Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to Zetaboards Think Tank. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Bulding the bridge
Topic Started: Feb 5 2006, 07:33 PM (498 Views)
Aaron
First Grade
Whats the best way to bridge the gap between staff and members?
Honstly I beleave its the IRC room and the Community Chat forum since it is more relaxed for staff and members at these palces espically the IRC room. But yet is there still a large gap? I really never felt like there was a large gap between the regular(as in active and been with IF for a few months or years) and the staff how about the new people? if there is one what do you think would best solve it? a staff bio page? what? Less harsher punishments?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
ibh
Member Avatar
Second Grade
I believe it is the IRC, many members are confused about how to get on it. If I wrote a more detailed documentation, would someone pin it in community chat?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Yodaminch
Administrator
There are already too many topics in community chat that are pinned. we try to keep it 2 or 3. The IRC room is not the bridge I believe. Participation on our part is a start. But there is more then that needed. What else, I don't know.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Drangonsile
Member Avatar
Second Grade
More compitions that encourage groups of members/staff to work to gether to beat other groups (Actual groups have to do the work).
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
ibh
Member Avatar
Second Grade
Yeah, competitions is a good idea.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Yodaminch
Administrator
I figured you guys would say games. I feel the same way. But we can't do games all the time. there has to be better ways.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
ibh
Member Avatar
Second Grade
Brians games are confusing, but that is a pretty cool way to bridge the gap.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Das
Second Grade
I don't really see a gap any more, but that's because I've been around for while.
I think what needs to happen is that the staff and young members need talk more, and more freely. I think part of the problem this hasn't happened lays with you staffers.
I've notcied that posting goes way down when you become staff, as well as even talking in IRC. Albeit your postcount's fly through the roof, because you're doing support *cought Tachyon cough*.
You guys just need to post in topics more often, sure I can see that every topic isn't post-in-able, and having a topic with just staff posting is a little excessive, but there should be atleast one staff post in a topic.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Aaron
First Grade
I actuly post a little more becasue Im staff :r I'm about as active on IRC as when I was a member and I am way more active on IF now (basicay its olny IF now :/) I still have the same posting habbits tho' I olny post if I feel like I have a good post to post.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Jory
First Grade
I don't think there is a member - staff gab really.
Its more a new members - older members gab.
(Where I see the staff as older members.)

I beleave things like IRC and the IFS planet help close it, but the best thing would be having both `groups` discus things as equals.

But I don't think it will ever totally disapear...
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Tachyon
Member Avatar
Third Grade
Das
Feb 5 2006, 09:02 PM
I've notcied that posting goes way down when you become staff, as well as even talking in IRC. Albeit your postcount's fly through the roof, because you're doing support *cought Tachyon cough*.

*Tachyon coughs.

Point taken. Although I dispute the IRC inactivity. I'm around there; it's just that I am often multitasking not only on InvisionFree, but doing several other things (reading, coding, watching television, chatting with friends, doing homework, visiting other websites, et cetera). But if something interesting comes up, I quite often contribute to the discussion. ;)

I admit that I don't post in Community Chat as much as I used to. I didn't when I first joined, then I did, and now I don't. I'd like to see some better topics. Any those fun "universe" or "physics" debates are bound to attract me. :D

Part of the reason is that I'm not a sociable person in real life either. :/ I personally am one of those people who doesn't IM often, I get IMed. So any lapse in my part is a personal defect and doesn't really come from being staff, although I'm aware of the issues surrounding that and am working to contribute more to the community. Hence why I'm here.

But hey, looky! I posted a new topic. :ph34r:

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Homestar
First Grade
maybe when i new memeber signs up they could kind of have a mod assigned to them so they get the know that person in stead of being scared like alot of first timers are. and then once they feel more confidant they dont need to just talk to a certain mod.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
zorg222
First Grade
Homestar
Feb 5 2006, 11:12 PM
maybe when i new memeber signs up they could kind of have a mod assigned to them so they get the know that person in stead of being scared like alot of first timers are. and then once they feel more confidant they dont need to just talk to a certain mod.

