The TFF Council

I'm going to comment on membership restrictions, and then I'll distance myself from this particular conversation. It's just a piece of history you may benefit from.

Back when Shin-Ra Corporation (a private forum that had a similar setup) started, I think I had basically allowed ANYONE who wanted to help TFF into it. I think a lot of the people who were there for a year or more weren't completely content with that, and so we set out to make up restrictions, which I think basically came down to having to have been at TFF for a year or so. When it was set, we had about 10-15 people in there. We got a bunch of little things going, and Neo Necron came up with the adoption idea I believe.

And then that was more or less it. It died. I remember at the tail end of the first adoption attempt, Neo Necron was complaining about how we didn't have enough adopters and how the adopters we did "have" were gone. It was basically a one-man show with him at the helm.

The point is this: when it comes to TFF, you can never have too many people. Once the dust settles, you'll have less people to work with than you expected. Improving TFF isn't simply about ideas. It's about having the manpower to carry it out. For instance, the adoption idea will never get off the ground if you don't have a fair-sized group of people dedicated to it. Not everyone on the Council has the will or time to become an adopter either... so you need to wonder who will do it. But, the people who WILL do it are most likely those who took the time to join the Council to begin with. They will probably not be people from outside the club, who usually don't have too much of an interest in this sort of thing. That's why it's not bad to have a lot of members.

I know that people may think that too many cooks will spoil the soup, but that can be fixed in other ways without denying members who apply with only good intentions. With something like this, it shouldn't be hard to find everyone a place in it. :)

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I just realized something regarding the MSN thing, but I'll leave that until after you guys are done deciding on this. :x

Well we're not really deciding on this until Laura comes back, so you may as well bring up the something regarding the MSN thing for now.

Edit: I can also vouch for S's history lesson. I was there. IMO, a year was way too steep. Shinra was just full of mostly old vets of the forum that wanted the forum to go back to the way it was before. (mostly.)

Just touching on the topic of too many members i agree with Soldier i believe the more the merrier to a ceartain point if the council is limited to 10 members than we will only be working on the opinions and decsions of 10 members it would be good to have the opinions of a wide variety of memebers including new memebers unlike older members they see it from a new members perspective and how decsions can help themselves etc.

I know what you maen FAte and UE but just because a memeber doesn't contribute to every topic it doesn't make his/hers opinion any less than those that do they may bring up good points with some topics but not others, i don't think we should be actually looking at their activity and contribution in the council but in the tff forum in general.

Well, I never wanted a limitation to the number of people. All I said was that members who contribute nothing aren't really helping us out in this club. And I don't think that there should be a limitation, as long as the people follow all the rules of the club and be active if possible. So, I'm actually agreeing with you on half of it: the limitation thing.

I totally agree with UE's idea to have a poll, an election if you will, to determine who should be on the council. That way, everyone will still feel like they are a part of the council, but will not be sleepers to it. We could maybe have elections when we are stuck on a topic that the council is totally divided on, as a last resort. That way, No one will be rejected, but they will understand if they are not on the Council. A perfect example would be Meier Link's TFF Elimination thread. Everyone can give their opinion on who they think is best. Limit it to one vote ever, no decreasing points, and the top 10 and boom. You have an elected Council.

The only reason I have not been as active is because:
A: I am still unsure if the new members should still contribute, or if they should wait until Kilala's return.
B: I am unsure what topic we are on. Ideas for everything are jumping everywhere. I think we should settle this membership thing once and for all. Set up temporary stuff and when Kilala returns we will see if those temporary items will work. Consider it a test run. I just said what popped into my head.

I don't like the poll idea. I like it how it is somewhat. Maybe we could open it up to where anyone wanting to submit an idea could submit it but limit down who is actually in the council.

If you limit with no thoughts behind it then you will be limiting the ideas down, which is needed here and in Shinra. At least let the people voice what they want.

Then again I am still in favor of the 3 tier system. Kind of like Dimorcracy. heh.

