More Perks For Supporters Please

[Lockdownn]

Question, would anyone be interested in a flashy badge on the main-nation page?

I do understand that there is already a badge on the bottom of the page but I figured since suggestions were being thrown out there, I figured this would be worth a shot.

Similar to this?:

(Image)

Would this replace the trophy? Or would it go somewhere else on the page?

It would go where the WA badge normally goes. I've seen different nations have multiple badges but side by side. Not sure how labor intensive setting it up would be or how it would work with multiple other badges. Think a nation with an IE badge, WA badge, and Site Supporter badge.

[Heloin]

Well, as aforementioned, the fundamental idea is the same. You want an exclusive forum for paid people, this is preposterous, either it will be cold and inactive for months and months, or the fact that NS just got more paid perks will drive more people away from the site.

Is there any possibility that the exclusive forum will be super active?

What would even be talked about on a site supporter exclusive forum. The lack of ads and large size of inbox's?

[Xerographica]

Would this replace the trophy? Or would it go somewhere else on the page?

It would go where the WA badge normally goes. I've seen different nations have multiple badges but side by side. Not sure how labor intensive setting it up would be or how it would work with multiple other badges. Think a nation with an IE badge, WA badge, and Site Supporter badge.

It sounds good to me.

[Xerographica]

Is there any possibility that the exclusive forum will be super active?

What would even be talked about on a site supporter exclusive forum. The lack of ads and large size of inbox's?

Heh. We would primarily talk about whether Alvecia is a penguin or not.

[Eclius]

What would even be talked about on a site supporter exclusive forum. The lack of ads and large size of inbox's?

Heh. We would primarily talk about whether Alvecia is a penguin or not.

So essentially, a paid version of forum 7? This is plainly pointless. Plus, people will likely prefer the current (free) F7 instead given that chances are not all of their NS friends paid for your perks. Also Xerographica, I'm still waiting for your response, given that you think moderators and technicians should give paid people a suggestion priority, would you say it's fair for hospital to give preference to some billionaire instead of you? It's really the same in concept if you think about it.

[Xerographica]

Heh. We would primarily talk about whether Alvecia is a penguin or not.

So essentially, a paid version of forum 7? This is plainly pointless. Plus, people will likely prefer the current (free) F7 instead given that chances are not all of their NS friends paid for your perks. Also Xerographica, I'm still waiting for your response, given that you think moderators and technicians should give paid people a suggestion priority, would you say it's fair for hospital to give preference to some billionaire instead of you? It's really the same in concept if you think about it.

The problem with forum 7 is that it eventually kills all its threads... even the awesome ones. The threads in the supporter forum would never die. It wouldn't be "fair" for a hospital to prioritize billionaires. But would you give your kidney to Max Barry or to a death row inmate?

[Eclius]

So essentially, a paid version of forum 7? This is plainly pointless. Plus, people will likely prefer the current (free) F7 instead given that chances are not all of their NS friends paid for your perks. Also Xerographica, I'm still waiting for your response, given that you think moderators and technicians should give paid people a suggestion priority, would you say it's fair for hospital to give preference to some billionaire instead of you? It's really the same in concept if you think about it.

The problem with forum 7 is that it eventually kills all its threads... even the awesome ones. The threads in the supporter forum would never die. It wouldn't be fair for a hospital to prioritize billionaires. But would you give your kidney to Max Barry or to a death row inmate?

As aforementioned, people WILL get a free site for chats and randoms stuff. Or not even a chat, I am in multiple NS-based Discords, where it doesn't "die off", so given the circumstances, why should people pay for the exclusive forum rather than meet their NS buddies in a separate forum or a discord server? Xerographica, it occurs to me that you're not at all familiar with how things really work.

[Eclius]

So essentially, a paid version of forum 7? This is plainly pointless. Plus, people will likely prefer the current (free) F7 instead given that chances are not all of their NS friends paid for your perks. Also Xerographica, I'm still waiting for your response, given that you think moderators and technicians should give paid people a suggestion priority, would you say it's fair for hospital to give preference to some billionaire instead of you? It's really the same in concept if you think about it.

The problem with forum 7 is that it eventually kills all its threads... even the awesome ones. The threads in the supporter forum would never die. It wouldn't be "fair" for a hospital to prioritize billionaires. But would you give your kidney to Max Barry or to a death row inmate?

Also, kidneys, well, that's a false comparison, you're comparing unpaid users to death row inmates? I mean, it's quite not nice to demonize a group of people like that. I really hope it was an honest mistake (or was it?)

