What exactly are "influence points" and why do they even matter?

SGT Justin Singleton — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 23:13:22 -0500

I am sort of new to RP, and I have yet to see the value in this program. What exactly is the value of "influence points"?

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2014 11:28 PM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 23:28:00 -0500

So you can see who is winning!

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2014 11:41 PM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 23:41:12 -0500

It's a hook to keep us engaged with a scoring system. Pretty brilliant considering how competitive us military types are.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Dec 24 at 2014 11:45 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 23:45:27 -0500

It really just gauges how involved in the site you are.

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Dec 25 at 2014 2:02 AM

1SG Steven Stankovich — Thu, 25 Dec 2014 02:02:08 -0500

Here are the details about Influence Points SGT Justin Singleton...

http://support.rallypoint.com/customer/portal/articles/1338230-how-does-the-influence-score-work-

How does the Influence Score work?

Your Influence Score is designed to be a reflection of your overall influence as a military member or veteran in the Ral...

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Dec 25 at 2014 11:04 AM

LTC Yinon Weiss — Thu, 25 Dec 2014 11:04:19 -0500

Influence Points reflect two things; 1) How strong your network is on RallyPoint, and 2) How much the community has valued your contributions.

It's obvious that those who are most engaged (forming new connections, contributing more, etc.) will have more influence points than those that don't, but Influence Points also help differentiate those that are similarly active but contribute in different ways.

Some members pay attention to it, and some don't. If you naturally build your network and add value in the Answers forum, then your points will go up as your add more value. There is nothing "special" you need to do. The "value" you gain is forming new contacts in different professional circles, connecting with the community, while contributing and learning...

http://support.rallypoint.com/customer/portal/articles/1338230-how-does-the-influence-score-work

How does the Influence Score work?

Your Influence Score is designed to be a reflection of your overall influence as a military member or veteran in the Ral...

Response by SFC (CA) Roland Dell made Dec 27 at 2014 6:45 AM

SFC (CA) Roland Dell — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 06:45:06 -0500

Just looked at that (for some reason) before I saw your post; it seems to show your activity level on the site, and compares it with other member's activity. If you click on your score, it take you to a bar chart, which shows what % you are in... I was in the top 1% for 3 categories - but that's because I'm retired, and have plenty of time to putz around on the computer, I guess.

Response by PO2 Jonathan Scharff made Dec 27 at 2014 8:10 AM

PO2 Jonathan Scharff — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 08:10:57 -0500

Welcome to RP SGT Justin Singleton! Like most things the "influence points" are a two edged sword. On the one hand they motivate people to keep engaged with the site and each other, on the other it causes a small group of people to constantly post topic after topic with what I can only discern is a pathetic desire to be ranked higher on a scale that means nothing.

I am not going to state any names, but if you have been on this site for longer than a few days you will have no problem figuring out who they are. I just wish RP could come up with some kind of system for not letting those types of people bring down the usefullness of the site. right now there seems to be no way to deter these members.

Thank you for your service and let me again welcome you to Rally Point!

Response by SGT Shaul Funt made Dec 27 at 2014 9:55 AM

SGT Shaul Funt — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 09:55:09 -0500

Welcome to RP

in a way it is a "how adicted" i am to this social network

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2014 10:00 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 10:00:55 -0500

lets people know how cool you are

Response by SPC Leisel Luman made Dec 27 at 2014 10:56 AM

SPC Leisel Luman — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 10:56:28 -0500

I'm new too. I see the points but not sure how to give bigger points. The value to this site is that you get information from a different frame of reference. I have learned about programs that I never knew existed. If even one person was helped by the info I shared then it's worth it. There is light fun stuff to share too.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2014 12:57 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 12:57:36 -0500

Influence points are LIFE!
LIFE I TELL YOU!!!!

Actually they seem to be a way to finally turn online social interaction into a measured game against others in your bracket and they have succeeded at tapping into my competitive side. Indubitably.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2014 2:57 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 14:57:09 -0500

The points do not allow you to buy anything or whatnot, but just a way to gauge how many hours you have been on the site. This allows you to then bring that number to the Rally Point Anonymous (RPA) meetings. I have gone through four sponsors so far; nobody seems to be able to help me curb the habit.

