The Land of TOE Fungus

**Robert** · 11-12-2008 12:55 AM

Thanks for all your suggestions!

I've decided that the Land of TOE Fungus is probably not appropriate and would require too much time and effort to maintain properly. I do like the three strikes and your out policy; perhaps accompanied by bans of 3 days, 1 week, and 4 weeks. The forum rules will need to be more prominently displayed so all members are aware of the rules, and they can be easily referenced by moderators.

Also, it seems we already of an equivalent to the Land of TOE Fungus. You may recall that when you originally registered, your were placed in the user group 'In Training'. Once you made 5 posts you were automatically placed in the 'Initiated Members' user group. The idea was to limit your access to website resources and features until I could determine that you were not a spambot, pornbot or some other unwanted entity. This approach would limit the potential damage of the unwelcome guests.

I'm considering two changes. 1) Promotion to 'Initiated Member' is not automatic but will require the recommendation of a moderator. The new member must demonstrate good behavior and communication skills as outlined in the posting guidelines. 2) Members 'In Training' will be restricted to only a few forums, perhaps Introductions, The Public Square, and Member Feedback.

In theory then, all 'Initiated Members' will be adults who are mature enough to discuss issues in a rational way and, where there is disagreement, are professional about it. In practice, we'll just have to wait and see

. This should be in place by the end of next week.

--Robert

**Graybeard** · 11-12-2008 12:58 AM

Yes ... I think you may have solved it ..... but now that the paradigm has changed do we all start back at zero .... ????

Just joking Robert.

Thank you ... greg

**Robert** · 11-12-2008 02:57 AM

Originally Posted by Graybeard

Yes ... I think you may have solved it ..... but now that the paradigm has changed do we all start back at zero .... ????

Just joking Robert.

Thank you ... greg

That's a good question. How do we bootstrap the process. I think it would be silly not to add the moderators to the Initiated group. I'm afraid I haven't thought beyond that yet.

**Graybeard** · 11-12-2008 03:10 AM

You could use an algorithim ... years of membership ~ number of bans ~ committal to the forum ...

But at the end it would always disappoint those who were left out. Its obvious that the star and reputation system doesn't work.

We could have a poll ... should everyone return to base, and thru good forum ethics climb the ladder. I'm one of the long-haulers but have no objection to starting again. (of course I will be extremely well behaved until I've got my stripes, and only then will I revert ... lol)

Most members are a benefit to the forum and would probably see it just as I do ... ??

cool bananas ... greg

**leskey** · 11-12-2008 07:47 PM

Originally Posted by Graybeard

You could use an algorithim ... years of membership ~ number of bans ~ committal to the forum ...

But at the end it would always disappoint those who were left out. Its obvious that the star and reputation system doesn't work.

We could have a poll ... should everyone return to base, and thru good forum ethics climb the ladder. I'm one of the long-haulers but have no objection to starting again. (of course I will be extremely well behaved until I've got my stripes, and only then will I revert ... lol)

Most members are a benefit to the forum and would probably see it just as I do ... ??

cool bananas ... greg

Hi, Robert, Graybeard...sounds like a good suggestion to me...records could be invisible, eliminating heirachy - afterall, is it necessary?

**Robert** · 11-14-2008 09:41 PM

Ok, I've thought this through further. I think the first initiated members will be my friends, members who have donated money, members who have blackmail material on me, members who have thanked me the most, and members with the best looking avatars.

**Graybeard** · 11-15-2008 12:24 AM