I'm so excited about the learn.dmt-nexus site! Can't wait for it to be up and fully operational

These are all great ideas, keep em coming!

I think its an awesome idea!

Yeah this is a good idea. It doesn't matter where people get the answers from, it's the learning that matters

I think forcing some to use search engines and do research will actually be a good thing in itself.

See, someone like me would fail outright + possibly be alienated (& due to a typo/poor editing at that!). No great loss I'm sure, but who knows what's out there, what potential they have, how continued welcoming can prevent alienation and encourage education.

Personally I think a better idea is to add the new system but still maintain the possibility of writting an introduction essay instead of participating in the test.

Like let's say when a member joins, he/she is taken to a page that explains the DMT Nexus is a community open to newcommers but that we want members to participate with good attitude and be able to contribute to the community, maintaining the standards of quality posting. To ensure that, we have established a limited membership that can be changed to full membership by either passing the "Entry Exam" and/or writting an introduction essay and posting in general to show one is in agreement with our attitude.

That way, if we have a really good feeling or many people vouch/suggest a new member for promotion, then he/she can be promoted without the need for exam.

Also this brings me to a new thing that we already discussed between mods I think but I think it could go hand in hand with this, is that other members can suggest or 'vote' for new members and that with a certain amount of votes they are promoted (or at least a warning is sent to mods to look at that person's posts)

And back to the exams, I think just making questions would be too automatic, but I think that it would be interesting if other members (or at least the senior members) could review the tests and make informed feedback on where the person goes wrong. Also maybe the exam could have more open questions like "what do you have most difficulty understanding regarding extractions?" , or "what part of psychedelics or DMT are you most interested in?" or things of the sort, where people could elaborate a bit and therefore give a more qualitative information.

Also, I think the exam should be much more about the drugs basics and attitude/safety info rather than extraction trivia (such as pH of acidic phase which is completely unnecessary to know to extract and use DMT safely).

One idea of question could be linking a trip report where something problematic happens (for example some bad set and setting, etc), and asking what the new member thought, what could be improved in this person's preparation or whatever.

The point is that questions from the exam should actually be something to reflect upon, not just blindly answer, something that would be fun even for other older members to answer. Maybe people could even have the possibility of sharing their test results, which could give rise to interesting discussions on why people answer different things.

Just some things that passed through my head..

I like some of those ideas Endlessness, but my thoughts about direct questions was to try to stop the forum being filled with the same question over and over again.

I'm not saying the questions I suggested should be the ones used, they just popped into my head as I was writing my post.

After passing through my head I'll second that. All great ideas imo.


3rdI, about repeated forum questions I think it is a problem of users either not utilizing the search or somehow doing so incorrectly. Perhaps include a section for Search tips? Things like choosing correct subforums, searching by username/header/posts, using a small number of keywords, not giving up to easily and other basics. Maybe even include tips like search by knowledgable users, look for more search terms within search results, and tips for searching the Wiki. If it cant be found in the FAQ then it can likely be found from a quick search of the wiki and forums.

@ Endlessness....sounds like a lot of reviewing/'marking' ..think potentially 1000 new members..

One thought...perhaps every single member could have a link to FAQ/WIKI in our signatures?
Would certainly raise awareness even if subliminally..

Some great ideas there endlessness!

As usual, endlessness's well thought out ideas are spot on.

Man this all blows my mind. Amazing.
To touch base on what endless is said, what if you see a new guy posting "how much lye do I use?" There could be a button that you click, and the more people that click it eventually it initiates a mini test for the user the next time he logs on based on the type of questions he's asking. This user in particular would be give a 15 question extraction Tek test and be required to pass it before proceeding to post again.

Although my idea seems silly given te direction were going according to travs post. Awesome job people.

I agree even though I am a new user on this forum, it would allow for people to do some research before signing up, to stop reoccurring questions. It would also stop people who are not serious or are not here for the right reasons from joining. As most people who don't know a tone about this stuff wouldn't go out of their way to learn for no reason.

I like endlessness' idea of a more open and varied style of entry/promotion. The open question idea fuses both the introduction essay and entry exam scenarios. Perhaps there could be a members group of question setters, to keep the entry exams fresh and fluid.

Also, perhaps we could give it a different name from 'exam'. I know it's only a word, but the connotations behind it could perhaps give the wrong impression. Then again, we are the 'University of Entheogens' so perhaps the word 'exam' is appropriate. I'd be interested to hear other Nexians opinions on this (it might even be irrelevant and a case of overthinking on my part).

This whole process is a step in a positive direction. The Nexus is evolving, and therefore big changes like this are an important step in this community's future. We are not just a stagnant 'drug forum' but we are an international group of people, involved in important work that could perhaps one day help the the whole of humanity.

Yes, they may sound far fetched in 2012, which is why this evolution and pushing forward of the Nexus is important, because in 2032 it may sound a little less far fetched.

Peace

Macre

Initiation Ceremony? or is that too 'Witchy'?

Or perhaps, what you US peeps call 'Hazing'...?

'You must now enter into the 'Hyperspacial Haze' and you will be rewarded with great knowledge'

some good ideas knocking about here, the futures bright.

The Nexus is a the best forum i have visited in terms of interaction between members, but it is essentially still just a forum in its current state. These new changes seem like they are going to take us away from being a basic forum and into something much bigger and better.

Mods/Trav, are you basing the new style of website on any kind of current models that are out on the net? I cant think of any sites that provide the kind of thing that is being hinted at?

i would allow anyone to make an account

only if they were
- accepted due to their introduction essay
AND
- passed a qualitive examination on the subjects of: safety, attitude, faq

would i consider them for probationary membership, this probation would end whenever mods voted/time expired (ie 3 months)

after all the above mentioned criteria was met they may be full members

as full members they can contribute to testing/course building for merit
and or
take tests/courses for merit




personally i look forward to being a student teacher in the cactus sub forum