Member groups Printable Version

Here is a quick summary of functions available for each group:

Permissions & Functions	Newbie	Silver	Titanium	Palladium	Gold/Iridium	Platinum	Donating Status
Access Sources Forum					X*	X
Become a member of the Inner Circle						X
Post in most Chemistry Forums	**	**	**	**	**	**	X
Post in Herbal Ecstasy Forum		X	X	X	X	X	X
Access the Improving Drugs-Forum Subforum		X	X	X	X	X	X
Edit own posts		X	X	X	X	X	X
Upload attachments*****		X	X	X	X	X	X
Add polls to posts			X	X	X	X	X
Post links		X	X	X	X	X	X
Give reputation ratings****		X	X	X	X	X	X
Post visitor messages on other members' profiles		X	X	X	X	X	X
Add a signature to posts		X	X	X	X	X	X
Post a blog				X	X	X	X
Post a blog comment		X	X	X	X	X	X
Create a new social group				X	X	X	X
Post to a social group		X	X	X	X	X	X
Access chat***						X	X
Contribute to Drugs-Wiki		X	X	X	X	X	X
Store the following amounts of direct messages	10	20	20	30	30	30	500

*These features are for gold members only (iridium members do NOT have have sources forum access).
**All registered members can access the chemistry basics and extraction fora. To gain access to the rest of the drug chemistry fora, members must submit an access application as described here.
***Titanium members and up will have the opportunity to participate in pre-announced chat meetings.
****You must have at least 40 posts to give reputation.
*****Newbies can upload attachments up to 120KB.

Any of the following privileges and restrictions may be changed at any time without prior notification.

Mercury membership

Being demoted to mercury membership indicates serious problems with previous posts and is the last step before getting banned. Members who receive many negative reputation ratings will be automatically downgraded to mercury; this will occur at -50 reputation points. If mercury members do not improve their post quality/etiquette, they will eventually be banned. Mercury members have the following restrictions:

• They can only post in the "Various drug related topics" forums ("the euphoric body," "bug tracker," and "site use") and in the main areas of the non-English forums.
• They can post in their own threads anywhere.
• They cannot view or post in the chemistry/cultivation or social forums.
• They also have other restrictions on their account, like the inability to upload files to the studies archive or to posts.
• Posting in other parts of the site (besides the forums) is restricted.
• Mercury members receive storage space for up to ten direct messages.

So, what should you do when you have landed in mercury membership?
You must achieve a reputation count of +10 to get promoted to silver status. Mercury members will automatically be upgraded again if their post quality increases and positive reputation is received.

Here are the steps to follow to reverse mercury status:

1. First, carefully review the reputation you have received. You can view it on your profile. (under the "Received Ratings" tab). Read it several times and check your posts to see where you went wrong. Make sure that you understand what you did wrong so that you will not repeat your mistakes when you make new posts.
2. Read the rules a few times to make ensure that you understand them thoroughly. Feel free to ask for advice or help if you do not understand the rules or the rationale for the substantial negative ratings you have accumulated. If you have received warnings, then make sure you understand what went wrong.
3. Read the FAQ articles so that you understand how the site works, what you are allowed to post, and where.
4. To prevent more negative reputation from being left on your posts, the relevant posts should be reviewed and edited. You can also request that posts be deleted by reporting them with an explanation of why the post should be edited/deleted.
5. Make sure that all your new posts are well-written, respectful, and helpful and that they add something of value and are devoid of any rule breaches or harmful advice. Review each post carefully before you hit the "post reply" button.
6. Well-researched posts generally attract a lot of positive reputation.
7. Review the "forum tasks" section to see if you can earn reputation points for completing tasks.
8. Find unanswered questions and post elaborate, well-researched replies. Use Google to research the subject if necessary.

Newbie membership

Everyone starts out as a "Newbie" immediately after registration. Newbies have several restrictions, which are lifted when they are upgraded to "Silver" membership or donate to Drugs-Forum. Newbies cannot edit their posts, give reputation ratings, post in the "Drug-related chemistry and extraction" forum, or view the "Improving Drugs-Forum" area (or any other restricted forums). Newbies receive storage space for up to ten direct messages and can only send one DM per hour. Newbies cannot post blogs either.

Most of these restrictions can be removed by donating or becoming a "Silver" member. Donating newbies can enjoy the same features as "Palladium" members and more.

Silver membership

"Silver" is the standard level of membership on Drugs-Forum. Newbies get upgraded to "Silver" automatically when they exceed ten reputation points. This is usually achieved through one or two informative posts. Silver members receive storage space for up to 20 direct messages.

