Clean up the hosting forum

[Hoot]

Hello!

So currently the Hosting section is pretty messy with various duplicate requesting threads from people looking for the same 2gb mc server as everyone else, as well as offering threads from both summer hosts (hosts that only last a few months) and the real hosts trying to actually make something.

I think it would be best to split the section into a few sub forums.

Requesting - Users can post and request hosting that fits their needs.

Hosts - A section where anyone can offer hosting services.

Verified Hosts - A section that has requirements to post in. Skme requirements maybe include:
- Legal company registration such as an LLC or sole proprietorship.
- Be in business for more than 6 months.
- Business reputation (possibly no less than X positive rep on the user offering services).

Maybe 2 of 3 requirements must be met.

General Discussion - Users can post review threads, ask for help, etc.

Also just a side note Mick, this can make you more money on sticky threads as you’d have 2 hosting sub forums to buy a sticky from, hosts and verified hosts.

Please let me know your thoughts as I’d like to hear what others think could be done to organize this better.

 

[Ian.D]

I like this idea for the fact the hosting section can be a mess from a ton of posts. Can be hard to keep up with the requests for help, and servers with the constant bumping of threads from hosts.

Would love to see what others suggest and think of this.

 

[Cal]

I like the idea, it would be nice to see a more rounded off hosting section. The verified host thing sounds unnecessary, however the new categories would make it easier to figure out what was going on on the forum.

 

[Deltas]

Love the idea, could use a manual cleanup.

 

[Aidan]

Hello!

So currently the Hosting section is pretty messy with various duplicate requesting threads from people looking for the same 2gb mc server as everyone else, as well as offering threads from both summer hosts (hosts that only last a few months) and the real hosts trying to actually make something.

I think it would be best to split the section into a few sub forums.

Requesting - Users can post and request hosting that fits their needs.

Hosts - A section where anyone can offer hosting services.

Verified Hosts - A section that has requirements to post in. A requirement may include having a company registration such as an LLC (they must provide registration proof such as a filing number)

Hosting Help - This section would be where users can post requests for help if they run into issues.

Also just a side note Mick, this can make you more money on sticky threads as you’d have 2 hosting sub forums to buy a sticky from, hosts and verified hosts.

Please let me know your thoughts as I’d like to hear what others think could be done to organize this better.

I don't like this because there is also reviews

 

[Hoot]

I like the idea, it would be nice to see a more rounded off hosting section. The verified host thing sounds unnecessary, however the new categories would make it easier to figure out what was going on on the forum.

Hey! Thanks for your input on this, I really appreciate it. I understand how the Verified section may not be necessary, however personally I’d rather know right from the start if a host is any good. If a host is verified, this means they are registered and are a legitimate company that you have a higher chance of getting what you pay for. A legal company usually shows that the owners care and have what it takes to offer services.

I don't like this because there is also reviews

I’m not quite sure what you mean here, people can still review hosts on the hosts thread as they do now.

 

[Ian.D]

Hoot what I think he means is there is no place for the threads such as his to post reviews of a ton of hosts.
I would suggest instead of a hosting help section, have a "general discussion" section. Here people can publish reviews, ask for help or generally talk.

 

[Hoot]

I’ve updated the thread a bit. I’ll list some changes below.

Added more potential Verified host requirements;
- Legal company registration such as an LLC or sole proprietorship.
- Be in business for more than 6 months.
- Business reputation (possibly no less than X positive rep on the user offering services).

Maybe 2 of 3 requirements must be met.

Hosting Help changed to General Discussion.

 

[Lyphiard]

I do feel that the Verified Hosts section is a bit unnecessary, it creates a lot of additional work for the staff team. Usually, it's pretty obvious to tell a summer host here from a reputable host.

Instead of creating separate sections, maybe a better idea would be to revise the thread prefixes. For example, combining "Offering" and "Shop" into one prefix, and combining "Closed" and "Complete" into another. Then, users can search for hosts in the click of a button while hosts can search for requests just as easily.

