It has been stated many times before that the ad forums and other forums are very hard to patrol 24 hours a day and the mods can't monitor every post.
Why not offer points for reporting posts that don't meet the forum rules.
If a member reports a post to mods that turns out to be in violation of forum rules they receive a point. The points could then be traded in for banner CPMs or stickies, or whatever other incentives the forum powers that be decide.

And would you want "points" for reported posts in other forums also to help promote your endeavor for free? How would this benefit the non-hoster? Guess they don't count or figure into that equation...

What exactly are you talking about? The points would be given to whoever reports posts that violate forum rules, regardless of the forum.
What does being a host have to do with it. Many other companies who post here could use ad space.
Your point is?

Originally posted by blue27

What does being a host have to do with it. Many other companies who post here could use ad space.

Blue,
I post here, yet I officially represent no company. Who will benefit from my points? For that matter, am I allowed to sell points?

Originally posted by godthemod
Blue,
I post here, yet I officially represent no company. Who will benefit from my points? For that matter, am I allowed to sell points?

Most systems that offer point rewards allow you to transfer points to other members GTM.

"The points could then be traded in for banner CPMs or stickies, or whatever other incentives the forum powers that be decide."

As you can see, my original post was never meant to alienate members who don't own businesses.

The idea is to generate a community response to breaches in forum rules. Any time we eliminate violators and spammers the whole community benifits, regardless of whether or not there is an outside incentive.

Originally posted by blue27
As you can see, my original post was never meant to alienate members who don't own businesses.
Fair enough, I must not have read that part close enough. Would you be willing to speculate as to what possible bonuses could be earned, or is that beyond the scope of this thread?

Originally posted by godthemod
Fair enough, I must not have read that part close enough. Would you be willing to speculate as to what possible bonuses could be earned, or is that beyond the scope of this thread?

I don't think it's beyond the scope of the thread but it may be beyond the scope of my ability to reply.
If the idea were even entertained by the owners of the forum, they could offer things like hosting or domain names or perhaps coupons from some of their other business interests.
Just a few ideas.

Originally posted by godthemod
Who will benefit from my points?

You would, indirectly. Because there would be more incentive for folks to report posts, therefore more posts being assessed, and therefore a more harmonious WHT as more posts as removed and users cautioned.

Or not. You wouldn't be obliged to report posts, no more than anyone is now. As per the thread subject, not all residents in a street get behind their Neighborhood Watch programmes.

Gary

You could look at your number of points and bask in that warm glow of a job well done. :)

As long as there is some kind of penalty for falsely sending reports for repetitive abusers.

(e.g. competitors reporting a post so a legit/decent offer gets removed and they feel theirs will prevail.)

There is already, it's called Account Suspended.

Originally posted by blue27
There is already, it's called Account Suspended.

Funny BUT true :)

Originally posted by blue27
There is already, it's called Account Suspended.

:emlaugh: Ok Ok it was early and I just woke up :stickout:

I think this is a great idea to encourage the cleanup of the forums. Every little bit helps.

Of course my personal opinion is that members should report issues as a given if they enjoy a clean forum without 'payment' ... I know I do. ;)

Originally posted by akashik
Of course my personal opinion is that members should report issues as a given if they enjoy a clean forum without 'payment' ... I know I do. ;)

Those are my thoughts as well.

I agree with you Akashik, unfortunately we are in the minority. Many people require some sort of incentive to do the right thing.

Remember that thread about VBulletin and whether or not people should report a know pirate version?
A lot of people in that thread said they would only do it if VB was offering something in return.

Originally posted by blue27
I agree with you Akashik, unfortunately we are in the minority. Many people require some sort of incentive to do the right thing.

Remember that thread about VBulletin and whether or not people should report a know pirate version?
A lot of people in that thread said they would only do it if VB was offering something in return.

yeah and I bet those people would be the first to raise hell and threaten lawsuits if they ever had their site content "ripped" by someone else. So there is a double standard there.
I report to the mods if I see something I question. I look at it this way, if I have to question it, then it is either wrong, or needs another set of eyeballs to make the determination. But I can also see your point that members want to be owed something in return for community service.

I report every violation I see.

I wouldn't complain about getting something for doin' that! :D

This is kind of what the new 'Community Guides' will basically be. Dedicated users that are tasked at looking for posts that are in violation of the rules within their specific forum and then reporting them. A 'Community Liaison' or 'Community Leader' can then come along and deal with the violation.

'Community Guides' are also there to help guide discussions and keep them on topic. This is more of a pro-active stance so that posts don't have to be reported in the first place.

We shall see how it all works out. Good suggestions so far folks, keep them coming... :)

I have 3 of the Community Leaders on MSN, and I must say that they are all extremely good at responding to threads that have been reported (I probably spend an hour or so just pasting links to Dennis every day) with information on why they need closing/merging/moving and I wouldn't actively go after a reward for doing it. I think that everyone's reward for reporting posts is not having to scroll past them every time they go to that forum.

I think not to deal with points, since you need the whole new infarstructure to achieve that, it is easier just to get 20 new additional mods to patrol advertising forums.

So far the forums have been doing well (after more mods were added), but more mods would help.

Best,