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[Apollo]

Recently, I have been working on the new version of Shifted Perspectives in hopes of making it more community run and giving you guys the say that you want.  This post will explain the new system.  Please feel free to post replies to this thread saying anything you would like to see included or if you have any questions.


The entire website and all its features will be completely automated so it needs no "System Administrators" to run (see below)

Election System

For the examples below, we will assume the current month is November.

The election system is a new addition that is designed to make Shifted Perspectives more community-driven and allows the community to take it in the direction they would like.  Each month on the 25th (IE: November 25th) (no matter if the month has 28 - 31 days), nominations will open for the election.  You may nominate up to two people (including yourself), but the nominee must accept the nomination (to prevent idle users from being nominated).  All nomination data will be private (AKA: you will not see who has how many nominations).  On the first of the next month (IE: December 1, at midnight that morning), nominations will close and elections will open.  The top 6 nominees will be selected as candidates for the election.  The election will run for exactly 7 days and then will close (December 7th, at midnight that morning).  You will have one vote and will be able to see the election data immediately (along with predicted winners*) after you vote.  The 3 people with the most votes will be declared the winners and will then have to accept a "guideline/rule list" before getting promoted to the administrative position (and one old administrator getting demoted).  There is no limit to the "terms" you can be elected to**.


User Groups

Users - Regular users have the same privledges as they do now.  In addition, however, there will be a better submission system that lets you submit more than just articles, events, etc.

Previous Administrators - These users will have the same privledges as above, except they will have access to a special part of the forum, as well as specific pages dedicated to their work on the website.  Possibly more to be determined later.

Elected Administrators - These users will have access to adding, editing, and deleting parts of the website.  The full extent of their abilities has not been decided yet, but the purpose of their position is to fully run the website in the direction they would like to take it in.  Therefore, they will have significant access to the website.  These users will also be moderators on the forum but there is a catch to their abilities.  Every addition, edit, or deletion they do will be logged and their change must be permitted by one of the other two administrators.  This limits the damage that one person can do if someone malicious is somehow elected.

System Administrators - These users are fulltime administrators who have access to more than Elected Administrators (more in the maintenance area).  Right now, the only fulltime administrators are me (Apollo) and The Adfeng.


Calendar

We will now have a real calendar that will better show upcoming events.  Users can also request/run events that will be scheduled in the calendar (see "Events").


Progressing past psionics

After much talk of expanding Shifted Perspectives to general "Metaphysics" instead of "Psionics".  This will be openly discusssed when it is closer to opening time.  This will also be editable by Elected Administrators.


Games

On the current version of the site, we had an idea of having psionic games with scoreboards.  Unfortunately, I only had time to make one game, and it was only compatible with Windows computers.  Obviously, there are some severe limitations with that.  Shifted Perspectives v2.0 will have web-based games (with scoreboards).  They are easier and faster to make, and they are compatible with all operating systems.


Events

We will have more events that can even be proposed by users.  We will also have a chatroom bot that will help users run their event with ease (more on this later).  Hopefully, this will increase event activity and help the community interact more thoroughly.


* = This idea/algorithm is in beta currently and is subject to change

** = This may change if it becomes a problem

Please feel free to suggest new features that you would like to see!  Questions or additions to the above are also welcome and suggested.Thanks!

[Birth]

So Apollo, if you or The Adfeng do not like a specific person, they still will have the possibility of becoming Elected Admin? Also, will the banning system still have the same rules, or are you looking to change it in accordance with v2.0?

[Apollo]

It doesn't matter what The Adfeng and I think about the person being elected.  As long as they don't destroy the website (which will be logged), they are allowed to be elected.  Thats the point of having the community vote for them.


The rules will probably change slightly in the new version but the general idea will be the same.

Do you have any additional suggestions?

[Birth]

Hmm...I'm just thinking about this "Previous Admins" thing. To me, it seems a little strange but it just may work out. Other than that, I'd be nice to see some community events held; some activities the site may or may not take part of encouraging competition or whatnot.

[Apollo]

I am hoping that the new system will motivate users to run their own events and make the community more active.

[issacweirdo]

I am hoping that the new system will motivate users to run their own events and make the community more active.

Well, it certainly seems to me you're on your way to achieving that goal, ha ha ha. The changes seem like a good idea.

