Suggestions for being on the NOBLE Web Ring.
(subject to change WITH notice)
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Curator: Larry "Wingnut" Wendlandt
Estab: 15 Jun 99
Update: 24 Mar 00
Status: active
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NOBLE Web Ring sites will...
1. Sling no ad banners without permission from browsee. NOBLE sites ARE allowed to have a main navigation link to an ad banner page (our sponsers/friends/co-nobles/competitors). Placing the primary direct-competitor's ad banner on the top of the ad banners area, is deemed to be EXTREMELY noble... a good way to advance the quest for becoming a Class A NOBLE site. Click-thru icons, which involve small ads or company logos, should be used sparingly or avoided as well. The most noble way to make a link to a company, is with text. This text should explain exactly where the link goes, and can include info about the linked site. The motivations behind using "brands and logos" for links, is utmost important.
2. Illuminate disqualities of company service or product.
a. Class A sites will use PUSH techniques such as ad banners and
auxiliary window ads to near-force the user to click-thru to
read the huge list of 'bad things' said and seen in the
company's product or service. Ok, that might be a bit extreme,
but you get the drift.
b. Class B sites will have a 'bad stuff about us' or similar-meaning
link on the main navigation area in like or larger fonts and colors,
linking to the huge list of 'bad things' said and seen in the
company's product or service.
c. Class C sites will have a 'bad stuff about us' or similar-meaning
link on the main page... linking to the huge list of 'bad things'
said and seen in the company's product or service.
NOTE: Allowing a link from a "bad things about us" area, into the
replies/repairs/improvements section is left to the site's discretion.
"WHAT WE DID ABOUT THIS" buttons will never be viewed as disnoble.
NOTE: An AA, BB, and CC site rating can exist! Sites who choose to have personal webpages of employees available, and each of those is deemed frank, true, and willing to illuminate or feature bad charactreristics... are eligible for double-letter ratings. The double letter signifies that both the company itself is noble (first letter) and that its participating humans are also noble. (the second letter)
3. Always openly display a willingness to help direct-competitors to stay in business along side this company. Any altruist-like action seen on any website... will be deemed NOBLE, and thusly, be correct... and BS-free. These are the traits of a NOBLE-Ring site.
4. Always strive for quality over money. NOBLE sites make quality products, and never take advantage of people or their money.
5. Listen carefully when something goes wrong with their product or service, and work to fix it, and convey concernful replies. Nobles want to make the best product, or provide the best service, and work to make improvements in its weaknesses. The more open-admittingness of those weaknesses, the more NOBLE.
6. Never agree to place an ad banner for themselves, on a non-NOBLE site. NOBLE sites promote nobility, and noble sites will want to work with other noble sites, just by being part of the NOBLE ring.
7. Never, or high avoidance of... spinning. Spinning is the act of 'telling a story' (spinning a yarn) and is often embellished, diminished, or contains half-truths, deceiving statements, and general bullshit. Noble sites tell the stories in frank, open, truthful, and often self-incriminating ways. Noble sites tell it like it is, without sensationalism, and take responsibility for their actions. Of course, sites who spin yarns for entertainment purposes, are free to do so within the reins of nobility.
8. Always make a link available for browsees to view company policies. This is a gray area, as company policies are sometimes deemed to be "trade secrets". Possibly, the two most important policy areas to be noble with, are policies on the use of data collected from browsees, and policies involving treatment of employees. Another might be pricing, and detailed substantiation of the cost of producing the product or service. Another policy that could be exposed, is community involvement. Later on, as companies are forced to lose their anonymity, they might want to take stances on social issues as well.
9. Help other NOBLE sites maintain nobility, by participating in discussions about noble and non-noble actions. Noble sites will help each other find non-nobility in their sites, and will be friendly and open-minded in determining actions involving NOBLE Ring sites, including Noble Ring participation requirements adherence.
NOTE: Speaking of "Noble Ring participation requirements adherence"... currently, no policy on what "adherence" is, or who is the judge of such... exists. This curator (and establisher of the Noble Ring) is leaning towards democracy, and will probably want to engage a voting system for Noble Ring members... based around a discussion group area. Suggestions and ideas, as always, are most welcome.
Mail Wingnut (about the Noble Ring)
Current Noble Ring Member Sites...
WingyWorld (unrated)
Breaker's Universe (unrated)