Jazzop,

I think you're missing two operative points.

First, while the "FaceTwitSpace" movement was originally based more upon connecting virtually instead of in person, it is moving in the direction to include both. A year or more ago, most sharing was simply in the form of pictures, quick blurbs, etc. about what users are doing. Now, with geo-based data coming on board, it is possible to collaborate in person and/or provide something of value outside simple updates to what others are doing.

Second, and more notably, the privacy level is completely optional. As you are someone who is clearly weary of sharing your location, etc., you can simply avoid registering/using these services and have your concerns quelled. Or, if you are only moderately comfortable, you can set your preferences to allow sharing with people/features that you want. On the other hand, if you are like me and you both enjoy openly sharing information as well as see some benefits to doing so, you can customize your settings and memberships to suit your comfort level. I would love to have businesses send me targeted offers that provide lucrative opportunities within the parameters I set, and I also love the idea of having my friends contact me when they're nearby or have some comments related to my activities. Not everyone is like me - most people aren't nearly as open - but I like having the option. While Facebook and other networks presented situations in the earlier days whereby many users signed up and didn't realize how much was being shared (I consider this the fault of the user - not the service - for it's foolish to sign up for something you don't fully understand or aren't willing to risk not understanding), the privacy settings have been made much more clear and configurable now, for the most part.

My experience is FourSquare doesn't even make you be anywhere close. I just search for Holiday Inn and one 20 miles from me comes up, checkin via foursquare - then done.

True, but note the anti-fraud measures Topguest alluded to in the email they sent a couple weeks ago (I reprinted it in post #15, above in this thread). That doesn't mean you can't still check in remotely every day and get the 50 points, but it sure makes it much less likely that the loophole will continue for long because they might start cross-referencing actual hotel check-ins with the geo-network check-ins.

My experience with FourSquare is that it will check you in from any distance, but if you are too far away it tells you that your not eligible for a badge. My assumption was that this means you don't qualify for points either, but only an assumption.

From my experience, it depends on your phone and the accuracy of its GPS/location service as this is probably how the Foursquare app determines if you are close enough.

Have anyone's topguest points actually posted to their reward program account?

Yes, I've had Priority Club points post (about three weeks ago - I'm guessing that it's a once a month process).

Oh okay. I was having issues a month ago where none my checkins were showing up in my topguest account. This was fixed 3 weeks ago so hopefully they'll post over at the end of this cycle.

Read "The Transparent Society" by David Brin. Written in 1998 based on an article from 1996!

If there are 3-4 IHG hotels within an area, can you check in at all four within about a 5 minute timespan or does TopGuest not reward checkins like that?

Only one IHG check-in per day will count for points.

only one per day counts.

I also noticed there is a minimum distance you have to be from some of these locations. I couldnt just drive by some of the IHG properties to check in for points. Does anyone know the maximum distance allowed to check in for points?

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Foursquare tells you if you're too far away from the site to receive credit for a checkin. It varies quite a bit for me. Sometimes I'm a block away and I don't receive credit, other times I'm more than a mile away and I do. Not sure of how Topguest awards points but I imagine it would be very similar.

We received 350 points in each of our accounts and it just does not make any sense how they arrived at this number.