Forum:Discord "Server Partnerships"

Forums: Yew Grove > Discord "Server Partnerships"

So I was thinking (usually a dangerous thing for me to do) earlier today, and I got an idea. Currently, the RS Wiki Discord Server is sitting at more than 4,200 members. As far as I am aware, the RS Wiki server is second in size to none other than the RS3 Reddit server. Obviously increasing the size of the server isn't that big of a concern, but I think we're missing out on an opportunity to reach out to the game's community.

Many RuneScape-based servers have taken to a trend known as "Partnering." The way it works is that servers will post (usually in a permanent channel where it won't get "buried") an invite link to the other server within their own Discord, and that server will do the same. The end result is that both servers "build" off of each-other, and become larger, more active servers. Should there ever be an issue, servers can very quickly cancel a partnership by simply deleting that server's join link.

Currently, the RSW server has nothing in place for server partnerships. The RSW server does not "need" more people to join it, but being the second largest RuneScape discord server (to my knowledge), the RS Wiki's server would undoubtedly be a popular server for many to partner with.

So, what's in it for the Wiki? Well like I said, the server doesn't "need" more people, but I feel server partnerships would give the Wiki something even more important: Community Outreach. By partnering with other Discord servers, we'll be expanding the RS Wiki to new audiences we haven't tapped into yet. The Wiki is always in need of new editors, and I feel partnering with RuneScape Discord servers will encourage owners of other servers and their members to help contribute to the Wiki.

So, in summary, here is what I am proposing: -On the RSW Discord server, we create a channel only Wiki staff can post on. The channel will be called "#partners" -We start allowing servers to "partner" with ours, and encourage the new people that join to help with editing on the Wiki. -We could also set a couple of basic requirements to be able to partner.

We have nothing to lose and so much to gain from trying this. I hope everyone else shares my feelings on giving Discord server partnerships a try. LisaaRS (talk) 00:44, January 31, 2018 (UTC)

Discussion

Oppose - We have nothing to gain from this. This will work solely to advertise other servers, which has questionable benefit to anyone. User:TyA/sig 00:58, January 31, 2018 (UTC)

I think this will help the Wiki expand its audience, improve community outreach, and encourage people to start editing. LisaaRS (talk) 01:00, January 31, 2018 (UTC)

I don't think partnering with a fashionscape discord, or really any discord, will lead to more readers nor would having a link to us in a #partners channel on another discord lead to us getting more community outreach. I also don't think it will encourage people to edit more. User:TyA/sig 01:05, January 31, 2018 (UTC)

If people feel like that have ties to the Wiki, they will feel more inclined to contribute to it. When people start editing on the Wiki, it can and often does feel very daunting at first, but giving them this "connection" (for lack of a better word) to the Wiki will make them feel more welcome and more likely to stick around. Allowing people to partner with the RSW server will help give people that "foot in the door" feeling to encourage them to contribute. Likewise, the people who run these servers will also encourage the people in their server to start editing as well. This will make the Wiki feel a lot more personal for people - we help them build up their Discord server, and they pay it forward by helping us on the fansite and encouraging others to help. LisaaRS (talk) 01:14, January 31, 2018 (UTC)

Question - Why would anyone from, say, Wookiepedia or any other wiki want to join or even care about the RS Wiki discord? Or am I missing something here? Coelacanth0794 Talk 01:02, January 31, 2018 (UTC)

This is referring to other Discord servers centered around RuneScape, not the Discord servers of other Wikis. LisaaRS (talk) 01:04, January 31, 2018 (UTC)

Question - We get no benefit out of our affiliates and sister wikis, what makes you think we would get benefit out of what is essentially affiliated Discord servers? https://i.imgur.com/xHR7zpA.pnghttps://i.imgur.com/6encXAo.png 01:06, January 31, 2018 (UTC)

It feels more personal for people on Discord as opposed to another Wiki. A lot of RS Discord servers have been personal or small group projects by people. Giving them a partnership will significantly help them bring more people into their servers. It will make people want to help the Wiki in return, by editing on here and encouraging their server members to help as well. LisaaRS (talk) 01:14, January 31, 2018 (UTC)

I'd say a good proportion of players on the game use the wiki though, so surely all we'd need to do to get people to edit is have a notice on pages or the main page? The title we have is also a good incentive. I don't think we attract anyone to the wiki that doesn't already know about it by partnering with other servers. If anything, the only benefit that anyone will get out of this is the servers we would partner with. https://i.imgur.com/xHR7zpA.pnghttps://i.imgur.com/6encXAo.png 01:18, January 31, 2018 (UTC)

Yes it would be skewed in favor of other servers, but that's where the community outreach comes in. We wouldn't be blatantly partnering with people for selfish, self-promoting reasons. A lot of people would recognize the service the Wiki is providing personally to them, and be more inclined to contribute as a result. Finally, if we wanted to be primarily concerned about getting new editors, we could set a general "edit count requirement."

