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Post by Ovi on May 11, 2009 1:20:40 GMT
You must be laughing your buttocks off right now....
One of the things that used to make some of the Graphic boards in SSD active was the competitive environment or that's the way I saw it. Imagine what can happen if the whole board became competitive. It would be like freaking election season, if it worked. More drama maybe, but that is just the price you pay.
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Post by danielazarc on May 11, 2009 18:18:17 GMT
The last thing SSD needs right now is more drama, in my opinion. We've got plenty for everyone, and then some. Granted, it's not a terrible idea, I just think in the current state of things it's not something that should be attempted.
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Post by Ovi on May 11, 2009 18:37:47 GMT
It would be cowardice if that's the only reason you are going to oppose this idea.
The battle boards, critique boards and the request boards caused a lot of problems too, but they did bring in new members and made existing members stay active.
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Post by Saknika on May 11, 2009 19:21:43 GMT
The big issue with such an idea though, as well, is that the people elected may not make good staff members; but because they're popular or something they will get the votes. Voting for staff generally doesn't work simply because the vast majority doesn't understand what goes on behind the scenes of the forum, nor what it takes to truly be a staff member.
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Post by Josh on May 11, 2009 19:45:12 GMT
Choosing a staff member should not be a popularity contest. It should be someone who is dedicated and able to do the job.
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Post by danielazarc on May 12, 2009 0:09:41 GMT
It would be cowardice if that's the only reason you are going to oppose this idea. The battle boards, critique boards and the request boards caused a lot of problems too, but they did bring in new members and made existing members stay active. Because that's the same kind of drama that's going on right now, right? ;P Nooooot really. But that wasn't my only reason, no, though I do think it would add more fuel to the fire. But really, see Josh's post, that about covers it. I don't think it would yield the best results if everything were left up to a vote. |
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Post by Ovi on May 12, 2009 2:57:44 GMT
The big issue with such an idea though, as well, is that the people elected may not make good staff members; but because they're popular or something they will get the votes. I can assure you I've seen many bad choices made by those who are usually in charge of picking staff members and it's not their fault. It's not easy to predict how a staff member will fare. But the Mod voted in by people will be accountable to them and will not be a Staff just because he/she caught the Admin's eyes, but because he/she pleased the whole community. There is no proof that an elected Staff will be anything worse than someone chosen by a select group. Voting for staff generally doesn't work simply because the vast majority doesn't understand what goes on behind the scenes of the forum, nor what it takes to truly be a staff member. There is nothing that goes on behind the scenes that an average member can't grasp. Since when does things that go on behind the scenes matter? They don't. It's what they do in public that matters. What does it truly take to be a staff member? To connect with the members in their field and the ability to motivate people and draw them like a magnet. Nothing can determine those abilities as well as a voting can. Choosing a staff member should not be a popularity contest. It should be someone who is dedicated and able to do the job. What will make them popular? Contributions towards the forum will. You must trust the members to make decisions, because at the end of the day, they are the ones that run or ruin a forum. Because that's the same kind of drama that's going on right now, right? ;P Nooooot really. But that wasn't my only reason, no, though I do think it would add more fuel to the fire. But really, see Josh's post, that about covers it. I don't think it would yield the best results if everything were left up to a vote. That's not drama, that's a joke. It's not causing any major effect anywhere. Just some people made a thread in another forum, that doesn't really do anything to alter this forum positively or negatively, practically speaking. I don't exactly know what caused that all so I will refrain from saying further. As I said earlier, give this thing a test run maybe? Maybe not full fledged staff members, but others who have minimum power. Usually, it's the respectable upper staff members that select new staff members but it's always better for a decision to be left for a majority than one person. Others will see what you don't see. Please don't simply neglect or dispel this suggestion in a snap. Think it over. Fear of change will only hinder progress, there's no harm in trying. |
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Post by Josh on May 12, 2009 4:15:10 GMT
I don't think you get what I am trying to say, Ovi. There are some people here who would probably win a contest like this (which is all it is, in my opinion) who are not mature enough, not responsible enough to be a staff member. We've had irresonsible staff members here before. My old friends Matt (Assassinator) and Adam (LPF, guy, whatever he is going by) helped me mod the Battle Board back in the old days before v5 was even considered old. And no offense to either of them, but they weren't made to be mods.
Or we could look at trust issues. I know that Kay and I both have some nagging trust issues with a few of the members here. If we look back at history there are two things that stand out.
1) The development of v6. hpmad was our coder. She, obviously, was not trustworthy. She gave a friend (and a person who had been given a perma ban on here) the link to the test board and her login and password. The friend (I believe it was Spek. Maybe Quacker) created a shit storm that made the creator of the skin (Car) feel so bad that she pulled the plug on like... a 4 month development and SSD didn't see a new skin for another year and a half (mind you, we were in the final stages of coding and about to enter the real testing stage).
2) Ryan had the password to the Herald account from when he had been on the Herald staff. He logged into the account and deleted an entire issue the day before release. Kay managed to salvage like half the issue but they still lost like 20 articles
I've been involved in the selection of new staff for the last 3 or so years here. I learned what to look for in prospective staff members from a guy whose importance to SSD will likely never be matched and a great friend, Oliver. If there is someone who should be promoted, the upper staff will notice and will discuss it.
Doing it by popular vote is just... dumb. We did that on a forum once. It was either F5 or Chronicle Creations. Might have even been the late Crazy Design Productions. It led to an incredibly weak staff. A staff who was not able to handle their tasks and responsibilities. The power of the staff was abused. It wasn't used when it was needed. It is a complete mess.
Popularity contests suck. This is all that this would be. And there is no doubt that it would be abused by people. I can see it now. People either registering multiple accounts or having their friends register and vote for them. And if we institute a post requirement... well, that gets us like 25 posts from a member. Most like spam posts. It would be abused.
Should I explain more as to why I don't like this idea?
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Post by Admin on May 12, 2009 5:06:31 GMT
I'm sure I'll get hell for not providing reasons behind it, but I'm gonna have to stick by a firm no to this. As for reasons, all that's been said thus far, works for me.
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Post by Ovi on May 12, 2009 19:03:00 GMT
I think I see your point now Josh. That post should have been more towards the top. But you agreed to one point of mine, there are pros and cons either way.  Since there's a major disagreement, I'll drop it.  |
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Post by Admin on May 13, 2009 2:54:37 GMT
Ovi <3. I thank you for being very mature about this. I'm gonna lock this now though.  |
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