1. I actually experienced this before back during the IOPN project. Initially, I was paid to work on something (on a different platform). Even after the event ended, I kept contributing because I believed in the project's infrastructure and community management. What I loved most about contributing was that my efforts felt truly recognized and appreciated, which made me even more excited to keep going in the future
2. it's better to be genuine and on point. Rather than using instant tricks just to sound fluent, I prefer to listen first, understand the vibe, and stick to the language I actually know well. Keeping communication safe, respectful, and mindful of each other's culture is way more important for keeping the peace in a community or hangout than just showing off a few memorized words.
3. I once created a daily activity called "What Made Your Day Better Today?" Members could earn points by answering the question.
At first, people participated mainly because of the reward. However, over time, members began responding to each other's stories, sharing experiences, and offering encouragement and support.
The points were only the initial trigger. What kept people coming back was the genuine conversation and meaningful relationships that naturally developed from those interactions.