My LEGO Nexus Organization

I've just had an epiphany, we all know double posting here in MLNO is not allowed in most circumstances and categories.
So we also all know there are those topics that we deeply want to have continue, even when we where the last poster and can't seem to do anything about it. The topic then remains buried for all time, never knowing the education it may have provided.

What if we created a point system to allow double posting, in other words, you must pay for it.

let me enlighten you, and this just might be both a lot of fun and also accomplishing our deepest MLNO desires.

Here's my take, though I do invite others to come up with a different point value system, it won't be cooler than this;

*MLNO rule # 4632, double posting will only be allowed at a loss of a 10% rep rating, if you must double post to bring back a topic, you will lose 10% of a rep point, 10 doubles is 1 rep point lost.

I know what you're thinking eh!

So, legodac is nuts, why not just ask someone else to post in the topic you want rejuvenated?

That will cost you too, or not, the point is; I made you think about two things
Double posting and rep points
Let's make rep points really count for something besides a number, then perhaps others will be more apt to build in a contest considering the points they win will help them do several other things here

Get it? Have you got it? Good!

The theme of double posting was the catalyst here, the topic is really about what we could do with Rep points to encourage participation from more members.

Rep points already do more than just be a number. =P

Thanks captain Obvious, I can see that, I'm suggesting they do a little more

Cool, I think only that the rep system at present is a reward system that seems to do not very much.
I think if we were to somehow revamp the system, we would have a noticeable gain in user turnout and attendance and dare I say interest.

So yes R8, one rep could equal say, 10,000 Mycredits, we need to explore and hear more ideas.
The bottom line is, is that this is a good idea, let's make an MLNO reputation point mean a little more.

Other rewards could also include the right to view the archives, others would grant you a special color in a username. The possibilities are actually endless, we just need to want to it.
 

I would like to see more usage of the rep system as well, and it is an item the staff has been discussing! Some of you may have noticed we have been adding ways to gain rep.

I would be concerned about the mechanics fo the double post thing, and the possibility of people abusing it.. (what the heck, so I loose some rep) so it would have to be something done BEFORE the post.
From that standpoint if the goal is to revive a worthy topic, I believe any staff member would be willing to post a "bump" post so that the topic could be revived without cost.

So lets look at this a different way..

What would be good uses of rep here at the MLNO???

I thank you all for giving this the attention it deserves. Perhaps the catalyst was when I returned after a long hiatus, I noticed a new contest Blade had started rewarding lots of rep to the winner and 2 for just entering.
I thought this was really cool. MsRR's second paragraph speaks of ridding us of my idea to make rep currency in a double posting theme, indeed, trash that and let's move on.

As I said earlier, since reps are being handed out in abundance and as reward to effort here, we need some ideas to use our reputations to promote and encourage the newcomer.

So, MsRR, looking at it from a different way, would you agree that rep points could do more?
This is indeed the hard point, for we are still a 2 dimensional place and the finding of uses for reps will not be easy.
Here's how I suggest we proceed, keeping in mind that rep points are an example and so are the suggestions, everything is changeable.

Example Suggestion #1:
5 rep points grants you the right to color in your username, yes, we already do, but now you pay for them.

Point in Fact #1: If you give reps for rewards, then it stands to reason that using that reward to get something you want even more will boost activity. Example, you give 10 rep to win a contest for an Moc, but the Moc'er doesn't care about rep, so they don't enter. If the Moc'er knows for example that 5 rep will allow them something else, you now have another entry to the contest.

Example Suggestion #2:
an additional 5 rep points will allow you to choose the color that is otherwise not available. (I wanted orange, CRX had it, truth is, well you figure it out)

Example Suggestion #3:
Rep points could be used as a status symbol and measure to enter VIP MOC contests. This would also encourage others to enter the regular contests to gain more rep to enter the VIP contest where perhaps larger gains will be the grand prize.

Example to #3 is simple, you would have The MLNO VIP MOC contest, 1,2,3,4, or 5 rep could be the entry fee.
different levels of this type of contest could be available.

I was going to do this in another topic or perhaps even privately, fact is, I've suggested this next idea before, and there are other forums who already do it with great success.

I think it's time to consider real prizes (boxes of Lego) as another way to enrich the forum.

So we need some more ideas from far smarter members than me,
What do think a rep could do, to make people say, that MLNO is the best, place to be?





   

There's already a way to get more colours though; it's just that with the current system, no-one's gotten to that stage yet. =P

Using it to state what contests you can enter is a very good idea; however, I don't believe that they should be taken away for that. Rep points aren't currency.

And the last part about real prizes will likely never happen; and I already mentioned part of the reason why in my interview topic. ;) If you want me to restate, it's partly on account I'm broke. =P

Where the money comes from is not the topic at the moment, the question is, if we had this in place, do you believe it would enrich the forum and keep members coming back to enter more Moc contests?

It might help; but what about those who enter them, and just reject the prize because they can't give out their addresses?

I know there's been multiple contests I'd've liked to have entered on BZP(And I have entered some); but I was fully prepared to give up the set prize, simply because it'd result in complicated stuff.

Legodac, as I mentioned previously, we are already discussing this in staff. 

which part MsRR, this is a complicated topic?

MsRR know's the answer to that first line, it's called a post box, incognito
A locked instruction post would give the Moc'er the path to enlightenment
1 mod is in charge of getting the money, buying and mailing the Lego, or 2 or 3 mods for that matter.
Money can still be sent without a sender knowing the receivers true identity

The word your looking for debunking this is not "complicated", the word is "effort"

No; it's called a 'long and hard debate with the parents'. You're not thinking about the kids who'd have to give up the prizes; because their parents won't let them hand out their address to people who are effectively strangers.

