Applications, and other things

[sffl.livejournal.com]

Hello everyone, this is Kristi, your voting manager speaking. I've got several things to address here, so bear with me.

Firstly, I'm glad to see voting up at platform_934. Keep up the good work. As you know, voting on applications is an easy way to earn points for your house, but now there's another way. Starting with applications stamped today, one can earn an additional three points (or one, if you're in the Order) for their house by referring other people here. If you have someone referred, have them include your username in the "Where did you find out about us?" question so that I may verify that you're a member of hogwartsishome. If I notice that a good number of people have listed you as a reference, as is the case with cleolinda, we'll find another way to reward you.

There's another item I'd like to address regarding applications. Sometimes, they get botched (like bold tags screwing up, no lj-cut, etc) and users will point this out to them. Please refrain from doing this excessively, as there's no need for a whole bunch of students to tell them that their LJ-cut is messed up. I'm sure they get the idea after 2 comments or so. :) Not only that, but it makes my job easier if I don't have to sort through as many comments when counting votes. Along the same vein, if you request that the applicant fix something, or add more information, it would really help if you could go back and sort them after they've done so. I know we all get busy sometimes, and don't have time to reread every single application, so from now on if I notice an app isn't getting enough votes, I'll make a post here.

We've also had things brought up regarding some of the questions on the application. So chenpion and I are considering revising the applications, and we want to hear your suggestions. Are there any questions you believe we should add, delete, or simply reword? Then leave a comment on this post and let us know what you think. Any input would be appreciated!

Also, if you haven't done so already, please check the member lists in the userinfo to make sure I've added you to your respective house list.

Thanks!
Kristi, Ravenclaw
Voting Manager

Comments

[ainu-laire.livejournal.com]

I personally like that idea.

[jupluna.livejournal.com]

I like the fact that we have a lot of open ended questions...but I just, in gerneral, think there are too many. It doesn't really matter what stays or goes, because people are just going to look for the key words anyway. I think we questions about...the persons definition of loyalty, or honor, or bravery, or cunning. I think it would be easier to determin where to put someone when you know what they actually MEAN by the words.
I know I got a lot of hufflepuff and gryffindor votes because I said I have loyalty to my friends...but people forget that Slytherins are also loyal...but ONLY to those they consider friends and family...they don't trust anyone else enough to be loyal to them. That is what we need to make clearer in the application process I think.

So...add in a list of questions asking them to describe certain house "qualities" as in loyalty, cunning, bravery, and what ever else would be considered a "target" word. Then a general question asking what they thought of each house...not just a question of what house they didn't think they belonged in. I think those two changes might be able to clear up a lot of the votes that are only based on "target" words. Hopefully that would also make the "1337" Harry Potterians actually THINK before answering...

Juppy

Ladies and gentlemen...

[chenpion.livejournal.com]

You can tell why she's the Debate Leader.

Well said.

Key words is what a lot of people look for when sorting, I believe, and hence situations and responses "What would you do in such a situation?" would probably be more... useful/helpful?

Robert - Ravenclaw Prefect
(http://www.livejournal.com/community/ravenclaw_house/)

Re: Ladies and gentlemen...

[jupluna.livejournal.com]

Debate Leader I am not...I just happen to have a LOT of experience understanding what people look at in other people and why they think that way. Psychology major...gotta love it. ^_^

[sffl.livejournal.com]

I really like that idea. The keywords I think of are:

Gryffindor: bravery, courage
Hufflepuff: loyalty, hard-working
Ravenclaw: intelligence
Slytherin: cunning, ambition

I also agree that the application could stand to use some shortening. I'd elaborate more but it's late. :P

[shakiracrazy.livejournal.com]

I'll try and get back to you, finals are coming up and I have so many things going on that are school related... it's insane. I'll be surprised if I'm not diagnosed with a heart condition from all the stress teachers seem to like to put on us when the semester comes to an end >.< Also the reason I haven't been able to vote much :(

[sffl.livejournal.com]

It's all right, I was there once, and I definitely know how crazy things get towards the end of the semester. >.

[caustique.livejournal.com]

For referalls:

If a member of The Order refers someone, and that person lists The Order member, do they still get points?