I don't like the poll either. It seems to revolve around favoritism too much. Someone votes for their friend, and they vote back. Either only the people with the most friends here are in, or the votes even out, and everybody's in. Of course, I could be wrong, but the poll sounds too... convoluted.

And I don't think that we should not allow people to join if they really want to help make this forum a better place. More help, the better, right?

I'll agree with Fate in that we should continue letting people join who really want to help improve and make the forum active.

I also don't really like the poll thing, but I liked the idea of the whole, kicking people out who don't even really contribute, like... at all. XD

Some contributions now and again is just fine, though. As long as the people help somehow. ^_^

(OOC: Oh my god, I'm actually posting something. :eek:)

Well, the idea of a poll would be nice.... if everyone had the exact same opinion, but enough of Hitler's look on life. The idea would be good if it weren't for the fact that some members will vote against that, just as much as others will vote for it. You can't control the minds of the people in the Council. Even now, seems we're just shoving people away we feel wouldn't be useful, and not even give them a chance, seems... dark.

Yeah, you have a bit of a point, but what we're trying to do is just keep the Council full of people who want to keep the site active and thriving, and not have the member slots full of "fluff", so to speak.

And also, can I ask that no one dish out any other ideas until we implement/solve the four main issues we currently have?

Which are these as a reminder:

1. MSN - Although we discussed putting it into the member profile template, so I suppose this is finished? We need Ally or someone to fix up the template.
2. Adopt a Newbie - Contact Fuzz and let him know about including a link to the stickied thread about adoption, whenever we make it. We have to find dedicated and active people to be adopters and not let them slack off on their adoptees.
3. The Tier System - This has not yet been discussed at all, just mentioned here and there.
4. Some type of Member Recognition - Be it events, activities, contests, or something like that.

Now obviously, one topic at a time. I think the MSN topic is closed for now, it just has to be implemented (unless someone has something ELSE they want to say about it...). So the current topic is the Adopt a Newblet.

EDIT: This just in. I talked to Fuzz just now on google chat and he says it won't take him very long to put in a link to the Adopt-a-Newb, so whenever we figure this out and make a sticky thread, I'll just send it over to him and he'll put it in.

So that part is accomplished. We just need to discuss who is going to volunteer, and how active they are going to be.
I for one will volunteer, and I'll put sticky note reminders to myself to stay active.

Who else wants to volunteer to adopt?

The system has existed in the past, so I figure we can just use the old one, just with new, active people ready and willing to volunteer. It's not a complicated system to discuss.

Well, what I wanted to say regarding the MSN thing was that we've gotten used to calling it just that, "MSN". But wasn't the original purpose about starting up and maintaining and active TFF chat? The point being that if we just shove the MSN user names into Member Profiles, or the Picture thread, etc. we're informing people of the names, and not the chat itself which (I think) is key. That isn't to say that MSN info shouldn't be in Member Profiles, nor that the Picture thread shouldn't be merged with Member Profiles either (if Ally and co. so wish), but that's just a different topic in itself.

Regardless of what we decide, I think this TFF chat requires its own thread, stickied or not. Obviously if people so wish they can post up their own information for easy access (as opposed to digging through the Member Profile), but in addition to that I think we need the thread to act as a gateway of sorts. I think we need about 2-3 people (differing time zones, schedules, etc.) that will take the initiative to create the chats and invite new people who want to join in. MSN chats aren't static like AIM, right? (Can you even do that with AIM anymore...?)

We are still making a TFF chat, right? >_>

Edit: Regarding the Adoption system, Chez lays out the previous system here, as well as asking some very basic questions we should make clear. Also please read this post. Just an idea to throw out there. I believe Meier also brought up who should be allowed to be an adopter... I don't think it should be all that restrictive, lest we have a repeat of previous attempts, but yeah.

The TFF Chat already exists... as a convo on MSN. o_o;
No one really cares to like, install mIRC or something and go on an IRC chat. =P
We used to use AIM as the main IM because AIM had a dedicated chatroom that you could make. But then that died and everyone moved on to MSN.

