Habbo caught up in child sex scandal / Habbo Mute

[Dublyu]

To be completely honest, Sulake have had this coming for some time now.

Employing staff members that users find complex to speak with in terms of having them understanding is their biggest mistake they could have made. Instead of having moderation from (SG) they should have it varied throughout the merged hotels giving users different options and if one was struggling with a moderator having it referred on to the next.

Sulake also became abit silent in terms of moderation. Never seeing moderation and rarely receiving any notices\alerts or feedback in regards to any queries. Most habbo's referring the moderation team as useless where as before it would seem that there was one moderator in 5 that would be deemed "useless" which would be usually due to personal conflicts with the moderators. Habbo's not hearing what they want.

There is never going to be a 100% protected habbo community because there is no such thing, only reduces the chances of these online predators and trolls growing their own communities and causing uproars on the realworld. I use this terminology strictly because I do not want to go into details of paedophilia. Hopefully habbo will tighten it's security, moderation, safety, keeping users alerted to any changes in safety in the hotel. I would definately say bringing the hobba programme back, if not that then definately something that is an improved version. That seems to be what sulake is all about at the moment, out with the old in with the new. For example, having identifications photocopied (as before), telephone interviews, disclosures and potential webcam interviews. This is alot of time and effort but due to the channel 4 news report I believe they'd rather be safe than sorry. Whatever they decide to do, fingers crossed it really improves the site.

[Puma!]

To be completely honest, Sulake have had this coming for some time now.

Employing staff members that users find complex to speak with in terms of having them understanding is their biggest mistake they could have made. Instead of having moderation from (SG) they should have it varied throughout the merged hotels giving users different options and if one was struggling with a moderator having it referred on to the next.

Sulake also became abit silent in terms of moderation. Never seeing moderation and rarely receiving any notices\alerts or feedback in regards to any queries. Most habbo's referring the moderation team as useless where as before it would seem that there was one moderator in 5 that would be deemed "useless" which would be usually due to personal conflicts with the moderators. Habbo's not hearing what they want.

There is never going to be a 100% protected habbo community because there is no such thing, only reduces the chances of these online predators and trolls growing their own communities and causing uproars on the realworld. I use this terminology strictly because I do not want to go into details of paedophilia. Hopefully habbo will tighten it's security, moderation, safety, keeping users alerted to any changes in safety in the hotel. I would definately say bringing the hobba programme back, if not that then definately something that is an improved version. That seems to be what sulake is all about at the moment, out with the old in with the new. For example, having identifications photocopied (as before), telephone interviews, disclosures and potential webcam interviews. This is alot of time and effort but due to the channel 4 news report I believe they'd rather be safe than sorry. Whatever they decide to do, fingers crossed it really improves the site.

I agree with the hobba part completely. Surely it would make sense to Sulake too - hobbas are volunteers, meaning the cost of having them on the website is minimal (maybe staff training.. but surely Sulake managers won't be busy the entire day?). That means no expensive cost of hiring more moderators (AND they could work directly under Sulake offices.. not the outsourced MODs), but also ensures the safety of the hotel too.

However, the actual checking of who can and cannot become a hobba should be made a lot stricter - specifically no affiliation to any fansite whatsoever, no bans (especially on different accounts) and regular checks to ensure hobbas are doing their job correctly. Also keep the minimum age requirement of 18, maybe even raise it to 21 if they want added 'maturity'.

The previous hobba system went downhill with a small group of hobbas who were affiliated to fansites (rareboy being a big culprit.. saw him on duty once in two years, but always was in various fansite rooms abusing his powers) but with stringent checks it can be prevented. It's just a shame Paul L. won't really comment on the system apart from saying "it didn't work" - would like to see a better explination to why.

[Red]

I agree with the hobba part completely. Surely it would make sense to Sulake too - hobbas are volunteers, meaning the cost of having them on the website is minimal (maybe staff training.. but surely Sulake managers won't be busy the entire day?). That means no expensive cost of hiring more moderators (AND they could work directly under Sulake offices.. not the outsourced MODs), but also ensures the safety of the hotel too.

However, the actual checking of who can and cannot become a hobba should be made a lot stricter - specifically no affiliation to any fansite whatsoever, no bans (especially on different accounts) and regular checks to ensure hobbas are doing their job correctly. Also keep the minimum age requirement of 18, maybe even raise it to 21 if they want added 'maturity'.

