Union & Literary Discussion

A deeper plan has arisen out of my combining the prestige points system with TWL Central. We now have room to add another sticky. As the topic alludes to, this topic is for any and all discussion pertaining to the union (so stuff like the Prestige Points Update Topic, and other opportunities will be posted in here). Additionally, you may post questions, comments and/or concerns

Consider this our 'On-Topic Topic'

---

As pointed out earlier, we are doing a Prestige Points System Update:

Level 9: I feel sleepy (Requirement: 7500 Prestige Points)

Level 10: The Downthumber (Requirement: 10 000 Prestige Points)

Level 11: No Longer Ignorant (Requirement: 12 500 Prestige Points)

Level 12: Certified Professional (Requirement: 15 000 Prestige Points)

Level 13: Loungemaster 3000 (Requirement: 20 000 Prestige Points)

As promised, points were promised for suggestions and getting picked:

- iloveflash: 2 ideas picked (40 points): See level 12, and 13
- sandyqbg: 1 idea picked (20 points): See Level 9
- Aberinkulas: 1 idea picked (20 points): See level 10.
- Barbriser: No ideas picked (10 points)
- waZelda: No ideas picked (10 points)
- BlinDShoT95 & Foolz3h : 1 idea picked between them (10 points each): See Level 11

 Note: If you recieved points for having your idea picked, you do not get points for submitting ideas as well.

We are still taking suggestions for any benefits that we can add, and we still need someone to make tags for these. Please help if you are able! 

*finishes laughing*

Sorry, but, adding '3000' to the end of Loungemaster doesn't make it any more epic. :P

Great titles over all. Though wouldn't "I feel sleepy" work better with a classic typo? I.e. "I fell sleppy" or "I feel asleep"?

The Downthumber. LOL.

*finishes laughing*

Sorry, but, adding '3000' to the end of Loungemaster doesn't make it any more epic. :P

Great titles over all. Though wouldn't "I feel sleepy" work better with a classic typo? I.e. "I fell sleppy" or "I feel asleep"?

The Downthumber. LOL.

iloveflash

In regards to the 3000:

More esoterica for those in the know!

[QUOTE="iloveflash"]

*finishes laughing*

Sorry, but, adding '3000' to the end of Loungemaster doesn't make it any more epic. :P

Great titles over all. Though wouldn't "I feel sleepy" work better with a classic typo? I.e. "I fell sleppy" or "I feel asleep"?

The Downthumber. LOL.

Foolz3h

In regards to the 3000:

More esoterica for those in the know!

I get the feeling that at one point you are just going to want a level to say: "This Level is Esoteric"

This union uses too many big words. I'm going back to System Wars.Aberinkulas

Level 1337: QQ n00b (Requirement: Over 9000 Prestige Points)

[QUOTE="Aberinkulas"]This union uses too many big words. I'm going back to System Wars.iloveflash

Level 1337: QQ n00b (Requirement: Over 9000 Prestige Points)

What? 9000?! 

Lawl ...

[QUOTE="iloveflash"]

[QUOTE="Aberinkulas"]This union uses too many big words. I'm going back to System Wars.BlinDShoT95

Level 1337: QQ n00b (Requirement: Over 9000 Prestige Points)

What? 9000?! 

Lawl ...

THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!

Still need someone to make the new tags, and still would like some suggestions on what we can do with the prestige levels.BlinDShoT95

I don't think it is appropriate to attach anything to the presige points, aside from sigs and tags. I've often wondered why we do it at all. Isn't having lots of stuff posted on the board enough?

[QUOTE="BlinDShoT95"]Still need someone to make the new tags, and still would like some suggestions on what we can do with the prestige levels.Aberinkulas

I don't think it is appropriate to attach anything to the presige points, aside from sigs and tags. I've often wondered why we do it at all. Isn't having lots of stuff posted on the board enough?

We're trying to figure out something that is not intrusive, that is not binding :P. I don't see the point of them now other than frivilous things.

Stalin, I agree; we need to attach power and privilege to the prestige system.

We had an issue last year were newcomers just came in, posted, and left. I proposed that we limit those below a certain prestige level from posting more than two works in a single day, but I was turned down by the Furher.

I renew my proposal to you: that a person's Prestige level = the number of works they can post in a single day. Do you accept?

mutterland.

No, I do not agree.

Why make it a rule that is connected to the points? Just say, "If you spam the board with works, we will ban you." As long as they don't stuff the board with nonsense,  and they are polite, I don't see a problem. I think that tying too much to these presige points will drive people away, and it creates artifical barriers in the community that this board doesn't need. We're certainly not busy enough to have to make widespread rules like that (and if we were big enough, then we certainly wouldn't have the manpower to punish every newbie who posts a trio of poems).

