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Wowhead "Premium" (good or bad?)
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Post by
307945
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Interest
I'm not opting to buy it mostly because, like worldcupfury, I don't really need it: it's just a cosmetic change. In addition, Wowhead was awesome enough as it is.
I don't need to block the ads or have a customized icon. I personally enjoy having to hunt for one that meets whatever I wish to express.
I would enjoy being able to support Wowhead through premium, but I need every cent I can get right now thanks to college (though 20,000 characters a post might help for my future project).
Later on, when I have a stable job in college and am not drowning in lectures and note-taking, I'll reconsider my choice...but until then...
Post by
309832
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Skyfire
Just as long as its appropriate?
Post by
28576
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
ArgentSun
I am going to take a step back and address MyTie's original... question? Prompt? Issue? Or a follow-up of it - Randomness.
The fact that this thread has follow to Page #2 with the only "colored" replies being Skyfire's, I am willing to agree that Randomness has been somewhat neglected by the members of the Staff. I cannot speak for anybody else, but the reason I stay away from it is because it rarely contains threads that interest me. The majority of the topics posted here are forum games - which I have never particularly liked. I will acknowledge that there are serious threads here, prompting discussions regarding real world events, (moral) issues, and the likes. Those I like and appreciate. They are however too few for me to stick around.
In defense of this "neglecting" of Randomness, I have to say that Wowhead is, before anything else, a WoW website. It is only normal that we pay more attention to the on-topic forums, and I will have you know that they usually require
a lot
of attention.
In defense of Randomness... well, it's part of the community. Somebody brought a good argument a few pages back - this is pretty much the only place for "retired" WoW players. True enough, WoW General, Help & Support, and Lore & Roleplaying (as well as Site Feedback) have some veterans still lurking around, but these are usually not the place for people whose opinions may be... outdated.
So, out of sheer curiosity, if you could change Randomness (or "Non-WoW General", as I'd like to think of it), how would you change and improve it? What is it the thing that you think is missing? I am mostly addressing this to you, MyTie, but it's a question the answer of which I would like to see from everybody who feels the same way. I am not even going to promise to bring it to the Administrators, but I will give your replies decent thought and consideration. Think realistically however, and keep in mind that this
is
a WoW fan site, not a "chill" forum.
Post by
MyTie
So, out of sheer curiosity, if you could change Randomness (or "Non-WoW General", as I'd like to think of it), how would you change and improve it? What is it the thing that you think is missing? I am mostly addressing this to you, MyTie, but it's a question the answer of which I would like to see from everybody who feels the same way. I am not even going to promise to bring it to the Administrators, but I will give your replies decent thought and consideration. Think realistically however, and keep in mind that this
is
a WoW fan site, not a "chill" forum.
First of all, I want to thank you for posing this question. Randomness is the most important part of wowhead, not only for me personally, but I'm sure for others. There are not many things that I invest more of time into than this forum. I have grown to love it for its spontaneity, and ability to surpass my expectations nearly every time I enter it. I see many of the posters here as family members, and the forum itself quite like a home for my mind. If nothing else, it is a place where I can pass my thoughts onto anyone and everyone, and get back a perspective I couldn't have achieved on my own.
So, to properly answer the question of "How do we make it better", we must answer the question "What is it". The second question is either misunderstood or underestimated by nearly every outsider looking in, by some of the users, and by a few of the site moderators themselves. Randomness began as a kind of 'trash can' for everything that didn't fit elsewhere, but it quickly grew into something with a life of its own. There was nothing it was designed to catch specifically, just everything besides WoW or Wowhead related material. However, think about that a little deeper. Randomness is a forum where people can talk about literally
everything
possible to discuss. If you are worried about zombie invasions, getting glitter off your skin, being under house arrest, copeing with being a homosexual in society, finding the meaning of life, or anything in between or not in between, this is your place. The flexibility is what makes randomness remarkable.
However, in its strength lies its greatest weakness. At any moment, randomness can spin off into the 'nether' side. This place can become decimated with garbage threads, spam, flames, and everything not nice. It is enough to drive some people away. You said yourself that the 'good' threads were outnumbered by the 'bad'.
So, who is to decide which is a 'good' thread inside randomness? Random follows its own path. It always has. Attempts to moderate it from outside will fail, partly because the moderators don't have time to dedicate to sitting in randomness locking spam, and partly because if they misunderstand the premise of the thread, they can damage it. On the other hand, not moderating it will turn it into a solid wall of garbage.
My proposal: since randomness follows its own path, it should be allowed to guide itself. There needs to be some way for randomness users to choose from among themselves, a few dedicated moderators. Even though randomness would still be under the guidance of actual moderators, the elected moderators could do the bulk of the moderation. This will, admittedly, take randomness in a direction wowhead.com may not expect, but isn't that the strength of randomness? If the users can constantly update their choice of moderator, so that moderators can be stripped of their powers, or instated in real time by the users, then the users themselves are really the deciders of what direction they want to see thier forum taken in. With the ability to participate directly with its leadership, I can see the randomness forum not only stabilizing, but improving to the point where it starts drawing in more of a crowd.
If this were to be tried out, and fail, then no harm done. The alternative is an unruly forum full of half garbage posts with a dwindling population. I plead with the powers that be:
do something to improve this place
. You don't have to take my suggestion, but do something with this awesome forum you possess while opportunity still exists.
