'Rep' is not a core component of the forum software. We used a third party modification and plugged it in. The developer sold it to a company in Vietnam who have subsequently been found guilty of shenanigans and been expelled from providing modifications for the forum software we use.
Given its not supported, its living on borrowed time as with every update performed on the forum software, the reputation system becomes more vulnerable and more unstable.
I was hoping an alternative would come along, it hasn't.
So, two choices.
A) Find/pay a custom developer to build our own.
B) Bin it.
I'm exploring A, prior to B.
To assist with the build of a brief, I'm trialing the use of the reputation/points system as an aid to moderating.
Currently, members can earn points through an array of activity. Volume of posts, connecting their GOT account to social accounts,new member referrals, earning 'Likes' for their posts through the community as well as the reputation system.
These points, don't really mean anything at the moment.
The intention at some point is for them to aid the forum community. I'd like to think that someone who is held in high regard on the forum, could also help aid the moderating of the forum. To explain...
The reputation system is tiered. New members can't use it, verified members (after X amount of approved posts) can use it, but only +1/-1, forum supporters can use it +10/-10.
Carrying this model forward, I'm thinking there could be 5/10 members, with points over a certain threshold, or nominated through the membership - can use reputation to +100/-100. Posts which receive -100 posts, would fall into a moderating queue for review. Posts with +100, would be placed into a prominent 'Featured Discussion' section.
Outside the aid to moderating, I'm hopeful one day the point system (which not rep system contributes to) can also be a reward system. - x amount of points receive a GOT mug, x amount receive something from Campo Retro, x amount receive a free bet with Predikta/Paddy Power... you get the concept.
So, expect changes to reputation system configuration while I test out functionality as I build a developer brief.
Given its not supported, its living on borrowed time as with every update performed on the forum software, the reputation system becomes more vulnerable and more unstable.
I was hoping an alternative would come along, it hasn't.
So, two choices.
A) Find/pay a custom developer to build our own.
B) Bin it.
I'm exploring A, prior to B.
To assist with the build of a brief, I'm trialing the use of the reputation/points system as an aid to moderating.
Currently, members can earn points through an array of activity. Volume of posts, connecting their GOT account to social accounts,new member referrals, earning 'Likes' for their posts through the community as well as the reputation system.
These points, don't really mean anything at the moment.
The intention at some point is for them to aid the forum community. I'd like to think that someone who is held in high regard on the forum, could also help aid the moderating of the forum. To explain...
The reputation system is tiered. New members can't use it, verified members (after X amount of approved posts) can use it, but only +1/-1, forum supporters can use it +10/-10.
Carrying this model forward, I'm thinking there could be 5/10 members, with points over a certain threshold, or nominated through the membership - can use reputation to +100/-100. Posts which receive -100 posts, would fall into a moderating queue for review. Posts with +100, would be placed into a prominent 'Featured Discussion' section.
Outside the aid to moderating, I'm hopeful one day the point system (which not rep system contributes to) can also be a reward system. - x amount of points receive a GOT mug, x amount receive something from Campo Retro, x amount receive a free bet with Predikta/Paddy Power... you get the concept.
So, expect changes to reputation system configuration while I test out functionality as I build a developer brief.