Also I hope you're not mis-understanding me. I'm by no way saying "everybody should be able to partner with the wiki's server." I'm mostly just suggesting the concept. Things can and probably should be balanced out via partnership requirements to make things more balanced for the Wiki. LisaaRS (talk) 01:38, January 31, 2018 (UTC)

You're wanting to set some sort of edit requirement in order to partner, however surely this will just encourage bad edits and vandalism?

The way I see it is that the partnered servers stand to gain a lot more than we will. You keep preaching about "community outreach", however, I doubt we will actually see an increase in editors unless you have evidence suggesting otherwise. --User:KelseW/Signature 14:00, January 31, 2018 (UTC)

Question - Have ye got any actual evidence that partnering is mutually beneficial? As Jayden pointed out, our current affiliations and sister wikis give us little if any actual benefit. And of our 4200 Discord server members, I'd estimate 1% actually edit. How, then, is this of any benefit to us when all we'll get is possibly a few more Discord server members? Template:Signatures/Ciphrius Kane 01:26, January 31, 2018 (UTC)

We could requirements for partnership that would benefit the Wiki. For example, we could employ the same tactics as the Wikian title - using rough, approximate requirements for a server to become partnered with ours. For example, we could say the server owner (or their staff) need a minimum of "X" number of mainspace edits on the Wiki before they can apply to have their server partnered. LisaaRS (talk) 01:38, January 31, 2018 (UTC)

Could someone just use it to advertise their clan? User:Zafryna/Signature 01:41, January 31, 2018 (UTC)

Yes, but we could end the partnership if they break the terms the Wiki sets for partnering with us. One of those terms could be "The discord server cannot be based around an in-game clan." LisaaRS (talk) 01:43, January 31, 2018 (UTC)

What types of servers are we talking about?User:Zafryna/Signature 01:46, January 31, 2018 (UTC)

I think we'd be looking at community servers (Scape & Chill for example), PvMing servers, themed-servers (Clues Scrolls, Minigames, etc..), and so forth. Naturally, we would want to make sure they're obeying Jagex's rules before we partner with them.LisaaRS (talk) 02:01, January 31, 2018 (UTC)

Ye didnae answer my question. Have ye got any actual evidence that this is mutually beneficial? Cause right now what I'm seeing ye say it's nae mutually beneficial without tacking on arbitrary edit requirements Template:Signatures/Ciphrius Kane 01:43, January 31, 2018 (UTC)

(Does best medieval English impression) It's nae any more arbitrary than be the requirements for the Wikian title. If we be the larger Discord server, they ought to give ye something in return for ye great endorsement by the partnering. Methinks an approximate number of edit requirement be in order to make it fair. LisaaRS (talk) 02:00, January 31, 2018 (UTC)

For the title, we do not ask for anything in return it is recognition for a job well done. The partnering would be us asking for something in order for recognition. The Wiki is a community and an encyclopedia that everyone can contribute too. Adding requirements in order to be a partner seems unprofessional in this context. Do we look at the quality of content? Word count? It seems hard and it seems like we would have to go through the entire channel's history. User:Zafryna/Signature 02:12, January 31, 2018 (UTC)

First of all, this isnae medieval English. Secondly, ye're still speaking in hypotheticals here; I'm wanting actual evidence. Thirdly, I'd hardly say this is the same thing as the Wikian title: the title's an official recognition by Jagex of our hard work, it's done on a 1-to-1 basis after discussion by the community, and we control the flow of who has access to it at all times pretty much. This, it's dealing with multiples at a time, and there's nae way to control that access in the same way. Frankly, I can really only see this benefiting the other servers, as, has been pointed out elsewhere, we're nae shy about our Discord invite Template:Signatures/Ciphrius Kane 02:14, January 31, 2018 (UTC)

