Hidden boards as a reward for high merited users and reporters

[hilariousetc]

I've made this suggestion in a couple of threads recently but I think it deserves its own thread for discussion. What I would suggest is that there are hidden (or inaccessible) sub boards like the Donator one that only become available to view (or post in) once you have received x amount of merit or made x amount of reports (which should be set pretty high). I think these would be nice nice perks for those that contribute a lot here and have either received a very large amount of merit or made a huge volume of reports. They could come along as rewards with the report/merit badges that theymos has thought about implementing recently. The board for merit would act as like a filter for quality discussion only and those who's contributions are clearly valued here. The board for reports could be used for discussion about the forum or collaborative efforts on potential abuses that need to be investigated but you may not want to post them publicly yet as to alert the people you're instigating (which would be far more efficient that just PM-ing users en masse).  It could also be used like a semi-staff board for those that help out a lot and would be good for recruiting potential staff. Both boards could be signature free and also possibly not contribute to post count to assure non-monetised discussion.

I know we already have the Serious Discussion board but there's still a lot of crap that gets posted in there by lower ranked members. Some people just see the title and think it's some sort of Politics and Society board or literally just a place for discussion on 'serious' topics,  and I think many are not even aware that posts or signature don't show up in there because people don't read stickies and a high merit requirement for access would act as a great filter. Thoughts?

[1715232402]

1715232402

[1715232402]

1715232402

[1715232402]

1715232402

[Alex_Sr]

For reporters, such a section would definitely not be superfluous. Set the "entry threshold" for example in 1500 good report.

It would be much more effective than creating similar topics (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4720640.0) that anyone can read.

[TMAN]

great idea bud. really clean out the shite!

[ibminer]

I don't like the voting options. Too much involved in your idea for a Yes/No, and the No doesn't necessarily imply merit ruins lives.  

Reporting-based board: If the information is useful to the ones that are being fought against, what stops them from ranking themselves up by reporting their own alts/posts to make it into these boards?

Merit-based board: I could agree with a board like this, although I feel like something under Serious/IT would be better to adjust as opposed to creating another board?

I sadly feel like people are sort of giving up on the main sections of this forum to opt for special sub-boards. It sounds like everyone is acknowledging the problem but doesn't want to address it on the main sections. Doesn't this essentially take the experts/quality posters and put them into a special sub board that the main stream of legitimate traffic to the forum may not ever see?  Seems great for members that have been here for a while, but bad for legitimate new people trying to get on board with Bitcoin, the forum, and seeking information.

[bittraffic]

If there is a way to make it inaccessible for the users but accessible for the search engine bots and crawlers, it would be a good. I'm unsure if this is possible.

The fact that it is inaccessible or hidden for the particular users means we can't read it and defeats the purpose of the forum which I believe for discussions and sharing. It all depend to Theymos though. Moderators board are always for moderators and staff, Nothing much in there but it need to be accessible only for them. I have been a moderator of a forum too.

[Alone055]

Not really sure about the reporting-based boards, but merit-based boards sounds like a very good idea to me.
The boards should be visible to everyone, but only people with required merit count should be able to post new threads or participate in discussions. In that way, the genuine new members would have the chance to read and learn the things in there, or maybe get some motivation from the discussions of that board, and then try to earn their place in that board by becoming more and more constructive for the community.

[LoyceV]

I think these would be nice nice perks for those that contribute a lot here and have either received a very large amount of merit or made a huge volume of reports.

I wouldn't consider this to be a "perk", as I personally don't gain from it.

The board for reports could be used for discussion about the forum or collaborative efforts on potential abuses that need to be investigated but you may not want to post them publicly yet as to alert the people you're instigating

This, on the other hand, would be a great asset! Bump bots for instance quickly evolve after being discussed and reported through a Meta thread. These discussions should be hidden from most users.

It could also be used like a semi-staff board for those that help out a lot and would be good for recruiting potential staff.

I think a board for Merit sources could be useful too.

I sadly feel like people are sort of giving up on the main sections of this forum to opt for special sub-boards. It sounds like everyone is acknowledging the problem but doesn't want to address it on the main sections.

It would be interesting to see what happens if these requirements are rolled out on existing boards. Say the forum requires x Merit earned before being allowed to post on the altcoin boards.

As an alternative, I would really like to be able to set more restrictions as a topic starter (on all boards).

[hilariousetc]

I don't like the voting options. Too much involved in your idea for a Yes/No, and the No doesn't necessarily imply merit ruins lives.  

Well I think it simply boils down to: Do you agree with hidden boards as a reward for high merited users and those that make a lot of reports?

