Those who keep up to date with our group posts and polls will have a good guess as to what changes are being implemented to our comments section.
I've read through the comments for both the poll and the journal. I've decided that we will be implementing a block system for deviants who comment on our group page asking for llamas that are obviously not returning them.
Who will be blocked exactly?
Deviants who are actively comment on our group or group journals specifically for llamas and show signs of not returning llama badges will be blocked until they have returned a satisfactory amount.
Deviants who are commenting are obviously NOT on a hiatus and therefore are perfectly capable of returning llama badges if they are able to leave a comment asking for them.
This also applies to deviants who buy llama badges. We are unable to view a purchase history of badges "bought" or "sold" and therefore we will simply treat all badge statistics the same way.
Deviants who have badge statistics showing that have returned 79% or less of the llamas given to them will be blocked. An example of this would be a deviant who has been given 1,000 llamas and have only returned 300. They have only returned 30% of the badges sent to them.
Deviants will be blocked until they return a satisfactory amount of badges. The deviant who has only returned 300 out of 1,000 badges will not be unblocked until they have returned a total of 800 out of 1,000 badges.
Who won't be blocked?
Deviants who have at least an 80% "return rate" will not be blocked. This percentage is a fair one to give some time for returning llamas. There is a 20% buffer for those who accumulate badges and then return them and to account for the inability to return badges (due to deactivated accounts).
Deviants who comment with an actual comment that is to leave input, ask a question, or any comment that DOES NOT ask for llama badges.. These deviants will not have their badge information reviewed.
The Flaws
I am well aware of the flaws in this type of system since the badge information does not directly show if a deviant has actually returned badges or if they purchased badges. All we can see is the amount given and the amount received. However, this can give us a fair idea of a person's trading habits.
I do realize a deviant can affect their statistical badge information by massively giving out llama badges instead of returning them. However, when you consider the amount of time and effort this task would be for those with a large difference between llamas given and llamas received, I am accepting of this flaw.
As stated earlier, all badge information will be viewed the same way since we cannot decipher what badges were bought or sold by deviants. This could be called "unfair" for those who do these types of transactions, however, our group is called GiveALlamaGetALlama. This means we are going to enforce this. Deviants who buy or sell llamas are obviously not following the core principle this group was founded on and therefore, in my opinion, have no right to complain on this policy.
Final Remarks
Groups are permitted to have their own rules and regulations as long as they do not conflict with dA policies. It is well within our rights to block deviants who do not follow our group policies. I know quite a few will complain here about this and I will not be responding to these complaints UNLESS they are constructive. Basically, comments going "you suck" will simply be ignored.
Deviants have the choice for what group they join, watch, submit to, and comment on. We are not forcing those who are unhappy with this policy to stay. Deviants also have the choice to not return llama badges and we cannot force them to do so. However, that choice will result in being blocked from this group. While some may view this as "forcing" deviants to return badges since they will be blocked unless they do return their badges. The deviant still has the choice to not return them. It is simply a matter of, if they wish to ask for llamas here, they must follow the group rules. That's it.
This policy will be implemented Feb. 27, 2014. This is so there is a time frame where deviants can return their badges.