 

[Clyde]

Personally here's my 2 cents:
Wipe the hosting section entirely. Make a sub section called "Looking for", or similar where people can post their needs for a server, while hosting companies post on the main section of "Hosting". In my opinion, it keeps things neater. I also recommend that if a "Looking for" thread hasn't been responded in 1 month, close it.

 

[Ajdin]

Personally here's my 2 cents:
Wipe the hosting section entirely. Make a sub section called "Looking for", or similar where people can post their needs for a server, while hosting companies post on the main section of "Hosting". In my opinion, it keeps things neater. I also recommend that if a "Looking for" thread hasn't been responded in 1 month, close it.

You can't just "wipe" a section that's been there since the start of the forum. I have a thread with almost 100 "winner" ratings and even more user written reviews. I don't want them just gone like that.

My approach: I'd have the main section named to "Hosting" as it is now. All verified company threads would go in the main section. In that section, there would be a subsection called "Hosting Discussion". Hosting discussions would allow any threads to be posted related to hosting. There would be another subsection which would be named "Other Hosts". All verified hosting threads would have to go through here first before being allowed in the Main subsection. The "Other Hosts" section would contain all hosting companies which don't meet the specific requirements. Anyone can post there too.

Having Verified hosting threads being the only threads in the main section may seem like a bold move but in my option, it's the whole point of the hosting section.

The only possible difficulty I see with this is verifying the legitimacy of the businesses. There should be a form to apply for this, within the form, the applicant should include a source link to verify the legitimacy for a company. For the UK, this would be the companies house, for Australia, ABN lookup through the gov website should do, etc.

I do feel that the Verified Hosts section is a bit unnecessary, it creates a lot of additional work for the staff team.

I don't think it'll be a lot of work. There are not more than 30 verified hosts on MC-Market and this is over the course of more than 3 years. Checking a company can take max 2 minutes. That's 60 minutes for 30 businesses, definitely worth it.

Usually, it's pretty obvious to tell a summer host here from a reputable host.

To you and me, yeah. To some average kid who ended up in the hosting section by doing a Google search, it might not be.

Instead of creating separate sections, maybe a better idea would be to revise the thread prefixes. For example, combining "Offering" and "Shop" into one prefix, and combining "Closed" and "Complete" into another. Then, users can search for hosts in the click of a button while hosts can search for requests just as easily.

In my opinion, forum tags shouldn't be used for things where the point of the threads are completely different. E.g for selling builds, it makes sense to have "Sold, Offering, Requesting, etc". But for something like the hosting section where's there's a lot of variety involved, I don't think it's a good idea.

This whole topic was something that was on my todo list last year but due to the complications that comes along with a change like this, I never got around doing it.

 

[Hoot]

You can't just "wipe" a section that's been there since the start of the forum. I have a thread with almost 100 "winner" ratings and even more user written reviews. I don't want them just gone like that.

My approach: I'd have the main section named to "Hosting" as it is now. All verified company threads would go in the main section. In that section, there would be a subsection called "Hosting Discussion". Hosting discussions would allow any threads to be posted related to hosting. There would be another subsection which would be named "Other Hosts". All verified hosting threads would have to go through here first before being allowed in the Main subsection. The "Other Hosts" section would contain all hosting companies which don't meet the specific requirements. Anyone can post there too.

Having Verified hosting threads being the only threads in the main section may seem like a bold move but in my option, it's the whole point of the hosting section.

The only possible difficulty I see with this is verifying the legitimacy of the businesses. There should be a form to apply for this, within the form, the applicant should include a source link to verify the legitimacy for a company. For the UK, this would be the companies house, for Australia, ABN lookup through the gov website should do, etc.


I don't think it'll be a lot of work. There are not more than 30 verified hosts on MC-Market and this is over the course of more than 3 years. Checking a company can take max 2 minutes. That's 60 minutes for 30 businesses, definitely worth it.


