An idea to increase board revenues/cut down on nonsense.
I recently began viewing gamers on a platform called Twitch.tv. I don't know much about it....still....but apparently there is a mechanism by which the longer you stay on the platform as a lurker or commentator or participant into some of the games, the more "currency" you build up in your account. The currency is not legal tender, of course...its only usable on the platform. And content providers can "gift" you tokens or whatever to use in the chatroom. Again, I'm not 100% sure about any of this...I have just gotten into the platform.
Translating to USMB; why not eventually move to a system that does the same thing here. Each day give members two tokens until they top out at 15 tokens (14 tokens a week plus 1 for just being a member). You can never have more than 15 tokens. Each thread you start in Zone 1 or Zone 2 will cost you a token and you can only use a maximum number of five tokens in a 24 hour period. Move the topics that are not highly visited to Zone 3 (TV/Movies, Books, Canada, Middle East, Podcasts etc...) Make the basement a Zone 4. Members can start as many threads as they want--token free--in Zones 3 and 4. If people feel the need to post a lot, they can buy more tokens (a 3 pack for $0.99 for example). But the maximum number of threads you can start in Zone 1 and Zone 2 is 5 in a 24 hour period.
During peak times--national elections, supreme court vacancies, civil unrest, etc... you can lift the limits if you want of course. People will have more to say at these times and the stories usually have more than one POV.
Anyone who is here often would likely attest that many threads are started in Zone 1 and 2 with completely ridiculous opening posts and the threads quickly develop into insult-fests. It is what it is and the powers that be seem to be okay with it. But perhaps a move like this would make people more judicious about the amount of crap threads they wish to start.
Anyone who is here often can also identify multiple threads that have no business being in politics. They are put there by the poster because that is where the most viewers are located. Perhaps a move like this will lead to some self-editing. If you really want to post about how Hollywood sucks...post it in the movie section; not politics.
Anyone who is here often can also attest that a large number of threads are started on the same topic. I don't think I'm being overly dramatic when I say that the redundancy is one of the larger problems on the board. Threads are closed by the moderators saying "already a topic on this". Sometimes the threads are merged. Sometimes not. While it seems silly to simply lock a thread because it's redundant, it seems that some self-policing would help the matter. If you only have 5 bullets in your gun so to speak instead of a limitless amount; you become more selective on starting a thread where there are a half dozen active ones in Zones 1 and 2 already.
Finally, the selling of tokens would help raise monies for the board. Supporting memberships is fine and those that do...more power to you. But I think the benefits are somewhat obscure if existent at all. Translate that membership into something tangible. Maybe create a members only panel if and when board feedback is sought. Maybe lift the 5 post a day limit to those who are contributing regularly. There is a lot of options in an economy. The hardest step is to create one to start with.
I recently began viewing gamers on a platform called Twitch.tv. I don't know much about it....still....but apparently there is a mechanism by which the longer you stay on the platform as a lurker or commentator or participant into some of the games, the more "currency" you build up in your account. The currency is not legal tender, of course...its only usable on the platform. And content providers can "gift" you tokens or whatever to use in the chatroom. Again, I'm not 100% sure about any of this...I have just gotten into the platform.
Translating to USMB; why not eventually move to a system that does the same thing here. Each day give members two tokens until they top out at 15 tokens (14 tokens a week plus 1 for just being a member). You can never have more than 15 tokens. Each thread you start in Zone 1 or Zone 2 will cost you a token and you can only use a maximum number of five tokens in a 24 hour period. Move the topics that are not highly visited to Zone 3 (TV/Movies, Books, Canada, Middle East, Podcasts etc...) Make the basement a Zone 4. Members can start as many threads as they want--token free--in Zones 3 and 4. If people feel the need to post a lot, they can buy more tokens (a 3 pack for $0.99 for example). But the maximum number of threads you can start in Zone 1 and Zone 2 is 5 in a 24 hour period.
During peak times--national elections, supreme court vacancies, civil unrest, etc... you can lift the limits if you want of course. People will have more to say at these times and the stories usually have more than one POV.
Anyone who is here often would likely attest that many threads are started in Zone 1 and 2 with completely ridiculous opening posts and the threads quickly develop into insult-fests. It is what it is and the powers that be seem to be okay with it. But perhaps a move like this would make people more judicious about the amount of crap threads they wish to start.
Anyone who is here often can also identify multiple threads that have no business being in politics. They are put there by the poster because that is where the most viewers are located. Perhaps a move like this will lead to some self-editing. If you really want to post about how Hollywood sucks...post it in the movie section; not politics.
Anyone who is here often can also attest that a large number of threads are started on the same topic. I don't think I'm being overly dramatic when I say that the redundancy is one of the larger problems on the board. Threads are closed by the moderators saying "already a topic on this". Sometimes the threads are merged. Sometimes not. While it seems silly to simply lock a thread because it's redundant, it seems that some self-policing would help the matter. If you only have 5 bullets in your gun so to speak instead of a limitless amount; you become more selective on starting a thread where there are a half dozen active ones in Zones 1 and 2 already.
Finally, the selling of tokens would help raise monies for the board. Supporting memberships is fine and those that do...more power to you. But I think the benefits are somewhat obscure if existent at all. Translate that membership into something tangible. Maybe create a members only panel if and when board feedback is sought. Maybe lift the 5 post a day limit to those who are contributing regularly. There is a lot of options in an economy. The hardest step is to create one to start with.
