I think the mods are doing an amazing job. Even the slight delay i experienced with a ticket a week or 2 ago, impressed me. There is clearly a lot more to it than I know.
That being said, if they need help, I would be willing to help if asked (with whatever's needed).
I'd say the most important thing mods do to protect the website/community, is reduce/eliminate the "false suspensions". It's such a delicate balance/process. I'm very glad moderator automation is kept to a minimum (afaik).
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I would love to help. i think i can help with tickets and forum moderations, or whatever it's needed! i am online for a while every day. however i cannot be online on saturdays. also, tuesdays and fridays are busy days, so i can only be online a little bit at night (-3:00 timezone, argentina) can also help with a lot of spanish tickets and stuff.
i just wanna help a bit ^^
[edit] i also wanted to add that mods have been doing a very good job , even if they are heavily overworked, they always take their time to be kind people when they reply to you, and that is something i really appreciate <3
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I can help with tickets, forum moderation... I'm online a lot, so...
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I could try to help with the tickets during my work hours as kinda often I am not that busy (monday-friday). I've been around for some time.
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I would like to help with the tickets as well.
I'm available most of the week, except Fridays and Saturdays.
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I want to help. There are a few things I can help with:
- Clearing ticket backlog, at least for some type of tickets.
- Moderating forums.
- [Preference, though unlikely to be accepted] Website maintenance, backend / frontend, etc. Also, I think there're a few features missing from the site, that the users here can use.
I don't know if there's anything else that the community/SG might need help with, but if there's something, let me know and I'll think about it.
My availability:
- I am kind of not exactly working right now, or at least not doing what working normally means, so I should be able to give at least 1 hour daily until my situation changes.
- I am available on daily basis. Weekdays and weekends.
- I visit SG for short breaks regularly even while working. So if there's any kind of work that doesn't need my dedicated attention continuously, I might be able to handle it more often.
- Though it should be obvious, but still just saying so that there are no assumptions, my availability may change or rather will change in the future. Not sure if for the better or worse.
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[Preference, though unlikely to be accepted] Website maintenance, backend / frontend, etc. Also, I think there're a few features missing from the site, that the users here can use.
Only person with access to site code is cg. So this is very unlikely :D
Sometimes people forget how vanilla SG looks as they rely so heavily on user scripts. I use Dark Reader now but before I was complaining about lack of dark theme for example.
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GitHub - darkreader/darkreader: Dark Reader Chrome and Firefox extension
https://github.com/darkreader/darkreader
You pointed out a very popular add-on, but I'm attaching the link for others.
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Dark Reader was the best thing that happened to me at that time, it solved so many problems.
Before I had to install stylus (or other style manager), look for dark scripts made by other users or try to write something on my own. DR made it all go away. I use it like everywhere.
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Yeah, I thought so. Access to code would be a big security risk. Though, I believed there must be at least a handful of people working on SG, not just one. That explains a lot.
I believe they should think about getting help with the code from others too.
Yeah, user scripts are great, not just for SG, but in general. I believe the most popular is ESGST, though I don't like it. In fact, imo, it allows the users to bypass some simple puzzles, enables/encourages joining GAs without reading the description, etc.
+1 for dark reader.
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I'm using ESGST and I like it as it makes SG a better place :)
enables/encourages joining GAs without reading the description
Disagree. While it allow to join from the front page it shows the description and, if needed, you can leave the giveaway right away (for example if there are some conditions for participating stated).
So far, unfortunately, I can see that people who don't want to read descriptions - they won't. Doesn't matter if they use ESGST or not.
allows the users to bypass some simple puzzles
Partly agree. It allows to bypass some hidden links, but that is all. Never using the giveaway extractor to bypass hidden links, but sometimes using the extractor to take a look on whole train if there are many carts in it (first I'm going through train manually, and then can see all the giveaways on one page without the need making dozens of unnecessary clicks - it is a huge time saver in some cases, see second attached image).
And as honorable mention: hiding the games (adding to filter list) with only one click feels great!
Oh, and checking the winners for the multiple wins and un-activated games in just two clicks is also very handy.
