Hi there.
2 clarifications to start of with:
1) I know the title is somewhat humorous, but this proposal is serious.
2) I have been making fun of the curia a lot, but that doesn’t mean I necessarily dislike it. I do understand and accept that it had an important function in the past, when the numbers of users were extreme, to enable the most significant contributors to have a say in the site administration, rather than just the loudest. I also accept that with institutional inertia and what not, it’s a tradition that has stuck around, and traditions are nice. Not everything needs to have a function.
With that in mind, I do think the curia has a negative effect on the site. It’s not solely responsible for the demise, but I do think that it’s not making it any better.
For one, the looks of it do already create an issue. Most new users will, once he realises there’s a special club on the site, first feel one thing: Aversion. And when the user is still new and thus needs to be sold on why he should stay on (or rather return to) this site, this impression can be the tipping point in his subconscious decision to go elsewhere.
But that part isn’t particularly critical. For one, we don’t get many new users, and secondly, they’ll more likely be driven away by issues such as the clutter, the weird layout, the very bad loading times, and the lack of a selling proposition.
So let’s ignore that part and focus on problem number two:
The fact that it can drive active members away. Which brings us back to the title.
Madorc, for those of you who do not know, was/is a member, who tried to become a citizen, but was rejected. As a result, he left.
Sure, his contributions up to that point might not have been significant, but he did have a heart of gold. And all he wanted was to belong.
So here’s what I propose:
1: If you want/need to, keep the minimum requirements, such as the time requirement of being a user and a minimum post count.
2: But when a user fulfils them, and requests to become a citizen: Just say yes.
3: Handle all signs of appreciation for contributions, etc. through medals. A VIP PREMIUM membership is not conducive to the TWC's operations in these trying times.
I haven’t experienced this “in-group” thing where people need to apply to become part of it in my real life since preschool. I know that this tribal thing is more common in the colonies. I feel it’s childish, at least in the context that the curia exists in today, but that part doesn’t matter. What does matter, however, is where it actively harms the site. I cannot give a specific number as to how many people are driven away by this. But I know that madorc definitely isn’t the only one, and even one soul lost is one too many. Finally, in order to avoid any impression of me having selfish interests, we can change the wording to: “Everyone but Cookie can become a citizen”. I have a much better time at rousing the rabble when I’m part of it anyway.