I have an Idea... would love all of your input

[system admin]

As some of you know, I have always been looking for ways to create a really good environment here and reinforce a friendly, helpful forum. I have an idea that could be a lot of fun:

I know that some of you have won our past "$100 weekly helpful members winner." Although I liked that, it seemed to get a little bit hard to keep up with due to the staff here having to help to choose. What do you guys think about this idea:

Instead of a $100 weekly winner, we can have a $100 DAILY winner.

I can create an "Exceptional Member" suggestion box for the forum, where members of the forum can suggest a member who has shown to be exceptionally helpful that day and refer us to a particular post. Other members can enter the members name and tell us why you think they should be chosen to win.

At the beginning or the end of a day, we will choose a winner and post the winner for that day.

I am thinking that we can announce a winner M-F and reward that member with $100 Bucks.

I have been wanting to do something that no other forums are doing and this seems like it would be a lot of fun. What do you guys think about this? Good? Bad? Pointless??

Bc

[Mp859]

Sounds like a good idea to me. Should push mor people to help out.

[jimmyinkedup]

I think its a great idea. Will encourage more participation and draw some new members and activity.

[MIKE_XXL]

I agree might draw more people to the forum...i like it...

[system admin]

It just seems like an idea like this would add some more excitement and will create some member interaction where the members can support other members. I think it would be fun to watch and should create an even more tight nit group? My big hope is to increase the help and decrease responses that are just unhelpful and immature. We cant get rid of all of it, but maybe it will create a positive environment?

[ghettoboyd]

I hate it...Its ridiculous really giving away free money for participation in something....HA HA I kid I kid...one word BRILLIANT!!...that's why this will always be the best forum of its kind on the net because you refuse to let good enough be good enough...thanks admin...

[Motardpdx]

Sounds great! I have a lot to learn and really enjoy the open, honest, helpful, advice from the members who have a plethora of knowledge. Keep up the good work!

[system admin]

ANYONE can be suggested for this no matter how new or old of a member.

[Sfla80]

Great idea and great way to get more people involved!

Just watch for members posting alot and giving bad or wrong advise just to get their names out there.

[Venom]

ANYONE can be suggested for this no matter how new or old of a member.

This forum is getting better and better as time goes on. Thank you for providing me a home away from home

[system admin]

Great idea and great way to get more people involved!

Just watch for members posting alot and giving bad or wrong advise just to get their names out there.

Being helpful is applauded, but providing BAD information will be taken into account. You do NOT have to be the smartest guy out there to be nominated by a member, you just have to really be a productive and helpful member who tries to help out the member who suggested you.

This Reward Program is not meant to be a "ball busting" idea. It is just a nice, relaxed feature that I would like to put on to support our forum members.

[zempey]

It's a good idea, but I don't participate for any other reason than I like learning, sharing, and helping. I would like to see on the other side of the coin, some way of voting off trolls or guys that come in and just shit on people for no reason what so ever. At times I get sucked into the douche vortex with these tards, but I try not to.

Anyway, I will stay tuned and watch out for this if and when it is implemented.

[RaginCajun]

Two thumbs up!

[GirlyGymRat]

It's a good idea, but I don't participate for any other reason than I like learning, sharing, and helping. I would like to see on the other side of the coin, some way of voting off trolls or guys that come in and just shit on people for no reason what so ever. At times I get sucked into the douche vortex with these tards, but I try not to. Anyway, I will stay tuned and watch out for this if and when it is implemented.

Z. My experience is trolls are dealt with swiftly here. They get banned. It's not tolerated. This includes scammers, repeated bad advice givers, douce bags....

[system admin]

Z. My experience is trolls are dealt with swiftly here. They get banned. It's not tolerated. This includes scammers, repeated bad advice givers, douce bags....

Agreed. In my opinion, we have an AMAZING reputation for having a fairly mature community, ESPECIALLY due to the nature of what we discuss. You will never be able to get rid of all the bad apples, but we do a good job keeping it down.

Bc

[marcus300]

Great idea and should drive traffic to the forum, also make more members actively take part in the discussions and topics.

[lovbyts]

As much as I like the idea of free money I think doing it daily is a little excessive. I dont know what the financial situation is and even though you can obviously afford to do this I believe there must be a better use of the money.

Weekly is good and monthly would even be fine IMO. I just dont want to see people get greedy and get involved for the wrong reason.