♥

[sffl.livejournal.com]

I don't see why not. :)

[caustique.livejournal.com]

Just wondering... I couldn't remember if we got "salaries" or not, so I thought if we did that might be unfair.

Thanks! =]

[sffl.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you get paid in knuts, I believe. ^^ I decided on points because it benefits the whole house rather than one person.

[chenpion.livejournal.com]

Well, it doesn't really make sense to me...

I mean, that's your -job-, isn't it? Why should you (and your house) benefit from you doing what you're supposed to? o.O

Robert - Ravenclaw Prefect
(http://www.livejournal.com/community/ravenclaw_house/)

[sffl.livejournal.com]

I look at it like this.. I decided to do this to encourage *everyone* to do some recruiting, and the Order is no exception. And with a representative in each house, I think that's pretty fair. Besides, house points benefit everyone, not just one person. I hope this makes sense; my brain's a bit fried right now. ^^;

[chenpion.livejournal.com]

My point is...

What's the point of someone being in the Order? I mean, their -only- job is... to do publicity and recruit.

I mean... heck, if someone from the Order didn't refer (for example) 5 applicants a month, then I'd start wondering whether or not that person was doing their job, and really supposed to be on the team, know what I mean?

I guess it sounds mean, but if there's one thing that gets to me, it's people who don't do/take their responsibilities seriously. This is why this point jumped out to me...

[sffl.livejournal.com]

No, that doesn't sound mean at all. :) I'm not sure how they do things, actually; if they have some sort of quota or if they just recruit randomly. I think you raise some good points.. maybe I could still award points, but less if they're in the Order?

[chenpion.livejournal.com]

You'll probably want to ask Bunny. Tag 'er in the Officials community (though I know she's out celebrating her birthday this weekend).

The reason I know about what the Order does is that I thought it was a cool title when I looked through the community, then I checked into what it actually consisted of and found it not my style.

Perhaps you could award two points for each person who directs, but only one for someone who says its from the Order.

[hxcpunkchick.livejournal.com]

I was actually about to make a new post in HiH regarding voting when I saw this one and fig'd I comment directly to you though I may still make a whole new post...
Anyways, I was wondering if there could be some way that you wait more than a day or two to stamp someone. I think it rather unfair for those of us who don't have constant internet access. I really realised this when I went back to vote on an app that was posted sometime between the 7th and 8th, people started voting on it on the 8th, and you stamped it sometime earlier on the 9th. ONE DAY?? Hardly seems fair. Some of us do have full-time jobs/go to school/both.

[sffl.livejournal.com]

I normally give them two days. I decided on stamping after two days, because by then, there's usually a sufficient amount of votes. Just to let you know how I do things, I send new apps through the queue around 5-6 central time and stamp them the same time two days later. I think the times on LJ aren't always correct because not long after I've approved applications, they've already got a couple votes on them. But your point is taken, and now that things have slowed down a bit I think I can manage to them an extra day.

(Some of us want full time jobs, too.. damn job market. [/tangent])

[hxcpunkchick.livejournal.com]

lol...don't really envy me that much. I manage at a movie theater...NOTHING using my degree (Secondary Social Studies Education)...I just get to see movies for free. =)

[sffl.livejournal.com]

I doubt I'll find much using my degree, either. Well, I haven't so far. :( I have a BA in Spanish and I definitely don't want to be a teacher.. you'd think it'd be easier being nearly bilingual and living in an area with a large Hispanic population.

[chenpion.livejournal.com]

Initially, I wondered... "What's the point of asking for their name/age?" For the most part, I've noticed... not that it has affected my voting any, but the people over 24 seem to be sorted into Ravenclaw (there are always exceptions to the rule) and HUGE number of applicants seem to be girls. We're looking at practically 60-70% (I'm making these figures up from the applicants I've seen in the past month or so... and going from memory).

Is the information useful... or even relevant to the application? I don't know. I think it's nice to have, but it doesn't need to be placed in a position of prominence. I feel much the same way about the Favorite Harry Potter Teacher/Character/Least Favorite Character questions. Interesting? Yes. Does it -really- affect how you ultimately decide to place an applicant?

