Proposed Forum Restructuring

I like Raikou's idea. The Mediators and Route 24 (could possibly use a different name if "Route 24" ends up serving this purpose? PokeBeach Bridge, perhaps?) combined would allow a near-perfect communication link between the commoners and Moderators.

As for who these Mediators should BE, that is better left up to the moderators. As others have stated, each Normal Member will believe they are a veteran member, and in the end, the most popular members will end up as Mediators, even if they aren't fit for the job. A decision by the Moderating Team would have a better outcome, IMO.

Another possible feature of Route 24 would be that Normal Members would only be allowed to VIEW the forum. This would help continue to build on the "Mod and Member Link", yet ensure that we don't have silly topics in a serious forum. Mediators and above would be able to post, obviously. With the "Member View" feature, the regular members would also be able to see that some of their ideas are being heard.

If Route 24 does indeed go down this route, we could possibly create a different forum for the veterans. Badges are an acceptable requirement, if we can get that working. Otherwise, Mediators could also serve the purpose of nominating possible "Veterans", as well. Veteran's Hideout seems like a fitting name for this, IMO.

Just tossing out my two cents in this topic.
 
Limitless said:
The route 24 idea should only be implemented if we ever were to get the badge system up. I'd also just like to point out that route 24 would not just be a spam central place (much like the game corner). This place is where the more intelligent and active members can socialize about possible additions or revisions to PokeBeach. Some other higher up conversations may also take place here, but would probably be best suited for other areas of PokeBeach. I guess the best way to summarize it would be that it is merely a place where the privileged members (in this case badges) can improve the forum.
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That just sounds like what we're doing right now, in this thread in Site Discussion. A more useful purpose would be better, so I'm liking these new ideas of conversing (with the Mods/Members).

dmaster out.
 
Well, to me, right now, this thread is actually becoming a thread for the members to voice their opinions. Which is nice. It's difficult for a member to get their opinion across sometimes, because they don't get the recognition a person with a green name or a fancy userbar might get. But from a member's perspective, who has the ability to communicate to the mods, then it will benefit everyone, not just the people in the forum who are getting help from both an experienced member but also a moderator who might be newer to that forum.

Route 24... I'll leave that up to you mods. Personally, I feel as though it should be viewable by other members because that way, they can get an idea of what the veteran members are really thinking. It provides a good discussion area for those who are the better members, but at the same time, it allows others to possibly study WHY they're better members, and WHY they're mediators. Just throwing my ideas out there, I have other opinions on this whole thing, but I'll keep them shut for now.

This thread is hardly talking about the restructuring anymore, lol. :S
 
Limitless said:
The route 24 idea should only be implemented if we ever were to get the badge system up. I'd also just like to point out that route 24 would not just be a spam central place (much like the game corner). This place is where the more intelligent and active members can socialize about possible additions or revisions to PokeBeach. Some other higher up conversations may also take place here, but would probably be best suited for other areas of PokeBeach. I guess the best way to summarize it would be that it is merely a place where the privileged members (in this case badges) can improve the forum.
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In your regards to the badge system. I have heard word it's getting closer to being achieved, and I personally look forward to it.

Anyhow on topic: I really like the layout as it is in the newest update by Jon. I also really love the idea of mediators and the Route 24. A place for the veteran members, and the more experienced is just a flat out good idea. Sometimes we try to have these discussions and some person who has little to contribute will post, and that is frustrating. So overall I don't have much to say regarding this seeing as I agree with what's being done. So I will continue to watch this thread and we will see what comes of it.
 
Perhaps not only people who have badges to join Route 24, but people who follow the rules too? That way, if people want to join into the discussion in Route 24, they have to follow the rules.
 
I actually think it would be best if the route 21 people didn't have any recognition. If they are undercover, people won't treat them differently as they do mods/staff members.
 
No, Route 24 Mediators DO need to be recognized. As Gale said, if we allow regular members to view said Route 24 forum, then the non-Route 24 members learn from the Veterans. They can learn WHY the are in Route 24, and WHY they are good members. Also, some members might strive to be in Route 24, and thus there the number of rule-breakers will go down. If the Mediators aren't known to the general public, then these members won't know who to learn from.

While there will still be some members that go, "why didn't i get in forumz 24?!!1?? >=[/", the opportunity to help the remainder of our community to learn how to be a better member outweighs this, IMO. The Mediators are meant to act as a communication bridge between our members and moderators....if the members don't know who the Mediators are, how are they supposed to communicate through the moderators?

Gliscor: People that hold badges will likely to be rule-abiding members as well. I doubt that any common rule-breaker will ever hold a badge.
 
Eh, maybe. I can see pros and cons to both sides. I get the most random, and pointless PMs sometimes that I doubt a member would send to a mod because they know they'll get busted (I turn 'em in anyway, I'm uncool like that). I just think that hte members will treat them like they did Zyflair. Why would a member be more confortable to tell something to a mediator who will tell the mods, than a mod him/herself?
 
Juliacoolo said:
Eh, maybe. I can see pros and cons to both sides. I get the most random, and pointless PMs sometimes that I doubt a member would send to a mod because they know they'll get busted (I turn 'em in anyway, I'm uncool like that). I just think that hte members will treat them like they did Zyflair. Why would a member be more confortable to tell something to a mediator who will tell the mods, than a mod him/herself?
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Because the mediator, too, will be a member, and therefore they won't necessarily think the same way that a moderator would because they might not necessarily know what the moderator does. The mediator in this case wouldn't be judging the person who is coming to them for help, or whatever they're coming to them for. Remember, as a mediator, their job would be to solve a problem, or alert the moderator of a problem. A moderator, in some cases, isn't as understanding as a regular member and would sometimes be quick to judge them. With a regular member acting as the source of interaction between the member and the moderator, there's a sense of balance between half member, half staff.
 
