I was thinking maybe that there could be some sort of prize for being the most helpful user, not getting banned, not spamming, etc. for a certain time period(the user would be chosen by a mod). I was thinking for people who actually want to be a helpful part of the site, it might be more encouraging if you got a prize. I'm not saying I'd run it, just tossing the idea out there. So maybe the mods and admins will consider this.
That would be cool... might give a little bit of an incentive to be helpful around here :P (though helping isn't really about the award).
I think that this would recognize good users other than mods/admins, which would be good for users that are not in power, but are still "leaders" of the community.
I think that this should be decided by a mod or admin. I think it's a good idea... but not sure if a mod/admin would take this responsibility on.
Someone made a thread once, asking for who we thought was the most helpful member. Ended up getting locked though, NoName said something along the lines of some members may feel uncomfortable with what's being said in there. I know I didn't like getting trolled by...*certain users*, because some people thought I was helpful.
I think this would encourage the same thing, some people disagreeing that __________ is more helpful than them, and then they get mad and cause some sort of trouble.
not getting banned, not spamming, etc. for a certain time period
Some users have been active since the beginning of the site and have never been banned or spammed. I think that award, if approved, would cause a lot of arguments which could lead to flaming, and eventually, uberspam. And nobody wants that to happen.
it might be more encouraging if you got a prize
That was my contest mod theory. It got rejected, so don't go hoping for a pot of gold...
I think that this would recognize good users other than mods/admins, which would be good for users that are not in power, but are still "leaders" of the community.
It's a nice idea, but it has a few flaws. Let's say a user "Bob" was the most helpful and active user on the site, and he was not a mod. Noobs would spam mods' and admins' profiles saying, "hey, make Bob a mod"; or "how are u a mod and Bob isn't?". So being helpful for a prize may encourage too much helpfulness, which is worse than it sounds.
I think that this should be decided by a mod or admin.
Who else can decide it? The decision committee of average users? I don't think so.
I think it's a good idea... but not sure if a mod/admin would take this responsibility on.
Doesn't that depend on what the prize is? By the way, what is the prize...
What exactly would this award be? A small symbol on your profile? Special font in the forums? A small AP prize? You need to go more in-detail, and lots of the users already have potential to be a mod...
It doesn't really have to be an incentive like that. It could just be a recognition... and show others who are helpful users in the community other than the mods!
You sound a big fan of the idea, but for it to have been shot down before there must be a flaw in it. This certainly wouldn't be at a top of coding priorities.
You sound a big fan of the idea, but for it to have been shot down before there must be a flaw in it.
I'm not really a "big fan", but I think it is a good idea... and I don't see big flaws with it. It could just be a thread posted by a moderator saying this:
[designated period of time]'s award goes to... [insert user here]. Congratulations!
This certainly wouldn't be at a top of coding priorities.
Of course. But this doesn't have to have some special incentive sort of thing... it can just be recognition in a thread or something.
I think recognition for being helpful is the only prize you need. There should be no prize involved, because these kinds of incentives help towards no goal at all in the forums, e.g. change of heart afterwards.
Whether it's helping people on the forums or just obeying the rules in general, I think the whole thing would solely be decided on popularity before actual total helpfulness.
I'm not really a "big fan", but I think it is a good idea... and I don't see big flaws with it. It could just be a thread posted by a moderator saying this:
Well, a thread in the forums might be...also, how would they choose?
Whether it's helping people on the forums or just obeying the rules in general, I think the whole thing would solely be decided on popularity before actual total helpfulness.
Dunno, I was thinking maybe a merit or some sort of prize box. Idk. But really, it's up to the mods and admins. And about the arguing thing...doesn't that always happen anyways?
Yes, I thought that that was the whole thing, mods voting on the most helpful user. Overall, the most popular of the helpful people would have first shot at it; I've seen this before.
Well, a thread in the forums might be...also, how would they choose?
There could be a kind of voting... or they could just choose a user they found helpful.
I think recognition for being helpful is the only prize you need. There should be no prize involved, because these kinds of incentives help towards no goal at all in the forums, e.g. change of heart afterwards.
Agreed. Being helpful is about being helpful... without expecting a reward.
Dunno, I was thinking maybe a merit or some sort of prize box. Idk. But really, it's up to the mods and admins.
I don't really think there needs to be a point-hungry thing in this...
Yes, I thought that that was the whole thing, mods voting on the most helpful user. Overall, the most popular of the helpful people would have first shot at it; I've seen this before.
Why not just ask this person to become a mod? The most helpful person will probably qualifies for moderatorship. If that person doesn't qualify, who cares? It seems that people only care if something include mods. So mine as well go with the flow and make that person a mod, but if not, then that user will probably be ok with it. In my mind, the most helpful user is nice, kind, and okay with what he or she has (I don't remember the word for it =/). So he or she wouldn't even for such a prize.
I have trouble trying to explain my point. I hope somebody understands =S
