Erkki Posted April 1, 2009 If you google "bank of happiness" you may find that some crazy Estonians are starting such a thing. Somehow I got involved in it and I was thinking maybe you bright minds could help with something. The basic idea is that people help each other and are awarded virtual currency for their good deeds. And this is powered by some IT system that is similar to social networking sites, but people can only appear under their real names (only the first name is visible to strangers). I just got involved and noticed the current suggested English translations are kind of sucky, naming the currency "Star of Thanks". This is a direct translation, in Estonian it's "tänutäht" from "tänutäheks" which roughly translates to "for thanks". tänu = thanks, täht = star How would you name such a currency in English? I thought of these: ex gratia. although this might be confusing as something called "ex gratia payment" is an entirely different thing. thanknote (vs. banknote) thank star (just a slightly better version of the "star of thanks" imho) Make a good suggestion, and an entire nation (and tomorrow, the world!) might start using the currency you named. (I should note I'm not the one who decides this, i'm just trying to come up with a better suggestion for the translation) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nachimir Posted April 1, 2009 Star Scrip. "Scrip" is the common English term for these kind of currencies. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SignorSuperdouche Posted April 2, 2009 Why not just credits? To give someone credit means to acknowledge them for their work, as in film credits, and also has financial connotations. Could sound a bit boring and generic though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DanJW Posted April 2, 2009 Just 'gratia' would work. That'll cost 200 gratias etc Or Thanyoo (pl. thanyoos) Chirz (from 'cheers') Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scrobbs Posted April 2, 2009 Take some inspiration from existing alternative currencies. Maybe something that shows the time and effort folk put in... Time Stars perhaps? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ginger Posted April 2, 2009 "children your allowed to shag without going to hell" e.g. "Well thanks that was a really nice deed you've earned 3 children you're allowed to shag without going to hell" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marek Posted April 2, 2009 Take any of these: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fictional_currencies Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DanJW Posted April 2, 2009 'kudos' Thinking over it again, gratia sounds a tad too much like gratis, meaning free, which makes it sound like it has no value. It's still pretty good though. Gratits might be better then, an abreviation of 'gratitude'. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ben X Posted April 2, 2009 Gratits might be better then, an abreviation of 'gratitude'. Sounds a bit like 'great-tits' though... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
syntheticgerbil Posted April 2, 2009 Take any of these: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fictional_currencies Hahah, they mention Buckazoids from Space Quest. I totally forgot about that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Erkki Posted April 2, 2009 Thanks everyone! I forwarded all the suggestions, personally liked gratia the most, but almost everyone liked thanknote and it seems it was decided to go with that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
