Endorsement begging.

[aok]

I'm not a mod author, but as a "modoholic" it really doesn't matter to me if an author requests an endorsement if the user likes the mod. It seems to me more of a crime if the user likes it and doesn't endorse. (How hard is it to say thanks really?)

What does it matter really? "Hotfiles" I guess. But if the mods really good we will find you. I see no problem with an author saying basically "Hey if you like my mod don't forget to say thanks"

[wolfsangeleyes]

 

 

What sometimes annoys me about the 'endorsement begging' is that some of the mod authors who ask for endorsements barely ever endorse themselves. And that I don't get.

Obviously endorsements are important to them, otherwise they wouldn't ask/beg for it, but they can't be bothered to endorse themselves.

 

It is not for the lack of trying, I am sure. But rather Nexus won't allow the uploading author to "endorse" their own mod. I believe that those users who were given editing rights can endorse the mod, but probably only prior to being given the editing access.

 

:smile: Sorry, I probably didn't say it right.

When I said that mod authors can't be bothered to endorse themselves, I didn't mean 'themselves' as in 'their own mod'.

'Others' would have been a better word. They can't be bothered to endorse other mod authors (which is weird when you see in their description how many resources have been used to create the mod in the first place)

 

And yes, it is a good thing Nexus won't allow the uploading author to ''endorse'' their own mod. That would be weird.

It would be equally weird if I endorse my own screenshot in the image library. :D

[Surilindur]

I think it always depends on the author, there might be some "trends" when considering the whole Nexus, or at least some specific games. But everyone is still a person, and each person is different.

 

For example, someone can be desperately seeking endorsements and their own tiny few days of one-site Internet fame in the hot files section. So he/she needs those endorsements, and probably tries to harvest them as efficiently as possible. The rules that forbid endorsement begging might seem unreasonable to that modder, after all they are one of the numerous obstacles on his/her way to that few-day fame in the hotfiles.

 

Then there might be someone else who mainly mods for himself/herself and could not care less about some internet statistics. If others like the mod, the author can be happy to see others also enjoy it. But if others do not like the mod, the author does not fall in despair because his/her Internet fame and huge user masses never came to be. The author continues to do what he/she likes and users can continue do what they like.

 

And then there is everything in between, as has probably been seen. But is the rule relevant to the one not willing to sell his/her liver for endorsements? It surely can be for the one in need of endorsements, mainly as a nuisance. If there were no such rule, what would happen? Would the endorsement-hungry launch a campaign to beg for endorsements? Definitely possible. Would the endorsement-indifferent author go about his/her business as usual without any change to endorsement-related manouvers? Definitely possible. And everyone in between would do something... well... in between. :tongue:

 

But then again, as an idea, could it be considered unfair? For someone to have massive banners telling people to endorse when someone else never ever mentions endorsements? And should it happen that the average user really does endorse more with the giant banners telling him/her to, who would it really affect in the end? The average user who sorts by endorsements? For example I usually try to find the "hidden gems" and even if a mod had tons of endorsements, I still do not necessarily use it. And I also mainly mod for myself as a hobby, not for others' endorsements, so I do not necessarily always care much about endorsements. But those who do, how would removing the rules affect their... motivation? Endorsement counts? Mod quality and/or content? Users (not all might indeed like endorsement begging all around the place)? Could it be possible that, should the rule be reviewed, the only tangible outome would be totally overwhelming endorsement solicitation campaigns? For some potential marginal increase in endorsement counts? If people dismiss the automatic endorsement reminder, what is preventing them from dismissing the endorsement solicitation campaigns, as well, simultaneously nullifying the effects of the potential removal of the rule? If people do not endorse at the moment, why would they endorse after some huge advertisements by authors telling them to? Just some food for thought, maybe.

