[Clarifications from section curators]

[LoganFranlkin171998 69]

From what I have seen, the moderators and admin decide whether to plan or decline a posted idea based on THEIR opinion without seeing what other people have to say. They simply go "YES" or "NO" and that's that.

 

Instead of that, they should see what the people (us users) have to say first before closing possibly useful ideas. Maybe an approval rating could be used? Say a player posts an idea, and there will be the usual like or dislike button. Whichever button gets more votes gets decided, so it's fair for all.

[Maf 32,339]

As you may have noticed, we never actually close ideas we decline and the discussin can continue anyway, so if you think that the moderator's decision regaring an idea was incorrect or biased, you should quote the post (to make sure the mod sees the notification) and say why you think the idea should not be declined. Or vice versa - state a reason why an approved idea should be declined.

 

A perfect example where something like this happened can be seen in this topic.

 

The only topics we close are ones with ideas which already exist in the game or simply make no sense, usually because OP misunderstood something.

[LoganFranlkin171998 69]

As you may have noticed, we never actually close ideas we decline and the discussin can continue anyway, so if you think that the moderator's decision regaring an idea was incorrect or biased, you should quote the post (to make sure the mod sees the notification) and say why you think the idea should not be declined. Or vice versa - state a reason why an approved idea should be declined.

 

A perfect example where something like this happened can be seen in this topic.

 

The only topics we close are ones with ideas which already exist in the game or simply make no sense, usually because OP misunderstood something.

It's the declining. Moderators get to see first so, before anyone can really put in their thoughts, the post comes up as declined which is so stupid...seriously...we post for players to discuss...not to be rejected off the bat. Declining shouldn't be done unless the majority of the players who comment disapprove. Maybe they do approve but you moderators dont, that's understandable to still decline it, but before other players even get to see it is ridiculous.

[Maf 32,339]

Players don't decide what gets added to the game. For example, every single week we get at least one topic suggesting ability to sell/refund garage items to get some crystals back. Players like it (heck, even I like the idea), but it won't be added because developers say it would destroy the game's economy. We don't decline ideas because we don't like them - we only decline if there is an actual good reason why it can't/shouldn't be added to the game. Otherwise any sensible idea will have a chance to be seen and considered by developers.

[marc.jp_44 20,837]

On this debate, I'm kinda neutral but I think I'm kinda leaning towards Logan's side. I feel like when the Mod's label a topic with "Declined," it naturally makes people sway away from the topic. I think the Mod should open the topic and first allow some player's opinion before changing the title and status of the idea. I think there should be an "Under Consideration" for topics that are undecided on.

[kayitsiz 621]

Moderators' impact on idea topics are considerable..

 

As a player, I feel like moderators have some impact on ideas on this forum more than a player should have, as they have effect on ideas either a paid personnel see it or not.

 

I don't say this is exactly correct, but it looks like.

 

Well, we have seen Hazel-Rah opening some idea topics which had been closed by moderators right?

 

 

 

I actually support this section be a special area which moderators have cannot use their special rights. I mean, moderators should not be able to moderate this section.

[Hex 11,522]

Moderators don't work and do things independently. They follow orders. If the developers say no, they do so.

[LoganFranlkin171998 69]

Players don't decide what gets added to the game. For example, every single week we get at least one topic suggesting ability to sell/refunt garage items to get some crystals back. Players like it (heck, even I like the idea), but it won't be added because developers say it would destroy the game's economy. We don't decline ideas because we don't like them - we only decline if there is an actual good reason why it can't/shouldn't be added to the game. Otherwise any sensible idea will have a chance to be seen and considered by developers.

I never said they get to decide. Just allow their opinions before declining to at least make it fair to them.

[LoganFranlkin171998 69]

On this debate, I'm kinda neutral but I think I'm kinda leaning towards Logan's side. I feel like when the Mod's label a topic with "Declined," it naturally makes people sway away from the topic. I think the Mod should open the topic and first allow some player's opinion before changing the title and status of the idea. I think there should be an "Under Consideration" for topics that are undecided on.

