To combat the impression that moderator geographer is a douchebag that doesn't like uploaders and doesn't appreciate their contribution to GT.ru, I've been brainstorming this night about some ways to maintain a balance between rewarding uploaders for their torrents and dumping the site with trash. And I've come up with some ideas which lead to a steady compromise, and also solve a few other problems.
Idea #1: Staff torrent rating
I've been thinking a lot on how to make the rewarding scheme machine-based (meaning excluding the direct human factor), and at the same time make it distinguish between the quality of the upload.
To those of you who still don't know, the site has a 5 star torrent rating system. Though we have to face facts - it is dead, no-one, or very few and very seldom, rates torrents and no-one takes into account that rating when choosing a torrent to download. Therefore my idea … to make 5 star torrent rating a staff prerogative, meaning only the moderator who reviews the torrent will be able to rate it.
A quick sketch of the idea:
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The rating option will be visible only to staff
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A torrent will be rated only by the moderator that reviews/approves the torrent
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A torrent will be rated with 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 stars; the quantity of stars will be visible to others like any other torrent information
Maybe we can also make it possible to rate with a half star, which will give 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 etc.
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Depending on the number of stars, the uploader receives a specific amount of seed bonus points (SBP) and reputation points (a concept which will be discussed below). That amount needs to be discussed, but in my opinion it should be something like Stars x 10. This way, an uploader gets 50 SPB for a 5* torrents, 40 - for 4* etc. A similar formula should apply to the reputation points
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To avoid subjective approach of the moderators when it comes to rating, there will be set up a clear and fixed guide with a list of criteria a torrent needs to follow to get the specific amount of stars. This remains subject to discussions.
This way, we have a proportional dependency between the quality of the torrent and the reward it generates to its uploader. Good uploaders will be rewarded according to their torrents, and thus be motivated to upload more, while the not so good uploaders will have a real motivation to improve the quality of their uploads.
Note: I still don't know whether the Auto Approval torrents would fit in this system or not… This also needs to be discussed.
Idea #2: Reputation points
I think we need to bring the concept of Reputation Power from our Forum to the tracker. I see it as a good solution for solving many problems and extend some new possibilities. Unlike the SBP, which can be earned and exchanged for other things, the reputation points will be linked with the account, earned, but not exchanged, it will be, if you like, a numerical representation of the experience a member has on the site, his contribution, his behavior etc.
So:
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each new member who signs up starts with 0 reputation points
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members earn reputation points when they upload torrents (the rating scheme described above)
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members earn reputation points if their uploaded torrent is being "thank you"'d by other members
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there may be a possible linkage to the reputation from the Forum as well, that way members active on the Forum also gets reputation points on the tracker
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staff can withdraw an amount of reputation points once the member has broken rules, like uploading a banned content, aggressive behavior in PMs etc.
Also, the reputation points can be an answer to the Auto Approval problem. Once users earn points for uploads, the "10 clean uploads" uncertainty becomes obsolete: now the reputation points will show exactly if the user is "ready" for AA or not. For example, a 5* torrent is worth 50 reputation points, following the "10 clean uploads" rule gives us 500 points - this can be a starting criteria to grant AA rights. Granting, of course, will still be done by the staff and will require other factors, but at least this will give the user a sort of aim to reach if they want to become Auto Approval users. The concrete numbers, as well, need to be discussed.
Also, based on the reputation points, we can establish ascending to new user class. The current pyramid of User -> Power User -> Staff is too poor IMHO, we need something more.
Idea #3: "Thank you" button
Since I'm taking away the privilege to rate torrents from users, I was thinking of an alternative. And once again, our Forum inspired me. I know some staff members expressed the idea of making something similar to the Forum's possibility to add reputation to a user by a mouse click also on the tracker. I think it's a great idea and wish to develop it further. Now, along the possibility to donate some personal seed bonus points to the uploader on the torrent details page, one can also increase its reputation points just pressing the Thank you button. This means each "Thank you" will increment the uploader's reputation points by 1 (or maybe by 2? opinions?).
Idea #4: Transferable seed bonus points
Once a user asked us if he can donate some SPB directly to another user, without waiting him to upload something. I suggest we make this thing happen. If we have users with a big bank of SPB and a good heart, willing to help others in need, I don't see why it shouldn't be possible. Although this can generate a mass wave of beggary for seed points…
This is just about all I can think of for now. Ideas, suggestions, comments and constructive criticism is welcomed
P.S. I'm fully aware this will be hard to implement, but... Some ideas are better than nothing