What Are Members Worth? (WAMW)

I think the site would honestly have to undergo some major revisions/purges before the majority of the members would really even read this unfortunately =/. It's a little too idealist for most people.
 
It's a good read but you have a tendency for intellectual elitism.
You can have just as meaningful a discussion about the relative merits of American vs National league as you can about " nature vs nurture" or if Dostoevsky really intended Raskolnikov to be a sympathetic character or not?
 
Are the people who get into these "stratified" positions through people they know, really a value to that community, or are they just there? While some may be able to "sneak in" I am talking about the people who really are an active and beneficial member of the community.
alluding to RL,i guess it'll be kinda hard to answer that question.Granted(not a given)that if you graduate from a good school(amherst for example) you are bound to have more opportunities in life than somebody who pursued the same LA education as you but at some other unknown low level state U.

The success of this amherst fellow would largely be credited to the excellent alumni network that his alma mater has managed to maintain over the years and as a token of appreciation,he'll probably give back to his college so long as he's still alive.Now,the opposite is most likely the diegesis for the state U and its output academic.

I can't really flat out pick a side on this but given the above scenario,i think to some extent its probably fair and well deserved to be where you are coz of the people you know simply because it takes alot of effort to even have such a network of friends who have the ability to take you places(plus getting into amherst in the first place wasn't a walk in the park i would imagine:P.)

fair or unfair,i don't really know.
 
Congrats on level 3, n00bz0r! Don't worry, buddy, we won't trade ya. That is unless a 10(b) comes along... :D I really appreciate you taking the time to read it through and give your honest assessment!

I realize that 1-3 could be condensed. I thought that added some weight to the list. I really did not have to stretch to make the list "fit". In fact, I started with the first 3 and built up from there.

We are told to read the instructions everywhere. Most don't. Hell, I only do sometimes. And that's after I have screwed something up. :D

And, sez- very good analysis of the networking scene. It does take time and effort to cultivate and maintain those long-term relationships. Not everyone who goes to the "Big Name" schools bothers to use/be part of the networking system.

On a related note, I got to a point where my grad-school application was teetering in the very edge. I was told to get two additional references (much to my surprise, the two I had originally received did not come through for me the way I expected). I needed help and a contacted some people who had not been close friends, but I had kept in touch with over the years. When told them the situation, they stepped up. Big time! Did not hesitate and asked me exactly what I needed them to do. If either of them EVER needed anything from me, they would get whatever they needed.

That is the power of maintaining and cultivating relationships. It is also a bit of a cautionary tale on knowing what people will say about you before you count on them 100%. :)
 
Besides, good is subjective.

I see what you are trying to say, but for the most part, I have to disagree. The objective standards for "good member" or perhaps "a member in good standing" are clearly stated in a site's rules.

Only in a case where there is a "rogue" or malicious moderator would the decision(s) be made that were not objective. I think it is VERY rare that a mod would go out of their way to abuse their power and attack a member who had not done (or perhaps said) anything.

Mods are generally very good at following site rules. That is how they got to be mods in the first place. ;) Although people generally disagree after they have been banned "for no reason".
 
As usual, good point, IdolEyes. I am not much of a sports fan and I have spent an above average amount of time in school. :)

I (with my bias) still believe that academia has a more serious level to it than sports and games. Being able to debate American vs National league may make you interesting in a bar, but an education will better prepare you for life (assuming serious study).

I also included Real-life experiences with the academic. People can learn much from books, but raising children, going to war, making life-changing decisions, and/or burying your spouse/parents will give you wisdom. Ultimately, people may need advice from someone who has experienced these things while they are probably only interested in sports trivia.
 
Whilst education is important,i think who you know and the networks that you build as you go on pulverize everything else.

Your so right. A lot of the time it is not what you know, but who you know. One of the best examples of this was George Bush, the former President of the US of A. While his intellect was that of a retard, he became the most powerful man in the world for a short period of time, simply because he had a powerful dad and friends.
 
It's a good read but you have a tendency for intellectual elitism.
You can have just as meaningful a discussion about the relative merits of American vs National league as you can about " nature vs nurture" or if Dostoevsky really intended Raskolnikov to be a sympathetic character or not?

