I don't have a problem with badges per se - I just wish they were optional. Let those who like them, keep them, and let those who have no interest in them, disable them.

Someone above me mentioned Deviantart and Llama badges. I'm one of those who don't give a rats behind about them, and have all notifications of them disabled, and never display them. I just see them as utterly pointless. Deviantart is now more about 'points' and llamas, than about art, it's a popularity contest and nothing more. It is also part of why they are going downhill. Too many sites are trying to be like Facebook, without realizing that if people wanted to do Facebook, they would do so on Facebook. I wish they would stop trying to be like everyone else, and do their own thing!