But anyway. That's why we were talking about MSN. Because MSN = The main TFF IM system. Heh.

The Adopt-A-Newbie system is fine as it is. It will work as long as we keep up with it.

I would like to volunteer to be an adopter. I'm pretty much on all the time, but all I do is lurk, haha.

As for MSN, we should set up a schedule for MSN chats so that members know when to log on.

I will be happy to volunteer for Adopt a noob.

Do we have a criteria for volunteering to become an adopter? I remember hearing that there was one, although the requirements were a bit strict. Is that still going on, though?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Meier Link

Also more social gatherings for older members to get to know newer members. Maybe set up something like an MSN night were we all get together and form a few chats.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kilala

That is the MSN issues. It would be nice to have TFF Group Chats - and it is possible. I've been a part of one tonight (well it's night for me.)

My proposal is, that the existing MSN thread in GC may be stickied so it's always on the front page and allows members to attain e-mails with ease in a single click.
It's also important perhaps that the Council members are able to communicate with the other members offline TFF as well.
Question is, should we ask a mod to sticky this thread http://thefinalfantasy.net/forums/ge...sn-please.html in GC.

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I came out of this thinking the idea was to eventually promote a TFF chat. While there's no doubt it exists, the vast majority of TFF hardly ever hears of it, haha. New members being the least in the know, obviously.

I am losing more and more sense of what the point of this project was. ;! We sticky an MSN thread, and then...?!

In a nut shell, the criteria is to not be a sleeper (which you are not a sleeper) and can help noobs figure out the site (which you can)

Obviously not, because it has been dead for ages.
So it needs a bit of work.

Here is my rule: If you think you can handle it and know the workings/rules of the forum well enough to be able to help a new member, I say go for it. But if you think that you're going to be going over your head, then...don't go for it.

Edit: Two people posted before me. Flaming Ragnarok hit the head on the Newb stipulations, and yes, S, we sticky an MSN thread or something, or add the MSNs to the member profile thread, so that way people have a choice whether they want to disclose their MSN or not.

And if we choose the latter, we need to post some sort of announcement or sticky thread informing about the TFF Chat.
We obviously do need some sort of schedule, due to time zone constraints and whatnot.

I strongly suggest we get a system in place for deciding these topics after all everything runs smoothly and consistently with a system, i am thinking of a two week system for each topic for example the topic is posted in the thread on the first day we all input our opinions and ideas for the first week giving people a chance to get online and post and the the ruling body ie-Kilala,Fate,Mistress etc close the opinions make a poll with the different options and then we poll it it for a week or few days, once the poll is in thats it no more opinions or anything decisions is final if people wanted to have a say that had a week to do it in and then of course the changes are made that way we might actually get through these topics at a steady rate.

That way everyone can have their say whether on the council or not and it is only the selected few who can bang the gavel or what ever it is called on the table and say right poll is closed etc.
As for i see what you mean Fate i think we should let the council be open to any members opinion but on those on the council will have direct influence on what is decided if that makes sense.

I will hapily volunteer to adopt a newb.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dragoon

I strongly suggest we get a system in place for deciding these topics after all everything runs smoothly and consistently with a system, i am thinking of a two week system for each topic for example the topic is posted in the thread on the first day we all input our opinions and ideas for the first week giving people a chance to get online and post and the the ruling body ie-Kilala,Fate,Mistress etc close the opinions make a poll with the different options and then we poll it it for a week or few days, once the poll is in thats it no more opinions or anything decisions is final if people wanted to have a say that had a week to do it in and then of course the changes are made that way we might actually get through these topics at a steady rate.

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Yeah, that would be nice. A period of a week may be better IF the discussion is active... then again, we almost (but not quite) did that with MSN and it got nowhere until Egon and Rocky came in for a spell. Go figure. ;! It seems like there's still some stuff worth considering, but people are well into adoption.

