Community generated suggestions to improve the forum (+ eventual voting on them)

[hilariousetc]

• A 'bump button' for the marketplace that only allows you to bump your thread once every 24 hours. Manually bumping by posting will then be disallowed. As mentioned above, posts by lower ranked accounts could not be able to bump threads thus curbing potential abuse.

In addition for this one. Once another bump has been made after 24 hours, the old bump will automatically be deleted.

There won't be a bump to remove. It would just push your thread to the top, though if there was some sort of message left then obviously it should be removed.

• More admins or demi-admins added to help with account recoveries and other admin duties.

Recoveries are not really prioritised but I want this idea as well.

They're not prioritised because theymos and cyrus don't have time to do them. They don't have time to do much else it seems either. Account recoveries should be made a priority not just let users to languish for months without even a response. It theymos is in fact going to automate the system then that should be made a priority so nobody has to worry about losing their accounts and that's one huge issue taken care of without staff members being pestered to sort them out every day.

The donator rank shouldn't be created to give more benefits. I mean members should donate because they want to donate to the forum not because there is something coming with. I bought the Copper membership not to be able to post images (since I already could) but to make a donation indirectly. Like I participate in the forum life as I can.

I don't really buy this reasoning. You and anyone else could or can still donate to the forum without expecting anything in return. But you did get something. You got the copper title and are wearing it. Some people like it just for that alone or to show that they donated for it. These ranks would be the same. It's a way to show your appreciation for the forum and as a thanks you get some benefits. It's also a way to replace account sales and the shady business associated with them and instead of users buying them of a shitposting farmer or hacker the money goes to the forum instead. It's win win as far as I'm concerned.

For account security purposes I would like to see the forum have a email or any kind of notificatiom about a failed log-in attempt and also a permission via email to allow an unrecognized log-in to a new device or ip address. In this way our accounts will be secure from people who are trying to steal it. This kind of early prevention is similar to what other websites/apps are doing and it might really help a lot of people on protecting their accounts.

Yeah, browser fingerprinting would also be good for this. I only use two; one on my computer and one on my phone. Any thing else should set off alarm bells and alert the user.

[Thekool1s]

One would say that Bitcoin Sections are extremely undermerited looking at the numbers, but I'd say that Merit Sources do visit those boards. Nevertheless, we also find plenty of spam there (Bitcoin Discussion), and the really technical stuff is not that easy to follow and neither do those sections have a large amount of posts on a daily basis.

In the words of "great" Donald Trump. Bitcoin Discussion board is a "shithole" and I don't blame merit sources for not visiting that place often. But people helping out in the technical stuff do deserve to be merited. They are the ones who are actually "Helping" the users here. That's why I believe we should assign merit sources to different boards so that right people are meriting the right folks. You don't want a merit source who knows nothing about Bitcoin technicalities meriting users in that board.

where ideas like having mods or trusted people give "alerts" on unmerited sections could help

What I propose is to start a program like "SpamBusters" instead of reporting users who are spamming. Users could be assigned to different boards and they would report in the posts which are under-merited or haven't received merit at all. This should ease out the process of meriting users for the merit sources IMO.

[Welsh]

What I propose is to start a program like "SpamBusters" instead of reporting users who are spamming. Users could be assigned to different boards and they would report in the posts which are under-merited or haven't received merit at all. This should ease out the process of meriting users for the merit sources IMO.

Its a good idea. Especially, because this could give theymos some indication on good merit sources. Currently, they have to make an application for a merit source. Which some users might not be willing to do publicly, because of the issue with users begging merit sources for merits. I think it would be a good idea, but I don't know too many merit sources which would be willing to crawl through a queue of messages which have been reported for being of high standard.

[Thekool1s]

I think it would be a good idea, but I don't know too many merit sources which would be willing to crawl through a queue of messages which have been reported for being of high standard.

Don't merit sources have a duty towards the community? Why become a source then if you are not willing to do your assigned job? I don't see the staff/moderators complaining about the number of shitposts they have to delete or the number of bot accounts they have to nuke! If you can't even go through the trouble of meriting already sorted "High standard posts" Then I believe you don't deserve to be a merit source in any shape or form!

[Silent26]

For account security purposes I would like to see the forum have a email or any kind of notificatiom about a failed log-in attempt and also a permission via email to allow an unrecognized log-in to a new device or ip address. In this way our accounts will be secure from people who are trying to steal it. This kind of early prevention is similar to what other websites/apps are doing and it might really help a lot of people on protecting their accounts.