There are only 60,000+ members at IFS, and 8 community moderators. :P
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
dlf
Second Grade
94109 actually. I think from lots of not vaildated accounts though.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Locke
First Grade
Wonderful ground has been made on closing whatever gaps exist between member and staff/tenured members. Keyly, Planet IF and the IRC room. Those two places take away the dellusion that you aren't normal people.

I think now all that needs to happen is more of it. Kick it up a notch, talk more. Otherwise, the gap is on a wonderful path to being closed.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Homestar
First Grade
zorg222
Feb 5 2006, 11:15 PM
Homestar
Feb 5 2006, 11:12 PM
maybe when i new memeber signs up they could kind of have a mod assigned to them so they get the know that person in stead of being scared like alot of first timers are. and then once they feel more confidant they dont need to just talk to a certain mod.

There are only 60,000+ members at IFS, and 8 community moderators. :P

i dont mean for the already existing members i mean new members. but i guess those numbers build up to
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Aaron
First Grade
Homestar
Feb 6 2006, 12:01 AM
zorg222
Feb 5 2006, 11:15 PM
Homestar
Feb 5 2006, 11:12 PM
maybe when i new memeber signs up they could kind of have a mod assigned to them so they get the know that person in stead of being scared like alot of first timers are. and then once they feel more confidant they dont need to just talk to a certain mod.

There are only 60,000+ members at IFS, and 8 community moderators. :P

i dont mean for the already existing members i mean new members. but i guess those numbers build up to

Not to meantion we have a lot of "one timers" who will ask a few questions then never come back again. :r
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Potter
Third Grade
Games and more personal posts from staff would help bridge the gap. Maybe a get-to-know your IF Staff topic would help. :)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Das
Second Grade
Tachyon
Feb 5 2006, 10:02 PM
Das
Feb 5 2006, 09:02 PM
I've notcied that posting goes way down when you become staff, as well as even talking in IRC. Albeit your postcount's fly through the roof, because you're doing support *cought Tachyon cough*.

*Tachyon coughs.
Point taken.

Although I dispute the IRC inactivity.

Mods consider yourselves ka-pwn'd.

I wasn't alking just about you.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Jappyx
Second Grade
I agree with the statment that there is no gap between staff and members, just older members and newer members (where staff are older members). Older members know alot about the rules, info, and IF in general. Newer members are clueless. I guess this also comes back to n00b bashing.

Anyways, I am not quite sure how to build a bridge. Planet InvisionFree is awesome and I think that that has done an awesome job. So has the IRC, however I have never gone in yet. *Jappyx thinks I should tonight.

I think a "Meet your Staff" topic is a good idea. :)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Tachyon
Member Avatar
Third Grade
Jappyx
Feb 6 2006, 06:15 AM
I think a "Meet your Staff" topic is a good idea. :)

If people want to stalk me there are copious links to my website and such, with more than enough personal info to figure out how to hunt me down. :ph34r:

(Anonymity, sadly, is an illusion.)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Jappyx
Second Grade
Tachyon
Feb 6 2006, 06:43 AM
Jappyx
Feb 6 2006, 06:15 AM
I think a "Meet your Staff" topic is a good idea.  :)

If people want to stalk me there are copious links to my website and such, with more than enough personal info to figure out how to hunt me down. :ph34r:

(Anonymity, sadly, is an illusion.)

:D

Good point though.

But I don't think all staff members have personal werbsites, do they? And a simple topic would not hurt.. And you could even copy/paste whatever is written from your site anyway. :)

:)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
OcelotJay
First Grade
Das
Feb 5 2006, 09:02 PM
I've notcied that posting goes way down when you become staff, as well as even talking in IRC. Albeit your postcount's fly through the roof, because you're doing support *cought Tachyon cough*.

