Suggestion: New Supporter Features & Infraction Suggestions

[Melody]

Ok, as a Supporter and someone who doesn't use PMs very much, 1000 PMs sets me for life so to speak. I do delete some PMs despite having space to keep them though...because sent PMs do fill up the bulk of the box. I have had to minimize my PM box several times since I became tier 5, so it's not like I never PM people.

So yeah, even as a supporter with a much bigger PM inbox, I STILL feel the members' pain.

To the few naysayers to this idea who are standing in the crowd, I urge you to try and have a long and meaningful PM conversation with someone you care about. I guarantee you, it'll fill your PM box really quick, and you'll find SOME little nugget that you won't want to delete once you re-read it.

Sure, you can back up those PMs in several formats on your computer, but if you've ever tried to read one of those files without some sort of help by a program other than notepad or your browser, you know it just isn't the same...because the data is simply in machine-importable format, meaning you can import it into a program somewhere and lay it back out. But most of us aren't going to do that or go to that trouble.

 

[Kura]

Sometimes it's also nice to have the original because then you can forward it if ever a situation arises. I know I've had to do that before with PMs that were 2 years old before a situation arose and I had to forward it over. I understand that you could copy and paste it to a text file, but then the words become easily fabricated. @_@ And.. I really don't expect to be taking 150 screenshots (or more if the PM is long) and then if I have to retype all the contents out again if I needed to show it to someone or if I need to copy/paste important information.

I thank Patchisou Yutohru for agreeing with my idea that the PM box could be bigger for every year or two that passes for the reasons he had mentioned. I mentioned before that the regular 150 is probably fine for a member who is only a year old.. and for every year that passes they could get bumped up 50pm space if they really need it up till a 300PM limit or something (it doesn't raise after that) um..

Another idea could be also to have like the emblem request thing but in a way on how it USED to be set up.. (like having to have a prerequisite so you can get it) so that we're not arbitrarily (sp?) bumping up inactive members' boxes or boxes of members who have permanently left PC.
So, for example, after a member has been around for 3 years or something (or whatever the criteria the mods decide on) a member can then go into the thread and say "Could I get my PM box bumped 100 more slots of space?" and the mods could do it.

I understand that this would then be work for moderators.. but I'm just offering a suggestion.

Because if all members get this from the get-go.. it then becomes standard.. and not a "perk" @_@ Just like VMs are now standard and not a "wow look what PC got" sorta thing anymore.

Hope my thoughts are heard!

 

[Dragonite Ernston]

As for accumlating the total of 25 infractions for a permanent ban... it's there so that people who wait until their infraction has expired... to break the rule again and repeat it over and over again so they would avoid getting banned, that's why it's there for a reason. Anyone who gets an infraction... would be all like "oh no, I got an infraction, ok... I now know not to do it again". Some of the mods may be much nicer and warn you before hand, which most do. So yeah... everything is fine here at PC. ^^

Personally, I think the 25-infraction rule is kind of pointless if you're doing it for the sake of punishing repeat offenders.

A better method (at least in my opinion) would be to increase the point value (and expiry time!) of repeated infractions. That way, the banning tiers could be linearly spaced too (i.e. 5-10-15-20), instead of the 9-15-18-20 system we currently have.

But no, the infractions should never be completely erased - they should just stay inactive after a while.

At the very least, don't have just one tier (permaban) for "number of infractions". It's too prone to disproportionate punishment in the case of a 5- to 6-year member, as other people said.

(But who am I kidding, I've only been active on here for a month myself.)

 

[Melody]

Well here's my thought. What if we added a limit of 3 ACTIVE infractions?
This would catch someone who got dinged by small infractions that don't amount to an honest ban. 3 active infractions would ban you until the infractions expired.

That way, if the infraction has expired it won't need to count. you'd be permabanned before you could rack up enough minor infractions to be an honest nuisance...and longer standing infractions would be worse than the short ones, for good reason.

This way, the points based bans can be left for situations where their previous offenses warrant an automatic ban of whatever length. Like the instant death permaban for posting porn, but based upon previous infraction history. If someone has 5 dead infractions, it's not unreasonable to pop them with a 9 pointer and put them in the clink for two weeks for breaking a minor rule more than once...even if those dead infractions are a year old.

Really I think that once an infraction expires, it shouldn't really affect you much. It's only there to help the staff member decide if he/she wants to ding you for 3pts/3wks or 9pts/3mos. (Auto-ban special), or if you're especially dense, a custom infraction that will earn the longer haul bans (Mega/perma-ban special?)...and last appropriately as long against your points total.

The 25 Historic infractions limit could easily become a problematic thing in the future, especially as accounts age and veterans slip up frequently enough to be infracted for minor things but, never really build points enough, or repeat the offense enough to be a problem. Because since mods and staff are not required to hand an official/verbal warning before skipping to infractions, and are more likely to just red slap you if you're an older member...it's tough. I've been infracted for an honest mistake without so much as a "hey, did you notice that rule?" despite the fact that I don't regularly post in the section...just because I'm a card carrying PC veteran, which is really an honest crying shame. I understand being that harsh on n00bs who DIDN'T read the rules at all...but nicking someone because they missed a rules update because they don't visit that section is a little too tough in my opinion, and it's not fair to tell the mods to avoid being that way...because it's not always that they're being too hard.

I hate seeing people leave PC, especially when they just got handed a permaban for what amounts to being an imperfect member for too long. :<

 

[Dragonite Ernston]

Well here's my thought. What if we added a limit of 3 ACTIVE infractions?

