Sorry to say this, but that is truely a terrible ideal. For instance, I don't know how to create hacks, never will, and never will care to. So since I don't have the title coder, I will never see the service request forum, even though I have contributed enourmously to that section?

I basically do nearly ALL design jobs offerered in the service request forum, and alot of the hack install threads. Plus alot of the coders don't know how to design forums, I looked through their and some of the top coders are asking for design help.

Maybe if the traderratings or something like that doesn't work out, designers/coders can submit some kind of an application with the work they have done in the past for users, if their work is good enough, create a thread in the service request forum labled "Recomened Designers/Coders" Then list all approved names in their!

EDIT:: I think us designs should get special "Designer" names if we show our work and prove ourselfves :)

I may be missing the obvious here - but if no one except "coders" can see it, how would anyone else post a service request ? Also, not all service requests are for coding, some are simple hack installations, others are style requests.

what about some sort of scheme where when a coding request is accpeted the member pays the money to a member of admin who keeps it on hold until the work is done and then forwards it on.

I think that may just be to much work for the admins ;) Plus alot of designers including myself ask for a certain percentage down before I start on the work ;)

Not to mention, paypals fees if they have to transfer from account to account to account, then if the admins live in a different country, paypal charges for currency conversion, so in the end, paypal would soak up a lot of our cash and we woudln't make as much ;) Also, the admins would have to have a paypal account, western union account, 2checkout, and a ton of other accounts because not everyone will use the same paying method. I've even accepted checks by mail before.

I think this is an excellent idea. :up:
Reward the members who have contributed to the site.

Membership "time" and "hacks" are some of the things that people look for anyway before hiring anyone. This will just help the requestor in some form.

Using permissions -- it's easy to do.

I couldn't agree more with this it will at least offer some what of a safe guard for unsuspecting users. As it is anybody can jump in and PM them and most of those requesting are new and may not know what to look for, the readme helps but people get desperate and take the first person who comes along.

Filburt1 makes a good point in that there are probably a lot of those who go unrecognized as long as there isn't a problem. I'm not sure if ratings are the answer but only letting the tried and true in there to offer their services seems like a viable alternative.

well for me all my hacks i've kept to myself i havent released them because i dont want them falling into others hands. but i do help out here to the best of my ability. if someone asks for a job and it is minor i'll refuse any payments now the title/promotion setup wouldnt reconize my efforts because i havent released anything but it doesnt mean i dont help.

I'm curious as to why you don't release them ?

btw, can some passing mod please edit the title of this topic to "member" :)

Notice all the people agreeing with this already have the title coder? I've contributed plenty, but I'm not a coder lol I'm a designer/hack installer lol ;) and I have problably done more work in the service request forum than any member/Coder on this site! Its pretty much became my 2nd job and I probably work around 20-25 hours per week doing these jobs

Point taken :) We'll have to see what they decide to do with this now that vbt is no longer available.