Helper and Consultant gatekeeping

[LunaUrsa]

Right now: If you want to be a helper/consultant you just need to react to the emoji and you're given the role. In the future: Same general layout, except now a button that displays a modal with questions:

1) Why do you want to help out? 2) What skills/qualities can you bring to the team?

On submit this will thank the user for their interest and say that this has been submitted to the team for review. This will submit a new thread to the #applications channel:

"Soandso wants to be a Helper/Consultant! 1) Why do you want to help out?

Their answer 2) What skills/qualities can you bring to the team? Their answer" (Approve button) (Deny button)"

These buttons send a response in the thread that the user's application has been approved/denied. If Approved then it gives the role. If Denied then no message is sent back to the user.

[spr1t3-0]

I think we could let the user know that they were denied, lol.

[LunaUrsa]

Sure, i can see that, but how?

Sending an automated message "you have been rejected" is lame

Even sending a personalized "you've been rejected because "reason"" is also lame

The best way would be to personally tell the user why they were rejected, and that takes time/effort, esp when the user may not have been fully serious about applying in the first place

So I'm not sure what the best solution is

[ajar]

I have two main thoughts about this:

We need to establish reasons why we would deny someone up front. This should be a finite list and not too difficult to come up with. Some suggestions for valid reasons IMO:

Rejection Template

Thank you so much for your interest in helping out here at TripSit. We review all applications with rigor and deep consideration, and the same was true for yours.

At this time, the team has decided not to move forward, though your application has been saved and will be pulled as needed in the future unless rescinded. As we feel you have a right to know, this is why your application was not approved.

Options

Discord Account Too New

Your Discord account is too new and you have no verified prior history in IRC. Let's get to know each other for a while, eh? To be transparent, the minimum account age for our helpers is 3 months (subject to change) for consideration. We will review again in the future.

Recent History of Misinformation

On your file, we have noted a few instances of misinformation. Weighing the pros with the cons, we think it would be better to hold off on this pending a better view of how you interact with the primary community. Please ensure that, moving forward, any claims that you present as fact are able to be substantiated with a reputable source of information.

Discrepancies in Application

Your application contained some discrepancies with regards to your prior volunteer history, age, exaggerations, or fabrications of involvement in activities mentioned in your application.

Recent History of Enabling Poor Choices

We have found in your personal user history at least two instances where you have directly advocated harmful practices. This is easy to do when you get carried away, and we understand that drug use is fun and not always to be taken seriously, but we have reservations for this reason. This can always change, though, over time!

History of Demerits on Account

In reviewing your file, we found that you have been reprimanded or penalized on the network too many times to consider you for a role that exposes vulnerable users to, at times, no one else but you. Please continue to interact in our network and let us know in a few months if you would like to be reconsidered.

Blank or Unhelpful Application

We do not approve requests to gain this role with a blank or otherwise unhelpful applications. Please consider resubmitting an application in a month or so, and please tell us why you would like to join the team of helpers in a manner that is comprehensive and convincing. At this time, we do not have enough to go on.

Too Young

We would like for all of our volunteers to be at least 21 years of age in order to participate in this community. Please return when you are of age and submit your application once more. Thank you!

Failed Identity Check

Hey there! Unfortunately, you did not pass the Stripe identity check. Note that we never get access to your private data when these checks are performed, but the system rarely is wrong and it detected that something was not right about your credentials. Please try again with new documentation that will pass all of the checks required.

Currently Overstaffed for Area of Interest

We currently have too many helpers during the hours that you would be available. This leads to a flood of messages during peak hours for any person who just wants a relaxed conversation. We will keep your application and review again in the near future.

Low Exposure to Drugs or Drug Use

You appear not to be so well exposed to drugs and that is very good to hear. Given that this is a peer support community, peers are expected to at least be familiar with the substances in question. To be clear, you should absolutely not go out and take drugs just so you can relate better to our helpers. We are putting this one away for now. We appreciate your willingness to help, but we feel it is not a good fit. First-hand exposure to drug use as a counselor ro a psychiatrist is excusable. We do not require you to take drugs in order to help; we just need you to be familiar with the realities of them.

Miscellaneous / Potentially Bad Fit

We feel, after careful contemplation, that this would be a poor culture fit. Please do not take this personally as we are relatively selective. You may apply again in the near future once we become better acquainted.

Options such as these would be done in a multi-select dropdown box and the full list of reasons would be included.

[ajar]

My second thought is that this ought either to work on a simple-majority vote with 72-hour timeout, or else be exposed only to Moonbear / reality / etc. If just any person on the team can go on and deny someone because they heard a rumor, that is very unhealthy and does not reflect the values of the org.

[ajar]

My third thought on this is that identity verification should be required. I am happy to fund the Stripe facilities to do this and make you an owner of that account. I sincerely do not think that it should be possible to fall on the receiving end of a possible crisis interaction without having first verified who you are and given a way to locate you as needed. They did a full background check at the Crisis Text Line and I understand why.

[spr1t3-0]