Make it 4 and you've got my vote. (Kids from Room 402 reference, if you don't know that show, you're not going to get this.)

The reason for this is because 3 minor infractions are almost never going to add up to 9 points. And the ban from 3 active infractions might even be more than the 2-week ban earned from getting 9 points - for example, bypassing the swear filter three times would result in a ban of maximum 4 months.

 

[Platinum Lucario]

After thinking about it, it made me realize... after from reading Pachy's post. I'm starting to worry how the 25 historical perma-ban would have an impact on the members in the future.

Hm... Pachy's right! This is what really made me try to steer clear of the infractions ever since the very beginning. Which of course... the 25 historical perma-ban might just seem as if it's not happening, but just think of the old members in the future if they ever got slapped with another infraction? It makes me worry about the old members that did so many simple mistakes in previous years and are back on track again. I've got a friend who has already been slapped with an infraction for theft and signature rule violation, which is a permanent 6 point infraction. In the future, what happens if that old member breaks a rule and he or she is nearing 25 expired infractions after not getting an infraction for so long? There can always be people that end up developing a mental illness, then of course getting into trouble. I've met so many people who have come down with those disorders... and I can tell you... it's pretty bad... and if someone has been on PC for very long and never gotten an infraction for so long and has almost got 25 infractions... one more simple infraction would immediately get them booted out of the forum without even a second chance after so long they've been posting without getting one for a long time. Sometimes... some people end up developing some mental illness such as bipolar disorder or anxiety without them even realizing that they're doing something so terrible and then thinking to themselves "what is going wrong with me?". And I can tell you all... how awful it can be. It just feels to me like that 25 infraction perma-ban is PC's way of telling everyone that they should leave at some certain point. It just feels... rather harsh... I think everyone in the staff headquarters should really think about this one, because it really does feel as if it could become a problem in the future, if we don't do something about it sooner or later... PC would end up becoming less popular. Just think... SPPf does not have a perma-ban for users that have gotten to a certain number of infractions. And that is an example of fairness they have towards the forum. Every infraction is actually meant to expire and for the person to learn from their lesson and after it cools off, it's supposed to be not done again. If someone was to take advantage of it just as soon as the infraction expires... they should be given more points for it than have a 25 expired infractions perma-ban.

Just think of it... I care about everyone so much, regardless of how bad they are... and I'm sure alot of others do too and what would worry me the most... is someone nearing 25 expired infractions from many years ago and then getting one by breaking a rule in which they didn't realize. I'd sure wouldn't like that to happen to anyone. D:

~Davin (aka Platinum Lucario)

 

[Ho-Oh]

After thinking about it, it made me realize... after from reading Pachy's post. I'm starting to worry how the 25 historical perma-ban would have an impact on the members in the future.

Hm... Pachy's right! This is what really made me try to steer clear of the infractions ever since the very beginning. Which of course... the 25 historical perma-ban might just seem as if it's not happening, but just think of the old members in the future if they ever got slapped with another infraction? It makes me worry about the old members that did so many simple mistakes in previous years and are back on track again. I've got a friend who has already been slapped with an infraction for theft and signature rule violation, which is a permanent 6 point infraction. In the future, what happens if that old member breaks a rule and he or she is nearing 25 expired infractions after not getting an infraction for so long? There can always be people that end up developing a mental illness, then of course getting into trouble. I've met so many people who have come down with those disorders... and I can tell you... it's pretty bad... and if someone has been on PC for very long and never gotten an infraction for so long and has almost got 25 infractions... one more simple infraction would immediately get them booted out of the forum without even a second chance after so long they've been posting without getting one for a long time. Sometimes... some people end up developing some mental illness such as bipolar disorder or anxiety without them even realizing that they're doing something so terrible and then thinking to themselves "what is going wrong with me?". And I can tell you all... how awful it can be. It just feels to me like that 25 infraction perma-ban is PC's way of telling everyone that they should leave at some certain point. It just feels... rather harsh... I think everyone in the staff headquarters should really think about this one, because it really does feel as if it could become a problem in the future, if we don't do something about it sooner or later... PC would end up becoming less popular. Just think... SPPf does not have a perma-ban for users that have gotten to a certain number of infractions. And that is an example of fairness they have towards the forum. Every infraction is actually meant to expire and for the person to learn from their lesson and after it cools off, it's supposed to be not done again. If someone was to take advantage of it just as soon as the infraction expires... they should be given more points for it than have a 25 expired infractions perma-ban.

Just think of it... I care about everyone so much, regardless of how bad they are... and I'm sure alot of others do too and what would worry me the most... is someone nearing 25 expired infractions from many years ago and then getting one by breaking a rule in which they didn't realize. I'd sure wouldn't like that to happen to anyone. D:

~Davin (aka Platinum Lucario)

o___O People shouldn't be getting anywhere near 25 infractions and even in your example, there's a 1% chance that'll actually happen because chances are, the person won't earn 23 or so infractions before they get this "illness". In which case by their 1st - or sadly in some cases, 10th infraction they probably would've gotten the point already and maybe read the rules once in a while.

Really, if somebody has earnt anywhere near 20 infractions in their entire time on here, then... there's not much going for them, cause some people have been active here for 7 years or so and still don't have an infraction.

25 is a perfectly reasonable number and that won't be changing. And you sure you're not getting the points added up permaban mixed up with the amount of expired infractions someone's recieved?

 

[Mew~]

Well i've gotten loads of infractions in the past, i've pretty much changed from my wild side.

This topic is very interesting :/