Scheduled Downtime

[Radagast]

The "glory days" comment is interesting. I remember them too. I think there are a number of things that can be done to get things back on track:

(1) tougher moderation on abusive posts. Many, many members have been turned away by such posts, often just silently fading away.

(2) cutting the number of forums. That's always been intimidating to newcomers; we really don't need so many sub-sub-forums; and it leads people to post in the wrong place.

(3) a consistent vision, which staff sign up to. I'm not saying what it should be (CF's had several), but all staff should be "on the same page" (or you get staff-staff conflict, which is truly deadly to CF).

(4) get blessings working. They were a great way to welcome newcomers, as long as you could do some interesting things with them (like expressing personality through avatars). Plus people paid for them.

(5) fix "rep" points so they mean something (probably by applying the mathematical square-root function to everyone's rep points)

 

[gods prophetess]

ok thanks again for the heads up on the schedule downtime

 

[Tenebrae]

Pauler is doing the best he can, and as he said earlier he IS working on it, but it's taking longer than anyone thought it would. :

I have no issue with pauler working on things

Its the lack of communication that i do not appreciate.

I posted a thread back in the staff chat forum re the bank issues on the 22 april

I didnt get a response from staff for over a month


Even if someone could have posted 'not sure about this, let me find out' as opposed to leaving it unanswered for over a month


Communication doesnt take much, sometimes it takes a couple of minutes to make a post re the current issue and its far better than leaving posts unanswered for weeks and actually communicates caring far better

I woulld like to hope we will be getting our blessings back, i had over 5 million in my account and all gone

 

[Puptart]

The "glory days" comment is interesting. I remember them too. I think there are a number of things that can be done to get things back on track:

(1) tougher moderation on abusive posts. Many, many members have been turned away by such posts, often just silently fading away.

(2) cutting the number of forums. That's always been intimidating to newcomers; we really don't need so many sub-sub-forums; and it leads people to post in the wrong place.

(3) a consistent vision, which staff sign up to. I'm not saying what it should be (CF's had several), but all staff should be "on the same page" (or you get staff-staff conflict, which is truly deadly to CF).

(4) get blessings working. They were a great way to welcome newcomers, as long as you could do some interesting things with them (like expressing personality through avatars). Plus people paid for them.

(5) fix "rep" points so they mean something (probably by applying the mathematical square-root function to everyone's rep points)

I agree with all of these suggestions, in addition to "increased communication" of course, with the exception of the "increased moderation" thing.. I know very well that the moderators have to strike a balance when it comes to putting their foot down. Too hard and you scare off all the people who want to speak their mind, too soft and you scare off all the people who want those who don't see eye-to-eye to be "dealt with" for nothing more than being different and having opinions. Obviously legitimately "abusive" posts are an entirely different story.. but if I remember correctly, those have always been dealt with as promptly as the staff are able, at least that's what I recall in my 9 (less 2 or 3) years here.

I definitely agree about the rep points.. when I created this account I obviously had no rep, but ONE person rep'd me and suddenly I had a number of .. what, billion? .. rep points. It was both shocking and somewhat absurd, and additionally entirely pointless. Rep points should either be wiped and we all start again, or adjusted. This seems like something that could be simple to do.. but I might be entirely off-base.

I also especially agree with reducing the forum numbers. At least extraneous sub-forums that do indeed confuse, and divide, the population. It would make so much more sense to have more conversations in the same place as other people, rather than popping in and out of sub-forums looking for threads and the "right place to post" and what not. A few are necessary perhaps, but I find the majority of sub-forums here to be somewhat unneeded and confusing.. divisive, for sure.

 

[rockytopva]

Blessings and Games are a way of keeping positive communication going around here and I think incredibly important.

My biggest concern about the whole deal is the lack of communication. To me this is a sign of a lack of interest and concern for people. What also worries me is that these kind of things tend to destroy a forum. I have been on many forums in which I log in and get the "This Domain is for Sale" message indicating that the owners gave up on their own site. I hope this does not happen to CF as well.

 

[.Nevermore.]

The "glory days" comment is interesting. I remember them too. I think there are a number of things that can be done to get things back on track:

(1) tougher moderation on abusive posts. Many, many members have been turned away by such posts, often just silently fading away.

(2) cutting the number of forums. That's always been intimidating to newcomers; we really don't need so many sub-sub-forums; and it leads people to post in the wrong place.

