Forum:Usergroups

As it has been somewhat apparent in recent times, unofficial usergroups have started to sprout up, each usually gaining a following rather quickly. Well, uh, these are all that actually come to mind, so they aren't sprouting up that rapidly, but anywho: Now, to generally and effectively describe a usergroup, it would be said something like the following:
 * The Alliance to End Firearm Ignorance - A group of users who dislike it when people say idiotic and incorrect things about firearms and try to teach them actualities
 * The Gun Pimpers - A gallery by multiple community members made with Pimp My Gun with gun ideas ranging from modifications of already existing weapons to completely original ideas
 * License Patrol - Never actually founded, but a group of users that would fix incorrect licenses placed on files
 * usergroup (yoo-zer groop) n.:
 * a group of users on an online website that band together for a common cause or purpose

The main purpose of this proposal is to discuss and hopefully create the option of having usergroups deemed as official in regards to the Wiki, have them be put in the project namespace, and have regulations in regards to what they can be and how they have to act.

Usergroups would be divided into two categories: "recreational" and "project-related". Recreational usergroups would be there purely for fun and/or user bonding, such as The Gun Pimpers. Project-related usergroups would be formed as sort of committees or teams that are tasked with doing some certain tasks—more so than a user would probably normally do—that keep the site running smoothly.

Like how it is now, anyone would be able to form their own usergroup. Though, to become an official usergroup and be moved to the project namespace, it would have to meet certain regulations and requirements, as drafted below. A page would be created at "Call of Duty Wiki:Usergroups", and all official usergroups would be moved to a subpage of that page along with a brief description, link and general information added to the main project page.
 * Usergroups have to have a valid purpose, use, or central theme.
 * Usergroups should not be particularly exclusive or try to create an 'elite' group. Understandable entry requirements, if related to the group's purpose, may be instated.
 * Involvement in a said usergroup remains purely voluntary and any member may leave whenever they want.
 * It is recommended that users within a usergroup are not ranked above others, but important users may be denoted by their title (if applicable).
 * If a usergroup does not have more than two members after being made official, it may be either closed or moved to the founders userspace. (Discuss this one in particular, please.)
 * Usergroups are not above policies. If one breaks does a policy or whatever, the founder would be asked to fix it, or something.

But here's something: how would usergroups start? Would they start in one's userspace, gain a base and then submit an application (or whatever you would want to call it), or would the idea just be submitted for approval?

And how would approval work? A short community vote, or someone just signing off that it's a valid and with-a-point idea after looking it over?

... That's just about all that I can come up with. So with that, please discuss and such. 05:10, January 21, 2010 (UTC)