- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
Posted by: Recon Number 54
I have been thinking about the idea of making a Bungie.Net account more "valuable" and more "linked" to a particular person.
Though such a thing would mean that we have a caste-system (of sorts) for our members.
Standard Member : someone who created their account by typical and standard means. A typical MS Passport, not necessarily linked to any other information. This account level gets "guest" access and is restricted from interacting with some of the more enhanced/valuable parts of the site.
Premium Member : someone who has taken their Passport and taken additional steps to permanently link verifiable personal information to that identity. That account level would get additional value and (perhaps) access to more of the site.
Now, the problem is that I browsed the MS Passport site, and I could not find any information that indicated that a Passport could be made more closely linked to a person and more of a valid form of ID.
Linking to an Xbox.com gamercard could be considered such a step, but it would also start us on the path of the (haves and have nots) caste-system.
I truly believe that until people see their membership as something of value and something worth protecting/keeping, that our average demographic will keep this place less friendly than it has been in the past.
What I don't know is how we would make a membership something unique and not easily replaceable. I also don't know if this is a path that Bungie would be willing to travel in the name of enhancing interactions with the community.
While I do like the idea, I must agree that it would be hard to implement. There is the option of a karma system similar to that on the Roosterteeth Network, but then you run into the question of how to handle the progression from rank to rank. Were Bungie to use the mod point system as Roosterteeth does, it would not stop the people who fail to utilize proper "netiquette". There would be mod trading and spamming to raise karma levels, and while it might slow down the madness, it would not put an end to it. I do have one thought for consideration, there are a few different member roles here (Webmaster, Master Forum Ninja, Forum Ninja, Community, etc.) Now, were Bungie to implement a karma system, I would suggest that not everyone be given the ability to hand out mod points. I would say that the only people with the ability to give out mod points should be moderators, anyone else with a management postion, and possibly 5 - 10 other members. Allow me to explain those additional members. I'm not quite sure how or if it could be done, but it could be beneficial to have 5 - 10 additional members with the ability to give out mod points. The moderators do an excellent job of covering the different forums ( no, I'm not trying to blow sunshine up your ass Jim, I mean it, you guys are usually on top of things and whenever I have sent a moderator a message about a thread I will see a response and/or a locked thread within minutes), but there are still little remarks that you guys may miss here and there. Plus, there are many different groups in which discussions occur that a moderator may never see. It could be usefull to have 5 - 10 covert members (meaning there is nothing about their profile to suggest that they have the power increase someone's karma level) patrolling the forums and groups.
With the karma system, good behavior and thought provoking discussion would be rewarded with an increased karma level. Improper behavior would result in the removal of karma. In my opinion, the only ones with the power to subtract karma should be moderators or other people in management positions. If 5 - 10 members were given the power to add karma, even if they were trustworthy, I don't think they should be given the power to subtract karma, just in case one of them should quarrel with another member and decide to abuse their power.
With the karma system, the number of posts a new member would be allowed to make could be limited to...say...5 per day for new members...then 10...15...and so on and so forth. That would curb any potential spammers and help govern new members who are simply a bit overzealous.
That's just an idea that popped into my head after reading your post Recon. Although, in terms of making a profile more personal? I don't know how to do that either. Personally? I use the name CabooseMoose7103 across the different forums that I visit, it influenced my gamertag when I made it, and I even have the nickname "Moosey" among my friends. I don't know how much more personal you can get, but not everyone is as crazy as I am : )
[Edited on 8/2/2006]