And hiding entered giveaways...
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Thanks for the insight Andy. I have never used ESGST myself, only seen screenshots here and there, and heard about it in discussions.
While it allow to join from the front page it shows the description
I didn't know that. The screenshot I have seen didn't show any description. Is showing the description optional?
people who don't want to read descriptions - they won't. Doesn't matter if they use ESGST or not
I guess that's true 😅
However, I feel that if there's indeed an option to enter without seeing the description, and specially if that is the default setting, then yes, it may encourage people to join without reading description. I know I might read the descriptions less often. Sometimes I am in a hurry., and don't really have the time to read description. So, what I usually do is to just open the GA in a new tab and leave it be. This way I don't forget about the GA nor do I skip the description. However, being the lazy ass I am, if I could enter GAs directly from the front page, I would never open the GA, and always enter from the front page, and maybe intentionally or accidently skip the description. This is one of the most important reason why I have been avoiding installing ESGST (among a few others).
using the extractor to take a look on whole train if there are many carts in it
Do you get just the GA page links? Or can you join them too?
In the second image it just says that the links were extracted, but I am not sure how they are presented to you.
I have seen many trains with puzzles/paths/hidden bonus GAs in them. So, doesn't this extraction tool end up extracting these hidden links too?
Not sure if I should share this type of information without permission, but since it has ended I hope it's ok. A good example would the latest train by retracted, because, just in case. It was a fascinating train, filled with a lot of hidden surprises. But according to what I know about ESGST, it is able to extract all those hidden GAs and show them to the user while they are still on the first cart. Isn't that correct?
I don't think that using ESGST is against the rules, not do I plan on making an effort to ban it (besides, I doubt it's possible to ban a userscript effectively). However, my personal opinion is that, despite the a lot of good features that it offers, they are some features that I consider to be, um, I don't know the right word so, cheat-like, anti-SG-spirit-like and potentially--mildly-harmful.
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I didn't know that. The screenshot I have seen didn't show any description. Is showing the description optional?
I'm not sure if you can turn it off (couldn't find option for that). But by default upon pressing "Enter giveaway" button it always shows the description (if there is any).
Do you get just the GA page links? Or can you join them too? In the second image it just says that the links were extracted, but I am not sure how they are presented to you.
You are getting the list of giveaways that looks alike you can see on front page (see image attached). You can enter and leave giveaways directly from the list. Also all the stats a shown as usually for ESGST users.
I have seen many trains with puzzles/paths/hidden bonus GAs in them. So, doesn't this extraction tool end up extracting these hidden links too?
If it is a simple link - yes, ESGST probably would parse it. Also I'm not sure that this extractor is working for discussions (i can see the "extract link" button only while already inside of giveaway).
If we are talking about his "Cakeday" giveaway the ESGST doesn't tip me with "extract giveaways" during in the discussion itself.
If I understand right ESGST will only extract direct links to giveaways, it will pass only codes (like "3deRy" and encoded links.
I don't think that using ESGST is against the rules, not do I plan on making an effort to ban it (besides, I doubt it's possible to ban a userscript effectively). However, my personal opinion is that, despite the a lot of good features that it offers, they are some features that I consider to be, um, I don't know the right word so, cheat-like, anti-SG-spirit-like and potentially--mildly-harmful.
There are other scripts that I don't want to name that can extract even hidden codes (like I used here). So it is not about the tool itself, but about how people are using it.
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I'm not sure if you can turn it off (couldn't find option for that). But by default upon pressing "Enter giveaway" button it always shows the description (if there is any).
Np :) Thanks a lot for looking into it. Maybe you can't turn it off.
I didn't know that the description pops up after clicking the "Enter Giveaway" button. Maybe that's why I never saw descriptions in any of the screenshots I have seen so far.
You are getting the list of giveaways that looks alike you can see on front page (see image attached). You can enter and leave giveaways directly from the list. Also all the stats a shown as usually for ESGST users.
If it is a simple link - yes, ESGST probably would parse it.
Yeah, that means the the kind of hidden links used by some members (like the example I told you about) will get extracted.