[Mallorea and Riva]

The problem with forum 7 is that it eventually kills all its threads... even the awesome ones. The threads in the supporter forum would never die. It wouldn't be "fair" for a hospital to prioritize billionaires. But would you give your kidney to Max Barry or to a death row inmate?

Also, kidneys, well, that's a false comparison, you're comparing unpaid users to death row inmates? I mean, it's quite not nice to demonize a group of people like that. I really hope it was an honest mistake (or was it?)

Stop trying to bait him with that line of questioning.

[Xerographica]

The problem with forum 7 is that it eventually kills all its threads... even the awesome ones. The threads in the supporter forum would never die. It wouldn't be fair for a hospital to prioritize billionaires. But would you give your kidney to Max Barry or to a death row inmate?

As aforementioned, people WILL get a free site for chats and randoms stuff. Or not even a chat, I am in multiple NS-based Discords, where it doesn't "die off", so given the circumstances, why should people pay for the exclusive forum rather than meet their NS buddies in a separate forum or a discord server? Xerographica, it occurs to me that you're not at all familiar with how things really work.

People who are already supporters wouldn't have to pay to participate in the supporter forum. But if a non-supporter wanted to participate, then they would have to pay. Actually, I just remembered that over a decade ago I brought up the idea that orchid societies should give free membership to students. Typically membership costs around $30/year.

[Eclius]

As aforementioned, people WILL get a free site for chats and randoms stuff. Or not even a chat, I am in multiple NS-based Discords, where it doesn't "die off", so given the circumstances, why should people pay for the exclusive forum rather than meet their NS buddies in a separate forum or a discord server? Xerographica, it occurs to me that you're not at all familiar with how things really work.

People who are already supporters wouldn't have to pay to participate in the supporter forum. But if a non-supporter wanted to participate, then they would have to pay. Actually, I just remembered that over a decade ago I brought up the idea that orchid societies should give free membership to students. Typically membership costs around $30/year.

No, you're not answering my question, what's the practical point of having this exclusive forum?!! People can literally have free chats on Discord or some other off-site places where they can meet their friends. You're suggestion of a paid forum service has no practical value, it will instead, only worsen NS' reputation.

[Xerographica]

People who are already supporters wouldn't have to pay to participate in the supporter forum. But if a non-supporter wanted to participate, then they would have to pay. Actually, I just remembered that over a decade ago I brought up the idea that orchid societies should give free membership to students. Typically membership costs around $30/year.

No, you're not answering my question, what's the practical point of having this exclusive forum?!! People can literally have free chats on Discord or some other off-site places where they can meet their friends. You're suggestion of a paid forum service has no practical value, it will instead, only worsen NS' reputation.

The practical point is to create a specific space for supporters to socialize. It's not like it's an exclusive country club that costs $200,000/year to be a member of. It would only cost a one time payment of $3 dollars to gain access to the supporter forum.

[The Two Jerseys]

No, you're not answering my question, what's the practical point of having this exclusive forum?!! People can literally have free chats on Discord or some other off-site places where they can meet their friends. You're suggestion of a paid forum service has no practical value, it will instead, only worsen NS' reputation.

The practical point is to create a specific space for supporters to socialize. It's not like it's an exclusive country club that costs $200,000/year to be a member of. It would only cost a one time payment of $3 dollars to gain access to the supporter forum.

Why is the regular forum not good enough for them?

[Eclius]

No, you're not answering my question, what's the practical point of having this exclusive forum?!! People can literally have free chats on Discord or some other off-site places where they can meet their friends. You're suggestion of a paid forum service has no practical value, it will instead, only worsen NS' reputation.

The practical point is to create a specific space for supporters to socialize. It's not like it's an exclusive country club that costs $200,000/year to be a member of. It would only cost a one time payment of $3 dollars to gain access to the supporter forum.

But why exactly do supporters need an exclusive place to chat?! As aforementioned, you can easily meet up with your friends on Discord, you even get notifications when someone posts someone new. Also, you still haven't answered my question, your recommendation of prioritize the suggestions from paid users will fundamentally change the way this site works, as well as NS' game mechanic. Does that mean you would recommend an NS site where more game play mechanics and forum features should be paid rather than free?

[Xerographica]

The practical point is to create a specific space for supporters to socialize. It's not like it's an exclusive country club that costs $200,000/year to be a member of. It would only cost a one time payment of $3 dollars to gain access to the supporter forum.

Why is the regular forum not good enough for them?

It's filled with free-riders.

[Eclius]

The practical point is to create a specific space for supporters to socialize. It's not like it's an exclusive country club that costs $200,000/year to be a member of. It would only cost a one time payment of $3 dollars to gain access to the supporter forum.

