✴️💬 Creating your own Groups on SW 📥

Thanks for the useful feedback given towards this feature idea so far! 👍


Q: When might this feature become available?

A: We would like to try to release this by/before the end of this 2022 year, if possible.

Otherwise, if we cannot, highly likely within the month of January 2023.

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• We are taking note of your suggestions, and will be developing this feature in a way that should be suitable, fair, and useful to most users.

• There will be some minimum requirements for users to be qualified for group creation.
We expect that most very active and long-time users, should have the ability to create groups.

• There will be a limit as to how many groups can be created by a qualifying user.
VIP Membership will likely allow for a higher group creation limit.

• A user can lose the ability to create groups in the future, if they abuse this privilege, by creating inappropriate groups.

• There may likely be some minimum Moderation abilities for Group Owners, to start;
such as, the ability to Remove posts that are Inappropriate or Irrelevant to be placed in that particular group.
These moderation abilities will only extend as far as within the group the user owns.

• User created groups will actually be considered as "Sub-Groups", at least comparatively to the current Admin consolidated Groups.

• We may re-word our entire Categorization Hierarchy structure, in a way that may be more accurate and relevant at this time:

Current --> New (potentially)
Topic --> Category
Category --> Topic
Group --> Forum
Sub-Group --> Group

Hi everyone 🚀

I just want to let you know that we're still actively working on this.

Unfortunately it's taking longer than we expected, as this is requiring a lot of changes to SW under the hood,
but, being able to create your own groups is something that will definitely happen!

Stay tuned! 👍🏼

Hi everyone 🤜🏼🤛🏼
Good news!!!

Users can now create Groups on Similar Worlds!!

Only accounts older than 6 months can create new groups. There is also a minimum account reputation, to qualify.


To create a new Group, find any "level 3 forum" (like, for example, People & Family > Pets > Dogs), and then press the link "Associated Groups".
If you are eligible to create a new group, you will find this button:



Please note:
- Non-VIP users can create up to 3 groups, currently.
- VIP users can create up to 10 groups, currently.
- Groups that are offensive, hateful, discriminative, revolting or disgusting, or containing name-calling or personal attacks are not allowed.
- Creating an inappropriate Group will risk you losing the ability to create new Groups in the future.

As this feature is still in BETA mode, some moderation features are still under development, which we will be releasing in the coming days/weeks.
If you find any issues, please let us know. 👍🏼

Enjoy!

@Andrew I have a few ideas for group creation below:

• The General Process for users to create their own Groups on SW.

So the general process for users to create their own groups on SW would be, say a user makes a post, but there's no group that user feels that their content fits in. Have an option such as, "If your content doesn't closely match a group listed, you can create your own group here" And have a button they can click, "Create Group"

Then the user can type in the name of the group they want to create, and then once the group is created, they can submit their post they want to make.

• The Minimum Requirements for users to have the privilege of creating their own Groups (and how many groups per user)

I think the user should be, maybe a month old at least to have the privilege of creating a group, but it has to be monitored if people just want to abuse it. How many groups per user? I'm gonna say 100, VIP members get 500 groups they can create. (my OCD goes through the roof when I make a post and it doesn't exactly match the group, and I soooo wish I had the ability to make a group, specifically for that post.)

• What Abilities should a Group owner/creator have? Should they have certain "Moderation Power" within their created group (and what exactly?)

A user who creates a group should be allowed to delete that group any time they want to. If the user is seeing content in their group they don't feel is relevant to the group, or if they just don't want any content other than theirs in the group they create, users should have free will to remove any content from their group at any time.

• How Necessary is it for SW users to be able to create their own groups (especially since we already have "Post Collections").

I feel that it is a huge necessity for SW users to be able to create their own groups. As I mentioned above, I have real bad OCD. Sometimes when I make a post, I wish that I could have an option to create a group just for that one post. Or if I have multiple posts that are just random, I would make a random group, or if I'm at work just making random posts, I'd make a 'Random At Work' group. Or have a Computer group, but maybe things a bit more specific, Computers>Software>DOS Games or Computers>Hardware>GPU's, I just like having that ability to do post specific groups, vs. having groups already made. I feel like I'm so restricted sometimes when I go to post because at work I don't have the time to search for a closest match group.

Thanks for hearing the feedback.

I would like that. But I do hope that it’s monitored, so groups promoting hatred, or extreme fetishes (for example) aren’t allowed to remain.

Just a few thoughts (off the top of my head):

Minimum requirements should include a minimum length of SW membership... say like a week (or more), maybe be limited to verified members or VIP members or maybe some usage level and not have more than one account.

Group owner/creator should be required to clearly outline rules and purpose of any group being created and have the ability to decline membership to their group. Should be able to appoint associate moderators (maybe up to 2) and they (owner and moderators) should have the ability to remove group members who break rules or go off on tangents.

