How Would You Improve the Forum Health Bar?

[Soviet Heavy]

I know a lot of people here aren't very pleased with the forum health bar. But instead of complaining about it, what do you think could be done to improve it?

[SNIP]
Apparently, there is an Amnesty system in place to regain health. My bad for not doing my homework. Thanks to Jonluw for pointing it out.

Also, I would have had the health bar begin taking points off after it became implemented. Right now, I am being held accountable for a couple of infractions from nearly a year ago. I'm not a fan of the retroactive punishment. That would be the same as not receiving the clean slate from your juvenile record upon becoming an adult. You might have learned your lesson, but the health bar doesn't care.

What would you do to improve the health bar?

As you must be of consenting age to use these forums, I'm wondering why you feel that you shouldn't be held accountable for your actions prior to the implementation of the new health bar system? The bar is merely a newer and more accurate reflection of your participation in this community. The Code of Conduct is clearly posted. Yes, at times moderators may judge you too harshly for a turn of phrase. However, you should keep in mind that posts are flagged as inappropriate almost wholly by other users. Furthermore you are always welcome to appeal a decision handed down by a potentially heavy handed mod.

Yeah but I don't know about others but sometimes I'm paranoid that someone will report my comment just because they don't like my thoughts on the matter (Like all these PC vs Console topics or X vs Y topics). Someone could just not like what you say and report it and it could have been not against the rules. Kinda like on X-Box Live where if enough people report someone's name is offensive that person has to change is gamer tag name (i don't know if they do this now).

The overwhelming majority of posts are reported out of spite and not because there is something legitimately wrong with it's content. It is the responsibility of both yourself and your moderators to ensure that you aren't being unfairly punished. Your best defense against this circumstance, since the mods are only human, is to thoroughly familiarize yourself with our Code of Conduct and attempt to adhere to it. If you are attempting to behave and have still been stuck with a warning (that you feel wasn't deserved) you are welcome to appeal that mod's decision. Contrary to popular belief, the goal of mods isn't just to punish people. It's to create a forum in which people feel safe and comfortable discussing their opinions.

EDIT: I also wanted to add that typically the nature of the offense isn't what effects the severity of your punishment. It's primarily a reflection of the number of times you've been warned, especially if you've been warned multiple times about the same offense.

 

[EHKOS]

Doing good things could net you a health pack.

 

[loc978]

Eh, I'd just want it renamed a bit. My health bar is empty... so doesn't that mean I'm dead? No. It's a damage meter.

 

[x EvilErmine x]

What is it?....no seriously i have no idea about it s

 

[Mauro Carrizales]

Yeah Id say get rid of that bar.

 

[Saelune]

The health bar isnt really the problem. Its getting in trouble for frivilous things that are unfair to get in trouble for.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

I would have it private so that only you and the staff/mods can see it and nobody else browsing your profile could.

 

[Dags90]

The health bar isnt really the problem. Its getting in trouble for frivilous things that are unfair to get in trouble for.

And the appeals process should be better formalized. I sent a PM weeks ago and never got a response even confirming it was read.

Also, some sort of consideration for the number of posts in between infractions would be nice. Someone who posts 100 times a month and gets reported 2 times over 5 months vs. someone who posts 10 times a month but gets reported 1 time over 3 months. You've got 2/500 posts = 0.004% reported posts vs. 0.03% reported posts.

 

[kickyourass]

As a few people have said before, make warnings non-official, and maybe speed up the recovery time. I don't really get what's so terrible about the system, it gives you a clear picture on how far you are from getting banned, isn't that a good thing?

 

[dalek sec]

Speed up the regeneration time. Two years is way too long. Maybe half it, so the slate gets wiped every year without infractions, and remove a bar every three months.

Other than that, make it private, or at least give us the option. It could lead to abuses that, apparently, are already beginning to happen.

This is pretty much my only compliant as well, speed up the regeneration time on the bar. I like what Arontala said, just cut it in half, a year is still a long time but if you really want to have it wiped clean you can do it.

 

[RUINER ACTUAL]

Get rid of it.

This.

My health bar was already yellow the day it came out. WTF?

 

[Purple Shrimp]

I would make it more explicit what it actually means

 

[Romblen]

It seems alright to me, but if I did get to change something, improving one's forum health should come from the amount of 'good' posts. Say you get a warning on one post, then post (I'm just using a random number here) 200 good posts, you get the warning erased.

 

[DirgeNovak]

I would reverse it. Infractions should take sections away, not add some.
Other than that, nothing. If you behave properly you won't have a problem. I've been hear nearly three years without a single warning. And that's coming from a guy who writes "fuck" in half his posts.

 

[Malo_Tux]

*shrug* Don't really care that much about it; If it really bugs you, just pretend it isn't there or something...

 

[Erana]

Speed up the regeneration time. Two years is way too long. Maybe half it, so the slate gets wiped every year without infractions, and remove a bar every three months.

Other than that, make it private, or at least give us the option. It could lead to abuses that, apparently, are already beginning to happen.

What sort of abuse do you speak of?

The public health bar was implemented to make why someone has been moderated less mysterious. The single largest complaint about the moderation on the site is the lack of transparency. Someone could seemingly be permabanned just for posting just, "Hi" on a thread. This system is meant to demonstrate that moderation and one's record go hand in hand.

And if anyone with a tick on their health meter could just hide it, then the thing would turn into just a badge for people who like their good behavior.

Still, if I were to design this and have the skills 'n know how to do so, I would make a new tab in the user profile page where one can view the forum health meter, and previously moderated posts. The health bar should be available, but I can see how having their conduct displayed in the middle of their profile a bit daunting.

I know I'd be terribly shamed by having a bad mark on my record! I never had to go to the principal's office once! D:

 

[s0p0g]

well, as you said, no retroactive strikes; besides that, i actually like the health bar. easy to understand, and a visual way to let you know how you're standing, rather than sending you boring emails and/or PMs of which you have to keep track manually
i know the health bar works for me; i posted a low-content post, and now there is this ugly green bar where should be nothing a all :'( made me cry tears, USA is dominate xD

to make a long story short: leave it as it is

edit: shouldnt try to think when tired; as some people said before, taking the amount of posts per time into consideration might be useful; but i think it'd also be a tad bit complicated.
so... leave it as it is ^^