[Hydra]

This came to mind out of nowhere and I started thinking about how difficult it is for new members to become "something" on this forum. They have to grind so hard and even then, will come across huge roadblocks. The idea is that they get a "booster" of benefits to become a bigger member. It's a huge incentive and we'll see new members becoming high quality. There are unknown members who lurk the forums with great potential and knowledge. We have a large number of low-quality old members and it'd be very beneficial to the forum if new members were able to replace them and be HQ.

I was thinking of an optional mode that new members can activate. Here's a list to make it easier to read:

• Limited Time - 1, 2 or 3 month(s)
  


• Harsher Punishment If Abused
  • If they break a rule, the warning is harsher as they should know the rules. This also means they risk a long-term ban and worse.
    
  
  
  
  


• Unable to receive negative reputation, only positive and neutral. This is to prevent Ub3rs who are assholes from harming their rise.
  


• Possibly small discount of 5-10% off of Ub3r upgrade (full price L33t).
  


• Certain restrictions modified:
  • PM limits like Ub3r
    
  
  
  • Post Edit Time prolonged
    
  
  
  • Access to all forums/subforums
    
  
  
  • More things that I can't think of now
    
  
  
  
  


• Unique group with hopes that others become an influence to the new member and offer assistance.
  


• At the end of the promotional term, they're presented with a survey that will be used to improve the system. In addition, they may be able to get an award of some kind for creating quality threads and posts. It's all about giving the incentive and oppurtunity for them to grow!
  

Eligibility and Capacity:
Capacity: 20-30
There should be a capacity that clears up automatically as the time ends for the others already in the program. Capacity of 20-30 seems reasonable since there are a lot of members who should be eligible for this at the start.

Eligibility: 20 Prestige
As for who will be eligible, I think it'd be best to do it by prestige as that value includes numerous factors like posts and reputation. A prestige of 20 seems fair. Not too high that it's "too late" for them to take part in the program yet not too low that ANYONE can get in it. 20 prestige is in a wide ball park of 300 posts and 20 reputation.

Deal Disputes
If member is listed on the Deal Dispute Database, they become ineligible for the program permanently. If they are currently in the program and get listed on that database, they get removed from it instantly and become ineligible once again, permanently. This should prevent scam sprees since -rep are "blocked".

This is a small list and I'd like everyone's help to add to it so if Omni likes the idea, this can become a very strong and useful feature. Again, the goal is to give a boost to the new members so those who have the potential to be big can get there quickly.

[Lukas]

What would determine someone's eligibility for this program?

[Hydra]

What would determine someone's eligibility for this program?

Added Capacity and Eligibility. It's gotta be an automated process so things like Deal Disputes won't work.

[webdev77]

I think that users should be a member for at least one year before something like this would even be potentially considered. Consider some practical factors too. Blocking negs allows a user to go on a scamming spree without obvious signs.

[Hydra]

I think that users should be a member for at least one year before something like this would even be potentially considered. Consider some practical factors too. Blocking negs allows a user to go on a scamming spree without obvious signs.

The idea of this program is to give a boosted oppurtunity for new members. Them waiting a year would make it pointless.

I've been trying to think of a way to prevent a scamming spree but there's not really an automated way.

Maybe if they're listed on the Deal Dispute DB, they won't be eligible: https://hackforums.net/disputedb.php

Even if it was a long time ago, being listed on there automatically removes them from the program and/or disqualifies them from the program forever.

[Percyi]

I've been trying to think of a way to prevent a scamming spree but there's not really an automated way.

Maybe if they're listed on the Deal Dispute DB, they won't be eligible: https://hackforums.net/disputedb.php

Even if it was a long time ago, being listed on there automatically removes them from the program and/or disqualifies them from the program forever.

There could be a special identifier on their postbit showing they have this upgrade. However, I don't quite agree with the "no rep" feature at all. All Ub3rs can get negged and so can every other member. I think that the reputation system is part of HF. If you're being a dipshit, you deserve it to be honest. I do agree that some members do put a lot of effort into HF but simply do not have the funds or even the motivation to upgrade their account. I know it took me 2 years before I finally became committed and upgraded myself.

