Support Specialist Group

[Base]

Hello all,

My suggestion is regarding a new group being added to the support forums. This group is called the "Support Specialists". It's a group for users who like giving out support to other people. Please note that Support Specialists are NOT staff members. These are only people who volunteer to help out.

I am suggesting this because people who like giving out support can easily be recognised. This is an opened group so anyone can join. When a user wants to join, the group moderator will review that user's account. Looking for not quantity, but quality of support they give out and how active they are.

Quality of support can be divided into these three groups, Spelling & Grammar, Length and Informative. When the group moderator thinks this user fits into all three of these groups, he/she will add them to the group. If the group moderator thinks the user who wishes to join does not meet the required standards, then they can decline their request.

A Support Specialist can be recognised with a dark green username and a nice rank picture underneath their rank.

Rank:

Comments, suggestions and constructive criticism are appreciated!

Regards,

Base

[Pacific]

I like this idea! Yes from me.

[Nelsaidi]

[Removed]

[Tarogasini]

Voted yes. Its good and reasonable idea that will make those members more recognizable and what is best of it - it can be done immediately.

[Base]

Thanks for the support.

[briella]

I vote yes, because I think it would be a great Idea.

[akashic]

I suggested something similar in the 'compassion from staff' thread. Its a good idea, I voted yes

[Guest]

I vote no. There are enough staff here that do nothing we dont need any more.

I would rather se the review staff first.

[Luky]

I also voted no because I think we have enough staff members at the moment and don't really see the need to have another group for members. I basically don't see the need for this since if a member wants to help, he/she can help without a rank or a colored username.

[Guest]

Not right now. As already said, there's loads of inactive staff at the moment.


Daijiro

[Darren1]

I'm voting yes because,

Positive side
Its a good idea with good ambitions,
its got great potential,
it can happen immediately,
it would be rewarding for the users that actually help people,
Not alot of staff help regular users.

However, on the down side,
Alot of staff will be coming back vary shortly(hopefully),
People can help each other without the special rank,
it could be over delegated OR under delegated,
it could be abused/used to control new members,
The staff are voting no,
Caihlem has already rejected this idea in another thread.

I'm still voting Yes! and believe it should happen.

[nimiel]

no. i think we can help each other out without groups.

[Dreamlimix]

I've also voted no!

[Fireflare88]

I think that this issue comes up quite a bit nowadays, just in different forms (not forums, in case you didn't catch that: forms ) And, as always, the staff don't like it. All the other reasons aside, could they feel *gasp* threatened? It's possible. But maybe the reasons given by those who don't support these ideas are correct. Just another thought to throw around. I always have been and will be (untill someone gives enough great logic to convince me otherwise) lacking in support for this idea.

ETA: Also, is it just me or is this comming up more often than usual? Either it's the same person relentlessly promoting an idea the staff don't like or... The people are revolting.

[Darren1]

as much as I am with this suggestion, and am aware that ir most likely wont be implemented, I would like to say something.

is not putting someone into a group (possibly called 'specialist group' and I will use if for example purpose) a reward?

Say, someone (like myself for example purpose) does ALOT of 'helping' and has been doing for some time, as in for more then 6 months
consistently, maybe because they enjoy it, or some other reason.
but is it not fair to reward someone for their good deed?

It may not be normal for that to happen, but its a reward for someone for something or something's.

Correct?

and, do we really need to be considered 'staff' or have the rank of 'staff' OR have a 'colour' or even have a colored username?
The answer: No, because we are not staff, only staff should have the 'need' for colored user names.

Sure, we could have this as a 'hidden' and 'closed' group without a colored username, and a similar 'user rank' as the 'Forumotion member' and all, but we could have the option to have a 'rank picture' to go with it.


I hope this is an appreciated message, as this would be a really nice reward from the staff here to the members.

[~Chris]

I vote yes. There are people that enjoy handing out support when needed, and I think this would be a great way to give them more recognition.

[MrMario]

I think it would be a great idea but I don't really think we need this. People can still give support with out a rank or getting staff. I enjoying helping people without getting a rank or anything. I think if we do have this it will just become a new problem for the forum and for the staff.

I think as long as we the members give out answers to the questions the support forum will be fine.

[Darren1]

I think it would be a great idea but I don't really think we need this. People can still give support with out a rank or getting staff. I enjoying helping people without getting a rank or anything. I think if we do have this it will just become a new problem for the forum and for the staff.

I think as long as we the members give out answers to the questions the support forum will be fine.

I see what ur seeing mario, but do u not think that could possibly get some recognition from the staff, or a thanks from staff.

I am more than happy to help people without be 'staff' but this group would be recognition, and this type of thing could be made with say 'Forumotion member' (as it is currently for everyone) and just put an image with it.
it would have to be made as a separate 'Forumotion member' group because of its 'special group' status, but it totally worth it.

C'mon, a little recognition / reward from the staff would be nice for everyone.

[MrMario]

I understand what your talking about. I do think we could have some kind of recognition from ForuMotion and the Staff saying thanks for your support.

But I would like to see the review staff come first as Dungeon Master said before. As it has been put to the side for a while now.