[glopso]

So anyone can vote?

[Apollo]

You must be a member of the website (having a forum account means you are a member; they will be the same thing in the new version) to vote.

[Notagh]

Sounds good to me   Nice job.

Only thing I might add is that, if you haven't already thought of this, is to disallow members from voting until they meet certain specifications, like "registered more than a week ago" or "posted within the last 15 days".

Something that encourages fairness but prevents vote fraud. 

[Apollo]

Good thought. The requirement will probably be very small (one post overall or something), but there will be measures taken to ensure vote fraud does not occur.


If the requirement turns out to be too small, it will change.

[The Adfeng]

I love this idea.  Unfortunately with my schooling taking first priority, I haven't had much time to be on of late.  But, that will change in the coming weeks.

I love to see the site becoming more community-driven instead of just Apollo and I doing all the stuff.  It would be an awesome experience to have everyone participate more.

Apollo, you have my undying gratitude of making this site much better every time you do updates to it.  Thank you.

[cccy]

Good to hear the updates. Sadly I am busy with work and won't be around for a little while more.

[Apollo]

I have been working hard on this new version, and it looks great!  However, I need some people (probably 3) who are willing to write some things for me.  With all my time coding, I don't have the time to put enough attention into some of the static content that will be on the website (describing how things work, etc).  If you are willing to help out, you will get plenty of credit for your work, and you will be able to beta test SPv2 before anyone else has a chance to see it!

You must be able to write clearly and concisely (and in some cases, lengthy), have zero spelling mistakes, have very few (preferably zero) grammar mistakes, and must be available to write at least 3 things that I ask of you.   I will make it clear in what I need (and you are more than welcome to ask questions if it is unclear), but it is your responsibility to get it done well.

I would like references in work of yours that you feel you wrote well.  Everything from a school paper, to a lengthy forum post of yours is accepted.  Preferably supply two.


Like I said, you will receive recognition for your work, as well as having access to the website before it is available for anyone else to see.

The first writing assignment will be available in probably about a week.

[The Adfeng]

I'd be glad to do it.  I'm sure you've seen some of how I can write, if not I can send you some of my writings.

[Apollo]

On Psi-Links at one point, I had made a function to allow each user to write and share their own blog that was integrated into the website.  Does anyone think they would use this feature (obviously enhanced from the last version) in the new version?  If so, I will implement it.  If not, it can always be added later...


Thoughts?

[Notagh]

On Psi-Links at one point, I had made a function to allow each user to write and share their own blog that was integrated into the website.  Does anyone think they would use this feature (obviously enhanced from the last version) in the new version?  If so, I will implement it.  If not, it can always be added later...


Thoughts?

That sounds interesting, could be used to replace log threads..  But it's probably going to see little to no use for the close future..  So I wouldn't make it a priority if I were you.
We could take this and mix it with Stolide's idea of having people run daily IIH walkthroughts though. 

[stolide]

I do not see why it makes all that much of a difference to be honest.

[Notagh]

I do not see why it makes all that much of a difference to be honest.

One thing that really perked me up was the possibility of psionics games, especially flash-based or multiplayer ones.  I also would really like that explicit picture experiment program replicated as a game.  I think such an immediate and primal reward system for psionic ability could definitely help improvement.  By all means feel free to remain pessimistic, however.  
Edit: Looking at this it could look like the above is a bit waspish toward stolide, so I will clarify:  I mean the last sentence literally, without animosity or sarcasm.

[stolide]

The programs could be interesting, but I was referring to the blogs.

Also, I do not fail to recognize that I tend towards pessimism.

[Apollo]

I do not see why it makes all that much of a difference to be honest.

One thing that really perked me up was the possibility of psionics games, especially flash-based or multiplayer ones.  I also would really like that explicit picture experiment program replicated as a game.  I think such an immediate and primal reward system for psionic ability could definitely help improvement.  By all means feel free to remain pessimistic, however.  
Edit: Looking at this it could look like the above is a bit waspish toward stolide, so I will clarify:  I mean the last sentence literally, without animosity or sarcasm.

Notagh, I am planning on recreating that game.  I will have to figure out what to do with the "explicit picture part", though.  I will probably have to make an "over 18 years old" version of the game...  I'll figure that out when I get there.

And also, yes, there will be many games (and some multiplayer).