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 zirael
Commander
Joined: Feb 05, 2004
Member#: 4924
Posts: 795
Location: North Carolina
   
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 Posted:
Thu May 01, 2008 9:33 am Post subject: Stars for VIPs? |
 
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I saw the stars today 5/1/08 beside each name on the member list and figured it was for the VIPs. Do you think these are really necessary?
I think they clutter up the visuals of the site and it doesn't have to be so obvious who is a VIP. Folks can already tell if someone is a VIP if you click on their profile or see them requesting a lot in the queue. I don't feel like this is a tactic that will increase the number of VIPs because personally I think it rubs it in the face of the non-VIPs. If the admins are really are into keeping the stars, having them beside names in the forums isn't as obtrusive visually.
What do you all think? |
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weaponlordzero
Captain
Joined: Sep 15, 2006
Member#: 15677
Posts: 1639
Location: Louisville, KY USA
 
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Posted:
Thu May 01, 2008 11:41 am Post subject: |
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I like the stars. I might have them be a little more subtle (smaller) but I like them. I DID pay my hard earned cash to become a VIP and this allows me to show the world that I valued SST enough to become a member and support this great site!! I can't say that I think it "rubs it in the face of the non-VIPs" simply because they can become VIPs as easily as we did. 
_________________
I do not wake up with thoughts of control and rebellion, but thoughts of purpose and righteousness and the empowerment to fulfill those convictions that define me. |
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 molossus 
Admiral (Administrator)
Joined: Aug 09, 2005
Member#: 11167
Posts: 3308
Location: Warsaw & once in a blue moon Szczecin (Poland)
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Posted:
Thu May 01, 2008 11:47 am Post subject: |
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Good to see this thread started. Thanks zirael.
Here are my first impressions on this topic and I'm interested in what the others have to say.
I like what zirael said.
If we had a poll here, my vote would be to remove these stars or at least to move them into the forums as zirael suggested.
I don't think marking out the VIPs this way is necessary. It wasn't difficult to tell who is the VIP judging by numbers of reqs in the queue or uising profile page of SSTer. I also liked the policy of not marking out VIPs in the chat (It has been a subject of discussion before).
BTW: If stars are to stay in current place my hint is to make them smaller, more subtle, more delicate.
_________________
<i>"The piano keys are black and white,
But they sound like a million colors in your mind"</i>
(from "Spider's Web" by <a href="http://katiemelua.com/music/#KatieMelua">Katie Melua</a>)
Avatar is from work of art by Drew Struzan |
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 pingu
Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined: Sep 07, 2004
Member#: 7856
Posts: 82
Location: Prague, Czech Republic
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Posted:
Thu May 01, 2008 12:32 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you, zir, for your post.
I don't like the stars. To be a VIP is a wonderful status itself.
We are donating - money and CDs - because we want to help SST,
and also for our own happiness and great listening experience, not for a star.
_________________
Nothing good ever ends. William Saroyan |
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unpoedic
Ensign
Joined: Dec 08, 2003
Member#: 3962
Posts: 35
Location: CR, IA (US)
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Posted:
Thu May 01, 2008 12:54 pm Post subject: |
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not terribly keen on vip stars, myself (esp. if we're sharing a dressing room...), but aesthetically, i do like the idea of a vip color next to the mod green, admin orange and proprietor purple--if, as zirael pointed it, it really is justifiable to visible elevate paid users. somehow i doubt a graphic next to one's name will encourage more upgrades--unless users are that peer pressure-oriented. |
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weaponlordzero
Captain
Joined: Sep 15, 2006
Member#: 15677
Posts: 1639
Location: Louisville, KY USA
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Posted:
Thu May 01, 2008 1:31 pm Post subject: |
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| unpoedic wrote: |
| not terribly keen on vip stars, myself (esp. if we're sharing a dressing room...), but aesthetically, i do like the idea of a vip color next to the mod green, admin orange and proprietor purple--if, as zirael pointed it, it really is justifiable to visible elevate paid users. somehow i doubt a graphic next to one's name will encourage more upgrades--unless users are that peer pressure-oriented. |
I like the color change idea as well.  Subtlety is the key here.
_________________
I do not wake up with thoughts of control and rebellion, but thoughts of purpose and righteousness and the empowerment to fulfill those convictions that define me. |
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Luther_III
Commander
Joined: Jun 20, 2005
Member#: 10621
Posts: 846
Location: New Orleans
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Posted:
Thu May 01, 2008 1:32 pm Post subject: |
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It's interesting that so far the slightly negative opinions of the stars have come from VIPs...
I'm not a VIP, and I have no problem with the stars. They don't make me feel like a second-class citizen, and I think they're actually kind of pretty. (Of course, I've been a VIP in the past, so maybe I'm less sensitive than other non-VIPers.) Sure, maybe they could be more subtle in the 'Online Now' list. I dunno, I just don't mind them. *shrug*
_________________
"If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.... I get most joy in life out of music."
--Albert Einstein
Last edited by Luther_III on Thu May 01, 2008 1:38 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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 mellowman
Captain
Joined: Sep 02, 2003
Member#: 2939
Posts: 1119
Location: UK
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Posted:
Thu May 01, 2008 1:32 pm Post subject: |
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I dunno, don't you guys see it as a badge of honour? I quite like it. |
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Genpoint
Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined: Nov 20, 2006
Member#: 16253
Posts: 59
Location: Western Massachusetts, USA
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Posted:
Thu May 01, 2008 2:07 pm Post subject: |
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I trend with the detractors. Actually, I think I am in complete agreement with molossus.
