Thread: An Improvement Suggestion for the Secret Password

I had this conversation with TankGirl on #TIHelp and she recommended that I make this thread in Suggestions. I apologize in advance if I am a useless idiot, a git, or anything else of that manner if this idea has been brought forth before.

If this suggestion is at all possible, it would automagically help clear up some clutter and lower spam levels in many parts of T-I.

The answer to the Secret Password that is posted in the Sticky is very easy to spot IF, and ONLY IF, a starting member (henceforth referred to as a midget) decides to properly read and understand the Rules for joining T-I. If they decide to skim through the rules, chances are high that they will miss it (I speak from experience, because that is exactly what I did the first time around). When that happens, midgets who are impatient and can't wait to get their hands on invites will, very obviously, read introduction threads by other midgets and find that answer, with no hassle on their part whatsoever.

I have a proposal that will fix this issue.



How about we make a slight change in the rules section to have midgets, the ones who have properly read and understand the Rules, list a part of the Secret Password with black-colored font instead of grey? (have the "anywhere, argh" part be blackened out instead, for example)

That way, it will be much easier to identify midgets who trick their way in without reading the Rules and Stickies properly and impose additional sanctions before they can be repped in (e.g. added waiting times).

Here's an example (NOTE: Make sure that you highlight both the answers):

For those good midgets who have properly understood the Secret Password (), they will answer the Secret Password question as follows:

I have read the rules and the secret password is:

i cannot find it anywhere, argh

For those bad midgets who cheat their way through (), they will answer the question in the following manner:

I have read the rules and the secret password is:

i cannot find it

By highlighting the answer we will know who cheated and who didn't. And when those who cheated get a response saying that they've got the wrong password, they'll be confounded as to why they got it wrong. This will lead them to do one of two options (1) Properly read the Sticky and Rules and finally get access to the correct Secret Password, or (2) Get pissed off and curse away leading to Neg Reps and/or Bans (very appropriate because they don't deserve to a part of T-I).

I'd appreciate any comments on this suggestions. Let me know what you think on this matter.

Pontifically,

The Pope

EDIT: Youri36 has made an alternate proposition as to addressing this issue. Youri36 is proposing that we amend the system to detect good midgets who read the rules and know the password. These good midgets will copy and paste the correct Secret Password into the Post Box. When they do that, the system will automagically blank out their answers and will only allow that Secret Password answer to be seen by us, members who have already been repped in (or non-midgets).

Bad midgets, who decide to look at these good midgets' intro postings, will only be able to see a the answer section for the Secret Password question left blank, rendering them to think that the answer to the question is literally no answer at all. They will then leave the answer to the question empty and we would be able to spot them with no problem at all.

I think this is a very simple and easy way try and stop people copying the password. There is no need for any coding, amendments to the form etc. In addition to what ThePope has said, it could be put in the rules how to change the font colour for those that don't know how to and I think that we should also consider changing the password if this is implemented.

Yes, I think that it's better that the system make the change.
If you explain in the guide that the midget have to change the color (new rule, right ?), some of them will not obey, for sure... So the whole sentence will be shown in the intro posts.
So you will say "Hey man, reread the rules", and will not know if the guy has not read the rule yet / not understand / copy-paste from another intro.

If the system make the color change :
- we don't have to change the rules;
- the good guy read the rule and past the whole right password sentence;
- the system change the color of the password;
- we know that the guy has read the rules.
- the bad guy copy/paste the erroneous sentence from the good guy's intro
- we know he is scamming

Not sure you will understand me now ;-)))

All in all some great suggestions. I've always wondered if we should change the password on a monthly basis to catch the dupe accounts who assume that they know everything. But alas I haven't suggested it as I am pretty sure that it would be too much work...

I believe staff is currently considering changing the secret password to the first two and last letter of each midget's name. So if I was making an intro my password would be fle and if AfterMidnight was making one his password would be aft. That would create a unique password for each midget and wouldn't require any coding changes at all.