Community Development Team - Rank?

Hey folks!
Currently I'm joint-leader of the Community Development Team on Sythe.org. We strive to strengthen the community in terms of general participancy as well as community oriented events. This includes, but is not limited to, the Official Sythe.org Lottery, SytheMonthly newsletter, Members of the Month system and ranks, monthly tournaments (pool, battleships, checkers) and ranks, Annual Sythe Awards and ranks, Scavenger Hunt, etc.

Recently members in the team have addressed the following concerns.

• People don't know who we are
  Our thread here: http://www.sythe.org/community-general/1587147-community-development-team-members-our-aim.html is the only tool available to members which offers insight as to who we are.
• A lot of work is put in voluntarily without much reward
  Granted, that's what they signed up for, but a valid point nonetheless.
• Participancy
  More awareness of who we are could lead to increased suggestions, increased sponsorship for prizes & general awareness of what we do in the community.

The solution: a "Community Development Team Member" fun-rank.
Each CDT member would have this, allowing people to identify us and a more of a "big deal" to be made of the team and what we do.

So, we bring this issue to you, the Sythe community.
What are your concerns about this concept? Do you think it's necessary? Do you have any alternative suggestions?

I'll answer all responses, questions and feedback as best I can on behalf of the CDT Thanks!


Concerns addressed:

Wont people abuse these ranks to gain trust?
Each member selected for the team is assessed by upper-staff as it is. No member is added, with the exception to staff members, without an overall staff majority ruling them acceptable. The members on the team are, in our eyes, already deemed trustworthy.
You're only suggesting this because you're gaining from it.
It's hardly a huge gain compared to all the work that's put in. Speaking for myself, there's always something I'm going out of my way to do for the Sythe community. The same goes for all the members, it takes more than it may appear to host one event. Some sort of recognition would be nice in return for all our efforts. Not only that, but members of the community are given ample opportunity to apply and become part of the team at regular intervals.

 

Might as well award people for offering their free time to help the community.
I voted yes.

 

Voted yes, this will also play a huge factor on people donating to events.

 

Ill vote yes, you guys are putting loads of effort to the community. always been fun to read it!

they absolutely deserve it

 

Voted yes, these guys 100% deserve something for their time, keeping the community active.

 

Sure, why not?

 

Good lord it's like ue all over again...

People will join it just for the rank. Just saying.

 

I would rather see a mini-rank, but a fun rank is fine by me. Granted that it will be removed once abused.

 

People wont be accepted unless we can see they're community oriented and capable.

Most people ignore them because there are so many mini-ranks.

Naturally. Abusing members would be dropped instantly anywho.

 

/5char

 

People can't just join. We don't let people join simply because they express interest. Everyone is scrutinised, and voted upon, aside being deliberated over by upper staff (as Roary stated).

Support.

 

Sorry, just have 1 thing to address:

I remember when OGV ranks were made, all hell broke loose. (as you can see from this thread)

Isn't this suggestion kind of similar to that?

 

I would support a minirank, but not a fun rank. Voted no on this. It's UE/OGV all over again. NO.

Sums up my feelings exactly. I've been around long enough to know EXACTLY how this is going to turn out.

 

I brought this up with Richard yesterday (which I assume is how it got brought up to you), and I completely agree. They do some good work at improving the community, and earn no recognition.

As for "just give them a mini-rank", those are just used for fun and stupid things, it'd be useless as no one would even notice it. Just make it a normal rank.

 

voted yes.

 

Mini ranks are pretty worthless; and due to the nature of how they are used and introduced, they hold little to no value at all. Personally, mini-ranks hold no value at current.

Dialatic sums it up pretty much.

 

Anyone who was active when OGV and UE were and had ranks, knows this is a bad idea.

 

Spot on.

Doesnt matter. It would be like UE and OGV. Regardless of whether or not people are screened for it, it will still be joining for the rank. I guarantee before long people will be using [Trusted][CDT member] tags in market threads.

And for the argument that it is alot of work for very little reward.... no shit. If you want to offer to help out the community, then do so. Not sure why there needs to be a rank to encourage people to do so. I think the concept of a CDT is great. It shows who really gives a shit about the site, primarily BECAUSE OF THE FACT that there is no reward associated with it. If you implement a rank, then it will attract the rank chasers and ruin the process, becoming just another breeding ground for staff hopefuls. I was a UE back in the day, and I headed up the original creation of the OGV team and guides section. Been there, seen it, and having a rank will just make it retarded.

 

Quoted for truth. This is my opinion verbatim.

To CDT Members:

You joined CDT to try and improve the site because you wanted to. NOT to be a rank whore. You knew when you applied, what you were applying for. If the rank is implemented, there will be people trying to get in just for the rank. There will be people abusing this rank as a trust symbol, and ultimately we'll end right back where we were with UE/OGV, and the rank will be removed.

Avoid the drama and the bullshit, and save us as admins the hassle of implementing this then subsequently cleaning up the mess after it goes to shit.

 

Voted no to fun rank. Yes they donate time but I think a mini rank would be seen as trust in the community. A minirank would suffice think bond holders only have a mini rank and indicating that someone can process donations exceeds the importance of CDT member in my opinion so for those reasons I vote minirank.