darkSpyro

I don't think this has ever been suggested, I just randomly thought of it.

So, I've noticed (and I'm sure a lot of you have) how there have been quite a few cases of users wanting to leave the site "forever", and as a result, they send dark52 GB posts/PMs, requesting to be ripto'd, as they seem to think just not logging on for a while is not enough to keep them away from the site and whatever is bugging them about it. But it means they have to wait for dark52 to be online to ban them, and it means dark52 has to go out of his way to meet all these little requests. Not only that, but these users tend to decide they want to come back to the site at a later point, and have to make a new account because they got their previous one ripto'd, creating more work for dark52, as he has to validate these new accounts.

I know it isn't really a big problem, nor is it a huge workload, but if I was an admin, I would get annoyed if users were asking me for a ban, only to come back with a new account in a few weeks, which I have to validate.

So, I think an Account Deactivation feature, similar to what Facebook has, might be a handy feature to have. With it, when you feel like you have to stop yourself from posting for whatever reason, you can deactivate your account (maybe the your account reverts to the "crystalised" rank?), meaning you cannot post anywhere on the site, nor can you send or recieve PMs or Guestbook posts. Your gem count freezes, you disappear from the friends lists of other users who had you on their lists, your avatar does not show up, and your login status is always private. Maybe your username does not show up anywhere except for within the text of other posts. But you can decide to reactivate your account at any time. Think of it as a self inflicted suspension, that you can end whenever you please.

I haven't exactly worked out how this system would work, but if it could be done, I'm sure it will be a small, but convenient thing for both dark52 and the general user population.

So, what do you think?

that's a really good idea! i never thought of that.

I don't think so because every forum site I've been to never had the option to deactivate your account. Besides, I don't think it's possible to put an option like that here. :/

Quote: PikaSpyro

I don't think so because every forum site I've been to never had the option to deactivate your account. Besides, I don't think it's possible to put an option like that here. :/

If humanity took that kind of attitude towards everything, we'd still be in the dark ages.

I'm sure it would be possible. It's a website, anything is possible if you have programing skills.

Quote: sonicbrawler182

I don't think this has ever been suggested, I just randomly thought of it.

So, I've noticed (and I'm sure a lot of you have) how there have been quite a few cases of users wanting to leave the site "forever", and as a result, they send dark52 GB posts/PMs, requesting to be ripto'd, as they seem to think just not logging on for a while is not enough to keep them away from the site and whatever is bugging them about it. But it means they have to wait for dark52 to be online to ban them, and it means dark52 has to go out of his way to meet all these little requests. Not only that, but these users tend to decide they want to come back to the site at a later point, and have to make a new account because they got their previous one ripto'd, creating more work for dark52, as he has to validate these new accounts.

I know it isn't really a big problem, nor is it a huge workload, but if I was an admin, I would get annoyed if users were asking me for a ban, only to come back with a new account in a few weeks, which I have to validate.

So, I think an Account Deactivation feature, similar to what Facebook has, might be a handy feature to have. With it, when you feel like you have to stop yourself from posting for whatever reason, you can deactivate your account (maybe the your account reverts to the "crystalised" rank?), meaning you cannot post anywhere on the site, nor can you send or recieve PMs or Guestbook posts. Your gem count freezes, you disappear from the friends lists of other users who had you on their lists, your avatar does not show up, and your login status is always private. Maybe your username does not show up anywhere except for within the text of other posts. But you can decide to reactivate your account at any time. Think of it as a self inflicted suspension, that you can end whenever you please.

I haven't exactly worked out how this system would work, but if it could be done, I'm sure it will be a small, but convenient thing for both dark52 and the general user population.

So, what do you think?

That's great!

I think its a grand idea!

Nice idea, sonicbrawler! I'd love to see that happen. 'Cus I need to keep myself from coming on in November for a writing festival, but I don't want to lose my hard-earned gems forever.

Why don't they just stop coming? Like... never coming back? No need to deactivate the account or ask to be banned, just... stop coming?

Because for some users, coming to ds every day has become a habit. And if someone needs to break that habit for whatever reason, they may find it easier if there's no longer an account to log onto. With a deactivation feature, they could do this without harassing dark and may be able to come back someday. That's just my opinion on it though.

Quote: Reimu

Why don't they just stop coming? Like... never coming back? No need to deactivate the account or ask to be banned, just... stop coming?

Believe me, I always ask myself that.

But, the fact is, the people requesting bans aren't thinking like that.
So, I believe this would be a nice comprimise.

I think the forum deactivation should be called a Cynder.

That's actually a really good idea. But if they could deactivate it themselves, and decide when to re-activate it whenever they want, they wouldn't really get anywhere, would they?

Quote: Darby

That's actually a really good idea. But if they could deactivate it themselves, and decide when to re-activate it whenever they want, they wouldn't really get anywhere, would they?

It would. It's a psychological thing, in the sense that, being under a different rank would remind them of the fact they left for something, and they would then stop to think about whether or not they really are ready to come back.

I like this idea. +1

I wish Dark would actually read these suggestions for a change. What's the point of this section if he's not going to look at it?

^I honestly think he reads them, but when he doesn't reply it means that he rejects the idea.

I wish Dark was more active to members and at LEAST criticize their ideas or decline instead of ignoring them.

^This.

Maybe dark52 thinks he would be more sensitive to the feeling if he doesn't tell the user that he rejected his/her idea?

^ That could be true. Not a bad idea, I never thought of that.

Perhaps this can help reduce the amount of data stored on this site... Or have I got the wrong end of the stick?

Quote: Robo-Spyro

Perhaps this can help reduce the amount of data stored on this site... Or have I got the wrong end of the stick?

Actually, that is a good point, as a member's now unused account would actually be data.