Guild Hall discussion

JuntaJoe · Site Admin

When we finally get the ribbons done, I will open the Guild Hall.

At LS we had the Ribbons Club. This is the general idea for the Guild Hall. It will be a place for discussion of forum problems of a social nature and as a member courtroom.

The idea being to allow senior members to bring up issues and participate in the governance of the forum. The concept of a member court is to ensure the feeling of fairness in resolving member disputes, grievances, and bad behavior. Anytime a mod or admin tackles a significant behavior issue, the members involved will be allowed to take the matter to member court and get a group decision to resolve the issue.

Now let me be clear about the Guild Hall. I expect it to be rather dead even after a year of implementation. Why? Almost everyone here will rate membership. Discussing n00b problems when there are no n00bs is pretty pointless. And I expect we have all grown used to each other enough to avoid major meltdown flames. This will be more about cementing the core group for when we decide to connect the site to outside outlets to bring in newcomers. And that will not even be tackled for many months to come.

The hurdle for membership will be the Achievement medal system. I've already discussed with Brf that I will be combining some of the old Achievement Medals to reduce the number and including a "Inaugural" core group medal as well. That latter medal's criteria hasn't been defined yet, but having a certain number of membership ribbons and joining within the first few months will bag the ribbon. I'll be happy to open the discussion on setting the criteria here if anyone wants to. I just want to ensure that later members can't squeeze through on a technicality and it doesn't look like a complete elitist gimmee either. The way I see it, this core group has mostly proved its commitment on prior boards that they don't need to jump through hoops to prove their value. But newcomers I do want to prove their worth before giving valued opinions to management and sitting in judgement of other members.

But as I wander down the member list, I do see some members that were only part of LS and no other boards. They weren't all that active either. I may ask them to step up and be more active before passing them the Inaugural Medal.

One thing that board won't become is the "announcement/help" board. This will remain the board for technical issues and discussing layouts and board uses. Everything in its proper place, eh?

Ok, now I'll open this for duscussion. Things like rules, entrance requirements, member court proceedures, and other potential uses for the board are wide open for comment.

Brf · Site Admin

I have to laugh when thinking about flaming any of youse.... despite your poor understanding of proper politics Wink

JuntaJoe · Site Admin

Me?

No grasp of politics?

Cripes! My own co-admin just put a shot across my bow. Laughing

jimmyreb · Squire

that and giving us an example of some good flaming. :o

tsk tsk Razz

JuntaJoe · Site Admin

Ok, fun's over.

I'd like to see some discussion on the Guild Hall.

I can simply do all the rules myself, but that hardly makes it a group club now does it?

It's everyone's club, so everyone should give their input.

Additionally, should we ever need to drum up a member court, wouldn't you like to see some rules everyone agreed on?

NibbyCat · Knight Lord

I'm still new to this group, y'all have a previous history with each other from Cafe Tropico and I didn't really understand all the sub-issues on LS. While we're in the discussions, I'd rather be the "Devil's Advocate", the one who expresses how a new person might feel/think about something.

JuntaJoe · Site Admin

That's fine with me, but we would need the "insider" perspective first in order for you to play the advocate.

What you could do before the herd finally gets involved is post some desires and fears that an outsider might have on first learning such a club exists. Without knowing the particulars, what would hope the club exists for, contains, and what might worry you?

Just start with the basic premise that you just joined the clan a few days ago.

Then you hear there is a closed board for long term members that you can't access.

You are told you can't get in until you have a long term track record of participation and service.

You are told it is where senior members confer with management over social interaction problems and is where "trials" are held for misbehaviour.

That's all you get as the person responding isn't very talkative and it's a slow time of day.

Now playing devil's advocate, what are you initial thoughts, fears, and hopes on the whole concept?

This may help us understand an outsider's opinion on the mere existence of the place and post notes in the Drawbidge to allay fears and accept that it exists even though the newcomer can't get in.

NibbyCat · Knight Lord

Questions:
How long would a person have to be a member before they are automatically in?

Can a person earn membership in the Guild early by doing a project(s)?

If it's made clear that the Guild Hall isn't another fun part, and that it is more of a tribunal area, most reasonable people wouldn't be upset at being left out.