"Silver" members can edit their posts, give reputation ratings, attach files to posts, and view and post in all the main drug forums and the "Improving Drugs Forum" area. "Silver" members cannot access any of the restricted forums besides the "Improving Drugs Forum" area. "Silver" members also have the ability to make moderated edits to the Drugs-Wiki.

Silver members cannot post blogs. They also need to make at least 50 posts to receive the ability to post links.

Titanium membership

"Titanium" is the next level after "Silver." This upgrade happens during set promotion cycles (which typically happen at least twice a year). "Titanium" members can use the chat room during chat meetings, which will be announced. "Titanium" members can also post polls. "Titanium" members are also eligible to join the forum crews and help with the maintenance and development of the forums that interest them. "Titanium" members receive storage space for up to 20 direct messages.

To qualify for an upgrade to "Titanium" membership, members must meet following requirements:

• Have a membership duration of at least 60 days
• Have posted within the last 60 days
• Have at least 60 posts
• Have at least 100 reputation points & a high number of trophy points
  
• Have a good post-to-reputation ratio; your reputation count should be higher than your post count
• Have gathered many trophies (please see here)
  
• Have no recent negative reputation ratings
• Have no recent warnings or active warning points
• Have had fewer than five reports filed against them recently
  
• Have an account and profile that are in order
  
• Have uploaded an avatar
• Have posted your t least one product/company listing in the "reviews" section
• Donating is beneficial but not required for promotions.
• Doing forum tasks helps.

Many Titanium members would easily reach the "Palladium" level if they rated posts.

Palladium membership

"Palladium" members receive storage space for up to 30 direct messages.
"Palladium" members can post blogs.
"Palladium" members can create new groups.

To qualify for an upgrade to "Palladium" membership, members must meet following requirements:

• Have a membership duration of at least 60 days
• Have posted in the last 60 days
  
• Have a large number of reputation and trophy points
• Have gathered many trophies (please see here)
  
• Have been actively using the reputation system (giving out at least 50 ratings with both positive and negative points; members should have given ratings recently)
• Have no recent negative reputation ratings
• Have made many high-quality posts
• Have a reputation-to-post ratio of at least 1:1
• Have filed recent reports
• Have added at least 50 tags
• Have no recent warnings or active warning points
• Have fewer than five reports filed against them recently
• Have an account and profile that are in order
• Have uploaded an avatar
• Have posted product/company listings in the "reviews" section
• Donating is beneficial but not required for promotions.
• Forum crew work is beneficial but not required for promotions.

Gold membership

"Gold" members have all permissions of "Palladium" members and more: "Gold" members have access to the "Gold members'" and "Sources" forums as well as the "Gold" member file archive. "Gold" members receive storage space for up to 30 direct messages.

To qualify for an upgrade to "Gold" membership, members must meet following requirements:

• Have a membership duration of at least 60 days
• Have posted in the last 60 days
  
• Have a large number of reputation and trophy points
• Have gathered many trophies (please see here)
  
• Have been actively using the reputation system (giving out at least 50 ratings with both positive and negative points; members should have given ratings recently)
• Have no recent negative reputation ratings
• Have made at least 150 high-quality posts
• Have a reputation-to-post ratio of at least 1:1
• Have filed recent reports
• Have added products/companies to the "Reviews" section
  
• Have added at least 50 tags
  
• Have no recent warnings or active warning points
• Have had fewer than five reports filed against them recently
  
• Have an account and profile that are in order
  
• Have uploaded an avatar
• Donating is beneficial but not required for promotions.
• Forum crew work is beneficial but not required for promotions.

"Gold" membership promotions require a manual review by the staff. While donating does not affect one's likelihood of being granted gold membership, the staff prioritize the accounts of donating members; thus, they will be reviewed faster, and, if they meet the requirements, be upgraded to "Gold" status faster.

Before you reach "Gold" membership, you will reach the "Palladium" level. The qualifications for the two levels almost the same. The only difference is the requirement regrading having made at least 150 quality posts for "Gold" membership. Once "Titanium" members meet the criteria for the "Palladium" level, they will be upgraded during the next promotion cycle (which typically happens at least twice a year). We will review the posts of "Palladium" members to see if they meet the requirements of "Gold" membership.

Iridium membership

Iridium members are members who met the requirements for Gold membership but do not wish to contribute to the Sources forum. Iridium members have all privileges of Gold members except access to the Sources forum. Iridium members have access to the Gold members forum and have 30 direct messages storage.

