Hello LCPDFR,
 
So, I came up with an idea recently, an idea that has been brought to the minds of the developers in the past, however I figured I would bring it up once again.
 
The idea consists of 3 New Groups within the community, Featured Member, V.I.P. and Old School.
 

 
A Featured Member, are those within the community that have had (or have) their Downloads, Galleries or whatever else Officially Featured by the Staff Team.
 
This group is only temporary, and once the Featured Content is over, so is the group.
 

 
The VIP group is a Paid group that is paid Monthly (or quarterly). Additions of this group include Profile Music, Profile Customization, an Award and the group. Idea for this hasn't been thought out of in-depth, but it's there for your addition.
 

 
The Old School group is a Exclusive group only available to those who have been a part of LCPDFR since the beginning, joining from the year 2010-2011. This group comes with a Staff Supervised Application Process.
 

 
This idea is a Work-in-Progress, and relies on the community's input, so feel free to add ideas on.

Edited December 7, 201411 yr by MoonShine

Ideas like this has been brought up before, and it has generally been seen as a "bad" idea. We strive to have a open and equal community. Having several visible member groups with new colors, permissions, features and so on makes it less equal. I see no reason to have special groups or awards, or even special permissions for members. We're all pretty much equal, and I'd like to keep it that way.

 

A VIP group seems un-needed, but maybe an award for a donation? Long-standing members of the Community could maybe get some kind of note or small award (a gold star, if you wish) on their profiles. 

 

With that said, this is in no way an official response to the matter, and only my own thoughts. 

I like it. I don't understand why MVPs would be paid though... that seems odd.

 

I'am highly against the old school, that makes me feel less equal and I feel as though I'm not important as they are. Sorry but I don't like this idea.

God made man equal. But even some men and women had things other humans did not.

 

These groups aren't a way to make anybody feel bad, they are simply groups.

 

My idea for VIP was to simply gain features that should be bought instead of gifted or somehow overridden by a Staff status.

 

I'am highly against the old school, that makes me feel less equal and I feel as though I'm not important as they are. Sorry but I don't like this idea.

 

Going through life, I highly doubt you feel everybody you meet will be equal to you and your standing. It's unrealistic, and I don't see why some Community on the internet abides by different rules that everybody is expected to have everything the same.

 

That in no way meant to offend, it's just my general opinion. Humans might be equal, but things belonging to the human are never equal. I think it's naive to believe the internet can be abided by different rules.

 

Besides, this isn't a way to force my ideas, they were just ideas I was looking for others to add onto, or give their opinion on, and yours matters, so thank you.

 

I like it. I don't understand why MVPs would be paid though... that seems odd.

 

You want an addition to your bathroom or living room, like a TV or a new shower? Do you not pay for these things?

 

A VIP group seems un-needed, but maybe an award for a donation? Long-standing members of the Community could maybe get some kind of note or small award (a gold star, if you wish) on their profiles. 

 

I like this idea.

 

Edited December 7, 201411 yr by MoonShine

i don't want paid membership thats like world of warcraft and i hate that.

i don't want paid membership thats like world of warcraft and i hate that.

 

It's not paid membership, paid membership isn't optional. This is paying for addtional features that may not be available to everyone.

 

V.I.P. was my lesser idea anyway, I'm more for Featured Member and Old-School.

I'm okay with VIP and Old School, but I don't really see a point in the Featured Member if it's only temporary. Most members who get their downloads featured a few times are given profile backgrounds, which is kind of an un-official featured members group anyway.

i don't want paid membership thats like world of warcraft and i hate that.

He's not saying that you would have to pay to be able to get on the site, he's saying that if you want more features (Profile backgrounds, profile music, custom signatures, etc.)  you could sign up to pay a monthly fee and get those features. If you don't want to, you wouldn't have to pay.

