Yeah, ok, sure. I just didn't want to suggest anything that would never be added anyway.
Still, I'll explain it.
My original idea involved a lot of complicated maths that I've barely got my head round myself, but basically it was cumulative reputation based on agreement/disagreement from those in power.
Anyway, my 'refined' idea involves a reputation variable (yes, I'm talking in programming talk again
) which can be fixed, say at 100 for elites, 150 for mods and 200 for admins, or whatever. Then when one person votes and a person with a reputation votes for the same thing, both mutually profit by a percentage of the reputation value of the other.
Example: A has reputation 0, B has reputation 50. A and B vote for the same thing. Assume the percentage gained is 4% - that way, A gets 4% of B's reputation (which is 2), and B gets 4% of A's reputation (0). So now A has 2 and B has 50.
Now say they both vote for the same thing again. A and B will get 4% of each other's reputation, leaving A with 4 and B with 50.08. Then if a third person, C, with reputation 2500 (absurd, but to explain the point
) votes for the same thing:
- A and B get 4% of C's reputation (which is 100) each.
- C gets 4% of A's and B's reputation (some horrible number, about 2.1632).
A similar idea can be used for the actual status, dependent on the reputation of the voters, and maybe even a depletion of reputation for disagreement from those with a high reputation.
Basically, the more reputation a member has, through sensible voting, the more their votes count towards members' status and other members' reputation.
Told you it was complicated.
Edit: CookieRevised's idea is good too, and a lot simpler, but it places a lot of initial strain on the elite members, and can also be subject to bias. In my way, it can all be hidden so people can't intentionally vote for their friends' ideas, and so on.