from Hacker News

Monetizing Failure

by donnfelker on 2/27/14, 8:18 PM with 13 comments

  • by jere on 2/27/14, 8:40 PM

    Perhaps I'm missing something, but wouldn't you be paying $20 to enter the competition? It seems like the fee isn't directly tied to getting your score posted on a website and the article is using that as a distraction. Isn't this how races and competitions have worked for a long time?

    It is an interesting thought that most people will be "failing" and yet they're willing to pay money. On the other hand, there's a lot more to competing than winning. I've run the "Krispy Kreme Challenge" a few times and while I wouldn't mind winning it, I know my registration fee is really going towards a fun race, a spectacle involving thousands of people (many in costume), and edible and wearable souvenirs.

  • by kosei on 2/27/14, 9:11 PM

    People pay hundreds of dollars every year to enter running events (marathons, 5Ks, etc). I don't understand this either. I can run for free whenever I want. I don't see the psychology around CrossFit as being significantly different. Am I missing something?

  • by Mz on 2/27/14, 9:47 PM

    Insurance companies, lotteries, Las Vegas -- all use similar monetization schemes to what is described here. There have to be a whole lot of "losers" to pay for a few big winners, keep the doors open, etc. I doubt any of them are going away any time soon and I can think of a whole lot of reasons people pay for those things. For example, for fun, for hope during hard financial times, for peace of mind. (Insurance usually claims to be selling peace of mind more than anything else.)

    Also, donn, an FYI: rebutting every single comment posted here is a) bad form and b) a great way to make sure no one fucking wants to discuss your piece.