Groups promoting hatred of any kind/variety, violence, extreme fetishes, pedophelia of any type, etc., should not be allowed and all groups should be monitored to some degree by SW admin to preclude these type of groups.

Group creation should be subject to approval.

Hate/racist/profane groups
Are among those which should not be permitted

You can even add it as a VIP option... Like you get to create up to x amount of extra groups... compared to free members

Start making VIP membership start having some extra value to it...

Maybe also gives a use for the tokens as well... 2k tokens to make a group.. idk...

But yes, group creation was always super important I think..

I support users creating groups it was one of the features in ep that was terrific having the ability to just start a group about your interest and seeing others join it and making those connections.

I don't agree with the creator having moderation so you don't get people creating their own fiefdom. I think moderation just be left to the sw moderators across all groups with equal rigour.

I’d probably include this as a VIP Only feature - the potential for this to blow out is enormous.

As long as tou can keep down the repetitive groups

Now I Can Create A John Olinger Group 🤣

Yeeeeeessssss

Two words: Elvis Group 🕺

I am ambivalent about this. Yet here are some concerns and suggestions.

1. You have a hierarchy. The problem will arise where a group will not fit any hierarchy. How do you resolve this? 🤷🏻‍♂️

Must note I already have some qualms about the current hierarchy. Beliefs does not belong under Spirituality & Religion. Spirituality & Religion belongs under Beliefs.

The Religion group should actually have various religions in them. Not certain aspects of one type of religion. Like there is no categories on religions themselves.

Just like the Abrahamic beliefs have categories, so do the Hindu and Pagan beliefs have categories.

2. If the above is somehow resolved, there needs be some kind of limits and penalties. Not just on the number of groups created. Yet within any given category as well.

I remember well the mess Usenet became. Haaaaa designing ASCII art out of the group hierarchy!

3. Like in 2 I mentioned penalties. There should be many penalties for different actions. Like if you create a group and don't post in it that's basically trolling. More than just a"reputation" penalty should be given.

Then there's the moderation you briefly touched on. Not everyone should be allowed to moderate. Nor should they be miniature dictators like on Reddit.

4. speaking of which, moderators on Reddit are allowed to create their own moderation bots.

Please don't allow this. I beg you to don't allow moderation bots. Reddit is a good example of why bots shouldn't be allowed. It's easy to become a miniature dictator using bots.

5. A different suggestion. Let people create temporary groups. Groups that exist under their own hierarchy and will disappear after non use. The posts can remain in the main hierarchy yet the group itself will disappear after say six months of non use.

If a temporary group should remain active after a year then you the admin can place that group in a proper category related posts and all.

I don't know about group creation...but I sure would like a way to organize the recipes section with subgroups..by type of food, ie: Breakfast dishes, entrees, desserts, casseroles, and so on.

Now we can bring back the "I Love @sarabee1995 group. "

Finally, what I have been waiting for.

I want to have full executive / Admin power in my group. Of course, we have to follow the site's TOS.
And I want my name next to the group, it's a big deal.
I want to add my own avatars and my own little motto or saying, next to the group.
I want to be able to add my own stories and also block anyone who I find is offensive or rude or just inappropriate in the group and or in my PM's from being able to join the group I have created :)
Essentially: When I create a garden I have the right to pull out weeds, okay :)

Obviously if it already exists verbatim, I would not be able to duplicate it.

Thank you very much.

When will we be able to create our groups?

On the surface seems like a great interactive feature of the site, but the flood gates will open and I can see users attempting to make groups for fun, fetish and fights. This site already appears to have a low tolerance for some very poor behaviour and I think this will just escalate the issues already present.

Maybe we can get our own groups back without being classified improperly or have actual veterans groups for a change.

I think it's a good idea to have BUT should perhaps be limited to avoid spam and redundancy. If I was running this as a business on some level, I'd make it a VIP only feature. We don't need 15 groups for the same NSFW topic slightly worded differently again.

I don't think it's a good idea to have creators moderate unless your idea is to have private groups too then it's fine, otherwise it invites bullying and headaches.

As for general process, perhaps keep it simple, but for user created groups have a flag a group feature? Because inevitably someone will find a way to create a group based on an illegal activity or fetish.

I think it's a great thing to bring back but it needs a lot of control and may be very time consuming for you all.

Groups are only useful if a given post can be in multiple groups. That is: we need hashtags not groups.

Well, first of all... why do we need groups at all? Seems like the subject filters don't work to start with... the groups overall, to me, seem pointless. Other than when checking out a new profile and seeing what they're into.


But how about simply having a suggestion box (like the Question Bot) and have someone approve or disapprove of group subjects.

And, I don't think there should be any additional powers to the group creater, as that's just going to create a power struggle and bad feelings that we don't need.