Thank you! :D

[LoganFranlkin171998 69]

Players don't decide what gets added to the game. For example, every single week we get at least one topic suggesting ability to sell/refunt garage items to get some crystals back. Players like it (heck, even I like the idea), but it won't be added because developers say it would destroy the game's economy. We don't decline ideas because we don't like them - we only decline if there is an actual good reason why it can't/shouldn't be added to the game. Otherwise any sensible idea will have a chance to be seen and considered by developers.

I also completely understand why players dont get to just choose...if we did...the game would be a mess.

[Maf 32,339]

On this debate, I'm kinda neutral but I think I'm kinda leaning towards Logan's side. I feel like when the Mod's label a topic with "Declined," it naturally makes people sway away from the topic. I think the Mod should open the topic and first allow some player's opinion before changing the title and status of the idea. I think there should be an "Under Consideration" for topics that are undecided on.

That's true and I realised it could be an issue as soon as we started using this new method of processing ideas. But the problem is that this forum is very inconvenient for collecting player ideas, so we can't do things like, for example, sort the topics to show only the ones without a status. This means that if we were to approve a topic and wait a few days before giving it a status, the only way for us to do it is to somehow manually remember every topic that hasn't received a status yet, which would inevitably result in a total mess as some topics wouldn't get statuses at all and we would have a much harder time keeping track.

 

I know this system isn't perfect and the issue of drawing people away with the "declined" tag is real, but it's the best we can do considering that we can't spend all our time with a more complicated system. And honestly, there won't be that much benefit from doing this as it's very rare that an idea is plausible and would have had a drastically different discussion if we didn't decline it right away. Like I said - we only decline ideas if we know a solid reason for why it can't/won't be added.

 

Well, we have seen Hazel-Rah opening some idea topics which had been closed by moderators right?

As far as I know that only happened once, with the Premium Accounts topic. And it happened before the May 2016 section update.

[lordmostafa 3,821]

I actually support this section be a special area which moderators have cannot use their special rights. I mean, moderators should not be able to moderate this section.

Our work on this section facilitates the connection betwen the players and the developers. Developer's time is precious, if we do not do the work we do now, this section would be a COMPLETE MESS, and when I say a "COMPLETE MESS", I mean " A COMPLETE MESS". And developers will never bother to check the stuff here, and your ideas will never see daylight. And thus, our work is a lot more important than you think it is, and a lot of work is done behind the scenes which you can't see, but it makes a whole lot of difference.

[dan146_tanker 770]

Yeah as long as the mod gives a reason for why he/she declined the topic then ok, at least we guys have something to go on. Our job is to persuade the Tanki staff to forward the good ideas. But this certanly isn't the answer. As long as the topic isn't closed we palyers can discuss it and if its a good idea, it could get forwarded and started. Although this is rare I have seen this happen once or twice in my time. Also mods have years of experience sometimes they will make mistakes cause they are human (even if they claim they come from mars). So the way things go now is good. This change wouldn't really fit in. I mean consider this. Only 80 players online with 12 mods. How many topics are being created in the forum? And they can't be judged until players accept it? What if there is an idea to give you 10k crystals for free every month. I honestly don't think any players will decline this idea. It would take waaay too long for any topics to be forwarded.

[LoganFranlkin171998 69]

That's true and I realised it could be an issue as soon as we started using this new method of processing ideas. But the problem is that this forum is very inconvenient for collecting player ideas, so we can't do things like, for example, sort the topics to show only the ones without a status. This means that if we were to approve a topic and wait a few days before giving it a status, the only way for us to do it is to somehow manually remember every topic that hasn't received a status yet, which would inevitably result in a total mess as some topics wouldn't get statuses at all and we would have a much harder time keeping track.