That's what I'm trying to get at here, with the privacy stuff.

LEGO doesn't do that any more.. and WE have said NO.

All that said, if we could get some publicity with a large scale contest we would be able to attract AFOL MOCers.

We still could not offer any prize that compromised privacy Raks.

Listen carefully guys, there is way to make this happen without violating privacy issues with parents and kids alike. Which reminds me, just what kids are you talking about here? Anyways, if EB can pull it off, so can we, which brings me to the most important question.

Would the Mods here like to see MLNO grow as big as EB? 

A simple question, in need of an answer.

EB is not in the USA. If we violate COPPA we could be shut down.

Please

Are you really asking us to RISK BEING SHUT DOWN after all we have been through?? Really??

1) Eurobricks is not in North America from what I understand(Hence, EuroBricks).

2) Eurobricks is huge; but that's not the only reason that they can have contests with prizes like those.

3) Eurobricks, last I checked, was more or less for people who weren't under the age of 13.

As for your other question; there are more TFoLs at the least than AFoLs here. Not so on Eurobricks. And I'm almost certain there are some people who aren't yet TFoLs; but who, I wouldn't know for certain.

Eurobricks does not allow members under the age of 18.

No, I'm not, and at the risk of repeating myself, and with all due respect, I have asked a simple question, for your answer dictates just how much effort I'm willing to provide.

Would the Mods here like to see MLNO grow as big as EB one day?

Yes or no?

I was thinking about that the other day.


If privacy is the issue, making people prove that they are over 18 somehow would work.

However, we are too small a forum right now. If we ever become a global comunity tho, it could work.

One thing that could work as a prize is upgrading one's account to Pro on Flickr if people are willing to provide it. It would at least provide some attention, and can be granted as a gift without trouble. It's 25 dollars tho.

This is WAY off topic..

But personally, no. I don't speak for all the mods, but I never wanted to be BZP either. This is a warm friendly community.. like a home town rather than a city. I like that. I am not opposed to growth at all.. but I do not want to be Eurobricks when we grow up.

Thank you and no, it's not way off topic, in fact it's right on if you read my first posts last line.

I needed this answer to know where we stand as a community, and trust me, there is always a way to get what yo want even though the law may say no in the first place. I don't mean illegal, I mean creative ways to simply send Lego, I'm not through with this yet, but I will not speak of it until I have a concrete answer for you all.

Raks idea is cool, thanks buddy, you just proved a point.

So, bot, rep points, currency may not be the answer, so why don't we explore another avenue, any ideas?

ps. I heard you R8, wise words, though I wasn't talking about content, simply size and member count, a question you the mods have been debating since my arrival

Oh boy...

Legodac's last post:

1. No. If it's against the law... no. It's not happening. Nada.

3. What are you talking about now, uses for Rep Points?

Legodac, the staff has not been debating size or member count, so whoever gave you that information is way off base.


As for rep points, when the staff is done figuring out the mechanics of it, we WILL open an official topic for suggestions and discussion.

As was said previously.

:) Are you done yet?  ??? ;)

(http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv176/legodac/IMG_7130.jpg)

Are we there yet?

No, it hasn't exactly been on the priority list so far; but it likely will be on a list to get to. It's a case of, "For the moment, it works; but it needs to be reworked". Because it works now, it's not a huge priority, but when time is on our side, then it'll definitely have a second look taken at it.

I have an idea for solving the double posting predicament Legodac brought up: Instead of 'paying for it', the person who made the last post in the topic has to wait a day to make a new one, unless somebody else posts in the topic before 24 hours are up. That way, good topics won't be left hanging.

As far as rep is concerned, I don't really care what happens to it, so long as it isn't abused.

The problem I see with this is tha a mod still has to enforce it.. and send a PM or something.

As far as I can see the deleting the second of two posts by the same author is working fine... the punishment is that because they did not modify the first post, their words do not get seen by the forum.
I am pretty sure that people who care will learn to remember to modify. And as always, if a bump is needed, pm a staff member to make a bump post...

Sure, the moderators will have to enforce it, like any other aspect of the forum. I'm not exactly understanding why this is a problem. Every time a topic has been recently posted in, it appears on the home page, correct? All a moderator will have to do is check out the new post as advertised by the home page, and decide whether or not it adds more to the conversation as it is, or if it has to be modified.

I think the reason why people double post is to, as you said, 'bump' the topic to the home page so it can be seen readily. Does modifying a post bump the topic, as well? No (or at least, I don't think it does). That's the predicament as I see it for why people want to double post. They want their words to be addressed quickly by the forum. Waiting for someone to notice that their post has been modified isn't very expedient.

As long as the double post isn't just "bump", I think it should be allowed to stand, especially if the reason of the double post is explained by the user. I've been on plenty of forums where people can post twice in a row. As long as the two posts side by side are not identical to each other (like if there was a glitch with the reply button), the posts stood. It didn't faze the moderators nor did it create complaints by the users.

The double post rule was here before I was a member... and we now allow them in some areas.
This topic has become kind of twisted around and gone way off where it started.
It should probably be locked.

As for the double posts..we have no "merge" tool with this software, so we have to manually copy the new stuff, open the first post, paste, save, delete. Which is OK if it is someone new, who doesn't know yet.
But not OK when someone makes 7 double posts in one day. Or three or four  in a row in one topic.

We will still merge "innocent" double posts, but for members who know better.. it should be deleted.

You both make strong points