Question If what you say regarding bringing other servers more people it seems like we gain very little to nothing. Also, there is no Wiki Staff that would post on the Discord. There is no guarantee that the people joining the Discord would edit the Wiki. Secondly, our Discord should not be used to advertise other channels especially when we can not/ do not control the content said in those. As for feeling more personal, I would have to disagree. You state we have over 4000 members. That would seem more daunting and conversations constantly change and shift which means for the person just starting it might be an overload. The notion of community outreach is good but it seems like others have more to gain than we do. If a channel were to start posting adult content but we did not find out and 100 people clicked that link. Then those 100 people think we support 18+ content. How do we explain that? Who monitors those? What if people coming in start posting nsfw things? Do we block them all? User:Zafryna/Signature 01:33, January 31, 2018 (UTC)

Since posting, my views have changed slightly following feedback, so here's my current idea. We set some "rough approximate" requirements for servers to become partnered with ours. Among these requirements could be a "rough, approximate" number of mainspace edits from their server owner of their staff. We may not be able to control what is said in servers we're partnered with, but I would expect the Wiki would properly vet servers first and not blindly partner with an NSFW-based server. If we found a server to be in violation of the terms of partnering with them, that partnership could be terminated by simply deleting their join link on our server. LisaaRS (talk) 01:41, January 31, 2018 (UTC)

If we have to vet every single individual one it should come from community consensus. Also what is to keep people from just continuing to keep our link pinned and sending in spammers? User:Zafryna/Signature 01:46, January 31, 2018 (UTC)

For how to vet them - that is something to be determined and I am open for input on that. For spammers, we can actually deactivate the invite link we gave them if we find they're causing the RSW server too many problems. I hope you understand, I'm just trying to suggest the concept of "partnering with other discord servers," the rest is open for free discussion =) LisaaRS (talk) 01:51, January 31, 2018 (UTC)

I definitely understand. I think that community outreach is very important but I am not sure that this is the way to go about it as for the invite link. If they just posted the link that we have on the wiki then we would have to disable and change it constantly. I also fear retaliation for unpartnering. I can see a person who is vengeful causing mayhem or chaos on the wiki. User:Zafryna/Signature 01:55, January 31, 2018 (UTC)

From my own experience running a Discord server, I know that when you ban an account from a Discord server, it will also ban their I.P. address by default, preventing them from getting back in. Yes, I.P. addresses can be changed, but it causes so much extra work for that person that I highly doubt a troublemaker would go very far in getting "revenge." LisaaRS (talk) 02:05, January 31, 2018 (UTC)

We have had people become that determined. It still doesn't solve the problem of someone vandalizing the wiki. User:Zafryna/Signature 02:12, January 31, 2018 (UTC)

Oh-so-slight oppose - I get what you're trying to do (bringing communities together is a great thing, don't get me wrong!), but I'm not convinced this is the way to do it. I'm sure there's a way to do so out there, but I'm afraid I'm drawing a blank on that...sorry! https://i.imgur.com/7kyt1iT.gif --WINE OF GOOD HEALTH _{(Actually Stinko)} 02:09, January 31, 2018 (UTC)

You've sparked my curiousity. What's your reason against this server partnerships? LisaaRS (talk) 02:13, January 31, 2018 (UTC)

Oppose - Discord server partnerships from what I've seen rarely, if at all, increase user engagement within partnered servers and their related sites. If it does do anything it increases the amount of stagnant users who don't even engage. It's highly likely that anyone who would join and actively use the wiki's discord is already there. Template:Signatures/IN008 03:23, January 31, 2018 (UTC)

Oppose - I'm happy with the our server as it is and I don't think that we will gain anything by having a partnership programme. As you said, our discord server already reaches a massive amount of players and it gives them a place to meet other editors who can help them get started with editing. Most players use the wiki for information on the game. I don't think that we will reach any new, untapped source of budding editors by having partner servers, and I don't think that merely being in a partnered discord server would be enough to motivate someone to begin editing. I don't think that mandatory edit counts for partnership would be helpful either, I think this would only cause negative feelings towards us. As others point out, the content of other servers and considerations of what kinds of server we would want to partner with would be something that would need to continually reviewed and that would take up editors time that would be better spent improving the wiki. IsobelJ 12:01, January 31, 2018 (UTC)

Oppose - I think our discord is specifically for wiki editors, not the general community. ——Shaun Dreclin^talk 13:52, January 31, 2018 (UTC)