For some, that is true. I posted less in community due to moderating the forums, in particular IF Chat and Graphics Requests (meh babeh). I also recognise that my activity is at an all time low (when I became staff I was on for hours on end). The main reason is that I have little time due to work, and also the fact that when I do come on to go post in community something crops up and I have to go deal with it, then when that's done I've got more PMs or IMs asking me to deal with more issues. I'm surprised but it can take up to an hour just to deal with one issue, especially since users come online and go offline with the drop of a hat, or get distracted or whatever. That said, I don't have time to deal with moderating issues and be active in community everyday. It gets tiring.
I'll also not lie that the lack of interesting topics dissuades me sometimes. =/ I'm looking around for inspiration at the moment so I can hopefully help post interesting topics but the biggest issue with that is that serious discussions, which I enjoy, can attract unwanted attention. I may give up and simply post uncensored topics regardless, but for now I'm trying to find topics that won't spark too much flaming (hopefully).
And when I say uncensored, I mean 'without filtering through subjects', not 'posting vulgar texts'. :lol:

But yeah, I agree (for myself at least) that activity in the community can be an issue. I'm open to being prodded via PM or IM if there's something that might interest me, or a subject suggestion.

Quote:
 
Part of the reason is that I'm not a sociable person in real life either. :/ I personally am one of those people who doesn't IM often, I get IMed.

*OcelotJay wonders if Tachyon and he were seperated at birth. :ph34r:
In other words, I'm the same. :P I'm the quiet one of all my friends. I sometimes throw out a little noise so they don't worry that I'm dead. :lol: And yeah, I rarely IM people (as I'm sure most staff realise). Just the way I am I guess.

Quote:
 
But I don't think all staff members have personal werbsites, do they? And a simple topic would not hurt.. And you could even copy/paste whatever is written from your site anyway.

Interesting idea. Maybe we could have a staff section on the website too? And maybe a topic or something in chat. Then again, I don't find myself to be a particularly interesting person so I often don't contribute to personal things, except maybe my details.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
DreamWiva
First Grade
OcelotJay
Feb 6 2006, 10:15 AM

Interesting idea. Maybe we could have a staff section on the website too? And maybe a topic or something in chat. Then again, I don't find myself to be a particularly interesting person so I often don't contribute to personal things, except maybe my details.

maybe like a member interviews staff members (including stanley)?


Quote:
 
I agree with the statment that there is no gap between staff and members, just older members and newer members (where staff are older members). Older members know alot about the rules, info, and IF in general. Newer members are clueless. I guess this also comes back to n00b bashing


sometimes, members share "inside" jokes with staff in topics and the new members have no idea what they are talking about. All the trademarks and stuff usually confuse me anyway. Stuff relating to Stanley, for instance, not many new members would know about him, and only the old members would find Stanleys threats as a joke while the newer ones look like this --> :blink:

I know this has probably very little effect, but i think it still is a factor
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
ibh
Member Avatar
Second Grade
I think the staff-members gap is only certain staff members.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Pete
First Grade
I thought that the recent Extreme Makeover brought staff and members closer together. It was a good bit of fun, and it showed a lighter and more humourous side to the staff during the time I thought. I think that to a lot of new members, the idea of a moderator on such a large forum watching over you seems rather intimidating, so we really need that friendly atmosphere which would probably be hard to achieve as a member of staff.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Aaron
First Grade
RE: Topic about Staff there are going to be Staff Bio with IF Two
RE: Inside Jokes if the members stay around long enough they learn about them heck Thats what happend wtih me :r
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Yodaminch
Administrator
Pete
Feb 6 2006, 04:04 PM
I thought that the recent Extreme Makeover brought staff and members closer together. It was a good bit of fun, and it showed a lighter and more humourous side to the staff during the time I thought. I think that to a lot of new members, the idea of a moderator on such a large forum watching over you seems rather intimidating, so we really need that friendly atmosphere which would probably be hard to achieve as a member of staff.

so perhaps for member makeover, let staff submit?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
dlf
Second Grade
What about staff and other members?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Potter
Third Grade
Yodaminch
Feb 6 2006, 09:23 PM
Pete
Feb 6 2006, 04:04 PM
I thought that the recent Extreme Makeover brought staff and members closer together. It was a good bit of fun, and it showed a lighter and more humourous side to the staff during the time I thought. I think that to a lot of new members, the idea of a moderator on such a large forum watching over you seems rather intimidating, so we really need that friendly atmosphere which would probably be hard to achieve as a member of staff.

so perhaps for member makeover, let staff submit?