Reporting-based board: What would be discussed in these hidden boards?  And if the information is useful to the ones that are being fought against, what stops them from ranking themselves up by reporting their own alts/posts to make it into these boards?

It would just be like an extension of Meta, but only accessible to those who meet the reported post requirements. This board isn't as important as the 'merit' one but I still think it would be helpful. It certainly wouldn't be impossible for nefarious users to gain access to it but it's not like things in there will be super top secret, but I think the likelihood of people doing so will be low. Doubt lower ranked members or the ones that are being investigated are going to go gung-ho reporting posts just to have a look in there in the off chance their accounts may be being discussed in there. Also, would be helpful for things like the following which ideally would require a bit of confidentiality so bots can't change their ways once spotted to evade detection:

This, on the other hand, would be a great asset! Bump bots for instance quickly evolve after being discussed and reported through a Meta thread. These discussions should be hidden from most users.

Merit-based board: I could agree with a board like this, although I feel like something under Serious/IT would be better to adjust as opposed to creating another board?

By board I mean sub, but the sub can go in Serious Discussion, just as long as there's a high merit requirement. You only need to be a Junior Member to post in Serious Discussion which many bots are achieving these days as there's no merit requirement for Junior currently.

I sadly feel like people are sort of giving up on the main sections of this forum to opt for special sub-boards. It sounds like everyone is acknowledging the problem but doesn't want to address it on the main sections. Doesn't this essentially take the experts/quality posters and put them into a special sub board that the main stream of legitimate traffic to the forum may not ever see?  Seems great for members that have been here for a while, but bad for legitimate new people trying to get on board with Bitcoin, the forum, and seeking information.

The board could be visible to everyone then, you're just not allowed to post in it until you've received the merit. If you want to post there then earn the merit over time which quality posters will have no issue in getting the at all. We really don't have to worry about other boards not being contributed to as long as there a signature campaigns here. There are still quality users who give great advice with signatures so I'm sure they'll still be happy to oblige in conversation.

If there is a way to make it inaccessible for the users but accessible for the search engine bots and crawlers, it would be a good. I'm unsure if this is possible.

Can you see the Staff or Donator forums here indexed on google?

The fact that it is inaccessible or hidden for the particular users means we can't read it and defeats the purpose of the forum

The purpose of this forum has already been defeated. It was originally to discus about bitcoin but now it's populated with users who want to know whether bounty is better than airdrop or want relationship advice for their high school crushes and are only here in the first place to earn and cover their '"daily needs". The vast majority of people who sign up these days probably don't even have any knowledge or interest in bitcoin (nor can many of them even speak English) but they have just been told they can earn here, and my suggestion is about restoring that back to the original purpose and at least giving users who wish to have a decent discussion here without it being plagued with barely literate one liner spammers looking to rank up and earn in the process.

As an alternative, I would really like to be able to set more restrictions as a topic starter (on all boards).

I've suggested this for the new forum software before ie you can limit participation in threads to ranks etc when you self-mod so only Juniors or Members or whatever you set it to can post there. Would be good for polls as well if you don't want legions of lower ranked members swaying the votes and want to limit it to Heroes and above or something.

[ibminer]

I don't like the voting options. Too much involved in your idea for a Yes/No, and the No doesn't necessarily imply merit ruins lives.  

Well I think it simply boils down to: Do you agree with hidden boards as a reward for high merited users and those that make a lot of reports?

I'd agree with a public sub board restricted to posting only from users with a certain level of merit. I'd agree with a hidden sub-board of meta for active reporters, although, I do still feel like there are reasons large account farmers would want to make it in that meta sub board and would just use bots to do it. Given how much spam they seem capable of generating, it doesn't seem like much effort to create a 2nd fleet of bots that report the same posts and they could rank up with reports pretty quickly, while creating additional overhead to mods.

In general, I like the ideas. So I'll vote Yes. And, I'll devote my last available sMerit (for now!). 

[Flying Hellfish]

Maybe just make the Donators board the, "Donators & Meritorious Users" board?  It's not like anyone posts in the Donators board so maybe this way it will get some use?

[TheBeardedBaby]

This is a great idea, just wonder how long it will take to be implemented if accepted /which we will never know as theymos keep silence on such things/.
It is better to have it hidden from the public with exclusive access only to people with combination of some minimum reports and merit.
It can have the same rules as the Ivory Tower, so no additional posts are and activity are generated, and same no signature spamming just in case.
There will be a perfect place for my club project as we post information on what we are working on and we and which keywords we are currently analyzing. So basically this type of information is quite sensitive for the bumping bots owners.

