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Admin Announcements

🎆 [b]Hello Similar Worlds![/b] :D
We have several new improvements to announce:

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[c=#005E2F][big]• Online Status[/big][/c]
You can now see which members are actively online on this site, shown by the [c=#009E4F][b]•[/b][/c] green status indicator next to their name.
We also give users the ability to control this status; a privilege that was not available to Free members on EP.
You can disable your online status by unchecking the option [c=#800000]"Appear Online for Others"[/c] here: https://similarworlds.com/settings-account
There will also likely be "Away" status option available in the coming weeks.


[c=#005E2F][big]• Instant Notifications[/big][/c]
Now you will be instantly notified of any new Message or Post activity happening on your account, without the need to refresh your page!
Yet another feature that was not available on EP.
Activity Counters in the header automatically increment, and Notification Sounds are played through your browser.
Convenient Popups will appear by default at the bottom of your screen to give you a preview of your latest updates.
You have the ability to disable both the Popups and Sounds, via the settings at the top of the Notifications page: https://similarworlds.com/notifications


[c=#005E2F][big]• Messages Requests[/big][/c]
You can now control which demographic of members will be able to directly inbox you or not.
Reduce inbox clutter and annoyances by filtering away messages from certain users to your [b]Message Request[/b] folder, which you will receive no notifications of.


[c=#005E2F][big]• List of Hearts[/big][/c]
See who Hearted your posts and comments with easy-to-access hearts lists.


[c=#005E2F][big]• Improvements on Limitations[/big][/c]
Less limitations and waiting periods for users who maintain a good reputation.
Vice versa, those with poor reputations from bad conduct on this site may see some increase in limitations.
Keep in mind that [b]Adult Rating[/b] is not correlated with [b]Account Reputation[/b].


[b]• Many other technical fixes and improvements[/b] in Functionality, Performance and User Interface.

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Thanks again for being here! 👍
[c=#005E2F]- The SW Team[/c]
Nuno · Admin
@justmerae1 - Users with a bad behavior on this site usually get warnings explaining what is wrong and how can they improve. Don't worry - good members will not really be affected in a bad way, even if other people try to trap them. Thank you.
Andrew · Admin
You're welcomed all!

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@kingkyrie,
You should see the option in the sidebar on Desktop/Laptop, or at the bottom of the page in mobile devices, under [b]Preferences[/b].


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@UnicornSparkles,
We will have to look into your situation more to understand why this happened.

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@lastbabyboomer,
[b]Account Reputation[/b] is an internal metric produced by our algorithms which help to determine how "Good or Bad" a member has been on this site.
Jessa29 · 36-40, FMod
@lastbabyboomer

How does the reputation system work?
Similar Worlds has an internal reputation system, whereby each member has a reputation value based on various factors.

In general, if you are a good member on SW, you will have a more positive reputation, resulting in fewer limitations and more influence in moderating the website. If you are a bad/troublesome member on SW, you will have a more negative reputation, certain privileges would not be available to you and you will lose your influence in getting others suspended by reporting their content.

The team believes that this system will help keep the community in order, and help reduce members harassing one another. They are also very much aware that some members may try to abuse this system by "Group Flagging" certain members they dislike, so a lot of measures have been put in place to prevent abusers from giving others falsely negative reputations.

Updated: 1 month(s) ago | Sources: Andrew
Direct link: http://real-people.net/faqs#question16
BitterSweetPotato · 31-35, F
[c=#003BB2]Not only are you awesome website developers and competent IT people, but you are also incredibly creative and talented!! You have added a lot of cool features on this site, things that wouldn't even come to mind!

Keep up the awesome work! 👌[/c]
Madelenie · 26-30, F
THANK YOUUUUUUU ALLL
[c=#BF0080]thank u! Im glad I can disable my online status lol[/c]
diablesse · 56-60, F
Thank you for making SW a home for so many of us and for your constant hard work to improve it.
May I suggest the "away" status be automatically applied after a user has been inactive for a certain time? Many of us sign in, then get busy with other things and forget to sign out.
This comment is hidden. Show Comment
TheProphet · M
If you block everyone that you disagree with you won't have anyone to talk to. You might as well not even be here. I've never blocked anyone here or on EP. Be more tolerant and learn from others.
Magenta · F
I'm highly fond of these improvements. I commend you on all your efforts and your professional attitudes and communication. Thanks for having us! :-)
Overall very good updates.

An interesting idea on the privacy options for messages would be to have two different numbers on the email notification icon. One number on the top would be your inbox count. A second number on the bottom would be your message requests. People who want to always ignore the message requests could still do so, but having that secondary notification would be useful for people who want to occasionally screen through those requests. If you wanted to make the Message Requests notification less specific, you could simply put a plus (+) or minus (-) at the bottom of the email notification icon, to signify the presence or absence of *any* message requests.

In a similar vein, I would have much preferred to have you do the age-related content blocks in a similar implementation, where the blocked content (and content that is blocked to you) goes into a separate story list. That would communicate to a person that they are in a content restricted age bracket, without categorically denying them substantial amounts of site content.
TheGreatLeveler · 31-35, M
@pinkrainbowkisses
I don't mind having different opinions on the subject, but you don't seem to follow what I'm saying. Let me try to explain it in a different way:

I have already disabled my online status here, because it does not affect my visual experience on this site in any way. Online statuses are mutually beneficial. You are able to see the status of other users and in return you offer them the ability to see yours. This was the case on EP, and on whatsapp. Even though the latter provides the option to opt-out, working both ways. Now, here people won't care one bit what I do with my online status. On EP, I can think of several of my former friends there who would prefer the ability to see when I was on- and offline. I would provide them that ability, because I was also interested in seeing theirs (side note: on EP it was mandatory). On SW there is the option to view theirs, while disabling my own. If everyone (or even a vast group of users) follows that thinking pattern, the function no longer has any utility. Other services seem to comprehend that dilemma, so why can't SW?
Andrew!! Thank you. You and your colleagues have done a great job.
TheGreatLeveler · 31-35, M
Isn't it better to change the ability to disable your online status to the ability to make it 'circle only'? I understand why you're giving people the option to turn it off, as you don't want to force visibility onto them, but isn't that counterproductive for the entire feature? Practically everyone here prefers to hide their own online status, while being able to see the status of their friends. At least prevent people who have disabled it, also from viewing the status of others (example: whatsapp).