Response by SPC John Decker made Dec 27 at 2014 2:58 PM

SPC John Decker — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 14:58:51 -0500

I've read the first twenty or so responses and comments. Can't add anything to them. They are all right.

Response by SP5 Michael Rathbun made Dec 27 at 2014 9:00 PM

SP5 Michael Rathbun — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 21:00:16 -0500

Dunno, but according to the stats, I only need 47 more in order for something magical to happen.

Response by CWO4 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2014 12:11 AM

CWO4 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 00:11:28 -0500

SGT Justin Singleton, Good Question! New to RP myself also, so I have no clue. I think its there to keep people engaged and to highlight involvement in/with the RP Community.

Response by SSG Tim Everett made Dec 29 at 2014 5:34 AM

SSG Tim Everett — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 05:34:16 -0500

To the OP: do you play video games? Yeah? One word, then.

Meta-game.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2014 3:57 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 03:57:21 -0500

For me, I subscribe to Maslow Heirarchy of needs: A pyramid primer

The Hierarchy of Needs is a model in which Maslow attempted to capture these different levels of human motivation. It represents the idea that human beings are propelled into action by different motivating factors at different times – biological drives, psychological needs, and higher goals on RP.

Now the hierarchical arrangement is not meant to imply that those who focus on higher points are somehow “better” than those who focus on lower points. It’s not that kind of hierarchy. It’s a hierarchy within you, within your day-to-day experience on RP.

It simply means that higher points don’t appear unless and until unsatisfied lower points are satisfied on RP. If you are suffering from cold and hunger, for example, you just don’t have the time or energy to worry about your notifications on RP. Your entire being is focused on food and warmth. (And notifications waiting for you when you are well again)

For this reason, your influence level also broadly corresponds to different stages of life. The basic profile needs at the bottom are predominant in infancy; safety needs come into focus in while networking; belonging to the RP site predominates in later; esteem needs predominate from SM liking or responding to your posts and self-actualization only really comes when you hit 100, 000 points and you can consider yourself a mature adult.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2014 3:57 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 03:57:51 -0500

It's like a video game...but much better.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2014 11:51 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 11:51:32 -0500

Networking.

Response by MAJ(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 13 at 2015 12:46 AM

MAJ(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 00:46:47 -0500

I'm lobbying to have them turned into promotion points for younger Soldiers.

Wish me luck!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 13 at 2015 12:56 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 00:56:41 -0500

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2015 2:21 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 14:21:24 -0400

Just the answers and observations I was seeking!!! Thanks to all for the enlightenment.

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Aug 4 at 2015 1:59 PM

SSgt Terry P. — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 13:59:32 -0400

Great question.Here are a few more points for you.

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Jul 23 at 2017 11:04 AM

SSgt Boyd Herrst — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 11:04:26 -0400

My perspective is if these people that have caused s'one or many to do s'thing positive with their life, that's good and should be recognized.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2018 2:38 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 Dec 2018 14:38:23 -0500

Influence points don't make a snowball's difference in Hell. The people who thrive on this bullshit points game must have little or no home life. They post some ridiculous song or saying or recipe, and then post 20 names to get their lifelong FRIENDS to vote them up. And they post 20 more names and 20 more names and 20 more names, ad nauseum. It's a fucking joke.

Response by CPT Scott Sharon made Mar 12 at 2019 5:54 PM

CPT Scott Sharon — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 17:54:53 -0400

I've been a member for 3 years but active for less than 2 years. It took me a year to decide if it is worth the time. I can now say I enjoy it. I don't spend enough time on it to keep up with everything but there are many great people on here and I enjoy reading their posts. I believe the influence points show mainly how active members are on the site.

Response by CW3 Jared Hickox made Mar 12 at 2019 6:08 PM

CW3 Jared Hickox — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 18:08:38 -0400

I dunno. I've barely done anything on this site and apparently I'm a 1%'er. Don't think it really matters.

Response by CPO Avery Winns made Jun 10 at 2020 12:10 AM

CPO Avery Winns — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 00:10:34 -0400

I've been wanting to get the answers to the same question.......

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 14 at 2020 3:35 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 14 Jun 2020 15:35:35 -0400

I thought influence points were like chucky cheese arcade tickets. I am trying to get enough to cash in for a mustache comb

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 8 at 2021 11:47 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 23:47:38 -0400

1,000,000 points and $7 will get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks