This seems to be consistently suggested & I hope it is not implemented.

Making more forums accessible by purchasing with points only will further alienate those viewers who don't post or those with few points like myself. Many come here to read about conspiracies. If the forums become inaccessible because we don't have 10,000 pts or more to get in, then you can bet we'll look elsewhere for our enjoyment.

A lesson from the DR incident should be learned too about having such secret forums. With more of them, when do you think will be the next time an insider goes on a temper tantrum on the public forums? (No offence to DR)

If you want to reduce interest + membership drastically, the above ways will do it.

Questor,

I think you have a good point about creating too many veils that have to be breached in order to get to substance. BUT, the DR issue has NOTHING to do with secret forums...nothing at all, so let's not blow this into something even more confused than it is.

Good points though

I wasn't aware that more secret forums were planned... Did I miss a memo? I'd shoot you the points to buy in Questor...if they'd let me...

I really think that having forums that need to be bought into is a good thing for everyone here at the ATS community. I don't know if you're a member of the RATS board, but I think that once you get there, you realize that alot of the people there don't just go on a spurt, and post seven chit-chat topics in half an hour, asking questions that really don't have any importance.
Another reason that we have those forums, is to keep the lurkers, and trolls from gumming up a forum that's used for intelligent conversation. Another thing that you'll se once you get into RATS is that most of the replies/posts have substance behind them, or are various higher-ups trying to get opinions from the less experienced. They don't want to use the main boards because they'll get feedback from people who just don't have enough Experience with ATS. I have been a member since july, and I'm a proud RATS member. Personally, I'm glad we have a system like RATS. It gives newer members something to shoot for, and older members somewhere to be intellectual. That's all. Peace.

I am also one who is more into the dance of the seven veils, and while I don't see it as ultimately being a 'class' structure at all, there will certainly be a place for private forums with more strict entry qualifications.

The benefits of real structured (and uncensored) discussion in them over sensitive topics will outweigh any 'alienating' or negative effects on, say, the perception that new users might have of ATS.

There are topics I would not even dream of putting out for the world to see. Not even in the R.A.T.S. Forum. That comes from a position of common sense, not elitism or even too much paranoia.

Well, you already know that I have discussed things in RATS that I wouldn't want to discuss in public...so there's no arguing with that idea. BUT, I agree with Questor that if this concept were pursued it would have to be done in a manner that ensured that not all substance had been filtered from the public forum. See my point?

Here's another thing that occured to me the other day: I f you want to discuss something that's on the "untouchable" boards (hehehe), you could make a new post in RATS and put a link to the post and discuss it independently, in RATS.

edit- Another idea I had is to charge points for posting. It sounds redicilous but it would deter one liners and the like. It could cost like 20 points to post or something. It'd be easy to make it back cause you make 10-100 points each post. That would cast the point system into a true economy. Now this is an idea I had, I don't mean to put anyone off...

[Edited on 17-10-2003 by ktprktpr]

At last ktprktpr has revealed that he is an acronymous entity representing his Hindu sect, promoting not so much a class structure as the promulgation of the caste system at ATS.



There is merit in each person determining for themselves what they are happy to share with the already Above Top Secret nature of this slice of cyberspace and abiding by that.

Part of the rationale for 'veils' is to restrict viewing. Restrictions could be based not so much on accumulated ATS points but on age, experience or real world affiliations. The other part of the rationale is to ensure people on topic are qualified to talk on topic, that is, to ensure the highest level of discussion and contribution.

I am not suggesting any mechanics to be associated with it at all. I know ktprktpr has written up some well thought out models of how it might look.

This may not be a popular approach at all and it may never get off the ground. But from where I sit it would improve the quality and enjoyment of my experience here and the quality of what I could bring to it, later on.

If you're worried about junk postings, you can always let a person view but not post.

You can suspend a member's posting privileges for a temporary period of time (similar to banning) if they consistently post garbage. Then give them another chance once the temporary ban period on posting is lifted.

I was wondering what those points were for. Now I know. I kinda like the idea of the points system because it means you have to get involved and it keeps the forums interesting. Also by doing this you meet a lot of new people.