I know that every time I hit a limitation because of my level on Gamespot I just got frustrated with the system. It certainly didn't feel like a reward when I had to wait a few days to post my reviews as Aberinkulas. It made things more complicated than they needed to be.

Summary: :avatar:

I agree with Aber: I think we should look to more frivilous privledges for Prestige Points. It would work better if we had our own forum: like where we could attach prestige points to the equivalent of 'officer lounges'. Limiting the number of posts per user is idunno, too controlling. I do like the idea of keeping it all in one topic, and even a tit-for-tat idea, but limiting the number allowed, not cool.

Nevertheless, there has to be some benefit to PP, somewhere out there ...

a long time ago in a galaxy far away...

 PRESTIGE POINTS

The prestige points are in debate, the union is in turmoil, only one man can defeat the sith lord "problem" and master the death-point. But is Blindshot up to it...

Why make it a rule that is connected to the points?Aberinkulas

Shhh :P

And well, anyone going to make those tags?

Shhh :P

And well, anyone going to make those tags?

BlinDShoT95

would if i could :P

I suggest we make it mandatory for new members to have to read and comment at least 3 pieces before they can post theirs. After 1-2 months they can post/comment/read and do whatever they like without objection.honkyjoe

If i did something wrong... I'm sorry :cry:

[QUOTE="BlinDShoT95"]

Shhh :P

And well, anyone going to make those tags?

lerfish

would if i could :P

Same here :P

---

I suggest we make it mandatory for new members to have to read and comment at least 3 pieces before they can post theirs. After 1-2 months they can post/comment/read and do whatever they like without objection.honkyjoe

It is a historic problem that we've always had here -- individuals posting their work and running. I mean look at the Prestige Points System; the number of people with 2 - 5 points are just proof of that. I am all about a quid por quo system -- or in english, tit-for-tat, but well -- how do we enforce it? Do we forbid people from reading a post if the person hasn't met the standard? Or what?

[QUOTE="lerfish"][QUOTE="BlinDShoT95"]

Shhh :P

And well, anyone going to make those tags?

BlinDShoT95

would if i could :P

Same here :P

---

I suggest we make it mandatory for new members to have to read and comment at least 3 pieces before they can post theirs. After 1-2 months they can post/comment/read and do whatever they like without objection.honkyjoe

It is a historic problem that we've always had here -- individuals posting their work and running. I mean look at the Prestige Points System; the number of people with 2 - 5 points are just proof of that. I am all about a quid por quo system -- or in english, tit-for-tat, but well -- how do we enforce it? Do we forbid people from reading a post if the person hasn't met the standard? Or what?

Then we'll have nothing to read! :(

Honestly they're not the only ones that do this. A lot of old members can go through stages where they post works but read nothing. Is it fair that they can do that but new people can't? It's not really practical to have a system like what is being suggested because the fact is that posting a work is still contributing something to the union even the person posting it doesn't read more work. Something that members already here or new people can read is a positive thing, it doesn't matter who posted it (and how much they've read).

Remember that often the most active reading times in the union have been absolutely phenomenal and hasn't needed draconian things like this. But you can't have the union like that all the time because it's not big enough, and that's not too bad of a thing becasue it does mean that the regulars can get to know each other better, and have more time to digest a piece. 

I really can't see anything like these ideas doing anything but resulting in people either merely ignoring the rule or not posting work. That said some people probably will follow the rule, but then what's the difference between that, and some people posting once and disappearing except that there'll be less stories posted?

[QUOTE="honkyjoe"]I suggest we make it mandatory for new members to have to read and comment at least 3 pieces before they can post theirs. After 1-2 months they can post/comment/read and do whatever they like without objection.lerfish

If i did something wrong... I'm sorry :cry:

Haha! no no no. You're one of the better ones...seriously.

[QUOTE="lerfish"]

[QUOTE="honkyjoe"]I suggest we make it mandatory for new members to have to read and comment at least 3 pieces before they can post theirs. After 1-2 months they can post/comment/read and do whatever they like without objection.honkyjoe

If i did something wrong... I'm sorry :cry:

Haha! no no no. You're one of the better ones...seriously.

Yeah I bet he was complaining about that BlinDShoT guy. What a tool, I mean he almost always just reads poetry, how lame is that :P

I think that if we made some kind of rule forcing people to comment on other works before posting their own, it would be ignored because no one ever reads the rule thread, and even if people knew, we would achieve scaring people off rather than forcing them to comment.waZelda

i think peole will tend to read about first anyway, even if they don't comment, just to get a feel of what the union and people in it are like, before posting their own work. i know i certainly did anyway.

