 'right thing': I submitted two bug reports to the team. Regrettably, there was no response. Subsequently, I authored the first post addressing the issue, yet nothing changed—I still didn't receive the badge I rightfully earned.
Initially, I intended to remain an active Cruncher, but it became apparent that I no longer enjoyed the service; I felt mistreated.
I'm sharing this because I miss WatchCrunch—the community, the watches, the people—and I want to return. However, I can't shake this inexplicable urge to reclaim my badge before doing so. I feel hurt. Is that odd? Or perhaps not?
I believe it underscores @Max 's success in fostering a genuine community—congratulations on that achievement, as it's no small feat in today's world dominated by major players. I would greatly appreciate it if you could resolve my issue and reinstate my Wristy 180, enabling my return.
And as always: LiG, Life is Great! 🙏
I have always liked watches and became more interested during the past couple of years. A growth entrepreneur building a better world and saving for an original Speedy Ultraman. Motto: LiG - Life is G...
A badge???
I don’t blame you for feeling slighted, but I wouldn’t take it out on the whole platform. I hope you can still enjoy WatchCrunch and that they sort out your badge/progress.
A badge???
Yes - I know, hilarious, isn't it 😅
I personally don’t put any importance whatsoever in the badges. If someone has badges I’ll never know because it’s not something I look at. The importance to me is, as you say, engaging with the community
I don’t blame you for feeling slighted, but I wouldn’t take it out on the whole platform. I hope you can still enjoy WatchCrunch and that they sort out your badge/progress.
Thank you for your sensible comment.
I can understand how you feel. Stay positive. It might get rectified. I'm at 345 days and if I lost that there would be feelings. PM @UnholiestJedi and see if he can help. He's a legacy member and maybe able to give you some help.
I'm really not fussed about badges, I'm here to learn and be entertained.
Looks like you have proof in your photos of WRUW section on your page.
Badges? I might have one but don’t care. Hopefully you get resolution; but maybe having a respectful connection with others is the true point of this app?
Hey ! @BadgeHoarder can you weigh in please ? 😂
I don’t want this to sound condescending, and it’s hard not to in a comment section sometimes, but I don’t feel like the point here is badge. I would say to accept what happened and keep it moving. I don’t think it’s anything personal or consequential.
Sorry for your „loss“, but you are aware that those badges are just incentives to keep you posting and engaging?🤪 Try to see it from a different angle: Go and try to get it again. Or another badge from the gazillion of badges you can chose from. But keep in mind: The badges are just a gamification tool for yourself, the interaction is what a real social media platform is all about. At least that’s why it was called social in the first place. Don’t take it too serious, any old watch will also have some quirks and malfunctions, too. This place is still a place where everyone cares about the opinion of the others, not just a show off place. I‘ll print you a badge or draw one by hand if you want to😉
Far more important: Which watch do you enjoy right now the most and why?☺
Most of the badges just come with participation, but the WRUW badges require quite a fair bit of commitment and dedication, so I understand your feelings. Personally I wouldn't go for these, I couldn't keep it going for 18 days nevermind 180!
I can understand how you feel. Stay positive. It might get rectified. I'm at 345 days and if I lost that there would be feelings. PM @UnholiestJedi and see if he can help. He's a legacy member and maybe able to give you some help.
I'm flattered, but I think you overestimate my reach & influence.
Yes the situation with @aapeaape is suboptimal.
The best I could do would be to ask @WatchCrunch to publish a how-to in posting WRUW shots when traveling if they insist on this current system of 38 different time zones or implore them to use common sense in determining how that gets calculated in the future. What should happen to improve the already great user experience is use Watch Crunch server time midnight as the end/start of a new day for everyone. Then you could use your GMT or world time functions to track that time so it would be easier to stay on track for achieving the badges.
With the new presentation of WRUW as an IG-style feed vs. individual pages for each day's WRUW posts, the whole race to shout "First!" (Why did we do this as a society?!) by posting at 00:00:01 has pretty much been eliminated.
Whilst I understand your frustration at your badge issue not being resolved, I find there are minor operational issues with almost all the online community forums/apps. I don't put too much importance on the badges though so it may only be a minor issue to me but more significant to yourself and others. However I feel the engagement I get here would more than outweigh small issues with the site.
Yup - my update has probably happened during an update / backup / maintenance cycle as it shows different dates for the same post in the WRUW-and Gallery-views.
Hope it works out.
Badges? I might have one but don’t care. Hopefully you get resolution; but maybe having a respectful connection with others is the true point of this app?
Thank you for your reply, Craig and yes, a respectful connection with others is the true point of the service. Yet, according to the 1% rule from [digital] communities, 90% of the participants of a community only consume content, 9% of the participants change or update content, and 1% of the participants add content.
My feelings, experience - and thus the post - tell about how small, insignificant details can make a difference to those who are committed content producers.
I don’t want this to sound condescending, and it’s hard not to in a comment section sometimes, but I don’t feel like the point here is badge. I would say to accept what happened and keep it moving. I don’t think it’s anything personal or consequential.
Thank you, Chris, for your comment 🙏
Over the past decades I've been involved in creating hundreds of digital communities and development of tens of community platforms. And it is very seldom to find something as successful as WatchCrunch.
That is one of the reasons for my post - I wish to see it become even better. To actually deliver 100% quality and not just 99% quality.