I'm sorry, but that post went straight over the top of my head.

As for the opening post, it was interesting for me as I had brief glimpses of myself as I went through each level, from 1) (NOOB) through to 10a) (Site Owner). Fortunately, I haven't progressed to 10b) as I have no wish to put my body through a gender change operation (the cost is prohibitive, apparently).

A well written OP.

Cheers.
 
to bad the real 'what are members worth' to the higher up community isn't completely in line with the original post but i find it fun regardless. :)

@KushBlow don't say that. The post is half (if not all) sarcastic. It isn't sexist...
 
Why automatically go to the rules to determine what is a good member?

Most sites do not say anything about dupe accounts or giving them away to strangers in their rules, which is what I'll readily admit to doing. So by the rules, I'm still a good member.

I still think good, in general, especially in response to squirrel, is subjective, at least to the extent that I don't subscribe to all of the orthodox views of what it means to join some website and download some metadata files.
 
"The rules" are a list of behaviors that are required of a guest. When you go to a site (or even someone's home or business)there are implicit and explicit limitations placed on your conduct. It may be seen as rude to put your feet up on a coffee table in one home, while in another, the atmosphere is more relaxed and it is acceptable. Site owners, like home owners have the right to judge behavior and set the rules.

There are also certain rules that just go without saying. Regardless of the relaxed atmosphere (in the above example), you still would not want to spit on someone's floor. Certain actions will not only get you thrown out of one owner's house, but making a big enough scene or error of judgment and you may be unwelcome in any of their friends' houses (sites) as well.

This is a community, one could also argue that it has also grown into its own culture. Like any real-world community, there are certain expectations placed on its members. Some places post signs and feel the need to express those rules of conduct. Others simply assume the maturity of the guest to not cross the community's spoken, or unspoken requirements.

This is not very complex. Just do your best to act in a manner that you would want someone else to if you invited strangers into your home. Be courteous, fun, and interesting and you will be welcomed back. Fail to act according to the rules and you will be shunned. It really is the same online and IRL.

Acting in a socially unacceptable manner will close a lot of doors. Once closed, those doors are difficult to reopen. It's up to you whether or not you want to be inside or outside. There's usually a lot more fun going on inside (especially if all the jackasses are outside).
 
1. Although it is obvious why you stretched it to 10, this would have been more meaningful in 5 or less tiers (which would have been tied more closely with Maslow).
2. After trying to have meaningful discussions on several forums, I've found that most other members are either offensively ignorant or pseudo-intellectuals.
3. Viewing the relative worth of members on a torrent site based upon what they contribute to your myopic view of how a forum based community should be.
4. Based solely upon the verbiage in this post, it is clear you think you're at a Level 7. LOL @ an academic street fight taking place on a torrent forum.
5. Psychology and/or marketing classes are for idiots and/or douchenozzles. In order to reach the stage of self-actualization, Maslow needs to lick my taint.
 
There are a list of unwritten rules that are governed by common sense. The best way to determine whether something is acceptable or not is to consider how you would feel if you were on the receiving end.

For example, many people hit and run, yet how would those same people feel if they were on 97% completion when the seeder decided to run?

A community exists on harmony. While there may be a few errant members, the majority work towards a peaceful existence with each other. This is true in real life as well as virtual life.

So, to the matter of 'giving away accounts'. An account, by its very definition, is a personal thing. You have a bank account. You may have credit accounts. Gas and electric accounts. All are in your own name. They belong to you.

When you sign up at a forum, you use a pseudonym, yet this is still you. So, why do people feel the need to give away something which is personal? Would you hand your bank account to a stranger? Would the bank even allow such an act?

If you sell your house, the electricity and gas accounts are not transfered to the new owners. They have fresh accounts set up for them.

In other words, just because you can do something doesn't make it right. After all, there is nothing in law that actually stops me from killing someone. The law is actually geared towards sentencing me after I have killed someone. This is why it is often necessary to catch someone in the act of committing a crime to have a successful prosecution.

So, apply common sense, and think whether the actions you use on a forum site would be acceptable in the real world. After all, if you went into a pub or bar and took someone's drink, you'd expect a black eye in return.
 
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