I like the idea as well, when it comes to security, it is something that we should prioritised. But, can I ask something? Is it possible to capture the user who is trying to access your account (when there is a failed log-in attempt) by using the front camera of the device if possible? and the image captured will be sent directly to your email address that is associated in in your account. Some security app supports this feature and I don't know if SMF or any website supports this feature but this would be somehow a cool one. But will be useless if the device's camera is covered.

As far as I know only applications are capable of this kind of feature so it can be added as security feature once there is a official app for Bitcointalk  but still a bad idea since application softwares are reversedengineer-able or can be modified to use for phishing.

[hilariousandco]

One would say that Bitcoin Sections are extremely undermerited looking at the numbers, but I'd say that Merit Sources do visit those boards. Nevertheless, we also find plenty of spam there (Bitcoin Discussion), and the really technical stuff is not that easy to follow and neither do those sections have a large amount of posts on a daily basis.

In the words of "great" Donald Trump. Bitcoin Discussion board is a "shithole" and I don't blame merit sources for not visiting that place often. But people helping out in the technical stuff do deserve to be merited. They are the ones who are actually "Helping" the users here. That's why I believe we should assign merit sources to different boards so that right people are meriting the right folks. You don't want a merit source who knows nothing about Bitcoin technicalities meriting users in that board.

Bitcoin discussion has become largely unusable. It's just full of farmers churning out their generic one liners. Go in any thread and play spot the farmer.

How many can you find on this page here:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4820477.1140

Three merit for anyone if you can catch them all.

Can you spot them on this page and the one after?

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4868904.80

4 merit for swatting the 4 bots there.

Remove signatures from Junior so these scumbags aren't going to get paid by some crapcoin ICO as soon as they've made 30 posts. Let's see how long it takes them to get ten merit to become a Member. Probably never. If you earn ten merits then you've earned your right to have a signature.

[Jet Cash]

Don't merit sources have a duty towards the community? Why become a source then if you are not willing to do your assigned job? I don't see the staff/moderators complaining about the number of shitposts they have to delete or the number of bot accounts they have to nuke! If you can't even go through the trouble of meriting already sorted "High standard posts" Then I believe you don't deserve to be a merit source in any shape or form!

There are a couple of points in your comment. I don't think that many of the merit sources applied for the job. I think they were appointed by Theymos as a result of their history in awarding merits or their potential. This was so in my case. I received a quantity of sMerit as a hero when the system was introduced, and I was awarded a few hundred additional merits as a result of my posting. I gave these out in ones and twos, and I tried to award them for quality posts. As a result of this, I was recruited as a source during the secondary allocation.

We don't have a duty towards the community, but we do have an interest in preserving its integrity, and in encouraging quality discussions and information exchanges. We are not paid as sources, and it is a time consuming voluntary activity. We are not helped by the vast majority of members, and it is pretty obvious why they don't receive any merits from their posting activities. In fact it can be quite depressing as a pastime, I've tried quite a few things to help junior members, and to improve posting quality, many of them have been ignored, and the others  gain sporadic support. I've backed off to a large extent, and I live in the hope that some major changes will be introduced in the not too  distant future.

[Thekool1s]

There are a couple of points in your comment. I don't think that many of the merit sources applied for the job. I think they were appointed by Theymos as a result of their history in awarding merits or their potential. This was so in my case. I received a quantity of sMerit as a hero when the system was introduced, and I was awarded a few hundred additional merits as a result of my posting. I gave these out in ones and twos, and I tried to award them for quality posts. As a result of this, I was recruited as a source during the secondary allocation.

Gotcha!

We are not paid as sources, and it is a time consuming voluntary activity.

So its all about the money eh? So if you guys were getting paid to do this you would have taken more interest? is that what you are trying to say here?

In fact it can be quite depressing as a pastime, I've tried quite a few things to help junior members, and to improve posting quality, many of them have been ignored, and the others  gain sporadic support.

Agreed! These members aren't worth saving and the energies of merit sources shouldn't be spent on them. That's why I suggested creating a team of members who would report in "High standard posts" for merit sources to go through and reward them if they deserve any. This team can be made by the consensus of the community and I am sure many people would volunteer for this. This will distribute the workload and won't be a "time consuming voluntary activity" anymore.

[Jet Cash]

We are not paid as sources, and it is a time consuming voluntary activity.

So its all about the money eh? So if you guys were getting paid to do this you would have taken more interest? is that what you are trying to say here?

No! Because if I were to be paid, then I would have to take on a responsibility, and I don't want to do that.

[suchmoon]

What I propose is to start a program like "SpamBusters" instead of reporting users who are spamming. Users could be assigned to different boards and they would report in the posts which are under-merited or haven't received merit at all. This should ease out the process of meriting users for the merit sources IMO.