[Euroholic]

Its seems a bit of a financial gamble 36500$ a year I'm assuming US dollars? On the assumption of bringing in new members and some of them will use the sponsors. You might have more luck going to the casino with the money. The logistics of a daily draw would be such a hassle.

Maybe each month have a vote on the top 10 posts which have been "liked" the most from the previous month with a 500$ prize or something like that. More financially viable!!!!!

[almostgone]

Sounds like a solid plan to me. Positive reinforcement/reward for those that are truly trying to help out others/maintain what s.com is all about. Also, this may well draw in some of the forum members/visitors that are...shy about posting or being involved. As an added benefit, I imagine it will be a great way to increase learning/exchanging/sharing of information and experience.
I like it.

...and the payout schedule could be somewhat determined by the volume of the board traffic/threads????

[zempey]

I tend to agree with Euro and lovbyts on the point of people just posting to get their count up and the hassle of a daily draw. It could turn into being all about the daily payout, instead of truly wanting to help or participate. Money has a funny way of changing things, and it is usually not for the good.

[GirlyGymRat]

Good idea to increase traffic

I'ld go for weekly and increase the award to $250.

[almostgone]

I tend to agree with Euro and lovbyts on the point of people just posting to get their count up and the hassle of a daily draw. It could turn into being all about the daily payout, instead of truly wanting to help or participate. Money has a funny way of changing things, and it is usually not for the good.

But I believe post count isn't a factor. Honest, helpful information seems to be the primary criteria. That's the reason for linking to posts that provided the information....to weed out those that click, post irrelevant/unhelpful information and then move on to the next thread.
...or at least that's what I gathered from system admin's descriptions above.

[Bio-Active]

I tend to agree with Euro and lovbyts on the point of people just posting to get their count up and the hassle of a daily draw. It could turn into being all about the daily payout, instead of truly wanting to help or participate. Money has a funny way of changing things, and it is usually not for the good.

Post count would make no difference because it would be the quality of the posts that get the recognition. Admin I think it's a great idea

[system admin]

Let me make a few things clear about WHY I came up with this idea:



1. do something different with our community that is not done on other forums.

2. reward and support our Members.

3. create a more fun and exciting atmosphere.

4. generate more quality posts and helpful responses

5. grow the active community



Please keep in mind that this is not about the money we hand out to our members. Money is not an issue. This entire idea is based on simply wanting to do something new and exciting that will give back to those members who give their time and effort to help the people who visit us.

Bc

[DCI]

I think it's a great idea but weekly would make it feel more special than daily imo and means theres more consitency also.

As I said previously on another thread this site is bucking the trend of traditional sites that it has an active and decent member base.

[Back In Black]

It's a great idea. Just wondering how feasible it is doing it 5 days a week in operational/administrative terms for admins to proceed with this?

I also think that after the initial rush of people 'attempting' to win the money it would fade into the background as it stops being at the forefront of people's minds and then it's actually a really nice surprise when it happens to somebody.

[Hazard]

I'm for it.....


But if we announce it..... It can't fall by the wayside after a month or two. This forum always has a target on it back due to its size and popularity. This idea will set a new trend..... All eyes will be on steroid .com. If we proceed with it we need to make sure everything is ironed out and wrinkle free.

[system admin]

I also think that after the initial rush of people 'attempting' to win the money it would fade into the background as it stops being at the forefront of people's minds

YES... I agree.

BUT, I think the point is being missed. My point is to simply GIVE to our active members. This isnt about "Getting My Money's Worth" for our members. This is nothing more than a nice gesture to give back those of you who take pride in our community and help those who come here to learn.

Thats the big idea.

[system admin]

All eyes will be on steroid.com. If we proceed with it we need to make sure everything is ironed out and wrinkle free.

I disagree with this. People arent going to give a crap about us doing this and this is not going to go viral around the steroid message board communities.

There are 3 types of steroid forums:

1. You are new and find steroid.com (and maybe 1-2 others) for information OR you want to find a place to participate and avoid a lot of immature crap. (we have some, but not nearly as much as most)

2. You are looking for steroids and find out quickly that we are not going to help you with that.... You Move On to one of those other boards who only exist because they sell and offer steroids.

3. You have been kicked off of steroid.com for being a douche bag and you are forced to go play with the others that we have run off. These boards that form for these reasons usually are dead before they even start.