The previous hobba system went downhill with a small group of hobbas who were affiliated to fansites (rareboy being a big culprit.. saw him on duty once in two years, but always was in various fansite rooms abusing his powers) but with stringent checks it can be prevented. It's just a shame Paul L. won't really comment on the system apart from saying "it didn't work" - would like to see a better explination to why.

Actually would hate to see any system like hobbas/xs introduced. They were a security risk for one. Not to mention elitist and any future programme is obviously going to be based on favouritism. The current mods were meant to watch over and control the top levels of cms who have powers? They can barley do their own job properly never mind watch over habbos. Your idea of selection isn't very fair since I have only had a few bans but all of them were a mistake of the moderators which I appealed. I'm sure many people have had similar bans that they did not deserve. Habbos don't need to be doing a job, which should be done by highly trained staff.

[Dublyu]

My point exactly. When a system fails, you renew the system and make it work.

[Red]

Which they have done by introducing habbo helpers I'm guessing?! Taking away things like ability to override rooms and letting people work their way up.

[Dublyu]

I wouldn't class Habbo Helpers as fully functioning as yet. Yeah they've had BETA tests and that but it takes atleast a year to see the results of something like that. It may make a dent, it may not. The proof will be in the pudding !

[Puma!]

Actually would hate to see any system like hobbas/xs introduced. They were a security risk for one. Not to mention elitist and any future programme is obviously going to be based on favouritism. The current mods were meant to watch over and control the top levels of cms who have powers? They can barley do their own job properly never mind watch over habbos. Your idea of selection isn't very fair since I have only had a few bans but all of them were a mistake of the moderators which I appealed. I'm sure many people have had similar bans that they did not deserve. Habbos don't need to be doing a job, which should be done by highly trained staff.

First off Hobbas/Habbo X system were two different systems - Habbo X to me served no purpose whatsoever, it was basically a load of kids with a few more powers than a normal habbo. Hobbas had to be over 18 (post 2003) and gnerally dealt with bans/mutes/kicks. How both systems worked were entirely different - although I do think the hobba system became elitist towards the end. But I'd argue that was a lot to do with fansite affiliations and a load of nepotism (by a small group of hobbas.. I mentioned one in a previous post).

That can be changed though - again, nepotism can be removed quite easily. Removing any fansite affiliation would be a great start. Also like a Sulake staff member to ensure that people aren't abusing their powers. The early hobba system had some brilliant people working, the people who worked and did a bit of talking to others - no abuse of the hobba system. The problem like any user moderation system is that a majority will remember the select few who abused the system and not those who actually worked.

I do agree how exceptions should be made with regards to bans. It was really meant to be more 'serious' bans (scamming, permanent ban etc). But again, it should be looked at - I remember a former hobba who had a second account to script? (no names being named).

The entire logic for reintroducing the hobba system is because of cost. Moderators were outsourced for cost (as all outsourcing is.. to save money), a new moderator system would cost a lot of money and would take a fair bit to implement. Training costs money. Habbo will want to ensure profit margins are kept as high as possible (Hobba system would take a fair bit of time to get going, but it isn't going to cost anything. Also, habbo has a pretty good group of over 18's on the hotel - loads of them go on to just talk, not to be suck-ups to well-known habbos.

With a fair bit of tweaking and a lot more scrutiny, the hobba system COULD work. But again, a lot of work is needed to make the system effective.

---------- Post added 21-06-2012 at 05:03 PM ----------

Which they have done by introducing habbo helpers I'm guessing?! Taking away things like ability to override rooms and letting people work their way up.

Yeah and it's a step forward..

But to me, there seems to be no link between the habbo helper system and the MOD team - there aren't enough MODs to deal with CFH's.

[Dublyu]

If you can remember back to 01/EARLY 02 with Wenders working in the london office. The concept of mini me's was being spoken about and was supposed to be implemented which wasn't. This seems to be the new 'Habbo Helper' concept which is basically rapping the idea. If only they had implemented this 10 years ago maybe things could have had a complete turn around however I feel this would have been scrapped alongside hobba's and habbo X's. I don't think this is going to be a permanent form of moderation and I feel once the novelty has worn off it will end up being dead in the dirt. That's just my opinion though and would like to be proved wrong.

[Storking]

They should pay for some higher quality staff rather than ask users to voluntarily moderate...

Although after the loss of investors, I doubt they can afford that now.

[Kasabian]

If anyone's interested, Habbo will be on the news on Channel 4 at 7pm - hearing from teenagers this time.