Its a good idea. Especially, because this could give theymos some indication on good merit sources. Currently, they have to make an application for a merit source. Which some users might not be willing to do publicly, because of the issue with users begging merit sources for merits. I think it would be a good idea, but I don't know too many merit sources which would be willing to crawl through a queue of messages which have been reported for being of high standard.

I wouldn't mind it. A handful of merit sources is all it takes I think, at least initially.

I have a feeling though that the queue would be empty most of the time, or spammed by the usual shitposters trying to report their own posts. Every time the subject of undermerited posts is brought up and I ask for examples I get crickets. For the most part people seem to either think too highly of their own posts or are too lazy/selfish to promote others.

[Thekool1s]

~snip

~snip

I wouldn't mind it. A handful of merit sources is all it takes I think, at least initially.

I have a feeling though that for all the complaining about undermerited posts etc, the queue would be empty most of the time, or spammed by the usual shitposters trying to report their own posts. Every time the subject is brought up and I ask for examples I get crickets.

Nope, you got it all wrong. There won't be users reporting their own posts because only a few selected members will be able to report in that thread.  As for queue being empty, I kinda agree but it will defeat the purpose of this team if the thread remains empty most of the time.

[NadiaHel]

Hello, fellas.
I`ve read the whole thread, and I can`t see anything related to local boards. Well, I do understand that maybe this is the English mean board, but locals are part of this forum too, and there are a couple of problems there.

I can only speak for my own local -Spanish and the problems I`ve seen in there, problems that also reflect on the forum:
- Locals have not enough pinned post. What does that mean? Well, many people come in here and this is just impossible for them to understand the rules and policies, given the lack of information in their local languages. Of course, they can try harder before beginning to spam or plagiarize, but, maybe, by implementing well-explained pinned post in every local we can help the forum. So my suggestion is to designate people to translate every new information of importance to their locals.
- Besides, there is also a problem with merits in local boards -again I can only speak about my own. The people don`t seem to understand the system, and there is a common misunderstanding: they think they will only be able to rank up in the English boards, so they use google translation or engage in the English main in a poor English. So maybe this is time to have more merit sources dedicated to their locals.

So those are my suggestions. I think we need to care about locals a bit more, so the people can get the information and avoid to rush in here with the wrong mindset...

[hilariousetc]

What I propose is to start a program like "SpamBusters" instead of reporting users who are spamming. Users could be assigned to different boards and they would report in the posts which are under-merited or haven't received merit at all. This should ease out the process of meriting users for the merit sources IMO.

Its a good idea. Especially, because this could give theymos some indication on good merit sources. Currently, they have to make an application for a merit source. Which some users might not be willing to do publicly, because of the issue with users begging merit sources for merits. I think it would be a good idea, but I don't know too many merit sources which would be willing to crawl through a queue of messages which have been reported for being of high standard.

I wouldn't mind it. A handful of merit sources is all it takes I think, at least initially.

I have a feeling though that the queue would be empty most of the time, or spammed by the usual shitposters trying to report their own posts. Every time the subject of undermerited posts is brought up and I ask for examples I get crickets. For the most part people seem to either think too highly of their own posts or are too lazy/selfish to promote others.

It would be spammed by everyone who desperately needed merits. I don't think this is a good idea. Better to have community lead projects where people can post quotes or links to their posts and others can decide if they're deserving of merits.

Hello, fellas.
I`ve read the whole thread, and I can`t see anything related to local boards. Well, I do understand that maybe this is the English mean board, but locals are part of this forum too, and there are a couple of problems there.

I can only speak for my own local -Spanish and the problems I`ve seen in there, problems that also reflect on the forum:
- Locals have not enough pinned post. What does that mean? Well, many people come in here and this is just impossible for them to understand the rules and policies, given the lack of information in their local languages. Of course, they can try harder before beginning to spam or plagiarize, but, maybe, by implementing well-explained pinned post in every local we can help the forum. So my suggestion is to designate people to translate every new information of importance to their locals.
- Besides, there is also a problem with merits in local boards -again I can only speak about my own. The people don`t seem to understand the system, and there is a common misunderstanding: they think they will only be able to rank up in the English boards, so they use google translation or engage in the English main in a poor English. So maybe this is time to have more merit sources dedicated to their locals.

So those are my suggestions. I think we need to care about locals a bit more, so the people can get the information and avoid to rush in here with the wrong mindset...

There's nothing stopping you from creating these sorts of FAQ or info threads. If they're helpful then they can easily be stickied.