I agree that if/when we start this, it should be run well and that would be something that will be fairly easy to do.

[zempey]

I found this board when looking for advice with an issue I was having, the guys here were nice and welcoming, answered my questions in a timely manor, and in terms an average Joe would understand. My experience here was fantastic right out of the gate, I am not a member of any other steroid forum, but am on other types of forums, this is a very well run board with a large group of solid members. I can see why you want to reward them, and this is why I am still here and trying to pay it forward to someone new just like me who was in need of solid information. I will support any decision you guys come up with, your track record here speaks for itself, good job.

[Hazard]

I disagree with this. People arent going to give a crap about us doing this and this is not going to go viral around the steroid message board communities.

There are 3 types of steroid forums:

1. You are new and find steroid.com (and maybe 1-2 others) for information OR you want to find a place to participate and avoid a lot of immature crap. (we have some, but not nearly as much as most)

2. You are looking for steroids and find out quickly that we are not going to help you with that.... You Move On to one of those other boards who only exist because they sell and offer steroids.

3. You have been kicked off of steroid.com for being a douche bag and you are forced to go play with the others that we have run off. These boards that form for these reasons usually are dead before they even start.

I agree that if/when we start this, it should be run well and that would be something that will be fairly easy to do.

I'm thinking more about the future banned members. Taking their asses to other forums and talking shit on a reward program that isn't run smoothly. In other words.... After a month or two we can't reward someone on Monday and Tuesday and then forget to on Wednesday.... Etc.

You said it better..... It needs to be run well. If its easy enough I'm all for it. People help out all day long.... We have a bunch of great members here. Rewarding them is a fantastic idea and its awfully generous on your part!

[system admin]

At the beginning of this, I did say that this would be M-F, but we may not pay EVERY day. We may pay reward once a week for all 5, which only makes sense for accounting. Also, I am not saying that we would not miss a day or two or three.

This is not an EXPECTATION type of deal. This is a gesture from US to the Members. If other forums laugh or take shots at us because we dont pay out $100 every day, I will not have my feelings hurt lol

[gbrice75]

I think it's a great idea overall Brian, although I'm still leaning toward a weekly reward vs. daily. While this idea most definitely will encourage more active, helpful members and foster a great sense of community, I would hate to see members lose site of what this board is actually all about. I'd also be concerned from an administrative standpoint, but you obviously know better than I do what's feasible and what isn't.

My suggestion would be to start weekly, see how it goes, and move on to daily when it feels 'appropriate'.

I'm behind it either way, let me know how I can help!

[Hazard]

What if we doit based on how many people nominate you based on your posts?

Lets say someone asks a question and you help them out. Members "like" your post..... The member at the end of each day or each week with the most will receive the reward for being helpful.

A negative to this could be a clique of members "liking" each others posts to win the money so that will hafta be dealt with.

Also.... Only the informational sections can be open to "liking" the posts for the reward. This way the lounge posts don't get caught up in it.

Just some food for thought.....

[system admin]

I thought about that also Hazard and you can bet your ass that people will just like all of the posts just to be "nice" and show people that they have your back. I think that would cause more of a problem than we want to deal with.

The reason I suggested a "Member Suggestion" box is so that WE (steroid .com staff) can simply look at the suggestions and make a choice as to who would get the reward.

Basically, we could do away with the suggestion box all together and I could just surprise the members on my own and as I wish. I just felt like it would be more fun to have member interaction.

[system admin]

As a matter of fact....

I could simply put an announcement box at the top of the forum and each day we could announce a member who we wanted to reward for being helpful. That member would be given a certain amount of time to contact us for their Reward. If they dont respond, we would assume they dont want to accept the reward. That would make it even easier... but it would take away from members being involved.

[kelkel]

IMHO, weekly or even monthly with a larger amount. Build some anticipation and momentum.

[system admin]

That is something to think about. I was also just now thinking about ways to send the Rewards without having to MAIL something. Maybe gift cards of the winners choice that can be purchased and emailed.

Lots to look into

[zempey]

Not sure how email transfers work between countries, but I do it all the time with friends.

[gbrice75]

That is something to think about. I was also just now thinking about ways to send the Rewards without having to MAIL something. Maybe gift cards of the winners choice that can be purchased and emailed.

Lots to look into

Paypal? Although, some money then gets 'lost' in the transaction.