- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
Posted by: x Foman123 x
Posted by: BTP Dagger
Posted by: sesquipadelian
as for evilcam's claims, we cannot know now how effective adding member titles has been at improving member behavior in the threads. for starters, didn't the member titles appear at about the same time as the spam button? and, even if there has been an improvement in behavior since the addition of titles, that alone does not warrant our belief that there is a causal connection between the two.
I agree entirely. Personally I dont think they are working so well. I've seen members lose their heroic member status, their webcam MVP status, etc. and I dont think they cared about these much or they wouldnt have gotten themselves banned. I simply wish that people who have already lost their titles would stop attacking others and learn their lesson.Note that evilcam went out of his way to say that it "seems" and that he "believes" that the member titles are having a beneficial effect. Sesquip's point that it can't really be proved either way is mostly just stating the obvious. And while the cause-and-effect may or may not be there (and who can really say one way or the other without any kind of scientific evidence?), it doesn't matter. Forum behavior is improving in the opinions of many people (including me), and this improvement happened to occur at the same time that the Report button and member titles were instituted.
If you read his posts, you will notice this is a pattern. When he makes a debatable point, don't bother contesting as he will rinse and repeat the same point until you die of old age.
Again, though, my opinion is that it doesn't really matter. At the very least, member titles are a step in the right direction. Many longtime members and moderators here have suggested that they would be in favor of a system of noticeable-but-small rewards in exchange for good behavior here, for the same reasons that I and Pezz and a few others have outlined in previous posts in this thread. Blatant forum elitism in the form of "I am better than you because of my status on the site" can be eliminated by removing those rewards from the "elevated" members who practice it, while giving everybody something to strive for.
Its already been said, as jay pointed out, that numerous people listen more to heroic members than regular members. I've been PMed saying I shouldn't talk because my account isnt old enough, hell, by people posting in this thread, and I simply find it appalling that someone would have the nerve to say something like that.
Blatant forum elitism isnt so much of a problem as the statements of people in this thread, which say things like, i listen more to higher members, which i see as wrong.
I think that this relatively new tactic of trying to control and funnel that desire to stratify or "rank" the members of this site into something constructive (such as good rather than bad forum behavior) is a great idea. Hopefully, other ideas will come along and be instituted that are not too drastic but yet continue to encourage this desired effect without suppressing the playful and laid-back atmosphere that makes this place so much fun to visit while we are bored at work or school :-)
The problem I have with this is the "trust" system isn't based on who makes good posts, who is constructive, etc. but instead on how long youve been here. Look at yourself. Youve taken the time to address many points, be constructive, and you are a regular member, while I just looked at the flood and they are talking about how mexicans who have jobs are mytical creatures.... and these are heroic members?
I simply see a problem with good members being members and blatant racists being "heroic"
EDIT: Excuse me, webcam MVPs, not heroic members. Here. This is the second webcam MVP ive seen massively violating the forum rules, and i dont think ive been here more than a week. That is simply disgusting.
[Edited on 01.28.2008 8:09 AM PST]