[discussion] Joining the Sandbox

[discussion] Joining the Sandbox

gee0765 16 Apr 2022 19:53

previous thread: http://05command.wikidot.com/forum/t-14568682/discussion-the-scp-sandbox-joining-process

the last time we had this discussion on 05 it sorta went nowhere and there wasn't really any clear consensus, but it keeps happening over and over again in staffchat so it's clearly not a solved problem

in short: do we want to change the way in which new users join the sandbox?

currently, the process is that they give their wikidot name and age either in the irc/discord help chats or PMs with a staff member, and then they receive an invitation in ~a day. what are the pros and cons of this, what alternative methods could we use? etc.

no timer because it's not like this can go to a vote any time soon if that becomes necessary (i.e if we can't reach a clear consensus)

Re: [discussion] Joining the Sandbox

Kufat 17 Apr 2022 02:01

I think it'd be prudent to investigate what the wiki's obligations with respect to users' age info might be under various laws. E.g. GDPR may regulate how users' age information can or cannot be stored, while COPPA requires some social websites to collect age information (although I don't know if the wiki would be among them.)

Disclaimer: not a lawyer, not an expert on either law, these are just examples of what might be relevant to this decision.

Re: [discussion] Joining the Sandbox

Boogey_Man23 18 Apr 2022 07:45

0) Here's a link to the newer O5 site thread about this topic. http://05command.wikidot.com/forum/t-14634541/discussion-joining-the-sandbox

1) It seems to me that there's still a lot of exaggerated rhetoric about how complex or difficult the process actually is. The instructions given on the Sandbox 'Join' page are summed up in 2 steps. It takes literally 2 clicks to follow a link and then connect to TheLounge. I'll make a 1.b point in a second; but is anyone saying that this right here is the esoteric technological hurdle that prevents so many users (who presumably otherwise have the maturity and reading comprehension to navigate the rest of the Site Rules) from getting their Sandbox going?

• 1.b) The main hangup in this process, that I have witnessed most, is the availability of ChatStaff at any given time to address these users promptly as they come around. So in this regard, maybe a proposal like using the Sandbox wiki's own Join/Application feature would actually be a good solution which doesn't call for more staff commitment/availability to helping people in the Help chat.
  • 1.b.ii) You mention in this original post "irc/discord help chats" - is there a Discord option which may have better results for users? Should that be mentioned on the Sandbox's Join page?

2) There's a point being raised now that asking users to divulge their year of birth is an egregious violation of personal privacy? How does that idea interact with the Age Requirements policies already in place? Should staff be enforcing those with only "Yes/No" responses from any user? (Maybe digressing from the point, but how "sensitive" even is that info for anyone who isn't a minor?)

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So I still don't think people should be describing it as "jumping through complicated hoops" when it's simpler than tying shoelaces. Though I am glad to see that more middle-ground options are being introduced in the discussion this time around.