(3) a consistent vision, which staff sign up to. I'm not saying what it should be (CF's had several), but all staff should be "on the same page" (or you get staff-staff conflict, which is truly deadly to CF).

(4) get blessings working. They were a great way to welcome newcomers, as long as you could do some interesting things with them (like expressing personality through avatars). Plus people paid for them.

(5) fix "rep" points so they mean something (probably by applying the mathematical square-root function to everyone's rep points)

I completely agree with this.

 

[arborvita]

Just curious because this has been said several times what if we did a reset on the reps and blessings?

I am not saying its coming or will happen just curious is all and would like to get a bit more feedback on this since we are talking here.

 

[arborvita]

To touch on the communication comments that have been posted.

Its a bit tough to keep all the items in the air at the same time.

At one time we had close to 100 volunteers to help run this board. We now have less than 35 staffers to manage the same amount. Its a bit daunting and the staff does everything they can to keep up with the fires that do pop up on CF.

We are always looking for volunteers. *hint hint*

So yes turn around time on getting questions answered can be a bit lagging. Feel free to PM me or Tishri1 or Hentenza if anyone has a question or they aren't getting a response to a question or a problem.

 

[servant of Merciful Love]

Just curious because this has been said several times what if we did a reset on the reps and blessings?

I am not saying its coming or will happen just curious is all and would like to get a bit more feedback on this since we are talking here.

I think a 'reset' is a good idea ~ to get them both back to what they were originally (when they meant something).

 

[pgp_protector]

Just curious because this has been said several times what if we did a reset on the reps and blessings?

I am not saying its coming or will happen just curious is all and would like to get a bit more feedback on this since we are talking here.

Reset on Reps, don't see any issue with that, (Though the Repaholics forum might raise a ruckus)

Blessings, Some of us did pay some for some of our blessings, so you might need to be a more careful with that, I haven't been a Site Supporter for a little while, but I did do a few years of it.
If you're able to view the history of the donations and reset those blessings along with the default, it would be harder for anyone to complain though.

 

[Radagast]

Just curious because this has been said several times what if we did a reset on the reps and blessings?

I am not saying its coming or will happen just curious is all and would like to get a bit more feedback on this since we are talking here.

I'd be opposed to a reset of reps -- better just to rescale the existing numbers. However, abuses of the system, like "repaholics," should be closed down.

I'd be strongly opposed to a reset of blessings, since some people (including me) paid real money for them.

 

[andreha]

Just curious because this has been said several times what if we did a reset on the reps and blessings?

I am not saying its coming or will happen just curious is all and would like to get a bit more feedback on this since we are talking here.

A reset would be quite a disappointment - both reps and blessings. The blessings is a great source of fun, looking at all the games involving blessings. And the reps is a nice way of welcoming newbies who play nice.

 

[gods prophetess]

Thanks For The Heads Up On This

 

[Tenebrae]

Just curious because this has been said several times what if we did a reset on the reps and blessings?

I am not saying its coming or will happen just curious is all and would like to get a bit more feedback on this since we are talking here.

People paid money for the blessings. Only reset them if you are prepared to refund people the money they paid

 

[Tenebrae]

We are always looking for volunteers. *hint hint*
.

Is there still a reqirement for mod staff to be christian?

Shame if ithats the case, i'd love to help out, however not enough to fake a conversion

 

[Puptart]

Definitely reset the reps.. and I agree with the person who said "Repaholics" should be closed down. The idea of the rep system isn't a game, it's just an "addition" to the posting structure, a way to show your appreciation of a good idea or post. The fact that people have abused it into oblivion is disappointing at best.

We are always looking for volunteers. *hint hint*

The chances of you letting me on staff are probably slim to none, though if there's anything I can do to help, my inbox is always open

Is there still a reqirement for mod staff to be christian?

Shame if ithats the case, i'd love to help out, however not enough to fake a conversion

Things really HAVE changed.. the last time I was here, they still had non-Christian moderators.

 

[psalms 91]

Bring back the arcade, allow blessings to mean something, create things we can buy rather than have them be worthless. The rep system nneds overhauled but I dont see how you will be able to keep people from abusing it. Please do bring the arcade back soon.

 

[DC Scott]

I *think* blessings are working now, they seem to be on my test account.

 

[pgp_protector]

I *think* blessings are working now, they seem to be on my test account.

And the savings accounts? any update on that part?

 

[DC Scott]

Check and see now (concerning savings accounts)