Not everyone can be Sting.

I was thinking about systems like Whuffie and how in an actual such system, you are not necessarily interested in getting a super high score, in being the most popular person around. Rather, what you want is to increase your standing among people you respect and like.

Not everyone can be Sting. In fact, it might not be the most fun thing in the world to be Sting. Everyone always wants you to play Roxanne no matter how cool your new material is. I mean, it might be thrilling in a buzzy, drug-like, adrenaline kind of way but it's probably not the most satisfying experience in the world. It might be way more cool to play with a few people you like and respect with an audience of 20-50 friends.

Maybe the best experience (enhanced by reputation) is like a St. John's seminar -- not freshman seminar, certainly, but maybe senior seminar or the seminars that never happened because there is no fifth year at St. John's.

Technorati tags: reputation, Whuffie, St. John's, St. John's College, Sting