Thread: Suggestion: Staff Username Markup

I agree that there should be some identifying markup. Currently, I would have no clue that you are an Administrator, Shenron and I think it's important to know who is who while browsing threads.

Originally Posted by Savage X

You can disable words like that from being used via the AdminCP.

We've already disabled them.

Will's cleared markup. Enabling it over the next half hour.

Be patient. I'm going to have to tweak users, groups, and displays to make them actually work.

I guess its filtered now as super mods are in bold Green, and Admins are in Dark Blue bold. Looking pretty decent.

I'd like to move this conversation from the technical level to the philosophical level for a bit.

One of the things I've seen kill online communities is a classist distinction between the staff and the members. We have tried very hard to build systems which would minimize conflict between the staff and the members.

Our "culture" here at NB has always been one where we "let the inmates run the asylum" as much as possible. We're all inmates here; you, me, everyone.

Most of us don't display our "staff" titles, because we're people first and staff second (or third, or fourth, or fifth, ...). I'm Will. Regardless of any other responsibilities I may have taken on, I'm just a meatsicle like everyone else.

On the other hand...

On the other hand, everything I have read about building online communities says to build tiered levels of ranks and privileges, because people like to be recognized.

Following that model, we should soon add Mentors and other identifiers for contributing members.

Online communities are still so new that no one really knows what systems work best. Heck, in the offline world people are still arguing collectivism vs. free markets.

Where does this take us?

So, do we really want to segregate our members by making them different colors?

I could, and have, argued either way.

What do you think?

I'm inclined to agree. I would rather we not focus on titles. To date, we've only really utilized mod and admin access for forum maintenance.

Responses to Announcements and Suggestions aren't less useful because a non-mod responds. I don't want people ignored because their handles don't use markup.

As always, we will implement what the members want, but let's make absolutely certain our members really want this feature.

The groups have been updated to accurately reflect roles.

I'm going to disable the feature for now. Let me know what the Netbuilder's decide!

Originally Posted by Will.Spencer

I'd like to move this conversation from the technical level to the philosophical level for a bit.

One of the things I've seen kill online communities is a classist distinction between the staff and the members. We have tried very hard to build systems which would minimize conflict between the staff and the members.

Our "culture" here at NB has always been one where we "let the inmates run the asylum" as much as possible. We're all inmates here; you, me, everyone.

Most of us don't display our "staff" titles, because we're people first and staff second (or third, or fourth, or fifth, ...). I'm Will. Regardless of any other responsibilities I may have taken on, I'm just a meatsicle like everyone else.

On the other hand...

On the other hand, everything I have read about building online communities says to build tiered levels of ranks and privileges, because people like to be recognized.

Following that model, we should soon add Mentors and other identifiers for contributing members.

Online communities are still so new that no one really knows what systems work best. Heck, in the offline world people are still arguing collectivism vs. free markets.

Where does this take us?

So, do we really want to segregate our members by making them different colors?

I could, and have, argued either way.

What do you think?

Hmm I like the idea of caling people meatsicles No idea what one is, but I'm sure it can't be any worse than Meatwad off that one show.

Originally Posted by Coastercraze

Hmm I like the idea of caling people meatsicles No idea what one is, but I'm sure it can't be any worse than Meatwad off that one show.

Aqua Teen Hunger Force!!!!

The fact that I don' know who all the moderators are on NB is something that I actually really like. It allows for a more open community where everyone's posts are of equal importance.

If you mark the admins' posts to show that they are in fact admins, people have a tendency to think that whatever "they" say is always right, which would limit the amount of fruitful discussions in my opinion.

I vote for keeping things as they are... I don't need to know who the mods are when I'm reading a thread. When I do need to know, I can always look it up and contact any of them via PM.

My question would be, why do you need to know the mods when you are reading a thread?

I have to agree have a simple page listing the mods,, admins etc like it is was good enough so if someone needed to pm one they could. A side from that I agree with tmongy the way it was is a good setup. No need for extra recognition.

Would say become an active member and you learn who they are in time.