I'm okay with VIP and Old School, but I don't really see a point in the Featured Member if it's only temporary. Most members who get their downloads featured a few times are given profile backgrounds, which is kind of an un-official featured members group anyway.

He's not saying that you would have to pay to be able to get on the site, he's saying that if you want more features (Profile backgrounds, profile music, custom signatures, etc.)  you could sign up to pay a monthly fee and get those features. If you don't want to, you wouldn't have to pay.

 

Still a bad idea its already sad enough that i can't use music for my profile

This is something that we'll consider after the IPS 4 upgrade.  Perhaps not in the form of groups that you propose, although it would be nice to work in a way to better recognise individual contributions.

While I have nothing against having a gold star or something on someone's profile if they donate (it doesn't provide extra features, permissions, rights, etc.), I am completely against members being able to pay their way into "better" groups.  We pride ourselves on having the bare minimum for groups, and making sure people get treated the same.  Allowing members to have extra rights or abilities simply because they can afford to pay us to have those abilities is not something we want.

 

As it is, there are several aspects that we already aren't quite happy with.  There are some legacy features on the site that are still lingering that give some members the ability to upload profile backgrounds, and staff members have access to a music-adding script.  When it comes time for IPS 4.0 (the new version of our board software), those will more than likely go away.

This is something that we'll consider after the IPS 4 upgrade.  Perhaps not in the form of groups that you propose, although it would be nice to work in a way to better recognise individual contributions.

 

This is what I had in mind. Was thinking something to work on Mid-2015 after the next IPS update.

 

As it is, there are several aspects that we already aren't quite happy with.  There are some legacy features on the site that are still lingering that give some members the ability to upload profile backgrounds, and staff members have access to a music-adding script.  When it comes time for IPS 4.0 (the new version of our board software), those will more than likely go away.

 

I don't think it's fair to tease members with a brilliant feature, then take it away. i'm referring to profile backgrounds.

Overall I like the idea. The forum will look nice all with different colors ^_^ I really won't feel offended if someone is a VIP or an Old School guy. They are old, I am not. 

 

And I agree with ineseri's suggestion about awards for donation, it's nothing wrong to recognize when someone does good. 

These groups aren't a way to make anybody feel bad, they are simply groups.

 

My idea for VIP was to simply gain features that should be bought instead of gifted or somehow overridden by a Staff status.

 

 

Going through life, I highly doubt you feel everybody you meet will be equal to you and your standing. It's unrealistic, and I don't see why some Community on the internet abides by different rules that everybody is expected to have everything the same.

 

That in no way meant to offend, it's just my general opinion. Humans might be equal, but things belonging to the human are never equal. I think it's naive to believe the internet can be abided by different rules.

 

Besides, this isn't a way to force my ideas, they were just ideas I was looking for others to add onto, or give their opinion on, and yours matters, so thank you.

 

 

You want an addition to your bathroom or living room, like a TV or a new shower? Do you not pay for these things?

 

While your intentions are nice, forums never follow suit with humanity, society or social normalities. Everyone here becomes anonymous, some of us don't mind our names being out there but a lot use an alias, giving them the freedom to post anything without feeling like someone somewhere will judge them or hate them. (commonly known as a keyboard warrior)

 

Because of this "protection" from real life that the forum gives them, giving someone a new colour and privileges for paying or for making content or for being here a long time makes them feel like they are better than someone. I'm aware a lot of people take their new "group" or "rank" as a nice perk and see it as nothing other than a thank you for what they did (donate etc) but sadly it is one of those things where the minority ruin it for the majority. All it takes is one person to go "I donated so you suck" or similar and we have a shitstorm to deal with that spirals madly out of control. You also open the floodgates when person A donates $20 and then person B donates $500 and demands more privileges. (and vice versa).

 

And of course as I think Sam or Jay said before, a donation is an act of kindness, not a purchase. you are not entitled to get anything for donating. If you add perks for donating it becomes a purchase not a donation, then people start giving you abuse if you take it away or change it because they've forgotten what "donation" means.