Also, now that I think about it, ESGST users might actually not find some of the better hidden GAs if they use the extract feature extensively. Though ofc that would happen a lot less than them actually finding the hidden links.
Also I'm not sure that this extractor is working for discussions
I don't know if it's called "Extract" or not, but I have been told by other ESGST users that ESGST can in fact find all the direct GA links as well as SGTools link in a whole thread, including comments, with a single click of a button. See https://imgur.com/a/JOG6Ips
Maybe that option is just not enabled by default, or is called something else, that's why you can't see it.
There are other scripts that I don't want to name that can extract even hidden codes (like I used here). So it is not about the tool itself, but about how people are using it.
Yes, ofc, cheaters can use much better scripts than ESGST, or just write one if they know how to. That wasn't my point. Obviously cheaters are gonna use something much better than ESGSY, maybe even spider to crawl the whole site for new GAs.
My point was, that since ESGST is for normal users, and most of it's features are very useful, those few "cheat-like, anti-SG-spirit-like and potentially--mildly-harmful" features can makes things bad even for the good, genuine SG users.
Also, thanks a lot for finding out all those things and sharing screenshots. It was really helpful in understanding how ESGST works.
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You are welcome! There are so many tools and options inside of ESGST that it probably impossible to be aware of all of them :) Like just now I wanted to know what games people in my Whitelist have in their Whislists... And after googling for some sort of solution it turned out that ESGST can already do it and I wasn't even aware about it :)
Out of curiosity tried to count all options that can be activated in ESGST - there are more then 300 tumblers in the settings! Probably some of them can be exploited for the bad indeed...
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Lol... That's actually a nice feature, specially who want to something for their WL. Really nice thought you have there.
Well, 300 is just too much. I'll go crazy if I ever decide to install it. I have to go through each setting whenever I try a new tool or something. Also, with this many setting option, ESGST is sure to change the site way more than I had anticipated. I can take only so much change at a time (I don't like changes once I get comfortable with something).
Probably some of them can be exploited for the bad indeed...
Not probably, surely.
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Naturally I wouldn't expect myself to be even among candidates for "promotion" since I'm not a well known user, but I certainly would be willing to help if the opportunity came up for real. I'm checking SG several times a day anyway, so clearing some tickets would go nicely with that. However I personally would not be interested in being a forum moderator, I've done it before on another site and I'm just not cut out for that.
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I'm more than happy to do some light moderation if needed OR help in anyway possible.
Resume : Owned and moderated a Discord server for 3 years.
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I want to help. Those are things that i could help with:
tickets
Moderating forums
My availability:
almost every day for at least 1 hour(visiting steamgifts everyday, avabile even on weekends)
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I wouldn't mind helping with the tickets. I have some free time throughout the day, except weekends.
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I don't have a lot of time, but I could help with the reroll tickets as that's kind of my specialty and I feel I should give back the support time I took by accidentally entering GAs for games I already have :s
I'm generally here a bit every day, as well. Well ironically, except in the upcoming ~5days where I'll be mostly off.
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I've won so many games here that I would gladly help reducing that ticket backlog. I'm online mostly Monday through Friday.
PS: I also speak Spanish natively, so I could take those tickets too (but I'm not really sure if tickets in a different language are a thing.)
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I've been around for a fairly long time although I'm not active as much on the forums - I'm more of a lurker and probably not very well known. On top of that, in all honesty I'm not jumping at being support staff as I'm sure others are more eager than myself but with that being said if there is a shortage and people are desperately needed I'm always willing to help. I'm working from home and at my PC so I'd be able to pop in and do things here and there. I do appreciate all the support staff now and future ones for the work they do though <3
Edit: Just because reading it comes off a bit different than in my head. In other words I'm always willing to lend a helping hand if there is a need but if there are enough willing to provide help and meeting the criteria then by all means don't mind me. Thanks again!
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A week?) How about "User Report - 4 months ago by Dka1 Pending 0",
They just seem to be reading, because they figured out that comment, and I even have 1 ticket where an answer appeared (about the removal of the distribution, but this is 7 months ago), but otherwise, if they really read, then maybe there will at least be some marks, not pure ignore.
