How do we class PL members as "trusted members"

[loopee]

I agree that a secure section is required to limit easy access to some of this information, particularly to restricting Google searches and the like; this section would contain information pertaining to designing, building or improving either class 3B & 4 lasers or a above certain power figure, say 200mW.

Access to the secure area is the issue as it still needs to be open to everyone.

To me, I would see that the only easy way of doing this is to use reputation based on post content (not count) and only requiring minimal reputation points to gain elevated status, say 5 or 10 points gives you access to the secure info section. Elevated status would be something like your status changes to trusted member and nothing more as this removes the whole popularity thing, you are or you’re not. Once you reach the reputation count required it disappears and your status changes.

To gain reputation points other reputable/trusted members (there would be several that would instantly fall into the category) gives points to posts that ask/provide valid details about on this forums subject.

For example:
A certain DJ we all know would not gain any points as he clearly did not demonstrate to the audience willingness to use his lasers in a safe manner. Even though he owns the lasers already he can still ask question and receive answers especially for safety but he still can’t gain access to technical information, this in turns hopefully makes him safe but also limits his ability to modify the laser to be dangerous, if he does modify the laser the onus is on him not the forum.

However, members that clearly demonstrate their interest in this forums content by either asking technical questions, provide information or demonstrating ability (LEM’s, documentation, photos of their system, etc.) would gain reputation points and would soon be trusted.

For this to work

Trusted members can only give one point to a non-trusted member; therefore it requires 5 or 10 trusted members to give points (across any posts) to a non-trusted member for them to gain elevated status.

Reputation points should only increase and only the admin has the ability to reduce them.

This may then need something that as a trusted member, once you hit so many posts you are then given the right to give reputation points.

This needs to be a system that works globally as not all countries require the same qualification to own/operate lasers or have access to safety courses.

One last thing, this should not about restricting information but more about controlling access to it on a safety level so it can be shown that the forum has taken due diligence towards safety


Troy

[Meatball]

I understand the concern here...

I realize that I am not a regular poster, and that my "internet rep" at the forum is nothing to gawk at.

But as far as separating members as "trusted" apart from the others... does that seem to imply that the other simply cannot be trusted? And how? And how do you know? Can you know?

I know my input may not be much, as most of you don't hear much from me, but I do enjoy reading these pages as a regular reader, and I'll say I've gained a lot from reading here so far. If some important, and beneficial information were posted about some of these new "setups", I for one would like to know about it.

I don't expect to be treated as a "trusted" member. But I don't intend to be treated the opposite. I'm just a PL user. I signed up for an account no differently than anyone else here. I appreciate all the information you guys gather into one place, and I do know that some information is more sensitive than other bits. So when it comes to things like this, I am compelled to ask that either every member is able to view such information as needed, or that no member is able to. All or none. Being self moderated is nice...

I got my opinion out- doesn't matter if anyone listened, or even responds because I got my share of space on this thread.

-Tyler

[andy_con]

Just for the record, most of my recent posts have been trying to demonstrate:

a) what I've experienced being tried and failed, or
b) what I consider to be a fun stab at 'possible workable suggestions' that might come up (to which I never expected an 'I like this comment', but maybe I missed some irony in there or something)
I'd hoped that my attempt to add judicious use of smileys would have got my point across, but it doesn't appear so, and the smileys have gone missing in the quotes...
My suggestion to set up an alternative forum was in reference to the fact the 'owner' of a forum I used to admin decided one day he'd finally had enough of some of the rubbish and threatened to pull the whole thing. Within a day some members had created a 'backup' of the forum to run 'just in case'... All it served to do was dilute the knowledge, divide the groups, and create additional bad feeling between the parties concerned.
Just be aware that any decision to 'lock down' certain topics could push people to start afresh on their own - which benefits none of the parties.
I mean, we could have a new forum up tonight with the 445 thread cache...
All forums go through times like these - and most frequently get through it by leaving everything alone. It'll soon blow over. They also get bogged down by 'useful' suggestions from its members. Again, (imho) the best thing the admin can do is ignore all these threads, and see where we are in a months time.
About the best option I've seen so far has been from 'Jon of the Punctuation' but it'll fall down because of the high admin overhead. In 6 months time (if not sooner), the people charged with the vetting will be bored/fed up of it, and it'll have to revert to something more organic.