 

As for stating humans all have different belongings, this is correct yes, but would you go into a coffee shop and demand you get a throne while everyone else gets a cold hard stool? No, you would sit your ass down on a chair like the rest of the customers and you would enjoy your caramel mocha with extra cream. The coffee shop does not belong to you. This forum is the coffee shop, you come here to discuss things, it's a meeting place (if you disagree with me look up the origin of "forum"), the coffee in this case is the threads you choose to take part in or the files you choose to download.

 

Dammit now I want a coffee.

 

To close my point, I don't think adding special member groups is a good idea. Too many floodgates, too high a risk of causing trouble.

While your intentions are nice, forums never follow suit with humanity, society or social normalities.

 

but sadly it is one of those things where the minority ruin it for the majority. All it takes is one person to go "I donated so you suck" or similar and we have a shitstorm to deal with.

 

Sad but true.

 

And of course as I think Sam or Jay said before, a donation is an act of kindness, not a purchase. you are not entitled to get anything for donating. If you add perks for donating it becomes a purchase not a donation, then people start giving you abuse if you take it away or change it because they've forgotten what "donation" means.

 

I never stated VIP was a donation group, in fact, I never used the word Donation, so I'm not sure why it was brought up in this thread.

 

Dammit now I want a coffee.

 

How about a Special Blend with Mint Chocolate Cream and Sprinkles? I just had one, and it was perfecto.

 

To close my point, I don't think adding special member groups is a good idea. Too many floodgates, too high a risk of causing trouble.

That's why it would be strongly supervised, or even compromised.

I never stated VIP was a donation group, in fact, I never used the word Donation, so I'm not sure why it was brought up in this thread.

Most VIP groups are based on donations from what I've seen (donate X amount to receive ____). even so, if you make it a purchasable thing you're getting an even bigger floodgate for "I paid for this!" resulting in angry PM's to staff or "You suck" attitude in the public domain.

 

How about a Special Blend with Mint Chocolate Cream and Sprinkles? I just had one, and it was perfecto.

I really enjoy a nice praline cappuccino actually, but it's only a christmas thing Costa do :(

 

That's why it would be strongly supervised, or even compromised.

This then relies on having the staffing to supervise it. We can't be everywhere all the time and as before, all it takes is for one act to go unnoticed and bam, floodgates open.

People like shouting at each other rather than letting us deal with the bad eggs, I'd prefer not to give them any rank weighting to fuel the fire before we can respond in time. Again, floodgates.

[...]

 

 

[...]

I see that I have been promoted to management. I expect my new office and keys to the squid tank by 9AM.

I love the general idea of adding more user groups. It will definitely help some members get a sense of "belonging," although there is a risk of alienating new members. However, I would change the way it is being proposed.

 

Instead of having a "Featured Member" group, maybe a little icon or symbol under one's username if they have had their mods featured on the site. But, the biggest problem I have with it is the "VIP" and "Old School" groups, which will definitely harbor a sense of elitism and make the community seem much less open, especially the "Old School" one (and this is coming from someone that would technically be an "Old School" member). I can see it causing more problems than it is worth. With that said, I wouldn't have a problem with people having a "Supporting Member" icon if they donate, that's totally fine.

The idea of a paid group membership is great. Even a small fee of $2-3 (or however much) will get you some cool features to you profile and this will help pay for the servers. I am liking the idea. :)

I see that I have been promoted to management. I expect my new office and keys to the squid tank by 9AM.

 

Take the elevator down, then the staircase to the left below the parking garage. You'll find a maintenance room with a mildewed mop in the corner. Welcome to your office.

 

With that said, I wouldn't have a problem with people having a "Supporting Member" icon if they donate, that's totally fine.

 

All these ideas are good, and like Sam said, whether or not we'll be going in way of new groups, some things can be added after the IPS update.