Mentor needs to mean something again

[Jojoya]

There aren't more jerks among mentors than in the general population..

That's irrelevant. The first thing listed under "what is a mentor" in SE's blog about the program is that a mentor is an exemplar of player etiquette.

In other words, if you're going to be a mentor you can't be a jerk. Feel the need to be a jerk? Don't wear the crown - other players won't know that you're a mentor unless you're doing it in Novice Network where mentors are listed separately from the new/returning players. Better yet, don't bother applying to be a mentor at all and then it's a non-issue.

Most people get that mentors don't know everything. All they want is for those who are mentors to be helpful when they can - and to not be a jerk when they can't. Too many mentors are not helpful and definitely are jerks, which ruins the system and causes problems for those trying to use it correctly.

[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.

[EaMett]

That's irrelevant. The first thing listed under "what is a mentor" in SE's blog about the program is that a mentor is an exemplar of player etiquette.

In other words, if you're going to be a mentor you can't be a jerk. Feel the need to be a jerk? Don't wear the crown - other players won't know that you're a mentor unless you're doing it in Novice Network where mentors are listed separately from the new/returning players. Better yet, don't bother applying to be a mentor at all and then it's a non-issue.

Most people get that mentors don't know everything. All they want is for those who are mentors to be helpful when they can - and to not be a jerk when they can't. Too many mentors are not helpful and definitely are jerks, which ruins the system and causes problems for those trying to use it correctly.

You managed to both miss the point of my argument and validate it lol.

That isn't to say that there isn't some truth to your post but you may want to rephrase.

[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.

[SoranRigel]

Maybe getting too many blacklists marks you for mentor review.

Great offer.

[Avidria]

Am I the only one who thinks the mentor crown is kind of ugly anyway? Lmao

[Morningstar1337]

Am I the only one who thinks the mentor crown is kind of ugly anyway? Lmao

Probably. People are attracted to power, and the crown, being the headwear of choice for kings and emperors is a symbol of power. which is why I am among the myriad opinions that find it a poor choice for mentors.

[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.

[SturmChurro]

Maybe getting too many blacklists marks you for mentor review.

Court of public opinion? Or just trolls? Yeah no.. and I rarely defend mentors.