So I've been thinking...

Seeing as SEN has no Karma system and I believe the old one was being abused and misused to such an extent that it was removed...

Why not capitalise on our Mineral system and use that as a Karma system?

The idea is simple: You see a post you like? Someone made you laugh? Someone put the epic-smack-down on a lame argument? You can donate minerals to that person! You decide how much to give, between 5 and 100 minerals!

On the other side of this coin, moderators and admins have the ability to impose fines on people. These fines should only be imposed when someone has truly violated the rules of SEN. Or, after repeated warning, a fine should be imposed. Such as, 'warning: stay on topic, stop flaming'... 'You have been fined 100 minerals for your post in this thread'...

"Recent donations given", "Recent donations received" as well as a "Total Donated: ###" field should appear on a persons profile page. So, if someone is generally doing a good job around the forum, their minerals will grow and grow. Even one good post that lots of people deem 'worthy', and if everyone who thinks so gives it 5 minerals, that person has just gained 50+ minerals... It all adds up.

Now, this is all very simple so far. Which brings me on to the next suggestion.

Income. This idea is hopefully to replace the current 'Activity' value a person has. Right now, you gain an activity point provided you sign into SEN every 36 hours (I Think). This is a bit misleading, since activity on a forum - to me at least - involves more than just signing in.

Every time you log into SEN (with a 24 hour lapse) you receive a random +25 to +50 mineral bonus. People who have been donating, posting and creating threads receive a higher number (ie. closer to fifty), people who simply log in, read a few topics, then log out, will receive a lower number (ie. closer to 25)

The idea behind 'Income' is to provide the initial lubrication for the Karma/Donation system.

Note: Please bare in mind that all numbers used in this thread are completely arbitrary.

You already can donate minerals to a person, just go to their profile and click the "give minerals" link.

For example:
http://www.staredit.net/?member=1321&area=sendminerals

I know. But why not simply have that link underneath the persons avatar. Right next to Online/Offline and Contact or beneath there would be ideal.

We used to fine minerals when we moderated people. We still can do that.

But would it really be so much to ask to have the 'Donate Minerals' on the persons profile next to their posts?

And to have a list on their actual profile showing say, 5 people who have recently donated minerals to them and their total amount of minerals received through donations?

That would be something new to code for Devourer, but I believe he has disappeared again.

I personally wouldn't feel like giving away my precious minerals just for the mean of letting someone I was thinking "+1" when I read his post.

dislike.

Sreiously? Another mineral topic? You guys still at this?

He's a new-comer: he's passing through the exact same phases we've all passed through.
</fallacious reasoning>