At the moment most of the information is exchanged by PMs but since this is a collaborative work it will be much easier for us to work together on a designated board.

[pugman]

I think a chatroom would be more effective than this. Plus, some donators might argue that they spent their money on something that could sort of be achieved  through other non monetary means. I think people would like getting read only access to the staff board than the Donator board, for I have heard that the donator board is way too silent.

Another proposal, instead of allowing only high merited users and reporters, why not make a new rank after Legendary, which requires high number of merit, a certain number of reports, a fixed activity (2000 for example). Trust could also be a requirement, but I don't want that to be a requirement.

This rank would have perks like getting access to hidden boards(read only or read/write both), ability to have custom Titles, bigger Personal Text,avatar, signature space and obviously different shiny coins, and a chatroom/ message groups(like a mini telegram/whatsapp but not requiring any phone numbers).

I have a few more ideas, I'll be pitching in that too.

[Flying Hellfish]

Plus, some donators might argue that they spent their money on something that could sort of be achieved  through other non monetary means.

When people say the board is dead, they mean it's dead.  There have been (if my math is correct) 5 posts in 2018 so far in the Donators board.  One post was a happy new year with one reply saying thank you.  Another post was yet another thank you.  That means there was 2 post's in 2018 worth reading, one of the threads/post, was a cross post from another section and I believe the last post was also a cross post (not 100% sure on the last one).  In reality, anyone without access to the Donator board has missed exactly 0 post from that board in 2018.

Don't think anyone is getting pissed about other high quality users accessing the board, because no one is there to get pissed LOL!  I mean if they want a boys club no one uses meh OK fine!

[LFC_Bitcoin]

Voted yes, Merit Sources should be ensured entry too.

[Jet Cash]

When I first became a merit source, I felt that I needed some guidance from senior members. I know I can be a bit dogmatic at times. I created a chat room using free blab software, and I am grateful to those members who helped me in that room. The room is still active, but there are only 3 or 4 of us who chat regularly there - all legendaries btw. I would welcome any other merit sources or DTs to join the chat.

I've got as closed mod board on fit to talk, but that is only for that site. What may be more interesting are the closed boards for members to sanitise posts before submitting them to Bitcoin Talk. We are aware that some governments monitor forum sites looking for political dissenters, and we would like to help members to avoid this unwanted attention.

The beginners board is now completely useless, and I am considering creating an index of decent threads to scan for meritable posts. I no longer have the time to hunt through 4 or 5 pages of off-topic threads looking for the odd gem.

I am installing Teamspeak on a VPS, and I hope that this can be used to discuss posts with foreign language students as they make the posts. Comments about this would be welcome.

[The Sceptical Chymist]

For reporters, such a section would definitely not be superfluous. Set the "entry threshold" for example in 1500 good report.

1500 seems a bit low to me.  If you're looking for posts to report in sections like Bitcoin Discussion, for example, you could easily report 50 posts a day or more and get your overall reporting number up very fast. 

On the other hand, I don't think any shitposters would have anywhere near 1500 reports.  I would definitely support a private board for both high reporters and members with a lot of merits.  I don't know how popular those boards would be, but it's worth experimenting with.

I think threads like this would best be done in private so that spam busters have an element of surprise, not that spammers do a lot of reading anyway. 

Hilarious, I think you mentioned that the donators board is like a ghost town.  Somehow I suspect your proposed boards would become much the same thing--but I do think it's worth trying.

[calonpa]

This is a good idea and I will support it.

However we should also consider the limitations and ways to combat it:

1) Suppose there is requirement to get 50 merits in 6 month period. This can be achieved with merit abuse. No added incentive may increase chances of abuse.

2) Keeping such a section active can be a issue. No one can question quality though as the cream of the forum will be there.

[Makkara]

[Alex_Sr]

For reporters, such a section would definitely not be superfluous. Set the "entry threshold" for example in 1500 good report.

1500 seems a bit low to me.  If you're looking for posts to report in sections like Bitcoin Discussion, for example, you could easily report 50 posts a day or more and get your overall reporting number up very fast. 

On the other hand, I don't think any shitposters would have anywhere near 1500 reports.  I would definitely support a private board for both high reporters and members with a lot of merits.  I don't know how popular those boards would be, but it's worth experimenting with.

We need to look at the report stats. How many active users does 1500 good report have? How many have 3000 good report? How many have 5000 good report?

Calculate their number and based on it to determine the "entry threshold". Nothing too much but not too little private group members.

[OgNasty]

There have been 5 posts on the Donators board so far in 2018.  I made 3 of them...