I was actually hoping that Chez would post about adoption and give some insight, since only a handful of people have actually participated in it. It'd be nice to know what she liked, what she disliked, what she would change, etc.

Also it may be a good time for one of our sub-leaders to start compiling the list of adopters so we don't miss anyone later on.

About the MSN thing. I would like it if the Picture Index stayed something that only I can edit and add to. It would be hard for me to notice if someone pulled a prank and put porn links or something underneath someone's name. So I'd suggest the member profiles stay a separate thread. So the MSN names can either go with the Picture Index or Member Profiles. With member profiles, people could edit their own, but with the Picture Index, the names are all on one page.

OR. My brain, she is working. I could edit the first post in the Member Profile thread to include a list of all the MSN names people want included. And every couple days, I edit in new addresses as people add new profiles. What about that?

And I'm willing to adopt a couple people, but I'm a little hesitant, because if they're shitty and don't want to follow rules, it'll be real awkward for the adoptee to get warned by the adopter.

Why are we even discussing the MSN thing? I think it's best if people just put them in their Contact Info and if they want someone to be able to see their MSN name, they set it to Friends Only and add him to his/her friends.

EDIT: "crazy idea" removed.

That could work, but no one will know exactly who is on unless they go to their specific profile and then what is the point unless you wish to talk to about 5+ guys. Plus, you would have to refresh the page over and over to see if anyone responded. If you are just wanting to talk to someone, you could be refreshing for 10 minutes without realizing no one is on.

EDIT: I have gone ahead and made a list of Adoptee volunteers.

Flaming Ragnarok
Dragoon
Azuteor
OceanEyes 28 (mabye)

Hm. Very true.

We could just use it to vote or whatever though. The viewing of that profile would hence be limited to this club. Can be easily done.

But yeah, it's not the best idea there is.

Back to the MSN thread issue: I totally agree with OceanEyes28.

Adopters
Azuteor
Mistress Sheena
dragoon
Flaming Ragnarok
Oceaneyes (Maybe)

I thought the MSN thing was finished. Didn't I say to just add in a field in the template so people can just add it themselves if they want to? So, with that, that's done.
But S was talking about a TFF Chat system, rather than MSN. But.. all we can do is come up with a sort of schedule due to timezone issues.

....Why am I repeating myself?

Dragoon, we also already have a system for discussing topics. I just posted it yesterday.

One topic at a time, and once that topic has been implemented, we move on to the next one. We're not going to be a "All talk, no action" Council. I want stuff to get done before we talk about anything else.

Also, Ally, that's just the risk staff have to take when taking adoptees. Besides, if a new member is like that, chances are, they won't be interested in being adopted.

That's very true, Ally. You never know when something like that could happen. I agree with the second idea. I think that saves a lot of time going through the whole thing and reading just to find a particular one. (As for the third paragraph, why not just ask someone else to warn them, then?:P)

Okay. MSN ISSUE CLOSED.

Just add it to the template and people will fill them out if they want, and as far as the TFF Chat is concerned, just mention it somewhere in the first post of the Member Profile thread.

So, then, are we now onto the Adopt a Newbie idea again, or have we made it to the Member Recognition topic now?

The only way this thread is going to help anyone is if everyone takes the time to read everyones post. Yup, it's a big chore, but people seem to be missing the fact the MSN topic was closed ages go. We have TFF Chat - we need to advertise it more. Ally is kindly going to edit the post in the Profile page. Done. Sheena said that like... how many times? *sighs*

I came up with an idea for a literature competition. I figured we have one for art, so why not one for people's writting skills? I know it sounds a little like TOA, but this could be more like... an exam question. Like... Decribe a nightmare/fairy/happy world. I always love the nightmare questions. ^^

I'd like to adopt too, if thats ok. Just one person, mind - I don't want loads of them hammering down my VMs - I miss most of them on a busy day as it is. =S

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Unknown Entity

We have TFF Chat - we need to advertise it more.

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EDIT: deleted content because asking a question about "TFF Chat" and having an opinion about the current MSN thread is apparently considered spam.