Let's recap so far.
1. Initial GOOD suggestion - Let's remove SIGs.
A temporary signature removal will give us valuable data. Hence why I suggested a month. I have no issue with extending that amount of time to forever.
2. Bitcoin earning sig wearers shout = Yes let's remove sigs BUT NOT OUR sigs (because we control the bitcoin paying sigs)
It is no secret that users who are getting paid in worthless tokens would have even less incentive to post better quality replies. That's just how it is.
I have reported scores of users and the top offenders mostly in altcoin campaigns. Some are in low-paying BTC campaigns as well.
Well, that is one way to look at it.
If you NEED financial incentive to post good replies then bitcointalk can do without you. If success of this trustless decentralized movement is not reward enough and incentive enough then goodbye.
There are several issues with this point of view.
1. Highly paid bitcoin signatures/campaigns seem to be the cause of a LOT of the corruption at the higher levels, and DOUBLE STANDARDS are the most divisive and destructive negatives that seem to be the root cause of the disagreements with system controllers. (who (co)incidentally have the LIONS SHARE of those bitcoin paying campaigns. This greatly spoils the environment for all. The hostility and the sense of injustice. Neither are nice and put some people off. The DESIRE to remain in those sig sports or get into them allows merit and trust to become the gamed carrot and stick of group think and crushing of free speech ( the worst part of it all)
2. Highly paid sigs have MORE incentive to post needless FILLER posts to meet their MAX payment each month.If people view their bounty tokens as "worthless tokens" then why do they even bother posting at all and should have FAR less incentive to post at all. Why post needless filler crap for free? They (higher paid sigs) also have MORE incentive to post false, incorrect and misleading information to ensure they are the ones that stay in those highly paid sigs. Those sigs DON'T seem to expire like the alt coin low value trash as you say. Once you worm yourself into one of these highly paid sig campaigns then you seem to be in it for months or YEARS on end. Of course the motivation to stay there will make you far LESS objective with regard how the board operates and stifles FAIR COMPETITION for those tiny tiny tiny % of sig spots. Hence why they are HIGHLY damaging and corrupting. They must be deleted with ALL of the other signatures. I would say damage done from those wearing those highly paid sigs is probably far more significant for the forum going forward than a sub board (alts) that is ALREADY pretty much destroyed, but contained to a large degree so broadly speaking bitcoin is left alone.
Also clearing ONLY the "trash token bounty" sigs will do nothing. The projects will simply respawn with bunches of their own private post for shit tokens campaigns with fake conversation crap so there you are just kicking the can down the road. Alt board needs more than sig bans it needs a total rethink. The old noob jail was the ONLY sensible way forward. You make posting on the senior alt board a
privilege that is revoked the moment you start spamming and fake conversation garbage. So you will need to be very sensible else back to noob jail and the long haul back. Bitcoin discussion is not so bad because you can't start a ton of fake conversations about alt projects there.
3, There is 3 clear types of shit posted that creates a sub-optimal forum performance.
a/ spam/filler junk/ parroting/ fake discussions etc etc this is dilution and obfuscation of valuable posts. Average people can filter it IF they want to put in the time.
b/ specious semi well presented faux rebuttals and faux support. THESE ARE WORSE and can dupe average to low minds into believing fake and incorrect garbage. There should be NO incentive for these specious arguments to be put forward. All financial motivation for them in terms of direct board generated revenue must be crushed where possible.
c/ Raging wars based on personal gains and grievance the largest MOTIVATION For which is always
MONEY/FINANCIAL on this type of forum (excluding politics board etc). Wars and animosity will be a large and negative issue where people perceive UNFAIR reward and punishment in comparison to others. There must be transparent fair rules that ensure all are treated equally. Else people waste their time on personal grievances over contributing to pushing this movement forward. All the main arguments seem to be derived in reputation from a persons right to paid2post or rev streams got terminated. Some others though will fight merely on behalf of others or for the introduction of fairer systems that will be hugely net positive going forward for the entire movement and to guarantee free unfettered speech continues here.
4. The final but most important point though is this.a/ you can delete the highly paid btc sig campaigns and lose a handful of the most corrupt and observably dirty individuals whose double standards seems to be creating most of the real wars here and NOT LOSE MUCH TRAFFIC AT ALL. The boards revenue would be unaffected with their campaign adds being displayed directly by the forum not DT's creaming off those spots.
Perhaps the board will MAKE MORE MONEY?? the board will have gained back it's free speech ( or in other words financial gain and membership to highly paid sig campaigns will not be dominating and influencing what you chose to post here) and be less of an echo chamber. You will win win there.
b/ You can delete everyones sigs "shit tokens etc" and watch the traffic crushed by a HUGE degree, and lose a lot of the boards revenue due to long term huge traffic loss -
board loses lots of money and does not even really do anything except push the icos and projects to just pay for fake discussions etc which will just keep the general threads there low value. Perhaps open a SENIOR alt board which is sig free but has no other limits.
c/ You can delete both ?
Really the ONLY board damaged HUGELY that is worth worrying about in terms of success of this movement is the ALT boards. Bitcoin discussion is not TOO bad. It is still largely functional.
For the movements sake it is a tough call to kick sigs from the alt board. A lot of interest in decentralized trustless projects relies on them telling their pals you can make some quick bucks here pumping "shit coins" although awareness and involvement from that source will generate a certain % of successes and real enthusiasts regardless of financial net gain.
It's a tough call from the boards point of view. Especially as looking at the last ledger the board makes quite a bit on the traffic and adds.
WHATEVER !!! YOU WANT REAL ENTHUSIASTS FOR THE ENTIRE MOVEMENT AT THE TOP MAKING SYSTEM WIDE CHANGES OR INFLUENCING THEM. NOT THOSE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN SELFISH GAIN ONLY.
Decisions made in positions of power must be for the good of the movement not for the good of themselves first or perhaps ONLY.
TL: DR - ( seriously?)
Remove Highly paid btc sigs ONLY (those should now be reserved for mods and direct forum advertisement)
everyone else can sig spam on alt board with the rest of them for shit tokens and ensure that board only is low quality. (can make a sig free altcoin senior board)
- pros
remove the primary incentive for corruption, double standards , wars, group think and echo chambers. Can provide funding for perhaps a couple of more full time mods that are fully accountable for their actions. Will help ensure that "ideas" voiced in meta (influencing system wide changes ) are the voices of those that are REAL ENTHUSIASTS not self serving scoundrels. Still attract all the traffic from the high volume of users on the alts boards, those posting on other boards can do it without sigs.
- cons
NONE
Remove tokens and crappy bitcoin paid sigs ONLY Pros - will increase the concentration of valuable posters that are real enthusiasts, at least for now. alt coin boards will improve.
Cons - you will lose all of the benefits of removing the highly paid bitcoin sigs brings (see above lots of benefits)., you will lose huge volume and reduce revenue for the funding of the forum, perhaps even aid competition of other boards rising up.
Putting too much emphasis on reporting and snitching is not healthy at all.
Remove both = you do the math.
Whatever let's remove sigs from meta and rep asap.