[Hydra]

There could be a special identifier on their postbit showing they have this upgrade. However, I don't quite agree with the "no rep" feature at all. All Ub3rs can get negged and so can every other member. I think that the reputation system is part of HF. If you're being a dipshit, you deserve it to be honest. I do agree that some members do put a lot of effort into HF but simply do not have the funds or even the motivation to upgrade their account. I know it took me 2 years before I finally became committed and upgraded myself.

That's already listed. They would have a userbar to distinguish them from others so everyone knows they're in the program. This gives a huge incentive for them to work harder and grow faster.

They can be repped, but no negative rep. Only positive and neutral. It's only for a temporary period. I get negative rep is essential but I also do think negative rep is a huge barrier to the growth of new accounts. Come on, have you not seen the bullshit neg reps new members get? They get negged for stupid shit constantly and it really does hurt them. For us who have a known reputation on the forum, the actual rep points don't mean shit for the most part but for new members, it's everything.

[Ghost.13]

The only problem I can see from this would be multi-account users (possibly scammers).

With them having the knowledge on how to get around the forum, how things work around here, this basically would also give them a boost up the ranks. Not to mention the fact that you stated that accounts in this particular program would be immune from negative reputation as well as additional access to parts of the forum that normal users should not really have access to. Reputation farming would be much easier this way.

This might present a problem because even now it's hard to distinguish multi-account users that's rep-farming to be able to make a good image of themselves before doing a big scam exit.

[Percyi]

That's already listed. They would have a userbar to distinguish them from others so everyone knows they're in the program. This gives a huge incentive for them to work harder and grow faster.

They can be repped, but no negative rep. Only positive and neutral. It's only for a temporary period. I get negative rep is essential but I also do think negative rep is a huge barrier to the growth of new accounts. Come on, have you not seen the bullshit neg reps new members get? They get negged for stupid shit constantly and it really does hurt them. For us who have a known reputation on the forum, the actual rep points don't mean shit for the most part but for new members, it's everything.

Yeah I understand where you're coming from with the bullshit reps. Saw a member here, not going to call out names, who literally negged any new member with the rep: "ffffffff" and "welcome to HF," which was pretty fucking shitty. What kind of a member would stay after being negged for literally making an introduction thread? Those are the kind of immature members that we have here I guess. I've seen quite a bit bullshit negs, but I think the risk of being scammed far outweighs the bullshit negs.

[Confound]

That's already listed. They would have a userbar to distinguish them from others so everyone knows they're in the program. This gives a huge incentive for them to work harder and grow faster.

They can be repped, but no negative rep. Only positive and neutral. It's only for a temporary period. I get negative rep is essential but I also do think negative rep is a huge barrier to the growth of new accounts. Come on, have you not seen the bullshit neg reps new members get? They get negged for stupid shit constantly and it really does hurt them. For us who have a known reputation on the forum, the actual rep points don't mean shit for the most part but for new members, it's everything.

Is there a way that we can just alter/add more rules/create limitations for what people can give negative reputations for?
Would eliminating random neg repping in some way fix this issue potentially?

Overall I like the idea - it needs to be thought about very carefully though.

[Hydra]

Is there a way that we can just alter/add more rules/create limitations for what people can give negative reputations for?
Would eliminating random neg repping in some way fix this issue potentially?

Overall I like the idea - it needs to be thought about very carefully though.

Yea, this for sure needs to be thought out carefully and polished up. Nowhere near perfect and it'd be nice to have a bunch of people take part in improving this system.

[VirtualFrost]

It's an interesting idea, I just don't like the immune to neg rep things. New members can be complete assholes as well or shady users and others will need to know

[N1l0c]

That's an interesting idea but everyone who is "something" on this forums had to work for their status. Why should the new generation get this for free?

[Elitas]

I think a group, just for new members, could be a beneficial method of getting them all together and training new members to improve their worth.
Might be a good idea to execute this through a group (official/non-official).

IDK about the Ub3r thing, it's beneficial but so many LQ people need to be kept out of the marketplace (and other sections which require REP) too..

[Hydra]

That's an interesting idea but everyone who is "something" on this forums had to work for their status. Why should the new generation get this for free?

It's far from free really. They got X amount of time to take advantage of Ub3r-like features to be able to edit OP of their threads, access numerous subforums, etc.

Think about it this way. If they get into the program and do nothing at all but post in lounge, what do they gain? Nothing. Their status/tier is still a general user. The only thing they truly get away with then is the neg reps. But people can still neg them after the period.