Welcome to Gaia! ::

There are many cases of bragging around Gaia and the Gaia GD that one user of another has over 45 mules and they are giving all their friends a 5-star. While it is not against the rules to vote with mules, having 45 people on the same computer voting arbitrarily causes problems when people abuse the right to vote. Automatically giving friends a five and everyone else a one just to place. With a regulated IP address, say four votes to an IP address, you can use a mule to vote but prevent abusive voting.


This is part of the IP regulation. We like the right to vote for ourselves. However, in any contest, that is the only vote you get—a vote for yourself. By allowing those to enter a chance to vote for others, you risk allowing those who would abuse the system. The system can be abused in the same manner as those who abuse the IP address count. They can vote for themselves and then give everyone else a one in a foolish attempt to place,


We understand the need to be able to delete comments, as some can get out of hand. However, being able to hide your comments prevents others from helping users improve themselves or show appreciation to their work. We are entering a contest, we are going to be critiqued. Blocking comments defeats the purpose.


We understand that mistakes happen. However, this doesn’t change the fact that the vote was cast. In no other contest in the world can you take back a vote. This is part of the voter abuse. Users can give an entry a five, realize they are in 11th place and then go back to re-cast a vote as a one. This is part of the arena greed and envy.


Comments should be locked to avoid “this should never have won!” comments that seem to attack the winners. This has been going on for some time, leaving the winners with little choice then to set themselves to friends only and hide the comments they have already received. This punishes them and those who commented positively on them.


You can't change an entry once the voting starts--this should continue after voting, too. There have been cases of people changing their description after they win to gloat or attack the voters. The most recent would be Ministra with her Lady Kasper entry:


This is rude and insulting to the voters. This has happened in the past with a Ryuk Cosplay and several others.



We are constantly seeing entries that break the rules of not only the arena but of the TOS. People often cite not knowing that you couldn’t enter with a glitch, or that a ***** was against the Gaia T.O.S. This is not acceptable, especially when you are required to check a box that says you have read the rules of the arena before you can submit. This problem is that the link that sends you to the rules sends you to half written rules written at least 3 years ago. The BEST set of rules are in the Avatar Arena Forum. Not everyone goes there so not everyone knows what a glitched Avatar is, or what the exact difference in cosplay vs original really is.
To fix this, we need to have a FULL set of rules at the TOP of the page. It would be best to have a bold large point font in a different color to draw the eye to it. Make the users have to check the box at the top and again at the bottom.


When you enter you have to select which arena you want to enter. We often, and I do mean often, have entries in the wrong arena. To prevent some of this, make a window pop up that’s says

If you click ‘yes’ you continue. If you click ‘no’ it reloads the submission page an deselects the arena. This will force the user to re click which arena they wish to enter instead of defaulting to one or the other.


If you are caught cheating or breaking the rules in any way 3 times in one year, you are banned from the arena for the rest of the year. Also, it would be helpful to have a list of some type of warning system. “first offence gets a warning, second gets a report, third gets…” and so on. Other then “the entry will be disqualified and you will be out 100g”, there is no punishment. If the user willingly broke the rules, loosing 1000g is nothing. Harsher punishment will prevent it. Perhaps charging users for the 2nd offense will put a dent in things.


Nothing is worse then seeing an entry with 35 votes win first place and an entry with 200 votes not even get the top ten. [still working on this one]

more to come, I had another but I forgot it in the text wall

Post 1: Purpose Statement
Post 2: “Wall of Text” suggestions
Post 3: Call for more
Post 4: Keeping it safe and fun
Post 5: Notable Suggestions
Post 6: Notable Questions and Answers
Post 7: Important Links

DO NOT START A FIGHT!

There is a difference between a polite debate and an argument. Do not bring name-calling, a post with only capital letters, personal attacks or barbs, or anything in any way insulting. If you find neither one can see eye to eye, agree to disagree and EVERYONE drop it. Do not gang up on another user; do not try to defend someone else’s point. It was their point, they know what they are saying—of you try to defend someone else’s point you may mess with the meaning, forcing them to sort it all out. You may ask for clarification and try to understand their point, but please, don’t hijack it.

Post 1: Purpose Statement
Post 2: “Wall of Text” suggestions
Post 3: Call for more
Post 4: Keeping it safe and fun
Post 5: Notable Suggestions
Post 6: Notable Questions and Answers
Post 7: Important Links

If there are any pressing questions asked about the arena that seem to have others stumped, the answer will be looked up and answered here in case other users have the same question later. It beats having to answer it 90 times a week.

Post 1: Purpose Statement
Post 2: “Wall of Text” suggestions
Post 3: Call for more
Post 4: Keeping it safe and fun
Post 5: Notable Suggestions
Post 6: Notable Questions and Answers
Post 7: Important Links

This will be "prettyed up" later. For now--it is open ^.^

Ah, that would be my fault. I told her extended discussion, especially since it's about the arena rather than avatars ninja

I thought here was appropriate because it's the AvA. If it was, like, art or housing arena I'd agree, but.

Wow, I haven't seen this thread in a long time. Nice to see people are still thinking of ways to improve the Arena. 3nodding