💡Badge A "Wiki Contributor" badge

[Ent]

It might be good to have badges awarded to people who contribute things that directly enhance the attraction and value of the site regarding Tolkien and his works for its members. For that reason, I'm going to suggest 3 badges, but I think I need to suggest them separately, one for each badge.

This first is a 'Wiki Contributor' badge. The Wiki should perhaps be an encouraged 'focus feature' of the Forum... somehow highlighted and consistently reminded, for improvement.

SO: badges suggested:
- Wiki Contributor - for the first item or enhancement/improvement to existing Wiki items
- Wiki Enhancer - If a separation is desired between 'new' articles and 'enhancements to existing' ones)
- Wiki Benefactor - for the 5th contribution to the Wiki
- Wiki Wizard - For the 10th Contribution to the Wiki
- Wiki Valar - For the 20th (or 25th) contribution - (and maybe this becomes a trophy - though I don't know the difference between a badge and a trophy)

 

[Erestor Arcamen]

Is this the same as the Istari Contributor badges you suggested?

 

[Ent]

No sir, I see that as two different things.
The Wiki and the "Istari Library" - essays, profiles, etc. are different things, yes?
Maybe I'm wrong, and the one feeds the other somehow?

 

[Ent]

two different things

I was thinking there may be some that are comfortable submitting an 'essay' structured as they feel the flow, but who aren't comfortable enough (or secure enough) to consider their research as "Wiki quality" or flow it into "Wiki format". So the two were different areas/concepts.

 

[Erestor Arcamen]

Apologies. I had seen wiki mentioned in both so wasn't sure. For the one, that's just contributing to the Wiki it can be automated based off of the number of contributions someone makes to the Wiki. The Istari library one would be a little harder because we'd need someone (or someones) to review contributions to see if they are up to the standards that the badges stand for and then a mod would need to award the badges. Maybe the Istari badge could instead be for people who post good essays or help to answer users' questions in threads with good quality answers?

For example, your recent Ent post would qualify, in my opinion

 

[Ent]

The Istari library one would be a little harder because we'd need someone (or someones) to review contributions to see if they are up to the standards that the badges stand for and then a mod would need to award the badges.

May I just 'blather' a bit here?

I confess I'm a bit torn on the Istari Library. Much (most) that's in it hasn't been reviewed for quite some time.

Yet it could/should be a 'key offering' of the Site perhaps, for people who are serious about 'things Tolkien', and thus I wonder if somehow it shouldn't be 'highlighted and held forth' as an attractive element for both members, and newcomers... (more on this later in a different chat somehow.)

It IS distinctly different than a Wiki item often... though one item could well be structured and feed into both, depending on the nature of the item.

I understand the need to review, and monitor 'counts' submitted by individuals. (If labor is a key, i offer myself as a reviewer or whatever is needed...! Not that I'm all that qualified... but I can recognize accuracy and quality and have all the research tools needed too.)

I just feel it's a little 'under-marketed' (for a bad way to phrase it). ("Marketing the sites strengths" is the 'other chat' i'd like to have with you at some point. What ARE the key strengths of this Site, what sets it apart from other sites, how do we highlight those strengths more effectively to newbies (and current members) and keep the 'fresh materials' flowing, etc.?)

Maybe the Istari badge could instead be for people who post good essays or help to answer users' questions in threads with good quality answers?

would these not also need to be 'evaluated' and then a mod 'assign a badge' manually?
Of course, these would be 'one time' things, rather than something needing to be 'kept count of' manually...

my 'Ent' post you mention is a great example indeed - it MAY have been good for a 'post' - but it was originally specifically intended as one to attract comment for improvement. Not yet 'quality anything' in my view (just so you know)... until the requested input and thinking was reviewed, and it at last gets finalized. (soon to come.)

But there IS certainly room for a badge for quality posts and quality responses, for sure... that too, plays to the strengths of many of the members here who DO provide great and thoughtful input... (and may have other side benefits as well..!!)


I kind of need to leave it to you, what you want to do with the thoughts and suggestions.
Personally, I would go for both... my underlying desire here is to play to the key strengths of both the Site, and its Members, and make known to all its users and visitors what it is that they can find, hope for, and why they should come, stay, and contribute.

(Sorry... it's the 'manager' in me speaking I guess. Been managing/directing things all my life and it's hard to drop.)