The Wasted Hour - How an Airdrop Can Do More Bad Than Good

First of all, let me state that I like legitimate airdrops - and this airdrop was in fact legitimate. However, due to how it was handled, it led to a lot of confusion - and in my case it led to an hour of my time being wasted.

So here is the story of how an airdrop notification made me waste an hour of my time...

It all began a couple of weeks back when I joined a Telegram group and signed up for an airdrop bot. From my understanding, once I signed up with the bot, I would be enrolled for all future airdrops. That's great!

Recently, I received a message that I can claim two checks with some instructions on how to do it.

I was quite excited and followed the instructions for trying to claim the checks, but unfortunately, I couldn't find any checks...

So I tried to find out what's wrong:

First I tried finding the checks with the old version of the checks app, then I noticed there is a new version of the app and checked that one. It's nowhere to be seen, either. Maybe the checks are already expired, so let's change some settings and look for expired checks. Nothing. OK, back to the old app and check for expired checks there. Also nothing.

The last time I used the app it did not work with the mobile version of Metamask. Maybe it still doesn't work right with that mobile Metamask Android app. Let's try it on the PC. For that we create a new browser profile, import my seed phrase... And nothing.

At this point I got suspicious and had a look at the Telegram group. Maybe someone else had the same problem... And once I checked the group, I found out that I missed issuing a command to the bot. 🙈

And the best part is the announcement was made half an hour after I last checked the Telegram group. 🙈

Wasn't the promise that once you sign up with the bot, you are included in all future airdrops?

Apparently, that promise was either broken - or a misunderstanding in the first place...

Well... That's how you can do more bad than good with an airdrop... I wish I would not have received the message that incorrectly stated I received a check when I actually didn't, because that message made me waste an hour of my time.

It was clearly possible to send checks only to the people who issued the command to the bot. Why was it not possible to send a message only to those people?

Or at least send a message that makes it clear that you would have had to issue a command to the bot previously to receive a check.

Well, once again, that airdrop was legitimate. And I missed it. That was a pity, but it isn't anything to cry about.

The point I'm trying to make is that either only the people who qualified for the airdrop should have received the message saying that they can claim two checks - or the message could have been sent to everyone who signed up with the airdrop bot, but it should have clearly stated that only those who issued the command qualified.

If that was the case, I would just have said "oh well, I missed another airdrop. That happens..." and moved on with my life - instead of trying to figure out why I can't see the two checks I was promised...

For these reasons, I completely agree with @emily2u

Airdrops are great, but please use them responsibly - and try to avoid wasting people's time.

Thank you for reading my "rant". What's your opinion? Am I overreacting? Or do you agree with the points I'm making? Let me know in the comments!