Brilliant!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Das
Second Grade
How about us CTT members 'arrange' interviews with you guys then post them? Say something like: 'I just got an interview with [mod name]! He revealed all!'

This of course would be prearranged. And if the admins got into it I think it could be real good ^_^.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Dennis
Second Grade
I like this idea a lot too. Sounds like fun to me. :)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Homestar
First Grade
ibh
Feb 6 2006, 06:32 PM
I think the staff-members gap is only certain staff members.

yeah i agree i think mostly the staff that are intimadating to members are the reds maybe not on purpose but i think people are scares of seth for some reason and well brandon he owns IF so of course he is scary to new people and brian well i dont think hes scary.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Tachyon
Member Avatar
Third Grade
Das
Feb 6 2006, 09:44 PM
How about us CTT members 'arrange' interviews with you guys then post them? Say something like: 'I just got an interview with [mod name]! He revealed all!'

This of course would be prearranged. And if the admins got into it I think it could be real good ^_^.

DasHasGoodIdeas++;

I'd certainly be willing to do an interview. This reminds me of when that interview with Brandon got posted. We could have them all in one pinned topic (so it's easy to read).

Should we assign CTT members to come up with their own questions and then interview one staff member, or should you guys brainstorm a sort of "questionaire" that is the same for all staff? Either way sounds good to me. :)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Homestar
First Grade
i think maybe if we all asked similar or the same questions it might make thing easier and im sure members would have fun comparing staff answers.

i would be willing to do one. But we couldnt out the questions here other wise the staff would see them i think it would be more fun if the didnt know what they where being asked
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Das
Second Grade
Tachyon
Feb 7 2006, 03:47 AM
Das
Feb 6 2006, 09:44 PM
How about us CTT members 'arrange' interviews with you guys then post them? Say something like: 'I just got an interview with [mod name]! He revealed all!'

This of course would be prearranged. And if the admins got into it I think it could be real good ^_^.

DasHasGoodIdeas++;

I'd certainly be willing to do an interview. This reminds me of when that interview with Brandon got posted. We could have them all in one pinned topic (so it's easy to read).

Should we assign CTT members to come up with their own questions and then interview one staff member, or should you guys brainstorm a sort of "questionaire" that is the same for all staff? Either way sounds good to me. :)

TachyonIsRight++

No! We want this to be some what Secretive. If we pretend like it was just a fluke that we got the interview it'll seem more real, and not pre-arranged and made-up.

I think we should make up are own questions, but run them by others quick.

I also think we should assign a CTT user to a staff member. I can any and all admins, and Rory, and Jay, and You, and ... Yoda ... Um Yeah you guys can fight over the rest.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Tachyon
Member Avatar
Third Grade
Or, you know, just draw straws or something. . . .
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Homestar
First Grade
But i want rory and jay :'( *Homestar runs off crying............................ Ok so are we gonna agree to this? yoda do you think its a good idea?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Das
Second Grade
Tachyon
Feb 7 2006, 04:01 AM
Or, you know, just draw straws or something. . . .

Posted Image

Quote:
 
But i want rory and jay

Too bad.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Yodaminch
Administrator
Homestar
Feb 7 2006, 12:02 AM
But i want rory and jay :'( *Homestar runs off crying............................ Ok so are we gonna agree to this? yoda do you think its a good idea?

It seems fine to me. I run everything by seth quickly, but since this has been done on a minor scale, I say go for it, but let's not make it some big secret. True only you guys know who is in this think tank, but that's no reason to hide things. In essence you all represent different aspects of the community.

And homestar gets rory and seth. ;)

Das can have jay and brian. How's that for compromise?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · Community Chat Think Tank · Next Topic »
Add Reply