Guardian Hobba (modernized helper)

[Bob1]

Any site that caters to an American audience must comply with the COPPA. Regardless if their headquarters are in London and they say that the site is for users in the UK, if any American is able to register for the site, then that site must comply. I'm aware that other English speaking hotels had Hobbas, but keep in mind that those Hobbas weren't like the US Hobba program. Only Silver Hobbas were in the US Hotel at the time and no one ever achieved Gold Hobba or Super Hobba.

Also, because of the merge, it doesn't mean that the site doesn't have to worry about COPPA, if anything, this site has to follow and know COPPA like the back of their hand, if not better. As I stated in my earlier post, if they have Guardians and they only allow for in-game tools such as "Kick" "Mute" "Alert" room population override and so on, then they can have Guardians and not worry about COPPA. If Guardians get any access to Housekeeping and are able to search for users in Housekeeping and view their account information, that would be a violation of the law. It all depends on how Sulake does this.

I'm talking about before individual hotels were created (and then merged again recently), when the only sites were .com and .fi, there were Hobbas who were citizens from all over the world themselves (including the US) with access to select Housekeeping tools (which would include the ability to look up users in the US), I struggle to see how Habbo complied with COPPA during this period 2001-2005.
I was working with Sulake, I had staff rights and access on all English-speaking hotels (all of which would of been accessible by US citizens) when the US hotel was launched in 2004 but could not be given those rights on the US hotel when it opened.
You obviously know a lot more about this law than me, I'm just trying to comprehend the implications for this future system, it appears it wont really affect it at all.

[Fifty-Six]

At least they're doing something to address moderation.. hope this doesn't end up getting abused.

[PixelWarning]

I'm talking about before individual hotels were created (and then merged again recently), when the only sites were .com and .fi, there were Hobbas who were citizens from all over the world themselves (including the US) with access to select Housekeeping tools (which would include the ability to look up users in the US), I struggle to see how Habbo complied with COPPA during this period 2001-2005.
I was working with Sulake, I had staff rights and access on all English-speaking hotels (all of which would of been accessible by US citizens) when the US hotel was launched in 2004 but could not be given those rights on the US hotel when it opened.
You obviously know a lot more about this law than me, I'm just trying to comprehend the implications for this future system, it appears it wont really affect it at all.

I understand your question a little better now. You're at as much of a loss of words as I am right now as to how they were able to run their site during that time. The law was in full force during that time frame. Do you know the age of the individuals at the time who had access -- that will play an active part. Additionally, after further review of what I've seen based off of Paul's twitter, no such tools will be available to Guardians. They won't have the ability to ban and they will have the ability to receive help calls for things such as blocking and arguments (posted on Paul's twitter page.) No access to Housekeeping was mentioned and no word on if there will be any external sites for them that Sulake would develop thus the COPPA law would still be obeyed.

Does that give you more insight?

Also, thanks for the compliment on my knowledge with this. I am glad to see my degree in "Media, Art, Game Development" is going some where, especially with my emphasis being in communication as opposed to art or programming.

[PiippBB]

I think this is an idea they very quickly threw together after 'The Great Unmute' campaign where so many people requested the return of Hobbas. As long as it's done properly and the selected 'Guardians' aren't given too much power (which seems to be how they're handling this) it should be okay. I still think it's a bit cheap that Sulake expect us to police our own game but having said that, no one knows it better than the players, and no mod will ever know how it runs, and the ins and outs of it and the culture than the people that are experienced and play the game on a regular basis. I can understand this but I'm not 100% sold on the idea; it all depends on the powers the Guardians are given and how well they are moderated. We'll see. The other thing concerning me here is that .com won't be unmuted until this system has been implemented, and Paul's already said that could take weeks.

[Fifty-Six]

I still think it's a bit cheap that Sulake expect us to police our own game but having said that, no one knows it better than the players, and no mod will ever know how it runs, and the ins and outs of it and the culture than the people that are experienced and play the game on a regular basis.