As a moderator, I could not help because of the language barrier (the translator can not always convey everything correctly) and limited functionality (hello sgtool) (I also use the vanilla version of the site, lol); but as a proposal - to ban topics where it is impossible to be objective due to the limited outlook of the average user (politics, religion, etc.) as in many adequate forums - especially in our time, it seems to me that this is a huge influx of violators.
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Hello, I would be happy to help.
Online daily but with a busy life, so I won't be able to do support on a daily basis. Still, I guess I can help from time to time.
No preference, I can help with anything needed.
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Perhaps one of the staff could answer I question I have.
Do staff have a utility of some kind that is used for tracking multi accounts?
Even an IP search utility?
I use to be senior staff on an emulation website and loved using those utilities to track down multi accounts.
I'm not really looking to join staff ... ever since the website shutdown I have had so much free time to get back into gaming and enjoying it but just interested if staff are able to track this or not. And if not ... hint hint.
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I assume they will now answer such questions because obvious reasons.
Not only the good people read the answers.
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I'm want to help with tickets.
I know English and Russian language. Daily online
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No more people willing to help? That's a pity.
Good idea Amano, cheers mate!
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Hi Lancet.
To be honest, I am more than happy that - at the moment - 30 people posted and said they want to help support. 30 people! That's a lot of woman- and manpower to tackle the ticket backlog.
Yes, the pool of people willing to help seems to have dried up, it seems. So now the ball is in the hands of the current support team, I guess. I will still add people to the list if they write something, of course.
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I would say, a part that waited around 2 years gave up (and aren't so involved on sg anymore). And i fully understand this ones.
But 30 candidates should be enough to pick, at least, 2 or 3.
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Let's hope for the best. I think that ticket backlog is the main problem now and I assume that a lion share of those are pretty straightforward cases. Keep up the good work, mate!
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I can help with ticket complains, at least with deletion requests.
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Since there has been no update here for some time I wanted to ask what the status is. As far as I can see, no one from the list is a support member by now except PeteOzzy (who already was a support member?). Has support decided that no further help is needed or is the process just very slow?
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Is there a minimum amount of time asked from volunteers? I am on approximately every other day and about 5 hours/week total. I have no preference as to how to help.
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Available, but with no preference, as i have a random schedule that's mainly up to me, so i can fill in where there's gaps.
Managed the backend of a website for a fair size company years ago, and doing so somewhat now for someone's small business, so I have a fair amount of experience with these things.
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This here is in no way or form an official thread by Steamgifts, it's owner and administrator CG or any of the Staff. If any of those mentioned deems this thread problematic, confusing and wants to close this thread, please do so as soon as possible and please accept my humble apology in advance.
This thread is just an attempt by me to get things happening.
Reaction by MSKOTOR
As most or even all of you are aware, the ticket backlog has reached unacceptable response times. Reroll tickets, for example, in many cases take longer than the seven days a giveaway has to be handled.
In the last years, many threads popped up addressing this problem (most recent one) but the only thing that changed was that tickets nowadays take even longer than before.
I didn't talk to any staff member about this but I can imagine that they are also frustrated about the complaints because they do what they can but still the situation gets worse.
So, instead of CG looking for users to be added to support or users having to use a ticket in the "other" category to tell staff they are willing to help, I decided to take a more pro-active approach: this thread.
Straight to the point:
If you are willing to help the current support members out, please comment in this thread and say what you want to do/how you want to help and how much time you can dedicate to it. It's also helpful to say on what days you can fulfill your role (some guys can only be at SG on the weekends, some only during the week).
In my eyes, we need many new staff members for the following roles:* Senior Moderator = Staff members with that role, Permissions for that roleMSKOTOR made it clear that new support members always start as a Junior Moderator.
I will edit this opening posting with the names who want to help the current support members in an alphabetical list. CG and/or one of the Ultra Moderators can then use the list to chose who they want to talk to about helping out.
I hope this thread helps, that it works and that many users are willing to help support and help reduce the amount of tickets.
List of members willing to help out:
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