Suggestion Newbies earn AV and Sig.
 

Here is a suggestion, that newbies earn Avatar and Sig rights.
You would earn avatar rights after gaining so many rep points.
You would earn sig spot if the mods or high ranking members say you derverse it.

What you guys think? too hard logistically?

Pointless idea.
There is no reason why they shouldn't be allowed them.

Why is it pointless?, many forums do it. People said the same thing about the rep system, it wasn't always here you know.

It would separate this forums from other forums.
It would make members feel they need to archive a goal, it makes it a privilege to get a av or sig, it makes it a special thing not a given.

the theory is not pointless at all. Usergroups can be restricted and automatic promotions enabled in the control panel so once a specific value is hit the user automaticall gets promoted to the new usergroup.

On one forum I set up i had it so new users needed 100 posts before they could use the PM system or use avatars/change locations.

it just weeds out a lot of the dumb stuff.

I think everybody should get to use av/sigs, it doesn't really hurt anything.

Look at how much drama the rep system starts, there are always people starting threads over getting neg'd, or the vid section. Basing anything else on rep would just be more trouble than it's worth IMO.

Newbies start with zero rep, why would they start complaining about not having a sig or av?

Sig Example somebody with a 120-130 rep if he makes a great post, the mods/admin or high ranking members can say lets give this guy a sig spot, he would be earning it, and makes others that are at his same rep level want to get a sig spot too.
Not everybody uses his sig spot, some people just won't care to earn a sig spot, and thats fine, but for people who do it would make it a privilege not a right to have a sig spot.

AV example: It would separate the lurkers and trolls from the members who really want to be full contributing members. Earn 100 or 200 rep points and earn your AV, again another right you earn not just a given.

Think of it as a video game you reach a certain level and you unlock a new gun.
It makes it a little more fun and makes the newbie feel they are part of a mma community.It would separate us from "other mma forums".

I could see maybe limiting it on the sig, but peoples avs are an expression of themselves and usually don't get too out of hand. Giant sigs however, annoy the shit out of me. I wouldn't want to handcuff new members to the point where they feel alienated.

The idea is kind of redundant only because there is enough motivation for newbies to attain other "goals" like the video section and being able to start a thread outside noob jack.

Incentives like this are not a bad idea, but instead of rolling back the privileges I think it would be better to add some kind of status bonuses depending on certain benchmarks. For example, we've discussed maybe adding color name classes. So, lets say if you've been a member for at least six months, have 500 posts and 300 rep, your name turns yellow. Then at one year, 1000 posts and 500 rep it turns orange. Something like that.

Like belts, in that case, I'm a 69th degree blackbelt.