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This thread is for discussing the following topics:

  • Questions and clarifications about the site's rules and policies pertaining to wiki editing, forum posting, trope launching, and so on.
  • If you have an idea for a thread on another part of the forums but aren't sure if creating it would be allowed, feel free to ask here.

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  • Queries about locked On-Topic Conversations (OTC) threads or banned discussion topics. OTC has its own moderation discussion thread here, and the latest statement on the locked US Politics thread and other banned OTC topics is here. Bluntly, when certain OTC threads and topics have repeatedly caused problems, we're not going to provide forum space to discuss them again until the moderation toolkit is equipped to handle those conversations.
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  • Discussion about changing or implementing policies. Please use Wiki Talk for that. (Asking whether it's OK to make a specific thread is acceptable; using this thread in place of such a thread is not.)
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Posts that use this thread in place of the sections listed in the bulleted list above are off-topic.
We're aware that the Edit Banned thread has a Non-Indicative Name, due to it also covering non-editing suspensions. We're not sure whether the name for that thread can even be edited without breaking the special coding that keeps posting restricted to mods and suspended users, so we're leaving it alone for now, because better safe than sorry.
(Edited Mar 28 2024, adding bullet about OTC and amending layout a little)

Edited by Mrph1 on Mar 29th 2024 at 10:55:20 AM

Amonimus the Retromancer from <<|Wiki Talk|>> (Sergeant) Relationship Status: In another castle
the Retromancer
#3301: Jan 5th 2022 at 4:49:27 PM

One option is to ask how much the admins want, maybe revive the badge shop or something, or just ask for their Paypal/Patreon. If everyone cashed in a dollar per person it would allow a developer to work for a week or so, and some of the most requested features border on immediate fixes.

Ok, I think I've run out of capitalism talk.

TroperWall / WikiMagic Cleanup
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#3302: Jan 5th 2022 at 4:53:29 PM

We ran a Kickstarter back when the new admins took over the site. I don't recall how many of the promises have been kept so far. Just patching up the existing code took a lot more work than anyone thought.

Selling badges ended up being more trouble than it was worth as fees ate a good chunk of the revenue, and direct donations also had issues because people would harass us by sending small amounts and then demanding refunds.

Edited by Fighteer on Jan 5th 2022 at 7:54:29 AM

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
WarJay77 Big Catch, Sparkle Edition (Troper Knight)
Big Catch, Sparkle Edition
#3303: Jan 5th 2022 at 4:58:00 PM

If they had a new kickstarter or opened a patreon or something, I'd be happy to donate (and buy a badge and stuff). I'm already paying for ad-free reading, but that's more of a necessity than anything, and might not be necessary if the site could make money without ads. And I'd still pay for more stuff if it means the site gets money and I get fun perks, like a badge.

Edit: But if it's too much of a headache, I get it.

Edited by WarJay77 on Jan 5th 2022 at 7:58:32 AM

Currently Working On: Incorruptible Pure Pureness
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#3304: Jan 5th 2022 at 4:58:57 PM

The ad-free subscriptions definitely help, but again we are not privy to the finances.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
N1KF (Ten years in the joint) Relationship Status: In Lesbians with you
#3305: Jan 5th 2022 at 5:01:27 PM

Well, it's reassuring to be told by a mod that this site isn't just for profit at least.

I suppose another way to help would be to compile info about the site's structure and redevelop it, then provide it to the admins.

Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#3306: Jan 5th 2022 at 5:13:15 PM

The idea of giving moderators a stipend has come up before, but the problem there is that we are all volunteers, freely donating our time with no expectations or contracts. If we were actually paid for our work, that would form an implicit employment agreement, which would have all sorts of consequences.

What if the admins hired a staff therapist so you all had a professional to help with the stress that comes with moderating this mess? tongue

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
SilverCrown (Private) Relationship Status: Singularity
#3307: Jan 5th 2022 at 10:00:16 PM

waves hand Ahem...

Speaking of developers, I'd also like to point out that I know PHP... but it would probably break child labor laws if I applied/volunteered now, so I'll wait a little while. wink

As for hiring devs, I think someone posted about that three-ish years ago? The company that owns TV Tropes did get merged in July 2021, so that may have had something to do with it.

Yeah, the last hiring announcement was 2018.

alnair20aug93 🍊orange fursona🧡 from Furrypines (Long Runner) Relationship Status: Chocolate!
🍊orange fursona🧡
#3308: Jan 5th 2022 at 11:12:40 PM

Announced by the guy who starred in Echo Chamber nonetheless.

ᜇᜎᜈ᜔ᜇᜈ᜔|I DO COMMISSIONS|ᜇᜎᜈ᜔ᜇᜈ᜔
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#3309: Jan 6th 2022 at 1:05:33 AM

Me, I wouldn't mind if we expected that new developers be acquainted with TV Tropes policies and processes.

Problems like the cutlist "challenge" button sound like the developers that wrote that code weren't familiar with its purpose and thus ended up writing an inappropriate functionality.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Piterpicher Veteran Editor IV from Poland, for real (Series 2) Relationship Status: Armed with the Power of Love
Veteran Editor IV
#3310: Jan 6th 2022 at 1:16:04 AM

Yeah... They should probably have a procedure manual written by mods as to what is expected and why... I'm pretty sure sites for things like Thunderbird or Android have some kind of manual for developers (I know they have an accessibility section).

Currently mostly inactive. An incremental game I tested: https://galaxy.click/play/176 (Gods of Incremental)
SilverCrown (Private) Relationship Status: Singularity
#3311: Jan 6th 2022 at 1:22:02 AM

Problems like the cutlist "challenge" button sound like the developers that wrote that code weren't familiar with its purpose and thus ended up writing an inappropriate functionality.