-------------

Nobody wants this merit bounty?

Bitcoin discussion has become largely unusable. It's just full of farmers churning out their generic one liners. Go in any thread and play spot the farmer.

How many can you find on this page here:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4820477.1140

Three merit for anyone if you can catch them all.

Can you spot them on this page and the one after?

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4868904.80

4 merit for swatting the 4 bots there.

Remove signatures from Junior so these scumbags aren't going to get paid by some crapcoin ICO as soon as they've made 30 posts. Let's see how long it takes them to get ten merit to become a Member. Probably never. If you earn ten merits then you've earned your right to have a signature.

[Thekool1s]

It would be spammed by everyone who desperately needed merits. I don't think this is a good idea. Better to have community lead projects where people can post quotes or links to their posts and others can decide if they're deserving of merits.

Yup! I will create one soon...  Tho it will require some moderating tho. I will choose a few people from different sections to be the part of the team, They can report in every week with the posts they think should be merited by the merit sources.

As for your challenge. Follow the "0" or the "default merit value" and you will find your targets

To be precise here is the list of farmers/Shitposters/Bots.

@Slayer21 @NarutoTan180 @Shawn20 @heppot [shitpost] @AmandaCherry00 @warrior.coins22 @AshleySalama23 @Pemburu dollar @ThomasThorGG1 @AliceSusana88

@travelgear17 @necromastery @xysheeh03 @Burogh @taslimaborsha @daringkhan30 @rudox @honglien @mimiko @Raja_Salman @Corvin17 @Seundavid @veivivon

@clonely @samsul1234 @Fmradio98 @Airbuxf @rnssol @Suketlapangan @iram3130 @nagasaking @Plumbank @BumblingBee @Sircoss @kangbasir @BraveHeadlight

@tanzaholzmann

I need my 7 merits now.

[Theb]

I like the idea as well, when it comes to security, it is something that we should prioritised. But, can I ask something? Is it possible to capture the user who is trying to access your account (when there is a failed log-in attempt) by using the front camera of the device if possible? and the image captured will be sent directly to your email address that is associated in in your account. Some security app supports this feature and I don't know if SMF or any website supports this feature but this would be somehow a cool one. But will be useless if the device's camera is covered.

As far as I know only applications are capable of this kind of feature so it can be added as security feature once there is a official app for Bitcointalk   but still a bad idea since application softwares are reversedengineer-able or can be modified to use for phishing.

I don't know if websites have a proper access with your phone's camera or computer's webcam without a software installed that has the capability of doing so unlike apps which already have a program to do that but even them needs to have your device's permission first before they can even access your camera. As for the feature I suggested, my main point about this one is to have some kind of early prevention in order to change your password or even your email (if necessary) and not for the purposes of capturing someone doing the attempt, also I think your recommendation is only useful if you know the identity of that person, capturing an unknown face is useless.

[Silent26]

also I think your recommendation is only useful if you know the identity of that person, capturing an unknown face is useless.

Yeah you're right, it made me think about that too. But I would be so willing to see how my account's hacker looks like. 

my main point about this one is to have some kind of early prevention in order to change your password or even your email (if necessary)

Sounds really good to me.

[Lafu]

Guess the most problem why Accounts get hacked is that they use their email everywhere and not only for Bitcointalk!
What I prefer to use only the email for BCT ,  2Fa Auth. would be a good reason too for secure Accounts!   

[LoyceV]

Is it possible to capture the user who is trying to access your account (when there is a failed log-in attempt) by using the front camera of the device if possible? and the image captured will be sent directly to your email address that is associated in in your account.

I can only hope most users are smart enough not to give their browser access to the webcam without asking for permission. But just in case, I have some tape on it as a physical confirmation that it's not doing this.

I think spying on users fits in the same category as KYC on Bitcointalk:

I'll get right on that, just as soon as hell freezes over.

[Lafu]

Is only an idea!

Maybe it is possible to implement 2FA Authentication via Google or even a 2FA Authentication Device for users who want to protect their account as well as possible!
Many exchanges have this and other platforms too!
I know that this is probably expensive but think that it is the safest solution or would be for accounts to protect them from hackers!

[TheBeardedBaby]

Is only an idea!

Maybe it is possible to implement 2FA Authentication via Google or even a 2FA Authentication Device for users who want to protect their account as well as possible!
Many exchanges have this and other platforms too!
I know that this is probably expensive but think that it is the safest solution or would be for accounts to protect them from hackers!

It has been discussed many times. It is planned to be implemented in the new forum software, but when this is going to happen nobody knows. I think even theymos is not sure about it.