> I began my Reddit career on some of the site's true crime communities
What is fascinating that there are exactly zero advantage of having large karma racked up on reddit (or HN). Most likely this would in fact work against you. However, still, brain is wired up the maximize any social recognition it sees regardless of its usefulness or "realness". This is in same class as a drug addition where brain can't prevent itself from doing things even when it understands its not good for the being.
Tencent's QQ have these online-time badges, you won't understand how much people want it, especially teens. It's like an honor that can be used to show off.
What is fascinating that there are exactly zero advantage of having large karma racked up on reddit (or HN). Most likely this would in fact work against you. However, still, brain is wired up the maximize any social recognition it sees regardless of its usefulness or "realness". This is in same class as a drug addition where brain can't prevent itself from doing things even when it understands its not good for the being.