This trend doesn't grab me so much - I don't want 'badges' for anything. Is that because I'm an old grump? Are all the young hipsters super enthused about sporting all sorts of digital badges?

I like the concept of gamification but shouldn't it be more smooth and less jarring than offering 'badges'?

Are there any good websites out there parodying badges? Maybe the Hipster Hacker http://twitter.com/hipsterhacker is working on a badge heavy new social site with node.js and mongodb?

Perhaps there is a commercial opportunity for a website that converts all your digital web 2.0 badges into real world embroidered badges so your mum can sew them onto your flannel shirt sleeves.