I think if you gave users a choice a large majority would vote for this new Guardian program. I'd be willing to bet users would be eager for the chance to gain moderation powers (though limited they may be), if they had the choice.

[Laurensh1]

It wasn't like that with every single person who signed up for the eXpert system. I was part of the UK eXpert team, and sadly the bunch I got accepted into really did over use their 'rights' which gave the bad look to the eXpert system, thus users were complaining and then shutting down the system. I agree with you; Sulake pretty much 'giving' us a badge but in a sense I saw the badge as something to prove that you are a chosen 'helper' thus new and old users would trust 'you' more and ask you for help. (Thats was and still is my view), but Sulake did kept us informed via a secret forum, and so did our group leaders; They did regulars meetings to make sure we where all doing ok, and telling us what we should achieve before the next meeting, and so fourth. With the saying that Paul said that it'll be watched, no doubt it just be made into 'logs' and someone will visit them from time to time just to check on them. Maybe they will make 'Guardian leaders' to help with the watch. I'm not to sure on Hobbas getting banned for loosing their powers AKA getting fired.. it most likely will depend on what caused them to be fired etc.

I was in the eXpert team from Habbo.nl and I agree with some of the points made. For example, we did have a heavy selection process. In the newest badges there were 3 exercises of which one was an essay, one hosting a game and the other was on a training with a Moderator/eXpert. So basically on our hotel the selection process wasn't getting worse, but got better each time.

As far as informational flows; we did get email from our Community Manager, had a handbook (like the Hobba handbook but less detailed, just some basic info for showing Habbos things and stuff), had meetings with the eXpert groups and also hosted weekly games to entertain the Habbo public. We also helped making rooms and helped bodyguarding in case of VIP visits. We also had the forum as well.

They could just ask fansite managers/owners to submit a shortlist

Fansites do not have to deal with introduction new users, asking user questions. Fansites are more of an entertainment and news thing, than 'helping' individual users. It would most likekly all the owners makign themselves apply while actually their free time goes to the fansite and not to helping habbos.

@PixelWarning Pretty sure that's the law I was talking about, I knew we pulled the Hobba scheme from US before the hotel even launched but I couldn't remember why, I wasn't even allowed staff rights on my account however I had them on all other English speaking hotels. However when the hotel was shared before the local hotels (2001-04/05?) we did used to have US Hobbas, maybe it depends upon where the company is registered or based? As at that point there was no US office, the .com hotel was operated from London HQ. Maybe now the hotels have merged it wont be an issue with Guardians or is the site still based in the US?

username(s)?

Actual Habbo Moderators are 21+, so it's going to be interesting what they decide for the Guardian's age range, if any.

Nowadays maybe, but there were times before the outsourcing that locals were just 18 here in the Netherlands and made it to Moderator

[Okeanos]

I was in the eXpert team from Habbo.nl and I agree with some of the points made. For example, we did have a heavy selection process. In the newest badges there were 3 exercises of which one was an essay, one hosting a game and the other was on a training with a Moderator/eXpert. So basically on our hotel the selection process wasn't getting worse, but got better each time.

As far as informational flows; we did get email from our Community Manager, had a handbook (like the Hobba handbook but less detailed, just some basic info for showing Habbos things and stuff), had meetings with the eXpert groups and also hosted weekly games to entertain the Habbo public. We also helped making rooms and helped bodyguarding in case of VIP visits. We also had the forum as well.

Assuming NL was anything like UK; it was actually quite easy to become an X. All one needed was a clean account and the ability to write a coherent sentence. You certainly didn't need to prove you knew anything about safety or habbo for that matter, you just had to drop a few key words and you were in.

Former Xs these days seem to believe they were in someway comparable to hobbas. Sorry guys but you weren't. You had no training, no supervision, no interview (a chat on habbo isn't an interview) and in general, no real sense. People have been very quick to forget just what a laughing stock Xs were, especially the 2007 cohorts - they really were dire.