Again you seem to only have 445 in mind.

Like I said in the last thread, why don't we just chill the fuck out until this all blows over. There is NO absolute need to be classifying members to allow them to talk about special things in special areas. Just wait a couple days till Admin/Jon let us know what is going on.

Stop swearing you little chav, if you don’t have a view don’t post.
Read what ive been saying its not about 445

[norty303]

Again you seem to only have 445 in mind.

Read what ive been saying its not about 445

I think you'll find it IS about 445. I would bet these threads wouldn't exist today, now, if 445 hadn't come along when it did. Sure, its one of things that you always think it would be good to sort out, but 445 has been the catalyst.

But regardless, read '445' to mean 'the next dangerous thing we don't want to publically talk about' and all these responses are right on the money.

So, I think we understand where you're coming from, we're just commenting on why it might not work, and what the pitfalls might be.

[andy_con]

I think you'll find it IS about 445. I would bet these threads wouldn't exist today, now, if 445 hadn't come along when it did. Sure, its one of things that you always think it would be good to sort out, but 445 has been the catalyst.

But regardless, read '445' to mean 'the next dangerous thing we don't want to publically talk about' and all these responses are right on the money.

So, I think we understand where you're coming from, we're just commenting on why it might not work, and what the pitfalls might be.
[/FONT]

read this thread and what i have wrote.

i spoke to admin about a private section before any 445 stuff blew up.

and when i spoke to admin i didnt have 445 in mind.

[norty303]

Ive been thinking about a private section for trusted members for a while. There is so much knowledge on this forum its unbelievable, but some knowledge does go to waste.
Just a few examples that spring to mind, details information on how to convert a scope to show use. People don’t want to post this information due to safety concerns
Multi diode setsups people don’t want to post information on this due to fear of legal action
445 pointers, people don’t want to post information on this for safety reasons.
But if we had a secure area where only trusted members have access, it does not appear on google and companies cant see it we could openly discuss the above topics.
Yes we do need to work through how we manage this area and how we decide whos a trusted member but I personally feel it would be a great addition to the forum.

How is that, not what I summarized? You even use 445 as an example.

Whether you happened to speak with admin just before or just after 445 blew up is semantics. The point is, the 'idea' of the secure area, and what it might mean for the forum and its members, and how workable it could be.

[andy_con]

How is that, not what I summarized? You even use 445 as an example.

Whether you happened to speak with admin just before or just after 445 blew up is semantics. The point is, the 'idea' of the secure area, and what it might mean for the forum and its members, and how workable it could be.
[/FONT]

i did use a 445 pointer as an example but not the only example.

[flecom]

didnt we have this exact same discussion in another thread when the whole djallen/laserscope drama?

[Lasermad]

Andy


"Just a few examples that spring to mind, details information on how to convert a scope to show use. People don’t want to post this information due to safety concerns
Multi diode setsups people don’t want to post information on this due to fear of legal action
445 pointers, people don’t want to post information on this for safety reasons."


Must admit i didnt pick up what you were saying , i thought it was all about 445nm

So if this is a long term proposal for the protection of the people providing the information , the people receiving the information and the people hosting the information ..the only real way is to Make it a Private Members Club hosted offshore with a fake name/corporation , by invitation only with one of the rules being that you dont let anyone know it exists until you invite someone and everyone uses different usernames over at the PMC with people earning their wings by showing their knowledge / ability / sensibility here at PL but its all a bit OTT .. aint it ....although it might already exist you never know ! and if it doesnt it might soon

PAUL

[flecom]

found it, exact same stuff

http://www.photonlexicon.com/forums/...ead.php?t=9519