Why is the regular forum not good enough for them?

That's exactly what I've been trying to ask, unfortunately three questions later, I cannot seem to get an answer from Xerographica. Moreover, my argument is that there is no point is an exclusive forum

[The Two Jerseys]

Why is the regular forum not good enough for them?

It's filled with free-riders.

A free-to-use internet forum is filled with people who don't pay to use it.

Who'da thunk it?

[Mallorea and Riva]

Why is the regular forum not good enough for them?

It's filled with free-riders.

Those "free-riders" are players. Maybe they don't feel like buying supporter status, maybe they can't afford it, maybe they don't know about it. Doesn't matter. They're players of the game just like you. When you call them that it implies that they're not contributing to the game and that they aren't welcome here. That's so far from the truth that it's ridiculous.

[Eclius]

Why is the regular forum not good enough for them?

It's filled with free-riders.

Please define "free-riders"? Also, I find your persistent attempt to demonize free users rather off-topic, unscrupulous and counter-productive, I do not appreciate this, and I'd like to kindly ask you to desist immediately. As aforementioned, the point of NS is to create a space for people to make friends, RP together and have fun. It is not a machine for corporate greed. By adding more features like what you suggested, it will only worsen the reputation of NS, it will not do anyone a favor.

[Valentine Z]

Why is the regular forum not good enough for them?

It's filled with free-riders.

NS is a free game, but you lament about free-riders (free-loaders, you mean)?

... Que ?

This all goes back to square one, the very first principle of NS:

NS is a free game, but feel free to support if you want. Supporters get a few neat features, but nothing that will give them advantage over other free users.

[Eclius]

It's filled with free-riders.

Those "free-riders" are players. Maybe they don't feel like buying supporter status, maybe they can't afford it, maybe they don't know about it. Doesn't matter. They're players of the game just like you. When you call them that it implies that they're not contributing to the game and that they aren't welcome here. That's so far from the truth that it's ridiculous.

Exactly, which is why, I'd like to kindly ask Xerographica to change his/her wording, such that it can mask the expression which suggests that some people aren't welcomed here. I firmly believe that NS should be a safe space, where everyone's heard and welcomed, rather than a place where people should be judged by whether or not they've decided to pay for some new fancy feature which could potentially serve as a ground of discrimination.

[Mallorea and Riva]

Those "free-riders" are players. Maybe they don't feel like buying supporter status, maybe they can't afford it, maybe they don't know about it. Doesn't matter. They're players of the game just like you. When you call them that it implies that they're not contributing to the game and that they aren't welcome here. That's so far from the truth that it's ridiculous.

Exactly, which is why, I'd like to kindly ask Xerographica to change his/her wording, such that it can mask the expression which suggests that some people aren't welcomed here. I firmly believe that NS should be a safe space, where everyone's heard and welcomed, rather than a place where people should be judged by whether or not they've decided to pay for some new fancy feature which could potentially serve as a ground of discrimination.

You can ask it but moderation won't enforce it. NS isn't a safe space in the sense that no one's feelings will get hurt here. If Xerographica wants to use the term free riders they can. It's just rather incorrect.

[Eclius]

It's filled with free-riders.

NS is a free game, but you lament about free-riders (free-loaders, you mean)?

... Que ?

This all goes back to square one, the very first principle of NS:

NS is a free game, but feel free to support if you want. Supporters get a few neat features, but nothing that will give them advantage over other free users.

No, "free-rider" means people who decided not to support the site, which is often times due to financial reasons. Which is why, I said multiple times that it is quite unscrupulous to make fundamental features of NS, such as the suggestions, a paid feature.

[Kringalia]

This is preposterous, there is no such thing as a "free rider" on NationStates. You already contribute by the very fact of playing; paying money doesn't make you any more special or worthy than anyone else in this site.

[Eclius]

Exactly, which is why, I'd like to kindly ask Xerographica to change his/her wording, such that it can mask the expression which suggests that some people aren't welcomed here. I firmly believe that NS should be a safe space, where everyone's heard and welcomed, rather than a place where people should be judged by whether or not they've decided to pay for some new fancy feature which could potentially serve as a ground of discrimination.

You can ask it but moderation won't enforce it. NS isn't a safe space in the sense that no one's feelings will get hurt here. If Xerographica wants to use the term free riders they can. It's just rather incorrect.

While I do acknowledge the freedom of speech, I was merely suggesting that Xerographica's use of words were quite incorrect, as you said, such that it demonizes and hints explicit hatred towards people who didn't pay under presumably financial reasons. And I kindly pointed it out so he as well as others are aware of this incorrect wording. I do apologize for going a bit off topic here.