So, I'm sure this has been asked before, but I hadn't seen it lately, and maybe I need to bring this up in the Committee Meeting, but is there a way that we could possibly restrict people from being "voted" into advanced unless they go through the mentor program? Or at least make it so they have to have at least a 5 to be considered for the advanced reviewer?

I know when I signed up I had NO clue as to what I was doing, and if I was told in order to become an advanced reviewer you must go through the mentor program first or have at least a 5 rating, I totally would have LOVED it! I did horrible on my first reviews and didn't know I could go back in and edit them until it was too late. Finally I found the mentor program and learned more about what to do, and how to get around in here. I just think it would help the new reviewers coming in and increase the community.

Or heck, possibly an email when they sign up saying something about how the mentor program could help you learn the community and how to write great reviews and such.

And just one more thing, if they join the mentor program, maybe could there be a restriction on being voted to an advanced reviewer while in class?? Just some ideas I was thinking about and I am SOOOO SORRY if this has been mentioned already! less

This has been mentioned in many a post. I think as fellow contributors the best thing that we can do is let the new reviewers know about the mentor program, but I can't see it becoming mandatory. First off, some don't need it and some also might not feel comfortable submitting their reviews to a mentor. I think it's best to just look at it this way. Every contributor, advanced or not advanced starts off at a lower ranking. This gets higher by writing good reviews. It might take a few maybe only so-so reviews before it really sinks in, or they get the hang of it, but most likely it'll happen. Even if they're advanced, a lower ranking offers a lower priced monthly toy. If the reviewer wants to work their way up to a higher ranking they need to write good reviews. If this doesn't come naturally to them they can reach out for help in the mentor program. I'm pretty sure just about every newbie has had a comment on their review about the Mentor Program, especially in the last few months since there's been more mentors available. Sometimes I think people join the program to get a free toy and then afterwards they just kind of get bored and fizzle out, and then there are those that stick around. The ones that stick around generally I think tend to either get better on their own or eventually join the mentor program.

Obviously I'm not staff so I can't say if/when anything would be changed regarding the procedures...but that's just my opinion on it all. less