To you and me, yeah. To some average kid who ended up in the hosting section by doing a Google search, it might not be.


In my opinion, forum tags shouldn't be used for things where the point of the threads are completely different. E.g for selling builds, it makes sense to have "Sold, Offering, Requesting, etc". But for something like the hosting section where's there's a lot of variety involved, I don't think it's a good idea.

This whole topic was something that was on my todo list last year but due to the complications that comes along with a change like this, I never got around doing it.

Thanks for your input on this. I 100% agree with pretty much everything you’ve said and think it’s the best way to organize the hosting section.

 

[SafeSurf]

I agree on this.
The current Hosting section can be a mess, and even though some people state that people should easily be able to see apart from the regular summer host, I dont think that's the case for some clients.

The majority (whenever people like to hear it or not) looking for MC Servers are underage, some of them with no experience with hosting at all. Thus having issues seeing if it's an actual company.

 

[Ajdin]

Very nicely said, I 100% agree with everything.

Thanks for your input on this. I 100% agree with pretty much everything you’ve said and think it’s the best way to organize the hosting section.

Thank you. Would love to see some opinions from more staff on this...

 

[Zeiyon]

You can't just "wipe" a section that's been there since the start of the forum. I have a thread with almost 100 "winner" ratings and even more user written reviews. I don't want them just gone like that.

My approach: I'd have the main section named to "Hosting" as it is now. All verified company threads would go in the main section. In that section, there would be a subsection called "Hosting Discussion". Hosting discussions would allow any threads to be posted related to hosting. There would be another subsection which would be named "Other Hosts". All verified hosting threads would have to go through here first before being allowed in the Main subsection. The "Other Hosts" section would contain all hosting companies which don't meet the specific requirements. Anyone can post there too.

Having Verified hosting threads being the only threads in the main section may seem like a bold move but in my option, it's the whole point of the hosting section.

The only possible difficulty I see with this is verifying the legitimacy of the businesses. There should be a form to apply for this, within the form, the applicant should include a source link to verify the legitimacy for a company. For the UK, this would be the companies house, for Australia, ABN lookup through the gov website should do, etc.


I don't think it'll be a lot of work. There are not more than 30 verified hosts on MC-Market and this is over the course of more than 3 years. Checking a company can take max 2 minutes. That's 60 minutes for 30 businesses, definitely worth it.


To you and me, yeah. To some average kid who ended up in the hosting section by doing a Google search, it might not be.


In my opinion, forum tags shouldn't be used for things where the point of the threads are completely different. E.g for selling builds, it makes sense to have "Sold, Offering, Requesting, etc". But for something like the hosting section where's there's a lot of variety involved, I don't think it's a good idea.

This whole topic was something that was on my todo list last year but due to the complications that comes along with a change like this, I never got around doing it.

I don't that will work out well. Having the 'verified' companies in the main section, while the 'unverified' companies in a subsection, would cause the big companies to stay big and at the top, while the smaller companies wouldn't have any chance.
I think its a bit biased being said by you since your host would probably be one of the first to be verified.

If you do want that, then there is a solution. Just make the verification process something anyone can do. It doesn't have to rely on customers or rep. But if you had that, there would be no point to the unverified subsection.

 

[Ajdin]

I don't that will work out well. Having the 'verified' companies in the main section, while the 'unverified' companies in a subsection, would cause the big companies to stay big and at the top, while the smaller companies wouldn't have any chance.

This has nothing to do with being large or small. This has to do with being a registered business and being in operation for some time.

 

[Zeiyon]

This has nothing to do with being large or small. This has to do with being a registered business and being in operation for some time.

Yes but why would anyone ever want to use the 'unverified' sub forum?

 

[Taafe]

This is similar to how we did it on MCF, you had to prove that you were a registered business to get into the main section of the forums. Eventually though we stopped allowing non-registered businesses from posting in the section.