Prides

[FlipMode]

Okay okay I just had an idea and I wanted to share it, see responses from everyone and what not so here goes; I will try to explain it well enough but if anyone spots any flaws let me know ^^ basically I came up with it when I had a look at the member dens...

The idea in overview

Okay so the basic idea is that; members would be allowed to begin their own prides. By that I mean; add another part to the forum perhaps and it be named "Prides" or something similar. Then when a member has reached certain conditions or perhaps using the staff invite system the member dens use right now,then they are able to start a pride of their own as it were and these would essentially be sub forums within the main prides forum. (They must be accepted by the staff before they can be created however)

In addition to this; it would be secured by a password that only the pride leader knows (however it will still be moderated by the staff just like the rest of the forum is) and each pride would have an image that identifies them (such as a signature perhaps or custom text even). Members can then ask the pride leader via PM or whatever to join their pride; if accepted then the member would receive the password that enables them access to that forum and can then post there and what not :).

Theoretical rules

1) Members can only be in one Pride at a time.

2) Each pride has it's own criteria that members must meet before joining it. And these are set by the leader(s)

3) Each pride may have it's own rules, in addition to the main forum rules.

4) In the case of an exile such as a spammer or someone breaking rules; the pride leader would be able to change the password for theirs, then inform the members of their pride of the new password (minus the person they are exiling).

5) Members must have a minimum of 100 posts before requesting to join a pride

6) Only one pride may be started per a member.

Well that is about it; the main point here is that members would have their own place to just chat amongst themselves but because other members can join it; I think it would be a good way of making friends and bringing the community together. As well as serving as a fun incentive for people to be active here ^^

[Taka]

I think it's an interesting idea :o

[FlipMode]

Thanks for the quick response, Taka. I think it needs a bit more clarification in areas but I didn't want to make the OP any more long than it is so people would be more willing to read it all :D that is why if anyone has any questions then please do ask them.

[Azdgari]

It's an interesting idea. The potential downside is that it would create a whole load of dispute. People already get irritated over dens'; imagine people's anger at not being let into a pride they want? Same deal.

If it could work without a bunch of bickering, though, I think it's a very cool idea. ^^


For example, how do you deal with it if member A wants to be in Pride A but the pride leader says no 'just because he doesn't want him'? Is that really fair?

[FlipMode]

[quote="Azdgari"]
For example, how do you deal with it if member A wants to be in Pride A but the pride leader says no 'just because he doesn't want him'? Is that really fair?[/quote]

Yeah my first thought was that people would perhaps be a bit silly when it came to being able to create one; perhaps a better option than staff selection could be say... A member must have a certain number of posts before they can propose to create one?

But to answer the question you asked; well that would just be downright rude of that person. But I think that is what separates the concept from member dens. That is also why I suggested that a leader can set criteria for joining. Another possible way around it would be to have a publicly viewable thread for requesting to join each one; then if a person is rejected out of spite it would be viewable by everyone.

[Pixie]

I think it's an interesting idea, but too risky. We've all seen what happens when people don't agree on here *cough Kopa cough*, even though I am one of the people who apparently "fuels the hate" or whatever, I think it'd just be too risky. Maybe if they were like groups, as in the colours of our names so that people had a reason to join them other than popularity, and people who like a certain thing can talk about it together. For example, a group for people who love Kopa and think he's real and all that, and then one for people like us who like to debate his existence with facts and whatnot. So these "Prides" could have a meaning behind them, you see?

[YFWE]

I think this has a lot of potential in multiple regards. This could very easily be a fun little idea to promote camaraderie between some of the members, expedite friendships and the like -- heck, think we could even have contests on the forum that are between actual prides rather than single members? -- but I think a major downside is what Az mentioned. Yes, it would be quite rude for someone to deny entrance to a member should they fit all the supposed criteria (granted the criteria actually, you know, makes sense and isn't a knock on another member/group of members anyway), but it is definitely something I wouldn't put past happening at this forum in some instances.

This would obviously be something that pride leaders would have to work in close conjunction with the staff on, especially in the way of security and actually adding members to said pride, but I don't think it's a bad idea; it definitely has some potential. If the current staff is willing to undertake such a project, I'd say this could be a fun little thing.

[FlipMode]

[quote="Pixielicious"]For example, a group for people who love Kopa and think he's real and all that, and then one for people like us who like to debate his existence with facts and whatnot. So these "Prides" could have a meaning behind them, you see?[/quote]

Yes I can see where you are coming from but remember; the pride must be accepted by the staff before it is actually created so there should not be too much risk in regards to that. I mean if someone wanted to create one just for that purpose then I would question it ^^.


Thanks for your input YFWE, great idea about having contests between prides also although perhaps things like that could be implemented once the foundational system is working as intended first ^^. I realise that it may be quite an under taking in terms of moderation, but with the current staff doing a great job and of course the matter of them soon acquiring another member that it should not be too much of a problem.
I think it is something that would have to go through a bit of trial and error in early adoption. I think you summed it up perfectly well very early on actually by saying "has a lot of potential."

[TheIvanMuse]

I think this is a very interesting idea,has a lot of potential to make for a good time... BUT,it is almost sure to cause trouble as well. Az said how it was with the leaders denying access, but there would also be some more problems,just like what you'd see in a real pride...
And that is the question of how to choose the leader. There will definitely be people that will not like the decision of who was made leader and rant over it or whatever. I may be too prejudgemental,but I think this would definitely be the case here.
Also... I think,while this would promote togetherness within the pride,the forum would split up in groups. You know how in high school you have each group of people that only really hang around and acknowledge eachother,rather than doing so with other people,I think this would have a similar effect. I may be wrong,but I just think it would mess with the idea of the whole forum as ONE family.
But hey,I've had a rather tiring day,I may be ranting too much...

[YFWE]

That is one issue I foresaw with this -- everything becoming somewhat cliquish. I think the main thing to avoid would be fighting between groups, though that might be something one can't avoid. In one sense, people bicker anyway, prides or not, but in another sense this just might add fuel to the fire. I think the pride leader problem could be solved simply by having the member who suggested it be that pride's leader -- you know, since it was their idea, their pride, and all.

Once all the kinks are worked out in the theorizing stage, I think this is something implementable, if enough members actually WANT it. I think we should wait for more member feedback first and see what direction the rest of us want to take it. If enough members want to do it in some form, fully knowing what consequences could befall it, I don't think it would hurt too much to start them on a trial basis. But they can easily be taken away, I think that should be stressed.