Where is the money from revenue sharing going since the user who got BA hasn't been here since December 2008?
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M$2 Answers
" Inactive Accounts
If you have not logged into your account in 12 months, your account will be considered inactive and your account balance will become the property of Mahalo."
Since the last activity of the asker was on 12/24/2008, and that of the answerer on 12/19/2008, it seems likely the money went back to Mahalo. However, since Jason Calacanis sent both users DQs about this question and its rev share, perhaps if they came back, they'd be able to keep the money, and ultimately cash it out.
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M$
The rev share will likely stay in the asker's account and the BA's account. It is highly unlikely they will ever reach the M$150 payout level (or even the old level), so it'll probably just stay there forever or until Mahalo closes up their acounts.
Ahhhhh, but that raises another question: does Mahalo list all the accrued revenue in user's accounts as a LIABILITY on their balance sheets that they undoubtedly have to prepare and present to investors/potential investors??? I think I will ask that as a separate question... WITHOUT hiding behind the little black mask!!!
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M$
My hope is that the virtual currency revenue sharing might bring folks back into the fold. However, it is important to know that our virtual currency is still a be test and we reserve the right to change and alter it at any time in any way for any reason.
It's possible some day we will not allow folks to cash out for cash but rather gift cards. it's possible we will move the revenue share up or down. it's possible we will change the revenue share to be a higher or lower percentage.
this is a GRAND EXPERIMENT, and will continue to be one for some time.
Our hope is that virtual currency in Mahalo will help generate a large amount of higher quality participation.... so far it has in most cases. However, we did see bad behavior and actors due to the low cash out level we started with (i.e. $40), and we moved the cash out to M$150 and we witnessed bad behavior go waaaaaayyyy down.
So, it's changes like that you can certainly expect.
So far I'm personally thrilled with the reaction to Mahalo Answers as I know many of you are. Right now I'm actually considering a couple of changes:
a) giving the first M$200 in revenue to the asker and best answers and NOTHING to Mahalo until they get paid. This would get folks more money and quicker. Hopefully motivating more participation. We might move this to page management as well: first money in to the community.
b) giving the second and third place answers--if they have over five votes--10% of the revenue in Mahalo Dollars each (or something like that).
Any ideas you guys have, certainly keep bringing them up! I love to hear your ideas!
Good catch, opher! And, this situation brings up a couple of points: Jason DQ'ing them points out that the relevant ToS should be a permissive ("...your account MAY be considered inactive..."). It probably should be a policy of Mahalo to always notify someone before taking back his/her balance.
I don't think it is unreasonable for Mahalo to continue with that ToS as it is - even in light of the new avenues of revenue share; but, I think it would be a good idea for them to revisit that policy.
As I noted elsewhere, this question - and your answer, opher - raise those other questions, too. I'd appreciate it if you would share your thoughts on the account balances over here: http://www.mahalo.com/answers/mahalo-answers-community/does-mahalo-list-all-the-not-yet-paid-out-revenue-sitting-in-all-our-accounts-as-a-liability-on-its-financial-statements-balance-sheets
I recall Jason mentioning the MA revenue share would be used as leverage to bring people back to Mahalo. I think he even went so far as to say they would send e-mails saying that your MA activity has earned you M$, so consider coming back and participating in MA.