Suggestion Box

I like this idea. I think something like this would be a wonderful way of showing how much a piece of writing means to a lot of people and not just one like an awardicon generally does (besides the times where people pooled their GP together to get something a trophy or something.) Maybe even have a limit to how much people can donate per item, or else it will kind of feel just like getting another awardicon if someone donates it all or a good portion of it.

I don't like that it should be a way to upgrade current awardicons. The original award means a lot to the receiver and the giver of it, and upping it through donations just seems a bit strange to me. I think if anything this should be something seperate, a third kind of way of showing appreciation to a piece of writing (awardicons and merit badges being the other ones). Kind of like your post just before this about a writing appreciation award.

I think this also is a nice counter to the current trend of buying merit badges and awardicons at auctions and other events around the site which, as you stated and I agree with 200%, cheapens their value (only the ones that are bought, though.)

It's also a great way for people of the particular piece of writing to get together and show appreciation for it. To pool for a trophy currently, you have to know who is collecting the GP and that it's actually being collected. Usually this is just between good friends. A contributory award allows strangers across the site a way to unite right at the item itself and show support/praise for it without having to know each other.

I don't know how feasible this is, or if it's even something the staff have in mind for the future of the site, but I think something on this idea is a great way to show unity in the site while promoting and supporting others' writing.