- Ciaran
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- Exalted Mythic Member
I know we have the ‘Big Idea’ and ‘Forum Changes’ threads but I’m making one since I think this idea is pretty much perfect, which seems too good to be true, hence I’ll need a few harsh words if any can be justified. I’m also pretty sure this hasn’t been brought up. Certainly the topic has but this specific idea is one I can’t recall being mentioned before.
It’s a very simple and potentially just as effective feature to cut down on misconduct on the forums. It’s a warning system.
Rather than having to keep a mental note, or straight out ban somebody, moderators can simply ‘Warn’ a member of their conduct and this will add either ten, twenty or thirty (example figures) percent to the member’s ‘Warning Bar’.
An example from Hitman Forum.
Each member would have their own bar in their profile that only they and mods can see (to cut out discrimination). If several moderators give them slight warning of twenty percent for being a jerk and it eventually reaches 100%, then the member has a seven day blacklist automatically dispensed by the great Banhammer.
By having a visual and real-time display of how close/far people are to getting banned, it makes the threat of doing so more real to them, hopefully reducing spam.
Here’s a Q and A just to present this with a little more clarity and cut through the more predictable questions:
Q & A
Would this remove a moderator’s ability to straight out blacklist?
No, I think that’s a necessary component of their function.
How do you lower your percentage?
Every X period of time it will lower by Y percent. For example, every week, 10% is automatically taken from people’s warn bars. Just behave yourself and someone with 30% will be back to normal in three weeks.
Is this like a Karma system?
Yes and no.
Yes, in that it involves some kind of rating.
No, in that it is not meant for praise or to commend members. It’s simply a way of deterring people from breaking rules and relieving some weight from the moderator’s jobs.
Can normal members give warnings?
No, otherwise we would introduce a separate problem of people trying to get others blacklisted when they simply disagree with them etc.
Can we all see each other’s Warn Bars?
No. As I said, I don’t want this to be a point of either pride or discrimination. A member can see their own percentage and forum moderators too.