Eddie was the one who wrote it (challenge.php) all the way back in 2008, so it must have been lost in translation over the years.

Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#3312: Jan 6th 2022 at 2:49:10 AM

Is Eddie still available to ask?

Optimism is a duty.
SilverCrown (Private) Relationship Status: Singularity
Ultimatum Disasturbator from Second Star to the left (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
Disasturbator
jjjj2 from Arrakis Since: Jul, 2015
#3315: Jan 6th 2022 at 5:52:06 PM

He occasionally edits and posts, but I don't know if asking entails a follow up question to do something about it, or just a "what did you do" type question.

You can only write so much in your forum signature. It's not fair that I want to write a piece of writing yet it will cut me off in the mid
GastonRabbit Sounds good on paper (he/him) from Robinson, Illinois, USA (General of TV Troops) Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
Sounds good on paper (he/him)
#3316: Jan 7th 2022 at 5:05:57 PM

I'm a bit late in saying this, but his records say he hasn't posted since 2020, though he did edit a couple of weeks ago.

Edited by GastonRabbit on Jan 7th 2022 at 7:06:57 AM

Patiently awaiting the release of Paper Luigi and the Marvelous Compass.
Karxrida The Unknown from Eureka, the Forbidden Land Since: May, 2012 Relationship Status: I LOVE THIS DOCTOR!
The Unknown
#3317: Jan 8th 2022 at 1:30:03 AM

Selling badges ended up being more trouble than it was worth as fees ate a good chunk of the revenue, and direct donations also had issues because people would harass us by sending small amounts and then demanding refunds.

I'm curious on the specifics for the badges since it seems like easy money. Also I just really want to have my Herald badge.

Edited by Karxrida on Jan 8th 2022 at 1:30:14 AM

If a tree falls in the forest and nobody remembers it, who else will you have ice cream with?
LilyLopunny Cleanup specialist from middle of nowhere Since: Aug, 2020 Relationship Status: Sharing a spaghetti noodle
Cleanup specialist
#3318: Jan 8th 2022 at 4:43:44 PM

So, yes, there seems to be a double standard when it comes to discussion of a certain person.

They get praised constantly, but when I try to criticize them, suddenly discussion of them isn't allowed on whatever thread I'm on.

Except this seems to go for the threads I'm told are relevant as well regardless, and everyone else is still able to talk about them.

"Be the change you want to see in the world." My bf and I being the change: www.twitch.tv/lilyandfloatzel https://discord.gg/z7PmdTksVj
Ultimatum Disasturbator from Second Star to the left (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
Disasturbator
#3319: Jan 8th 2022 at 4:49:13 PM

Your post amounts to "Everyone does this one thing and when I do it I get punished!"

Well yes,you brought him up randomly and derailed the politics topic,you then proceeded to go further off topic.

Sometimes you need pay attention to the topic,it can go a long way,just saying.

Edited by Ultimatum on Jan 8th 2022 at 12:49:59 PM

New theme music also a box
Synchronicity MOD (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#3320: Jan 8th 2022 at 4:50:20 PM

Let me spell it out for you, ~Lily Lopunny: it's not that we don't allow criticism, but we don't allow off-topic bashing.

For the purposes of this example, let's say I really, really can't stand Ben Affleck; I think his acting sucks and his public image is dickish. But for me to go into a thread only tangentially related to Affleck, say... the DC movies thread, and say, "Omg, Ben Affleck sucks so bad as a person and an actor, guys, he should be banned from Hollywood forever," would be tremendously bad form, and if I would not be surprised if another mod came for me for it. But if I were to go in with at least something related to the thread, like, maybe, "I didn't like Ben Affleck's Batman; I thought his acting in Justice League was wooden", that would be more acceptable.

That isn't a double standard. It's just keeping with the goal of civil conversation, and barging into a thread insisting for the right to negatively talk about a person only tangentially related to the thread is not in keeping with that goal.

If you want to appeal your OTC suspension, you are welcome to do so in EB, but please don't passive-aggressively post here.

Edited by Synchronicity on Jan 8th 2022 at 6:50:47 AM

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#3321: Jan 8th 2022 at 4:54:00 PM

As was pointed out to you on several occasions, notable public figures are relevant topics in as much as they concern the subject of the thread in question: politicians in politics threads, space people in the space thread, automakers in the cars threads, game-related people in video games topics, and so on. However, the discussion needs to be about how that person relates to the topic. "X is bad and I don't like them" is not a topic that we allow on the forums anywhere at any time.

Edit: [nja]

Edited by Fighteer on Jan 8th 2022 at 7:59:56 AM

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Fighteer MOD Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#3322: Jan 8th 2022 at 5:43:01 PM

As Lily Lopunny chose to passive-aggressively Rage Quit by PM'ing a bunch of people instead of appealing their suspension, they have now been bounced.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
jjjj2 from Arrakis Since: Jul, 2015
#3323: Jan 8th 2022 at 5:49:23 PM

I must say you really got to work quickly on cutting their trope page.

Edited by jjjj2 on Jan 8th 2022 at 8:49:36 AM

You can only write so much in your forum signature. It's not fair that I want to write a piece of writing yet it will cut me off in the mid
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#3324: Jan 8th 2022 at 5:53:51 PM

We don't usually do that, but given the nature of their rage quit, punitive measures were in order. If their "MHA theories" are so important, they can host them elsewhere.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#3325: Jan 9th 2022 at 3:32:13 AM

I assume this was about Musk's shiny new factory in China?

I'm starting to think that perhaps we do need an Elon Musk thread, just so we can provide an outlet for people to talk about him. It's really hard to ignore the controversies around him when he is such an important figure in space flight and car manufacture.

Optimism is a duty.

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