No Thanks Should premium be optional?

After the quick switchback, I saw my white username and all it's bland glory, which made me think...

Do you think that premium status should be able to be switched off on request? Do you think it should be optional?

 

I don't think it should be optional. Reaching premium is special because of all the hard work it takes.

 

Well, first of all, I'm not entirely sure how we would make it optional. The server automatically makes you a Premium member when you pass the 1000 post line; I don't know if it can be modified with an opt-out function. It would be something to look into, of course.

As for making it optional, I mean, if someone doesn't WANT the usergroup then I suppose it shouldn't be forced upon them, simply because they're an active and contributing part of the community. However, if it was made optional--since I'm pretty sure the objection lies in the username color--then you would not receive any of the Premium benefits (custom usertitle, more signature, avatar, and PM space, name changes, etc).

 

I'm not sure if I have this right, so bear with me. You think that someone should be forced to accept an award because it takes effort to get it?

What is your reasoning?

I support it being optional, or at least the color of the name being optional. We should have had that a long time ago.

It should be pretty easy to set a custom user field for Premium members only and enable or disable the name color based on the value decided by the user. Do you know how to create custom user field (like Location in the mini-profile) for certain user groups?

Also, it should go without saying, but if I were to write this script for you it would be client-side (loaded by the user's browser) and would not tax the system in any way aside from just having a custom field.

 

Oh no, I know that, but the current Promotion system can only utilize the variables post count, join date, and reputation. If were to limit it solely to optional username color that's another story.

 

I'm assuming he just wants to appear as a normal to other users and himself and doesn't care about the user group bit. So the name (and maybe the pin) is all it is.

 

Didn't Trigger have his premiumship revoked despite having enough posts a while back?

Anyway, I don't care one way or another for this. I love my pink username (though I miss rainbow). The only reason why I would say no to this would be for organizational purposes; new member joins and sees the member categories and what the color represents, but then gets confused when some people are obviously premium, but have normal member colors. But if there's a way to make it so someone keeps the benefit but can keep the normie color, I guess that's kind of like an added benefit ("The choice to gain a pink username" sounds more of a benefit than "automatically gaining a pink username").
If there's no way to make it so they can keep the benefits and not the color, then it's up to the member to make that choice.

Some people just don't really care about forum specifics like this to want premiumship, no matter how active.

So for the sake of freedom, I'm for this, but I personally wouldn't be disappointed if it's rejected or not possible.

 

I'm definitely not suggesting that premiums should be able to stay premium and have a normal colored username. I think it should be all or nothing to avoid confusion. Would it be possible to lower post count manually and quickly?

 

I think Admins can manually change the amount of posts a user has. Cause we all remember the time Cin had like a bajillion posts.

 

It is possible but not recommended, because it's irreversible without updating everyone's post count. I'm sure we could find a way around the promotions. I'll look into it.

 

Is the promotion from one group to another, or does it apply to everyone no matter what group they are in at the time? If it is from normal to premium, then shouldn't you be able to create a duplicate group that will not promote and allow users to choose that one? You can create optional user groups, can't you?

 

I don't think that there is an option to let users toggle their own user group between limited options. I think that permission is an all or nothing, and obviously that isn't the best plan.


I don't really see the point in denying premium to be honest. I can see a little bit of not wanting the color (either thinking it is silly, or not wanting to stand out) but the color and the pin are really the two no optional pieces. You have access to the Prem section, larger sig/avy, etc. but you don't have to use any of them. I know we like to give users options where possible and sensible, but I'm having trouble seeing not being prem as being preferred (with the exception of the username color which really isn't a big deal at all).

 

Well, that is annoying.

I agree about the color and such, it is the only thing that really matters (and I already offered a solution for that).

 

This post made me laugh, just because I find it funny someone thinks 1,000 is hard work.
It's harder work for me NOT to hit 1,000, though the post update helped so thanks Admins <3.

I'd say a very very small minority of people would wish to stay normal, and if that's the case Admins can just do that themselves right?

 

Honestly, the only reason I wouldn't want to achieve premium is because of that horrid shade of color they have for your name when you get it.

~It used to be Rainbow Color~​

 

If I am correct, would it not simply be adjustments of a member's admission in the specific Premium user group? Unless the presence of 1000 posts and not being a Premium would cause confliction due to the aforementioned automatic changing to premium. If this is the case however, then people may perhaps privately request the administrators to keep them out of the Premium user group. I can understand the concerns over the colour and perhaps pin, but the factor of unnecessarily ridding of free perks seems to be a bit strange in my opinion - and there is the chance that people would simply use this to get out of having a pink name, but really, it is their freedom to do so, I suppose. I am on the fence for this, but would not mind either decision.