 

And the thing about authors endorsing other authors' work, that might also depend on the person in question. For example I have clicked the "endorse" button for over a thousand times, others might have clicked the thing ten times as much. Because the mod has been of great quality, interesting and creative, refreshing, funny, fitting, witty, huge undertaking by the author or just something I would have made myself if it were not already done and available. Or because I have used parts of it as modders resources for my projects. I am just as much a mod user as I am a mod maker - I am not a huge mod user, but then again, I am not a great mod maker, either. Whenever I remember a mod that I found entertaining, I go there and click the endorsement button if I have not already done that. Endorsements are not some "gold" I pay the authors, for me they are more of an easy way to say "hey, your mod is interesting, thank you for it".

 

Aaand that was it. I myself see no point in changing the rules. Endorsements should be optional, given by the users if he/she wants, not something authors should request or demand. Surely some users demand this and demand that and it can annoy the author. If the mod author wants to share a mod or add a feature, he/she does it out of his/her own free will. If the author demands and begs endorsements, surely the user can be annoyed. But the user only gives endorsements if he/she wants to.

 

Unless, of course, the average user falls for the "I must give that author endorsements or else the mods will be gone" thing. But it might be pretty close to blackmailing. Like if the author hints at "low endorsement count" when considering whether he/she should continue supporting the mod. Or is that another matter entirely? It is related to endorsement solicitations, though, I think.

 

Edit: Hopefully that makes at least a little sense. Chances are it does not. :tongue:

Edited March 3, 2016 by Contrathetix

[DDProductions83]

Welp, I just helped moderators!! reported 18 files 2 of which are in hotfiles for endorsement begging/solicitation on main page :smile:

 

I'm just gonna scan the hotfiles form now on cause it's just tacky so I'm helping SJW all the way!!!!

 

I was bored... was actually curious to the levels of which mods etc would do this and it's pretty random, though ones who do it once tend to repeat offend.

[DDProductions83]

19 O.o

 

It's like CTRL+F Endors if it shows more than two somebody was a naughty naughty modder!

[Terra Nova]

I feel like people just endorse mods that are made by renowned authors, so I never take this seriously.

[Surilindur]

Sounds like some people either have not read the ToS or are just being bold. Some sort of message from a moderator should help, though. Maybe they will read their ToS and EULA and everything the next time. One can hope.

 

Although I must admit I do not always read everything myself, either. But I actually did read the agreement of my Android phone (the OS of it I think) years ago, and it basically said Google can never be held responsible for anything even if they purposely bricked by phone via some software update. Ever since, I have been a bit suspicious about all the agreements I accept. Not that I would have too many options to pick from, though.

[RGMage2]

"If you like this mod and plan on using it in your game, and you think other players might also like it and want to use it, then you should consider endorsing it. Endorsements help get mods noticed, giving them more visibility and making them easier to find by other players who would otherwise never be aware that the mod even exists. Consider it a public service for the good of the community."

 

I wouldn't consider that to be endorsement begging, and would have no issue with any mod author putting something like that in their description. However, it would be a violation of the TOS and if reported, a moderator would remove it. It's a case where the TOS IMO is wrong.

 

A message like that from the author would be less offensive than the official endorsement begging reminder we now have.

 

As for authors themselves not endorsing other author's mods, I think what you might find is that some authors are so immersed in working on their own mods that they rarely play the game anymore, and even when they do download other people's mods, they might not ever get around to installing them or trying them out. So if they endorse they would be endorsing something they never even played, just endorsed it because it felt like the right thing to do.

 

Endorsements should be for the right reasons, and a carefully crafted reminder by the author could be better than the endorsement nagging we have now, IMO.

[PoliteRaider]

Personally I just endorse anything I've downloaded that does what it says it does. I figure people can read the descriptions for themselves and figure out if they'll like it or not, the endorsement just shows that it worked as promised.

 

 

It is not for the lack of trying, I am sure. But rather Nexus won't allow the uploading author to "endorse" their own mod. I believe that those users who were given editing rights can endorse the mod, but probably only prior to being given the editing access.

 

Actually I think there's a bit of a glitch here. I just realized that I was able to endorse Craftable Arcade Machines, despite having editing access as one of the authors. I've removed my endorsement now because it's really not fair to endorse my own mod, but it seems like as long as you're not the primary author it'll let you do it.

 

This might need to be fixed, if you're not meant to be able to do it.