[QUOTE="waZelda"]I think that if we made some kind of rule forcing people to comment on other works before posting their own, it would be ignored because no one ever reads the rule thread, and even if people knew, we would achieve scaring people off rather than forcing them to comment.lerfish

i think peole will tend to read about first anyway, even if they don't comment, just to get a feel of what the union and people in it are like, before posting their own work. i know i certainly did anyway.

You bring up a great point -- I am one of many people who just read things, and don't comment because well I hate saying "This is good" if I'm going comment, it's not going to be half-hearted. So hmm, I don't know though ...

Hmm, I was looking at that "exclusive board" idea in the last page. Maybe you could create an invites-only discussion union that would require a certain prestige level for you to receive an invite?Barbariser

I don't think that there's enough of us :(

[QUOTE="Barbariser"]Hmm, I was looking at that "exclusive board" idea in the last page. Maybe you could create an invites-only discussion union that would require a certain prestige level for you to receive an invite?BlinDShoT95

I don't think that there's enough of us :(

Hmm, maybe it'd force all the vets who don't comment much but still post works to comment on things, though! :P

The problem is that rarely do new people get 100 prestige points in their first month. We should keep track of everything they do -- I mean don't you have 86 points or something? We'd never know that if we just scraped anything below 100 points. It's a thoughtful idea, but not pratical I think ...BlinDShoT95

One good thing about having all the random people on the prestige ladder is it looks impressive, just as the large member list does even if like 2% of them post. :P

It's all about the look!

Aha, I finally found a use for this thread. Must be the all holiday cheer.

Allright peons, I promised a new feature on Christmas day, so here it is:

HOT TOFFEE (working title)

Starting this Sunday and continuing every week thereafter, a legendary piece of toffee will descend from the heavens, read over all the works posted in the previous week, and label it as either HOT or... not. To appease its wrath, an officer, usually myself, will then declare to the congregation what the Toffee hath decreed. It will also take suggestions.

If you haven't been commenting on any works, now's the time to start. The Hot Toffee (working title) will base its decisions on YOUR comments, so if you have been reading and not commenting, it will not know what to say, and will turn to the Member Portfolios for the answers.

Stop me if he's moving too fast.

Hot pieces will be announced each week in TWL Central, but I'm planning on adding a front page mention too. Some hot pieces may carry over to the next week if they are updated and are still going strong. Now, all the kinks aren't worked out yet, but if a piece goes strong for four weeks long, it may just get an automatic nomination for that month's Hall of Fame vote.

Too much to take in? That's fine, breath it out. Christmas gifts do that sometimes.

Example of Hot Toffee (working title) in action:

- Metal Shadow gets updated with a new chapter. It explodes with positive comments. The Hot Toffee (working title) descends and observes this.

- The following Sunday, the Index in TWL Central is updated, saying "Hot: Metal Shadow" with a link to the piece included and the most positive comment. Thus, writer, critic, and piece all get props simultaneously. In the event that more than one piece is bustling with good comments, the one with more positive comments usually gets this title, but we can have two or more hot pieces as well, and the same goes for comments.

I might make this a bi-weekly or even monthly thing if it turns a bit more uneventful than I thought. Suggestions on this are welcome.

So you now have to comment on the works that you like, instead of just reading it and leaving the author to wonder in obscurity wether there is some internet jerk wandering around the board messing with the polls. Stalin--err, BlindShot--I'm counting on you to help me kick this one off; I'll PM you from time to time when I need a hand.

Happy Holidays all! And December 2011 is NOT our last Christmas.

Do we get to eat the toffee?Foolz3h

Sure, if you want to lose an arm.

I'm guessing bi-weekly would work best.waZelda

Me too... All in favor say aye!

[QUOTE="Foolz3h"]Do we get to eat the toffee?iloveflash

Sure, if you want to lose an arm.

I'm guessing bi-weekly would work best.waZelda

Me too... All in favor say aye!

You mean if the toffee wants to lose an arm? That's what I was going to eat!

So you now have to comment on the works that you like, instead of just reading it and leaving the author to wonder in obscurity wether there is some internet jerk wandering around the board messing with the polls. Stalin--err, BlindShot--I'm counting on you to help me kick this one off; I'll PM you from time to time when I need a hand.

iloveflash

You had it right the first time :P. I got your pm, I'll read through it and all taht fun stuff in the morning. I'm exhausted :P