The Mediators won't have ANY forum power. The Mediators are pretty much "recognized Veterans", that communicate ideas between the Moderators and Members.

They might be a new User Group, but that's about it. And if people bow down to them, then they might as well bow down to the Verified Sellers. Mediators have little more power than the Sellers.

The Mediators group isn't really meant to say, "oh user X is breaking rule Y" or anything like that. A mediator would represent the members during forum decisions. At least, that's how I interpret it.

Otherwise, just read Gale's post.
 
Good points. I interpereted it incorrectly. Maybe a member digest reprt ype thing might be nice.
 
Charizard88 said:
In your regards to the badge system. I have heard word it's getting closer to being achieved, and I personally look forward to it.
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Lol.

Wow, not here for one day and so much has happened in this thread. I have nothing else to say about the forum layout.

As for Route 24, I'm with Blue Thunder and Galefail on permitting regular members to view that forum. It's the only way to make them understand what it is to become a better member. As Blue Thunder said, each member thinks of himself as a good member, and so they would think they are deserving of it. By having a group of recognised members, they can set a good example for all to know what it really is a be a good member of the forum.

This idea also poses a lot of problems. While I agree that the moderators should decide who is to be recognised, if one moderator becomes too influential in the selection, it would result in a situation like the VOPs in #pokebeach.com. (By the way, I feel that the voice system should be removed entirely, for it does not serve any purpose of encouraging new members to become better; what are the chances that new members would even know what +v does anyway?) I urge the current staff to all make the effort to carefully consider who should be added to this special group of members and to avoid any prejudice that may occur.

I also have some things to say against those who are pro-"mediator". I don't believe that mediator should be the only middleman between the staff and the regular members: it's like forcing a trade union to be the only source of feedback the government can get from the public. A mediator should first and foremost represent the views of the members, and, as members who understand how the forum works, explain the moderator's actions, objectively, to the new members who may not have grasped the way the staff go about their work. They should also keep in mind that this position does not give them any prestige whatsoever except for having the honour of helping to make the forums a better community.

That being said, Route 24 is an interesting idea that allows the members to voice out their opinions to the forum staff. It's just that some measures would have to be taken in order to prevent this popular concept from yielding disastrous results.
 
I think that a mediator should be sort of a role model for the other members. Route 24 should be a forum that everyone can SEE, but not everyone can post in. There should be threads that are off-limits to members other than mediators, but possibly a sticky thread that houses all discussion related to concerns or anything else the members want to ask the mediators. The mediators, however, should be able to post their opinions in the forum and maybe then the members can see how the mods address the members' concern. The mediators themselves should be chosen by the moderators, however, they should also be chosen with the use of the badge system. I don't know how you'd incorporate that with the mediators/Route 24, but I'll leave that up to you guys I guess. Maybe give a "good member" badge to the soon-to-be-mediator and then make them a mediator, and they can address the concerns of other members and report what they think (and what the other member thinks) to a moderator, who in return will hopefully rectify the issue.

I don't know, I guess I'm just brainstorming here. I agree with Blue Thunder and Noobnerd for the most part.
 
Noobnerd sums everything up pretty nicely. I agree that the forum should be viewable by everyone. Without that, non-vet members will have no clue as to how they can become a good member as well. As for mediators themselves, we'll have to make sure the system doesn't rot. I emphasize the representation of members, not replacement.
 
Kevin Garrett said:
If someone wants the responsbility of having their ideas making a huge impact on PokeBeach, they need to be a contributor of the site. If that makes people who don't contribute feel less important, then they will be more willing to work.
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For what it's worth, I'd say KG made a very good point here. If one is not chosen as a mediator, then he or she would need to work harder for it. Whoever that doesn't get chosen, should, instead of feeling left out or whatever, take the chance to work harder and contribute more to the forums.

@Galefail:
The badge system really appeals to me. IMO, it becomes a symbol that tells the others to work hard, and they'll get one.

If it's anything, I'm supporting the mediator system, but the way he/she connects and communicates with the staff is via representation.
 
Can't believe I just saw this thread.

The structure looks good. Route 24 and the mediators sound like a great idea. Gives us little one the chance to see the big leauges. IMO, the thing that needs more attention is the Fan Creations. (Not Celadon Mart) As someone already said here, there are contests like AOTW and Project Custom and others that are not getting any attention. Even more, many gallerys get opened only to see litlle action and be left to die after a week or so. I know that their was an attempt to make this whole area better but I think that we could do better.
 
Contests/Tournaments will be getting more attention soon. We are definitely looking to get people involved.
 
Good to hear, Raikou. If the badge system is implemented, then I'm sure more people will want to participate in contests with the possibility of a badge as a reward. If badges = access to Route 24, and people who post in Route 24 = liaison, then people will definitely want to do well in contests or tournaments or whatever. Of course, this all ties in with other staff groups, because if let's say there's an competitive battling tournament going, people will want articles done by the strategists coming in so that they can prepare for it, or if there's a Redshark tournament going, people will want TCG articles done, or whatever. Hopefully all the groups are getting attention, and that it all comes back to Route 24, which is how it's looking right now. If there are badges given to those who are good members, then it will definitely make people strive to post better, possibly be more active, and contribute more to the website.

So yeah, I'm really liking these ideas!
 
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