No moderation power for the creator. Bad, bad, bad idea.
Maybe make creating a group something you can only do after a year or even like someone else already said make it part of the VIP stuff.
It's not horribly "Necessary", so to speak, but I think it makes some users feel more proactive with the site. I think people would be more productive if they could contribute to a group they follow or created their selves.

Wow. It only took five years to get to this point. 😂

I voted neutral because I’ve somehow managed to make everything work for me here the way things have been. Having said that, we had tons of fun at EP creating our own groups - The Voyeur Hotel being one of them. So…. Neutral - but it would be more fun to have the ability.

I definitely miss being able to create groups!

Yaaaassssss :) thank you andrew AND especially nuno

I think it is an interesting idea. I think it needs to be moderated to prevent hate groups, child abuse groups,etc from forming and creating dangerous and sick environments. I recommend groups are requested and approved. This could be automated .Also no private groups should exist. This could create private areas where these groups are more dangerous

I believe the individual (“I”) groups is what made the site feel like a community. Removing them took away the feeling of connecting with others on similar experiences.

Funny that you are bringing this back, but it’s a good idea.

Group creation subject to approvals.

Not allowed by new accounts or accounts younger than 6 months.

Only VIPs can create groups.

Approval/Verification process for group creators.

I would like a setting for my feed to see all new threads chronologically by default, with no additional sorting and preferencing unless I want it.

Honestly I have never used the groups or understood their relevance as part of my SW or EP experience for that matter , but I have noted many members were upset when their groups were deleted or consolidated and they would probably enjoy the chance to create their own. You would likely need to limit the number of groups a member can create or have some sort of minimum interest requirement that , if not met by the dead line ( 30 days/ 60 days? etc) would result in the group being deleted. Otherwise you are going to need a lot more space on your drives for all of that data.

Dear SW Staff: Some members are keen on the group inception, being a VIP feature. But hold on just a moment please:
1. I don't want most of the 'benefits' that come with being a VIP, I have exactly zero desire to know who is stalking me. ZERO.
Not a cogent idea in this light.

2. Now, if you want to invest in a secondary kind of VIP2 or VIPG, for new groups only, that's something I can entertain.
I'd want a VIP, with the sole conditions of, creating my own groups and having more blocks and mutes.

3. So, my suggestion also is, for the VIP, can we please choose the features we want, tailor it to our needs? That's an absolutely STELLAR idea.

***ADDENDUM: In principle I am against VIP period.
I don't want to pay and I don't want to loose benefits, etc.
However IF you insist that groups are a VIP feature, this is what I propose. IF...
(See above)

We need to be able to add new groups. sometimes the current groups don't cover it. i honestly don't have specifics in mind.

I love the idea of having groups as long as we don't forget the lessons of EP and Yahoo! Chat. People do dark things in dark corners.

Should be limited to VIP membership or those who have been members for more than a year.

I remember birthday cards we could buy and send. Not a group...oh well.

I suggest we buy sw coins to create our own group

I like the idea but it needs to be simple. The more like EP the better. After all SW basically replaced EP. I know SW isn’t EP however it’s where most of its users migrated from because SW was closest to EP. They didn’t have to. So if you want to make changes model it after EP. Please and thank you.

I loved this feature back on EP.

That is one of the things I miss about experience project. They really had this platform going well and was quite a disappointment when everything got stripped from it. I really appreciate that we have the first amendment right in America and would like to preserve that.

I'm broadly in agreement with @Classified

I would love to make my own groups like on Ep.

Sounds like a good idea.

how are you going to handle topic areas with blocking/user imposed limits? e.g. if I create a group/sub group whatever for something and someone named kasper hauser blocks me or I block him does that topic become unavailable for kasper? if I'm the owner of the group, do I just see a bunch of threads/posts that I can't view?

The main problem with creating your own groups on EP was the many duplicates and misspelled ones, but organizing them underneath the current categories solves that. It won't matter whether there are 2 or 100 similar ones if you can simply follow the category to follow every variation at once.

With that, I see no need for any limitations on amount or requirements, just moderation of hateful ones and other undesirable topics.

Groups added a layer of creativity and I would like to see that freedom back. As long as posts are in the right category, it should be allowed in the "wrong" group if that adds to a joke for example.

Wasn't there just a group purge not that long ago? There was an effort to combine groups and throw out inappropriate groups, or something like that. Isn't user generated subgroups a step backwards? Idk.

You guys have the best "social" site on the internet hands down. I just want to see a variety of posts that i can relate to, even though i dont want to only see posts that reflect my perspective. Do what you find best 👍

It's important to have the ability to create our own groups. I remember Back in the days of Experience Project. We could create our own experiences. I miss that.

R.I.P. Experience Project.

Maybe trial the feature by only allowing users to make one new group in the first x weeks, or only one new group periodically after that so the place isn’t overrun