The change in the forums is fine. The "Online Now" listing is a little overwhelmed by the stars.
Just so you know, I wont be reacting to the stars tonight when I renew my lapsed VIP membership |
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BhelPuri
Lieutenant Commander
Joined: Feb 11, 2004
Member#: 5034
Posts: 296
Location: USA
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Posted:
Thu May 01, 2008 2:45 pm Post subject: Re: Stars for VIPs? |
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| zirael wrote: |
I think they clutter up the visuals of the site and it doesn't have to be so obvious who is a VIP. Folks can already tell if someone is a VIP if you click on their profile or see them requesting a lot in the queue. I don't feel like this is a tactic that will increase the number of VIPs because personally I think it rubs it in the face of the non-VIPs. If the admins are really are into keeping the stars, having them beside names in the forums isn't as obtrusive visually.
What do you all think? |
Exactly! I would prefer not to have the stars or any kind of highlighting. People can see who the VIPs are if they click the profile or if they see the frequency of requests in the queue. |
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Twopop
Rear Admiral (Ambassador)
Joined: Jul 21, 2004
Member#: 7382
Posts: 2673
Location: Oregon
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Posted:
Thu May 01, 2008 4:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Luther_III wrote: |
| I'm not a VIP, and I have no problem with the stars. They don't make me feel like a second-class citizen, and I think they're actually kind of pretty. |
| mellowman wrote: |
| I dunno, don't you guys see it as a badge of honour? I quite like it. |
I agree.
Since the stars were first posted early this morning, they have been toned down somewhat. Like any new formatting on the site, it usually takes some trial-and-error time, tweaking, and a little getting used to.
I personally like the stars in the Online Now list. Think of it as a form of advertising. People see them and ask about them in chat. Remember - only about 10% of the listeners log in at any one time, and far far fewer than that ever venture into the forums!
It seems like the VIP system has always caused controversary about the "haves" and "have-nots" and possibly hurting people's feelings. All I can say is JERIC has tried very very hard to make VIP affordable for everyone. Is $4.99 too much to ask? It's not even a year-long commitment - just a month at a time. If a month's budget is too tight, maybe next month will be better. Anyone can be a VIP for one-third the price of a CD or a movie ticket. It's less than a full meal deal or Whopper.
We are all very aware of the tremendous value - you get hundreds of opportunities to request your favorite songs, and give much needed support to the stations, too.
The overhead costs are tremendous, and increasing more every month. We're not talking just bandwidth here - but playlist material as well.
24Seven.fm needs as much help as it can get! If a few little stars help toward that end, then so be it. |
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weaponlordzero
Captain
Joined: Sep 15, 2006
Member#: 15677
Posts: 1639
Location: Louisville, KY USA
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Posted:
Thu May 01, 2008 4:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Twopop wrote: |
| Luther_III wrote: |
| I'm not a VIP, and I have no problem with the stars. They don't make me feel like a second-class citizen, and I think they're actually kind of pretty. |
| mellowman wrote: |
| I dunno, don't you guys see it as a badge of honour? I quite like it. |
I agree.
Since the stars were first posted early this morning, they have been toned down somewhat. Like any new formatting on the site, it usually takes some trial-and-error time, tweaking, and a little getting used to.
I personally like the stars in the Online Now list. Think of it as a form of advertising. People see them and ask about them in chat. Remember - only about 10% of the listeners log in at any one time, and far far fewer than that ever venture into the forums!
It seems like the VIP system has always caused controversary about the "haves" and "have-nots" and possibly hurting people's feelings. All I can say is JERIC has tried very very hard to make VIP affordable for everyone. Is $4.99 too much to ask? It's not even a year-long commitment - just a month at a time. If a month's budget is too tight, maybe next month will be better. Anyone can be a VIP for one-third the price of a CD or a movie ticket. It's less than a full meal deal or Whopper.
We are all very aware of the tremendous value - you get hundreds of opportunities to request your favorite songs, and give much needed support to the stations, too.
The overhead costs are tremendous, and increasing more every month. We're not talking just bandwidth here - but playlist material as well.
24Seven.fm needs as much help as it can get! If a few little stars help toward that end, then so be it. |
Couldn't agree more Two. Well said. (btw, don't forget the © and ® by the "Whopper"  )
_________________
I do not wake up with thoughts of control and rebellion, but thoughts of purpose and righteousness and the empowerment to fulfill those convictions that define me. |
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 Pesadelo
Admiral (Administrator)
Joined: Dec 19, 2007
Member#: 19747
Posts: 206
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Posted:
Thu May 01, 2008 4:46 pm Post subject: |
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Total support, 2pop
_________________
I think I think, therefore I think I am. (Ambrose Bierce) |
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 SiriusCreations
Admiral (Administrator)
Joined: Aug 26, 2007
Member#: 18704
Posts: 4419
Location: Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Posted:
Fri May 02, 2008 1:34 am Post subject: |
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Nothing to add what Twopop said.
Personally I do not really mind if there is a star behind my name. I am not against it. I think it will help 24Seven.FM.
_________________
That's the beauty of music. They can't take that away from you. (Andy Dufresne)
Sirius' Concerts
NUTs & RATs |
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 alien_avatar
Captain
Joined: Oct 28, 2006
Member#: 16007
Posts: 1342
Location: Berlin
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Posted:
Fri May 02, 2008 2:36 am Post subject: |
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If it helps... *shrug*
Personally I would have prefered a colored name (but maybe then the Admins and Moderators would get lost in that) or a tiny picture saying [VIP] behind the name instead of a star.
The star makes me think of rated albums... and all we got was one!?
_________________
"Welcome to the paranoia club; cheapest fees in the universe and membership lasts forever."
- Peter F. Hamilton, The Evolutionary Void |
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