[Jarkie]

Assuming NL was anything like UK; it was actually quite easy to become an X. All one needed was a clean account and the ability to write a coherent sentence. You certainly didn't need to prove you knew anything about safety or habbo for that matter, you just had to drop a few key words and you were in.

Former Xs these days seem to believe they were in someway comparable to hobbas. Sorry guys but you weren't. You had no training, no supervision, no interview (a chat on habbo isn't an interview) and in general, no real sense. People have been very quick to forget just what a laughing stock Xs were, especially the 2007 cohorts - they really were dire.

you know nothing about the expert system; Once the application process finished, we all we're on a 'training' bit were we could choose a subject we would like to be, for example; a safety expert. Then we got allowed into the chosen subjects side of the forum. and from then; the leader, aswell as the staff and volunteers that were already inplace, did test our knowledge, watch us in action. It was just a small volunteer thing that Sulake made for the users who like to help other users, thus didn't need such an intense interview. Back in the say eXperts were around there was Ingame and offgame interviews.

People who proved to be rubbish in the area they first chosen either got fired or offered a place were the user is more skill in. So don't you dare write like you know EVERYthing that happened with the X system, you're obviously just one of these users that got all narky and jealous because either you didn't get in or you got feed poison.

Have a read at this; http://habboxwiki.com/Habbo_eXperts And you might actually learn something.

[Bob1]

Also, thanks for the compliment on my knowledge with this. I am glad to see my degree in "Media, Art, Game Development" is going some where, especially with my emphasis being in communication as opposed to art or programming.

The old age limit was 16 (it was briefly lower than this!) before it changed to 18.
I didn't have the patience to read up on it at the time and now I know all about it! Thanks for answering my question.

username(s)?

Seeing as you asked so nicely, lol. Bob on UK/US/CA/AU/SG and possibly some others, spent a year working almost solely on CA but those were the sites I was most active on.

[Okeanos]

you know nothing about the expert system; Once the application process finished, we all we're on a 'training' bit were we could choose a subject we would like to be, for example; a safety expert. Then we got allowed into the chosen subjects side of the forum. and from then; the leader, aswell as the staff and volunteers that were already inplace, did test our knowledge, watch us in action. It was just a small volunteer thing that Sulake made for the users who like to help other users, thus didn't need such an intense interview. Back in the say eXperts were around there was Ingame and offgame interviews.

People who proved to be rubbish in the area they first chosen either got fired or offered a place were the user is more skill in. So don't you dare write like you know EVERYthing that happened with the X system, you're obviously just one of these users that got all narky and jealous because either you didn't get in or you got feed poison.

Have a read at this; http://habboxwiki.com/Habbo_eXperts And you might actually learn something.

Nothing you have said in this (rather biased) post has disproven what I said. I wouldn't be surprised if I knew more about Xs than you, considering you were one of the aforementioned newbie Xs. But knowledge on Xs is nothing to boast about so I shan't mention it again.

Your presumption that Xs adhered to the security and confidentiality rules is very foolish. Plenty of people whose X applications were successful couldn't and wouldn't shut up about it. I had to endure a running commentary of the whole process and was bombarded with screen shots of the forum and your supposed training.

There were no face-to-face interviews or phone interviews, so there were no interviews. Answering basic questions on a forum or on habbo is not an interview.

Regarding X specialisations, there was no training or any vigorous attempt to ensure Xs knew what they were talking about. Xs simply had to memorise a few quotes which they repeated on request (e.g. "download AVG and run a scan" and "don't bet in casinos because you might be scammed") - those who couldn't be bothered to do this became host Xs.

I can not recall any X being fired after 0rca took over, not even the Xs who had left habbo were debadged. By 2007 staff were indifferent to the programme and rarely enforced the rules - hence why I said Xs were unsupervised, because in practise they were.

Your presumption that my critique of the X programme derives out of jealously is just another example of the childish and petty behaviour you guys so frequently displayed. Why you think there was anything to be jealous of I don't know, the only thing they had which was desirable was the room override and that was removed anyway.