 

I know this system isn't perfect and the issue of drawing people away with the "declined" tag is real, but it's the best we can do considering that we can't spend all our time with a more complicated system. And honestly, there won't be that much benefit from doing this as it's very rare that an idea is plausible and would have had a drastically different discussion if we didn't decline it right away. Like I said - we only decline ideas if we know a solid reason for why it can't/won't be added.

 

As far as I know that only happened once, with the Premium Accounts topic. And it happened before the May 2016 section update.

Also, I completely 100% understand you (as part of the admin) control whether or not a topic gets declined or not, no matter how many approving commenters there are. All we ask is to give it some time. I mean within two weeks, only a few more ideas have popped up, so it can't be hard at all to keep track.

[r_Damn_Slow0 12,476]

I stand by everything said by and above and to that I will add that the assumption that all declined topics are declined just by mods is not true.  There are these moments when certain ideas aren't easy to determine on how feasible they will be, and so we forward those to devs and they get to choose if they will carry forward with it, leave it for consideration at a later date, or outright decline it. 

 

These all happen behind the scene.  Naturally the fairly obvious ones and those that are already known / made aware to us get instantly approved or declined by moderators themselves and not just any moderators, only the mods who are experienced and well briefed and versed in that department.  Like i said in an earlier post today 

 

 

There's a lot of topics coming in, having to be filtered out for legit proposals, some get feedback right away as they are very obvious or known issues/solutions, while others have to be escalated up above to devs to get a proper response on how they will be considered.

 

In addition to that, each week we have reports on the most promising ideas, or the ones which really needs to have the devs attention and thanks to that filtering job done by mods devs can now more efficiently look through the most promising ideas of the week without wasting time on ideas which can confidently be ruled out.

 

Now if it happens any declined idea turns out to not be that bad, people can still comment on it, that's the main reason why we opted to not close topics anymore in that section.  This way any other person can contribute, elaborate, expand and further develop on a declined idea turning it into a very well viable one.  If and when that happens you can be sure the status will be changed to [under review] and the idea escalated in the next report to devs.

 

I do hope you guys get a better understanding on how the section works.  We're also open to any suggestions on how you think we can make the system better, within our tech limitations of forum and available resources of course.

[r_Damn_Slow0 12,476]

Editing Topic Title: 'Player opinion?' changed to '[Clarifications from section curators]'

[LoganFranlkin171998 69]

I stand by everything said by and above and to that I will add that the assumption that all declined topics are declined just by mods is not true.  There are these moments when certain ideas aren't easy to determine on how feasible they will be, and so we forward those to devs and they get to choose if they will carry forward with it, leave it for consideration at a later date, or outright decline it. 

 

These all happen behind the scene.  Naturally the fairly obvious ones and those that are already known / made aware to us get instantly approved or declined by moderators themselves and not just any moderators, only the mods who are experienced and well briefed and versed in that department.  Like i said in an earlier post today 

 

 

 

In addition to that, each week we have reports on the most promising ideas, or the ones which really needs to have the devs attention and thanks to that filtering job done by mods devs can now more efficiently look through the most promising ideas of the week without wasting time on ideas which can confidently be ruled out.

 

Now if it happens any declined idea turns out to not be that bad, people can still comment on it, that's the main reason why we opted to not close topics anymore in that section.  This way any other person can contribute, elaborate, expand and further develop on a declined idea turning it into a very well viable one.  If and when that happens you can be sure the status will be changed to [under review] and the idea escalated in the next report to devs.

 

I do hope you guys get a better understanding on how the section works.  We're also open to any suggestions on how you think we can make the system better, within our tech limitations of forum and available resources of course.

I understand mostly of how it works from experience. As said, the declined note draws people away, because who is going to comment their ideas on a declined post? It can't be that bad to let it go for a while and see how it goes can it?

[LoganFranlkin171998 69]

Editing Topic Title: 'Player opinion?' changed to '[Clarifications from section curators]'

Did I say you could change MY topic title? XD I'm joking.