Sorry for your „loss“, but you are aware that those badges are just incentives to keep you posting and engaging?🤪 Try to see it from a different angle: Go and try to get it again. Or another badge from the gazillion of badges you can chose from. But keep in mind: The badges are just a gamification tool for yourself, the interaction is what a real social media platform is all about. At least that’s why it was called social in the first place. Don’t take it too serious, any old watch will also have some quirks and malfunctions, too. This place is still a place where everyone cares about the opinion of the others, not just a show off place. I‘ll print you a badge or draw one by hand if you want to😉
Far more important: Which watch do you enjoy right now the most and why?☺
The watch I like more and more every time I wear it, is my 1952 bumper automatic Omega. It's just incredibly awesome 😍
And yes, I am very well aware of gamification & digital community development. And that's one of the reasons why I 'seek justice' - WatchCrunch is 99% and I would love to see it even closer to 100%.
Most of the badges just come with participation, but the WRUW badges require quite a fair bit of commitment and dedication, so I understand your feelings. Personally I wouldn't go for these, I couldn't keep it going for 18 days nevermind 180!
Thank you for your understanding, John! I look forward to seeing you get the Wristy badge. You're fine making it 30 times in a row - I believe in you!
Whilst I understand your frustration at your badge issue not being resolved, I find there are minor operational issues with almost all the online community forums/apps. I don't put too much importance on the badges though so it may only be a minor issue to me but more significant to yourself and others. However I feel the engagement I get here would more than outweigh small issues with the site.
Doc, thank you for your comment! And yes, there are always glitches but in the best communities they are fixed. WatchCrunch is 99%, I would love to see it even closer to 100%.
In all seriousness though.. I can understand your frustration. When I first started on the Crunch, I saw my daily WRUW posts as a way of making myself known and gathering new friends on the community. Gathering the badges, was a fun way of encouraging me to post daily (which I still enjoy doing). Recently though, I rarely give a thought to the badges and am often surprised when one pops up in my mailbox. However.. when the 180 arrived, I was genuinely pleased with the recognition I received from my friends as one by one they thanked me for my friendship and commitment to the community.
The badges may be a token incentive but they can also be a meaningful gesture as a reminder, that we post daily because of the comaraderie of like minded nerds and fellow geeks.
Welcome back, Aape. Let's see you posting again
Thank you for your heart-warming reply, John. I see a new phrase being coined here: Let us be the badges to each other we wish to see!
🙏
I had the opposite experience.
I missed 1 day of WRUW last year in the june due to #1wc challenge. The game master asked us to not post anything for 1 day. 😂
So I lost my streak for 120 days.
Then a couple of months later, I suddenly got my 120 days streak back. It was weird, because my streak then was around 80-90. I think the server now recognizes different time zones.
This sounds promising 🙏
Doc, thank you for your comment! And yes, there are always glitches but in the best communities they are fixed. WatchCrunch is 99%, I would love to see it even closer to 100%.
OK, that's a fair point. And I didn't mean to diminish your focus on the badges, if that's what brings you here then all good. A slightly different analogy for your consideration : if I ordered a burger and it came with gherkins, I'd pick them out and enjoy the meal. Some would not eat the burger. Shame to miss a meal for one bad ingredient. 😂
The watch I like more and more every time I wear it, is my 1952 bumper automatic Omega. It's just incredibly awesome 😍
And yes, I am very well aware of gamification & digital community development. And that's one of the reasons why I 'seek justice' - WatchCrunch is 99% and I would love to see it even closer to 100%.
Oh wow, the Omega is a beautiful and classic model! Just checked your post from january, a very nice vintage watch, looking fantastic.
I am unaware of how big the WC team really is, but I think they have quite a lot to do. I am also waiting for a badge, since I was told we will get one for surviving the squidgame challenge. But it will take time. I am sure Max and the team are listening and you will get your justice. But I bet the interaction from today is far better than any badge 😀
I wondered what happened Aape. I'll put it this way, you are missed. I looked forward to our daily interactions. Here's to you returning 🍻!
I get you 100%. We are who we are and I get it that it makes total sense to you. It actually makes sense to me too incidentally. I sincerely hope things get sorted out to your satisfaction.
👍🤝
I wondered what happened Aape. I'll put it this way, you are missed. I looked forward to our daily interactions. Here's to you returning 🍻!
Well, Dr. Danilo, Sir. It seems that I have returned - it's a lot of fun. And I'm still hoping that @Max and his team will fix the unfortunate badge-thing. Have a great day!
I get you 100%. We are who we are and I get it that it makes total sense to you. It actually makes sense to me too incidentally. I sincerely hope things get sorted out to your satisfaction.
👍🤝
Ian, thank you for your note 🙏
Since I wrote this, it seems that I have returned to WatchCrunch. And I'm enjoying it - even without the Wristy 180 that I worked so hard to get - you, us, the watch nerds from all around the world are a really nice lot.
Have a great week!
Ian, thank you for your note 🙏
Since I wrote this, it seems that I have returned to WatchCrunch. And I'm enjoying it - even without the Wristy 180 that I worked so hard to get - you, us, the watch nerds from all around the world are a really nice lot.
Have a great week!
Aape it was a pleasure to drop you my little message. I am really glad to hear from you that you have been able to put it behind you enough to return. Well done and as you would say 'LIG'.
Thank you and you have a great week yourself too I hope. 🍻