I was thinking maybe we could have Members of the month. (10-20 or so)

My Question is:
Would this start more problems? Flame Wars? People that think they are all that for helping people?

[Darren1]

I understand what your talking about. I do think we could have some kind of recognition from ForuMotion and the Staff saying thanks for your support.

Then we agree.

But I would like to see the review staff come first as Dungeon Master said before. As it has been put to the side for a while now.

As true as that is, this suggestion would take what?
3-10 secs to do / complete.

I was thinking maybe we could have Members of the month. (10-20 or so)

Now this is something that would cause havoc and chaos on the forum.
member fighting fellow member's for a silly rank that says their "member of the__"
That wouldn't be a bright idea!

My Question is:
Would this start more problems? Flame Wars? People that think they are all that for helping people?

Yes and no.

If rules were set out as point blank, obvious and staff decision to become a member of the group, as well as user permission then no, nothing bad can really happen.

Concerning flame wars, well idiots will forever be idiots ( Sadly we cant train them to be better )

[MrMario]

Now this is something that would cause havoc and chaos on the forum.
member fighting fellow member's for a silly rank that says their "member of the__"
That wouldn't be a bright idea!

Ya I didn't think that one though well. Oh Well its late and I'm tired. Something close to that. (Doesn't have to be Member of the Month)

And We did see that School Girl and School Boy Ranks. That did get stupid for after a while. I was fun though.

Just an idea

[Darren1]

Now this is something that would cause havoc and chaos on the forum.
member fighting fellow member's for a silly rank that says their "member of the__"
That wouldn't be a bright idea!

Ya I didn't think that one though well. Oh Well its late and I'm tired. Something close to that. (Doesn't have to be Member of the Month)

And We did see that School Girl and School Boy Ranks. That did get stupid for after a while. I was fun though.

Just an idea

If its a "member of the __" it would still cause some havoc and chaos in the forum, and actually it would cause flame wars because of the amount of fighting that would happen because only 1 person could be the "member of the __ " no matter what it was.
member of the week, month, year ect.

The school boy, school girl thing was good!
I loved it!

[Jalokim]

the staff have spoken about this countless time... under names like :"return of the helper rank"

All in all it would be a good idea... but its a bad idea at the same time.
^^that didn't make sense.
First it would be hard to identify all the helpers... and It would be quite time consuming to change ranks and stuff like that.
Second I think the helpers would start pushing their luck... posting moderator typed comments and pushing people around.

and lastly I agree with kilsek... I am happy enough doing nothing on this forum, and I don't plan to share my laziness with others.

Its been discussed many times and the verdict hasn't changed

[Caihlem]

I think the real issue with the suggestion is that it's only displacing the current problem.

The specialist group for support is (or it least was last time I check - 5 mintues ago) the Moderator group.
I can't give ranks and enter people in a group just for the looks, it would be like a V.I.P rank then. And if they don't have any powers at all, then there really is no difference between them an regular members except eventual ego trips. Eventually, one of them will ask for powers, and we'll either loose all "supporters" or have a second "Moderator" group.

I know the problem stems from the fact that our staff isn't big enough yet and that many members here provide decent support. We are trying to paliate to that issue. I agree with problem is also partly on our side. I can only ask you bear with us the time we get everything sorted due and proper

[Guest]

I think this idea works. I'm all for it.

[MrMario]

I can't give ranks and enter people in a group just for the looks, it would be like a V.I.P rank then. And if they don't have any powers at all, then there really is no difference between them an regular members except eventual ego trips. Eventually, one of them will ask for powers, and we'll either loose all "supporters" or have a second "Moderator" group

I'm with Cailhem on this as its just like a VIP rank with no power. Plus its like showing off saying HEY LOOK AT ME! I would like to see support then having this silly rank for people and see flame wars increase.

[Guest]

OK I thought about how to word this correctly without offending anyone.

This idea is bad in a couple ways:

1. There will be less help coming from existing staff members because now we have helpers.

2. People will think they are better than others not in this group.

3. Peoples in this group wont be able to spam a topic like Nessa does with her "Since this topic appears solved I will lock it now" babble

But seriously this is not what is needed.

REVIEW STAFF!

[Guest]

OK I thought about how to word this correctly without offending anyone.

This idea is bad in a couple ways:

1. There will be less help coming from existing staff members because now we have helpers.

2. People will think they are better than others not in this group.

3. Peoples in this group wont be able to spam a topic like Nessa does with her "Since this topic appears solved I will lock it now" babble

But seriously this is not what is needed.

REVIEW STAFF!

I like Nessa but I found that comment hilarious xD I actually lol'd
Sorry if that offends you Nessa.

[ParadiseKid]

I like this idea. I am sure there are people on this forum that love to help people and want to be recognized for that, but at the same time, do not want to have the responsibility of having to moderate the forums as staff do.

This group would also make it easier for new members. The newbies would know who they can trust and who to go to when they need help instead of bugging the staff who have other jobs that need doing.

I voted Yes.

[Caihlem]

Veto
=> Lock

Reasons;
As explained earlier and until I'm blue in the face - this group already exists