Post by
423510
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Skyfire
On second thought, how could we be so sure he would use his powers for good and not evil?
Bahahahaha. Someone's
learning
already!
Post by
149406
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
MyTie
On second thought, how could we be so sure he would use his powers for good and not evil?
Bahahahaha. Someone's
learning
already!
The limitations set on randomness mods would have to be such that any damage cause would be contained in randomness and easily reversible.
Post by
327953
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Patty
I think that after reading this all (it's not a necro, MyTie pointed the thread out. D:) I think that MyTie's argument of Randomness turning into something filled with "Good" and "Bad" topics is fine, it's his opinion.
However, wanting to outnumber the, in your eyes, "bad" topics with what you see as "good" topics risks alienating all the users which enjoy forum games and what you think are "rubbish threads".
Randomness shouldn't be changed because of what you want, MyTie, or what ArgentSun thinks about it, because that's only two people vocalising their views. If it was changed to an ideal MyTie-esque Randomness, I am sure wowhead would lose quite a few users, as not everyone wants to have a moral debate or anything like that, they want a light-hearted forum game, or a chat on the IRC/vent/other. ;)
In my opinion, everybody needs to respect that the Randomness forum caters for a wide variety of users, which enjoy a wide variety of what you can engage in on this board.
Post by
MyTie
Couldn't agree more Patty! I wouldn't want to build randomness after MY vision. I thought I made that clear. I would want to see the posters on the randomness forums make decisions by popular vote. Maybe I didn't say that enough times.
As for 'forum games' taking over and
'rubbish threads'
.... well... that isn't just my opinion. There have been numerous discussions among the randomness regulars about how to fix it. However, nothing is being done, that I am aware of. THAT is the problem... that nothing is happening, and many posters here DO want something to happen. And those two issues are just a few among many.
So, a MyTie-esque randomness... no... I don't even want that.
A mod operated randomness... well... it's failing a little more every day.
A randomness run randomness... THAT would be a beautiful thing.
Post by
Patty
Well, if the "rubbish threads" and forum games were so unpopular then they wouldn't be active anymore, would they?
People enjoy them, I do use them sometimes personally.
So, unless you want to take away people's fun, I think you have to accept that some people use Randomness for a little light-hearted fun in-between raids, or when a player has a few free minutes.
If you don't like these "bad" threads, then ignore them. Each to their own, I say. Also, a user-run randomness would not work. It would keep going round in circles, because of the fact that so many people enjoy different aspects of the forums which are catered for. However, I do think that the Mods have to change their perception of Randomness as something other than Wowhead's cess-pit or whatever else you want to call it, and think of it, as Argent said, the "Non-WoW general".
Post by
MyTie
Patty - I'm not suggesting to get rid of forum games. For all I know, every poster may want nothing but forum games. All I am saying, is that
the average poster needs to have more tools to change randomness the way he/she wants it. That's it.
If randomness then goes in a popular direction that is exactly opposite of what I personally want, then fine, I'll leave. I have a hunch that won't be the case. I have a hunch that 90% of the users here are a little tired of the front page being covered in forum games and pointless threads, like the one I linked above. But, I cannot know this. That is why there needs to be some voting system in place, to save the will of the majority from the one or two spammers that take the place over, increasingly more often.
And this...Well, if the "rubbish threads" and forum games were so unpopular then they wouldn't be active anymore, would they?
It takes 1 person to keep a thread on top, not the popular majority. 3 people can do it legitimately for a whole heap of threads. Interest, and a few others blanket the front page in threads every day that most people roll thier eyes and ignore. Some people get fed up and leave. Why should it be like this?
Post by
Patty
Why should people be looked down upon because they enjoy Forum Games? Or, because they participate in them? They shouldn't.
If people are sick and tired of the front page being blanketed with forum games, make a topic about what you want to discuss/debate (if you wish to.) Or just post in the Recycle Bin. It's what you made it for.
Post by
MyTie
Why should people be looked down upon because they enjoy Forum Games? Or, because they participate in them? They shouldn't.
I wonder if you are listening to me at all.
If people are sick and tired of the front page being blanketed with forum games, make a topic about what you want to discuss/debate (if you wish to.) Or just post in the Recycle Bin. It's what you made it for.And these two ideas fix the problem how?
A more serious proposal was brought up by... I think... worldcupfury. He said that forum games should get thier own forum. People like him are using thier heads. Kudos. We need more of that, instead of being told to 'go back to Recycle Bin'.
Post by
Patty
Well, debates could also get their own forums. However, I think it's convenient for people who enjoy reading the odd debate, and participating in a couple of forum games for them to be on the same board. As I said, if the perception of Randomness was changed it would go a long way in making a positive impact.
Perhaps, a sticky outlining exactly what Randomness MEANS, what it contains? There are rules stickied, but as far as I recall, not an actual explanation of what you should expect to see on the boards. Because the truth is, there is not a clear definition for the purpose of these boards, other than to keep people saying random stuff on other forums. This means new players see Randomness as a "put anything here" sort of board, when it isn't that.
Also, I am reading what you say, and seeing your point. However, naming & shaming with seeming discontempt (Interest, for example) conveys that you are looking down at the fact that he plays a lot of forum games.
Post by
MyTie
Allow me to clarify. I don't look down on forum game users. I look down on spammers. Interest happens to be both.
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