Gold members who do not contribute to the Sources forum will be moved to Iridium membership. Iridium members can apply for gold membership by contacting an administrator.

Platinum membership

Platinum membership is the highest level of non-staff membership. Platinum members have access to 'The Inner Circle'. The opinions of Platinum members are highly valued by the staff. Platinum members have moderator functions in the chat. Platinum members have access to the Platinum member forum and have 300 direct messages storage. They also have several other functions like moderating their own blog and moving their own threads.

Platinum membership is invitation only. However, there are certain requirements, that puts a member on the review list:

• Membership duration of at least 2 years
• Has over 750 posts
• Is actively posting in the last 2 months
• Has more reputation points than posts.
• Making use of the reputation system (giving out positive and negative points)
• Tags threads
• No recent warnings or infractions
• Reports posts
• Contributes to the Sources forum (unless the member is recovery oriented)
• The member sets an example for others by carefully observing forum rules and protocol / conventions, and also helps other members follow this example by reminding them when they are slipping up or helping teach newer members the ropes
• The member demonstrates they can maintain the calm, composed and respectable demeanor that one would expect "someone in highest level of non-staff membership" whose opinion is "highly valued by the staff" to have.

If these criteria are met, then the member will be on the applicants list. The member is then reviewed for Platinum membership by the staff.

Donating members

For an overview of all functionality see here: Donator Functions.

Validated Professionals

Validated professionals are members who have submitted evidence supporting their capacity to speak authoritatively on certain subjects. They are identified with a banner in their name so that readers can more easily identify their posts which may be more informed than lay-members posts. Members wishing to become validated professionals should open a helpdesk ticket and attach proof of their qualifications to it.

Validated Healthcare Professionals

Validated healthcare professionals are members who have submitted evidence of their medical or relevant science qualification/s to the site for verification. It should not however be assumed that they are currently practicing healthcare workers (they may be retired or employed in other fields for example), or that they specialize in a particular field of healthcare relevant to every post they respond to. The advice given by these members should not be considered a substitute for prompt in-person healthcare treatment.

Validated Published Author

Validated published authors are members who have provided evidence that they published literature relevant to the site subjects.

Validated Law Professional

Validated law professionals are members who have submitted evidence of their law qualifications to the site for verification. It should not be assumed that they are currently practicing law, or that they specialize in a particular field of law relevant to every post they respond to. The advice given by these members should not be considered a substitute for prompt in-person legal advice.

The staff

For a complete overview of our current staff, see: View Staff members.

Co-Moderators

Co-moderators moderate one or more forums. Often together with a moderator. Although Co-Moderators do not have all the functions of moderators, it is a very important and responsible position with the functionality to handle situations that need to be taken care of.

A Co-Moderator has the following tasks:

• To keep the section(s) free from breaches of the rules.
• To keep the board organized and free of misinformation and contentless posts.
• To answer unanswered topics and add information where needed.
• To stimulate and steer discussion.
• To expand and optimize the section(s) in every way.

Moderators

More commonly referred to as 'mods', moderators are usually responsible for one or more sections of the site. This mostly includes forums and/or subforums of Drugs Forum, the corresponding categories of the file archive, image gallery and Drugs-Wiki.

They moderate their area(s) by watching out for rules breaches, steering and stimulating discussions, and settling conflicts.
Moderators also have to keep their area organized by merging threads on the same topic, closing threads, moving threads and posts, etc. Moderators have viewing access to all parts of Drugs Forum, but their forum, wiki, file archive and image gallery maintenance functions are restricted to the areas which they are responsible for.

To be considered for moderator, following things count: attitude (responsibility, helpfulness, respect, etc), knowledge (expertise is very welcome but not required) and frequency of forum visits. Experience as a moderator does help but is not a requirement. Moderators are welcomed on invitation only.

Applying to become a moderator will often result in a negative answer. Most moderators are invited by the administration. If you feel you have the necessary skills and knowledge and want to assist with a forum or section, then you can contact the administration and or the moderator of the section. Chances are that the moderator of the section will have duties on his/her list that you can help out with. Watching out for rule breaches and notifying staff through the report button helps a lot.

Super Moderators

Super moderators are moderators with a broad knowledge and sufficient amounts of time to spend on Drugs Forum. Their privileges are basically the same as those of moderators, but not restricted to certain sub-forums of Drugs Forum.

Administrators

Administrators have unlimited access to all features and areas of Drugs Forum, including some administrative functions for which moderators are not responsible for.[/H]