"In the past few weeks Plurk has released a number of updates in preparation for its upcoming API launch. Improvements include, a new customizable sidebar widget, new starter verbs such as “wonders” and “needs,” a cleaner “All Plurks,” and “My Plurks” navigation, along with a custom search feature. Plurk has even enhanced their competitive ranking system, also known as “Karma” to make the algorithm more fair and balanced." - Hisham Sadek هشام from Bookmarklet

One of the most stupid things about Plurk is "karma." - Louie

Louie, I find it interesting about Karma .. Isn't it ? - Hisham Sadek هشام

I don't like it because it promotes people spamming themselves just to raise their "karma" points. And having to have certain "karma" levels to change user settings = lame. Let me use the site how I want. - Louie

Like any other social network, it's all about who you follow. None of my friends spam for karma. - Bwana ☠

Me too , It really depends on your friends and about me I'm now so close to Plurk Nirvana and I wasn't spamming :) - Hisham Sadek هشام

You don't understand what I'm saying about spamming. Karma presents a situation where people post for the sake of posting, just to raise their levels. While there are users who do quality posts, karma makes the global pool more diluted, with people wanting to do their xx updates a day to raise/maintain their level. - Louie

So it encourages using the system... what's wrong with that? Especially if they're valid posts. If they're not valid posts, then you shouldn't be following them - Bwana ☠

To retweet @evanhamilton: Wait, so Plurk's hipsterfied premise is "use our product or you get a low rating on our product"? I feel used just writing that. - Louie

I figure if you don't take the karma system seriously, you'll have a great time. If it becomes a vice, then, well, there's always Twitter and its follower count. Focus on the people and conversations, and it's a great system. Focus on the negative potential of the features and it becomes annoying....at least for me. - Bwana ☠

Twitter follower count = (lame) popularity contest. Plurk karma = doggy treats. Not the same. I've been using Plurk for a while, usually when I'm most bored. Their karma scheme just bugs me. I am but a lowly disobedient (headless) pet though. - Louie

Plurk = DO NOT WANT. that dyslexic timeline! it bugs the crap out of me.. WHY does it update R -> L???????? - Mona Nomura

In my mind, they're both popularity contests, which is probably why it doesn't bother me. The bells and whistles of Karma get old fast and when they do, that's when it becomes valuable. - Bwana ☠

Plurk's timeline is just retarded. It's horizontal...ok, but then it's R->L? It's all scrolly and slick-looking, but I have to click stuff to update? New "plurks" are just scattered haphazardly about my screen. It just makes me somewhat nauseous :) - Rahsheen?

Ya try following Tweeters that live in the SF bay area. I didn't know anything so I followed who everyone else followed. What a nightmare. Every two minutes "I'm at X and X event. Just saw Kevin rose" "@xyz, i'm over at the bar" "At the xxx event, spotted bla bla bla" UGH do.not.want. - Mona Nomura

Once you use Plurk enough, karma isn't an important factor anymore. If you don't like other people spamming your timeline, you can either block them or mute Plurks that are of no interest to you. Personally, I found that I get to know people better on Plurk than on Twitter - it's more informal and it encourages conversation. But again - who you follow defines the kind of experience you get (same as with Twitter). - Alja Sulcic