Actually, another community I'm on has some areas that are for people with special status (for whatever reason), but those areas don't show in the main board for people who don't have access to the hidden areas. There is NO secret that these areas exist, it makes sense that the moderators would need a private area, and that people with special subscriptions want more immediate access to the head honcho.

Che · Knight Bachelor

My only thought is why not create usergroups for any special needs/interests of the membership.

This is the purpose of usergroups.

Don't rub it in people's faces... if it can be easily avoided Wink

AriesQtPie · Knight Bachelor

jimmyreb · Squire

I recall this issue, I was in before Mel, b/c for some reason I got an award that permitted me access... I think we are a small enough group that technicalities (sp?) like that shouldn't screw us up like that.

JuntaJoe · Site Admin

You got in JR because you created a banner for the site. The criteria for entry back then was a specific act of service.

This time around, I'll be issuing that inaugural medal for this crew.

I've reviewed the member list and only see two members I'm concerned about. Paintballer never seems to get past the rpg section. That was the same at LS. If I can get him to branch out a bit more here then I'd feel comfortable letting him have that inaugural medal. The other is Jason. He's my nephew and would likely not care much about exclusion. He keeps a membership essentially as a way to look at the tech section and as an emergency mouthpiece for me. He also is my alternate as admin should I have life troubles for an extended length of time. If he ended being active it would be because I've gone AWOL and inserted him in to work with Brf to represent my interests. Him not getting into the Guild then is really a non-issue.

So other than getting Paintballer to get around a bit more, this whole clan will get in.

Everyone here right now will be bypassing any future hurdles we toss up.

So that's what I want to discuss. The hurdles we place in front of members who join that weren't part of the old crew. They won't get the inaugural medal and will need to earn some other Achievement medal to get into the Guild.

The other Achievement medals will be few in number this time around. I'll probably give out one for the Cafe fiasco and the rest will be for service. Given that new members won't have the background to claim either the Cafe or Inaugural medal, new members will need to perform a service to get into the Guild.

So what does everyone think a proper service would be to qualify as a Guild member?

JuntaJoe · Site Admin

Ok, I didn't get much theoretical feedback on the Guild.

Perhaps practical feedback will be easier.

I've been building the Guild charter today, finally.

Yep, I've been a slacker. But the work is moving now.

Please review my work and speak up.

I have no problem with creating the charter, but the charter is more yours than mine. Since Brf and I paid the rent, we're assured we get to stick around. Your input is critical as this charter is all about you guys.

It's Brf's and my promise to the rest of you for fair treatment.

It's the rights we give you.

No, we won't be springing for beer and cabaret girls. Wink

s_stabeler · Knight of the Realm

how will the guild courts function? posts on the guild board? as i can't see any other way. oh, and if i am selected to be on the jury of any guild courts, i can't serve before 17:00 GMT/DST, due to other commitments. this only applies monday to friday, with occasional exceptions, including the whole of august. if i can't serve, i will notify the court through the guild board.

JuntaJoe · Site Admin

The Guild will only be available for regular posting for on a limited basis.

A guild court action will be a rare event indeed as well. Once or twice a year at most perhaps.

broomdalf · Knight Bachelor

We could always practice guild court functions every once in a while by...say...trying a certain kind of pudding to see if it is to be the official pudding of the forum.

JuntaJoe · Site Admin

ROFL!

Put the pudding on trial?

It's juvenile enough to be entertaining.

I'm guessing your family uses well water over the city stuff, huh? Laughing

s_stabeler · Knight of the Realm

sometimes well water can be better................. i will be unavailable all next week by thw way. when is the guild opening? and how will the court sessions be held?

JuntaJoe · Site Admin

It opens when I feel I've got everything perfect.

Enjoy your trip and don't worry about it for now.

I'm hopeful that we don't need to use the court for a long time.

JuntaJoe · Site Admin

Well, it's been several days since I did that big section.

And no one sees anything wrong with it?

You can see into the Guild, right?

This weekend I'll move forward and try to finish it.

So now's a real good time for feedback.

Then we'll set the user group and open it.

At which point it will only be visible for members and during Guild Trials.