Mentor needs to mean something again

[Neoom]

As you know, I cannot know about the actions of the moderators and I am not responsible for them. Too bad this happened. All that interests me in this thread is the changes that the players offer here, and these suggestions partially coincide with what I suggested in other threads. The trouble is that we still have a non-working system and a non-working black list. If they worked as intended, these complaints would not be.

I feel like there should be a thread only to show how badly blacklist works, it get's drowned in these threads. Since the ones on my list are from ''all categories'' (sprout, returner, mentor and the ones with nothing), but they still all pop into my duties. While it has context in this thread it should be a topic on it's own. While it not being only blacklist to ''fix'' the problem, but it would help if it worked.

[SoranRigel]

I feel like there should be a thread only to show how badly blacklist works, it get's drowned in these threads. Since the ones on my list are from ''all categories'' (sprout, returner, mentor and the ones with nothing), but they still all pop into my duties. While it has context in this thread it should be a topic on it's own. While it not being only blacklist to ''fix'' the problem, but it would help if it worked.

I think the "working blacklist" is a constructive response to several subsets of the "I don't want to see this player again"category.
Therefore, it can be in the topic about bad mentors, bad beginners, and any topics.

[RajNish]

I feel like there should be a thread only to show how badly blacklist works, it get's drowned in these threads. Since the ones on my list are from ''all categories'' (sprout, returner, mentor and the ones with nothing), but they still all pop into my duties. While it has context in this thread it should be a topic on it's own. While it not being only blacklist to ''fix'' the problem, but it would help if it worked.

Really working blacklisting (not just hiding messages from the player) is just one of the options that can protect a player. But there must be other tools. In addition to reports. The fact is that a mentor who breaks the rules is not just a "regular player". Every time when you enter the game as a mentor, you read the note and agree with it. These people also read it, but apparently press the button automatically. In addition, if we are talking about the decals of the assistants, the icon of a watering can, glasses, owl or something that is not associated with superiority, would be the best solution. Therefore, I am writing these suggestions about changes in this thread.

[Neoom]

Really working blacklisting (not just hiding messages from the player) is just one of the options that can protect a player. But there must be other tools. In addition to reports. The fact is that a mentor who breaks the rules is not just a "regular player". Every time when you enter the game as a mentor, you read the note and agree with it. These people also read it, but apparently press the button automatically. In addition, if we are talking about the decals of the assistants, the icon of a watering can, glasses, owl or something that is not associated with superiority, would be the best solution. Therefore, I am writing these suggestions about changes in this thread.

I hope, but can't say from experience how well reports remove the crown (I don't wear mine, or talk in chat other than greetings unless someone ask for help). But reports are way of protecting players anyway, as long as you contact the GM's about the situation. While it sadly can be done after the bad stuff happened, it at least can prevent it from happening again, the more people report them the faster they go to bad people jail.
But I think almost everyone if not all agree the icon change is something that people want and think could help. It can't fix everything, but people who own a shiny crown for ego will leave mentoring for others.
The only problem here is, nothing is getting done about it. Many topics, many suggestions later (someone even made the icons for it) the crown isn't leaving :/ I think just having a topic where the OP is ''Changes to mentor system'' and it having the icon change and possible commendations and what not in it. Topics where it starts with ''complaining'' and nothing to offer for the change won't catch an eye I think..

[Halivel]

But I think almost everyone if not all agree the icon change is something that people want and think could help. It can't fix everything, but people who own a shiny crown for ego will leave mentoring for others.

I honestly highly doubt that it will even change anything. "Special" icon is still "special", crown or not. And removing the icon entirely probably isn't an option, because it's there to highlight mentors among the rest so new players would know who they can talk to (well, at least that's how it was intended to be, I suppose).

[Krotoan]

I honestly highly doubt that it will even change anything. "Special" icon is still "special", crown or not. And removing the icon entirely probably isn't an option, because it's there to highlight mentors among the rest so new players would know who they can talk to (well, at least that's how it was intended to be, I suppose).

I think at least part of the mentor "wannabe" problem is that the icon is a Crown instead of something goofier or mundane. People have suggested a watering can (cause they grow sprouts!) and maybe just a linkshell pearl. It wouldn't eliminate the whole mentor being a differentiator thing but it'd probably get rid of a few status seekers.

[Halivel]

I think at least part of the mentor "wannabe" problem is that the icon is a Crown instead of something goofier or mundane. People have suggested a watering can (cause they grow sprouts!) and maybe just a linkshell pearl. It wouldn't eliminate the whole mentor being a differentiator thing but it'd probably get rid of a few status seekers.

I'm not disagree, I'm just not sure that the difference will be as significant as people expect it to be. Mentor status is still a status by itself, so you can flex even without wearing an icon at all. What I mean is... people will find the way to poison the system in any case. Not that SE shouldn't do about this anything, of course - I did suggest how the system can be reworked to be better somewhere in this thread.

[Krotoan]

I'm not disagree, I'm just not sure that the difference will be as significant as people expect it to be. Mentor status is still a status by itself, so you can flex even without wearing an icon at all. What I mean is... people will find the way to poison the system in any case. Not that SE shouldn't do about this anything, of course - I did suggest how the system can be reworked to be better somewhere in this thread.

I've met many who flash the crown and actually refuse to give advice or react badly when asked for simple mechanics help. Those few, even if they are few are what people react badly to. I think the perception of what mentors are and the resulting accessibility problems would benefit greatly from getting rid of those few but potent cancers.

I've also made suggestions as to what could be done.. mostly I think that a mentor status should have to be maintained rather than being a one time threshold to break. Maybe not with direct votes. Perhaps a optional survey you could select to offer people you help. Maybe getting too many blacklists marks you for mentor review.

[Neoom]

I honestly highly doubt that it will even change anything. "Special" icon is still "special", crown or not. And removing the icon entirely probably isn't an option, because it's there to highlight mentors among the rest so new players would know who they can talk to (well, at least that's how it was intended to be, I suppose).

I mean sure people will still go after it since they want to stand out and be ''special'', but I just think the crown attracts more ''un wanted'' people than to say a watering can or some classes. Again, it's just an offer to make some changes, maybe I'm wrong and people will still get it for name glamour, but one can hope.

[RajNish]

but I just think the crown attracts more ''un wanted'' people than to say a watering can or some classes.

The problem is that players with a crown, when they violate the rules of the game or behave rudely, are more noticeable. At the same time, good mentors are forced to hide the crown because of these players. Even if mentors need an identification mark, it does not work as intended, it scares away other players. Changing the icon would do a "reboot".