Why not keep things traditional?
In addition, I would prefer the old fashioned "Trial-Mod" instead of "Helper"
~ @Sarge926
Ehhh how is 'Trial-Mod' better? 'Helper' perfectly describes the current role, whereas 'Trial-Mod' described the old role; they are actually completely different roles.
'Helper' constitutes someone who primarily helps with modreqs and generally assists the server and the other staff members. There is no definite time between becoming a Helper and becoming a Mod, and you need to apply for Moderator in order to become one. You could stay a Helper indefinitely if you so wish. A Helper is as much a part of the team and has as many chances as other staff members. They do not have a 'trial' period to prove themselves to the team; they are a part of it from the start. Their merit is based upon all of their work and the quality of their work, rather than the amount of modreqs they do.
'Trial-Mod', on the other hand, is someone who is in a training or trial period before becoming a full Moderator. I believe in the first Meepcraft, the trial period was between 1-2 weeks. If you were not up to par at the end of that, you were demoted. If you were up to par, you were promoted to Moderator. 'Up to par' in this case generally meant doing nothing but modreqs and modreqs and more modreqs. No matter how good of a job you did, generally your promotion was based upon your modreq count. You were forced to either be demoted or be promoted; you could not stay a Trial-Mod forever. You did not need to apply for Moderator, as it would be handed to you depending on what you did as a Trial-Moderator.
Do you see the difference? Not to mention that Trial-Mod is associated with a time when nearly all of the staff members abused their power in some way, shape or form, leaving me reluctant to accept it back as a term used when our current staff team is miles ahead of what that one was.
Here's a good quote by a person who was actually staff at the time of it's use;
Old staff shouldn't be brought into this.
Everyone that was a part of the Old Staff team should know there was a lot of corruption, and abuse. TrialMods were promoted solely on modreq count regardless if players, even staff, complained about it (@Tsong_Jien brought up a good point, staff fitness should not be judged on modreq count). If you were a TrialMod, you would get on and just do modreqs. It was a competition (unhealthy).
When I was a TrialMod, I felt pressured to get on everyday just to do modreqs, and it got me a Mod position in a week, which is not good. I felt as if I hadn't learned everything, I only knew how to do modreqs, and I got a promotion because of it. This new staff system does not judge your staff fitness on modreq count, but your worth ethic, dedication, activity, and many other aspects, which is why I personally think it's a good idea to apply for Mod.
Adding on, TrialMods GOT SMITE. It's disgusting how much this was abused on a daily basis, and it happened to lead to the demotion of rainbowdogfish. Mods GOT TOWNY ADMIN. This is absolutely unnecessary and the majority of us know what happened with Payten88/Paracite431.
The old staff system had many flaws, the new staff system is better, and prevents abuse in the lower ranks. (for the most part)
~ @JumboAce
Anyways, signing off. This is a lot off topic, but I felt the need to address it and nip it in the bud before it got out of hand :)