The same thing applies to the ability to hide your friends list and replies section from others. Again, I understand the motivation behind it, but do my friends really need the ability to hide that from me? I would suggest looking at Twitter as an example. Some information is shielded from regular users, while visible from accepted followers, or in SW's case: friends.
[c=#BF0080]Awesome work! 👍[/c]
SW-User
I get that, but how do you know when this has happened?
You get a gold star ? You cannot log on anymore?
How does one know which privileges they have gotten or lost?
This comment is hidden. Show Comment
TheProphet · M
That is sad yes, but the world can be a harsh place and you have to learn how to deal with the bad parts too.
[c=#BF0080]Dutch so you basically are saying if you can't see mine then I can't see yours.. like we're children. 🙄[/c]
This shade of [c=#009E4F][b]Green[/b][/c]! 👍 I like the choice.


Access to hearts list - you mean, henceforth?
Jessa29 · 36-40, FMod
@PetiteChica ██ Block More People
You can currently block up to 500 members. Due to performance issues the limit will not be removed, but it may be increased if a substantial number of people reach the current limit. So far 500 seems to be generally sufficient though.

Updated: 1 month(s) ago | Sources: Nuno / Nuno
Direct link: http://real-people.net/features#feature90
ron122 · 41-45, M
Thank you for being here for all of us. The site is looking real good
Darina · F
I don't understand...
why I had a warning...
I have no naked pics
aqua59 · 61-69, M
@rae: It would be fun to have a reputation meter. 😀
Thanks for your tremendous effort!
SW-User
Can you see what your reputation is?
TheProphet · M
It would be better if more people did.
Carissimi · 70-79, F
It all sounds good, Andrew. Thanks!
TheGreatLeveler · 31-35, M
@pinkrainbowkisses
I'm saying that if you decide to opt out of this feature, you shouldn't be able to see that feature from others either. Many other popular services, of which I gave an example earlier, operate on that same principle.
SW-User
So I've turned on the filter where non-friends can't message me, but received one from someone who wasn't in my circle.

Is it because he's messaged me before (I can't remember if he did because I usually delete these random messages)?
TheGreatLeveler · 31-35, M
@pinkrainbowkisses
For obvious practical reasons. It's not rocket science. Having the ability to see the status of other people benefits you, the display of your own status only benefits others. It is almost insignificant to yourself. I mean, you know when you're online- and offline. You don't need an icon for that to let you know. Therefore most users will probably opt-out, as there are no repercussions. Which in turn diminishes the utility and usage of the feature. I understand the need for some privacy, regarding to online statuses. But as explained earlier, I think setting it either public or private (circle-only) is sufficient enough.
@lastbabyboomer, the problem with showing reputation is that trolls will methodically game the system. There needs to be a lot of uncertainty around such things in order to make it extremely time consuming for a troll.
Jessa29 · 36-40, FMod
@kingkyrie

[image deleted]
SW-User
Darci ·
[c=#003BB2]Great job guys. Haven't had enough time to test them yet but I know you're doing a great job and working hard. Keep it up![/c]
[c=#BF0080]Boomer good for you.. but if I didn't have a block button I guarantee I'd be kicked off by now. So, for some of us it's heaven sent. 😌[/c]
canadarm · M
My pics don't show any more.
I just see an HTML link where the pic is supposed to be.
What happened?
Just started happening today July 13.
ChampagneOnIce · 51-55, F
Thank you so much for all you do on this site! I appreciate you listening to the members and your quick and relevant responses to our questions. Keep up the good work! :)

One question, when sorting my homepage by Friends & Groups, will it be possible to remove Questions from appearing in the feed? If I want to see all the questions from people I don't know, I'll go to the Questions section, but I'd prefer not to see questions when I filter by Friends & Groups or just Friends. Thanks!
TheProphet · M
That seems counter productive Jessa. If we don't know we can't improve or protest if we think there is an error.
SW-User
Okay, then how do you know if you need to change a behavior or that you have more privileges? Just curious.
TheProphet · M
I prefer seeing everything people say whether I agree with the or not.
aqua59 · 61-69, M
@rae and jess: ok..now I have a Joan Jett song stuck in my head
Jessa29 · 36-40, FMod
@Canadarm The team is aware of this and is working on a solution.
This comment is hidden. Show Comment
SW-User
Thank you, Jessa and Andrew, I just didn't look good enough 👍
SW-User
Thank you, Nuno. I didn't have to be so patient after all! :)
Jessa29 · 36-40, FMod
@Justmerae1 I'll let Andrew answer that one.
theSoutherner · 70-79, M
Thankyou! We seem to be progressing well
[c=#BF0080]Boomer what does me or anyone else blocking people have a thing to do with you anyway..? Unless you're getting blocked. It's not always about whether someone agrees with me or not.. there's more reasons than just that. In fact, I don't think I've ever blocked anyone just because they didn't agree with me.[/c]
Jessa29 · 36-40, FMod
@SsmoothieS I'll have to let Nuno answer that.

 
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