This is why I'd re-position the application thus:

If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
What makes a person respectable?
What is your take on religion?
What do you think about house elves?
What do you look for in a friend?
Would you rather have friends and family or money and success?
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
What do you feel is your best quality?
What are your hobbies?
Do you want to have children?
Have or would you give time and money to a charity?
If your friend was attacked (by a person, animal, or (in the magic world) beast), what would you do?
What is the one thing you would most like to accomplish?
Who is your role model?
What trait most annoys you about other people?
What do you want to do for a living?
Would you ever use an Unforgivable Curse for any reason?
What do you think are your top five abilities or qualities?

Name:
Age:
Who is your favorite Hogwarts teacher?
Who is your favorite character in Harry Potter?
Who is your least favorite character in Harry Potter?
What house do you think DOESN'T fit you? (This question is optional for those who feel they just DO NOT fit in a house. Please explain WHY.)
Where did you find out about us?

I'd also put the more... important, or ones that people would elaborate further on... higher. If I'm busy, I want to see the 'key' questions at the top and not have to scroll through to the bottom for five different applicants, after all.

Right now, I don't think there's a particularly... shall we say, reasonable balance of questions that specifically point someone to a house. I remember in the first book... one of the main reasons Harry Potter was sorted into Gryffindor was because he REALLY didn't want to go into Slytherin. "Make or break" questions, as it were.

If your friend was attacked (by a person, animal, or (in the magic world) beast), what would you do? is a particularly good example. I might say that it needs to be modified to say "If your friend was attacked (by a person, animal or a magical beast), what would you do? Please give examples of situations which would affect your choice, especially if taking action would put you in harm's way." I've seen a lot of answers that say it would depend on the person or situation (in fact, that was part of my own answer). Some people have said that they'd rush in to defend their family and friends... but as someone correctly pointed out, Slytherins would do that as well. There's nothing particularly Gryffindor-ish about that trait, though a lot of people would probably take note of the 'defense!' trait and label Hufflepuff/Gryffindor.

Therefore, I think it's important to have questions that can stand out as "Aha! This is a (house) person" ... an equal spread amongst the houses, and then have the questions mixed up so it's not obvious there's a streak of Gryffindor questions, then Ravenclaw, etc.

That's all I got so far. Hungry.

Robert - Ravenclaw Prefect
(http://www.livejournal.com/community/ravenclaw_house/)

[sffl.livejournal.com]

Wow, you = awesome.

I agree about the order of the questions; I'd put the situational questions first, and the favorite character/least favorite towards the bottom. I think yours is a good idea because by then, we'll usually have a good idea where that person's going to go. I do think the favorite/least favorite does help a little bit, though, because you get an idea of what the applicant likes or dislikes in a person. There are some questions I think need to be scrapped and I especially like jupluna's ideas. When you want to start organizing all this, feel free to email me (addy's in the userinfo) or make a post in the officials comm.

[chenpion.livejournal.com]

Oh yes indeed, I am great =)

Favorite/Least favorite -does- help... but not by much. Typically, the favorites tend to be Lupin, Snape, Black, the twins and Granger. Least favorites have a slightly wider range... but again, it doesn't -really- help that much. It provides little clues (like 'What house -don't- you belong in'?), but nothing hugely significant.

Ideally, I'm thinking that there should be 3 general questions, 3 (that sing out) for each of the houses... bringing it to a total of 15 questions. Not too much, but not too short either, and covering the bases a lot better.

Examples of what I mean is...

Ravenclaw: Who is your favorite author (besides Rowling)?
Gryffindor: What's your favorite sport (to watch or participate in)?
Hufflepuff: You're in a life-threatening situation, and you have to make a choice -- who do you save, your parents, significant other, or child(ren)?
Slytherin: If you found a wallet in the toilet, what would you do with it?

I haven't given a whole lot of thought to it, but these are just simple examples of what I mean.

I was hoping a lot more people would chip in... I think we need to sit down as a group and look through all the relevant threads (besides this one), incorporate the ideas... then present it on the Officials community or this one as a complete package. "This is what we think the application format should be changed to" rather than "We're thinking about changing it, do you have any ideas you want to chip in?"

[sffl.livejournal.com]

Sounds good to me. I was hoping more people would chip in, too, to get suggestions about what people liked/didn't like about the application. Then I'd take the ideas I liked most and go from there. The only other relevant thread that I could dig up, though, is this one (http://www.livejournal.com/community/hogwartsishome/16369.html?thread=241905#t241905).