Proposed achievements

This page explains how to propose new achievements (ribbons).

Proposing a new achievement

Anyone can propose a new achievement.

1. Create a page for it (go to https://geohashing.site/geohashing/{achievement}, replacing {achievement} with your achievement name, and click "Create this page").
2. Enter a description. The more detailed the better. Try to be clear about questions like:
   • Does the achievement require that you get to the hashpoint?
   • What proof is required?
   • Any special rules?
3. Use the Template:Ribbon to show what the ribbon would look like. You don't need to create a special template for the achievement at this stage, you can use the Ribbon template directly in the page.
4. Add the [[Category:Proposed achievements]] category, and no others.
5. Edit the Template:Proposed achievements page to add a link to your new achievement.
6. Tell people about it, perhaps in the Discord, or messaging people you know.

Discussing a proposal

To discuss a proposed achievement, go to the talk page of the proposed achievement. If there isn't one, create it by clicking the "Discussion" tab at the top of the page.

Comment as follows:

• Support the proposal - love it, like it, approve it, feel the sport will be better for its existence
• Do not oppose - think it's a bit dumb, boring, meh, or of no personal interest, but won't hurt anything
• Oppose - there is a specific stated reason why this ribbon should not exist
• Needs work - this might be viable but has problems the way it is

If you can think of a way to improve the proposal, you are also welcome to edit it directly.

Proposals: what not to do

Avoid proposing achievements where:

• The activity proposed is illegal, offensive, intrinsically dangerous, or contrary to the spirit of geohashing. That is, no achievements for theft, vandalism, rudeness, environmental damage or the like.
• The ribbon is a subset of, or has a large overlap with, an existing ribbon, such that everyone who won one would win both.
• The ribbon is for a trivial activity that almost anyone could do at almost any geohash without preparation.
• The ribbon depends on the coordinates falling at some very specific place. Existing exceptions include Golf Geohash, Restricted Area Geohash and Pub Geohash. Golf courses and restricted areas generally cover very large areas

Passing the proposal stage

When the achievement

• has been open for discussion for at least ten days
• has a complete page including a ribbon
• has supporters from different graticules, and
• is no longer opposed by anyone

... then the Proposed achievement category is replaced by New achievement plus the page and template get proper categories and a listing in the appropriate section of the Achievements page. The person who removes it from the Proposed achievements category shouldn't be the same person as the one who proposed it, to ensure real support.

Failing the proposal stage

If an achievement has strong opposition and the reasons for opposition are not resolved through discussion, then the Proposed achievements category is replaced with the Rejected achievements category, the reason explained succinctly on the page, and the page otherwise marked to make sure it isn't confused with an achievements page.

Templates

The template Template:Proposal talk puts a link to the talk page if it is on a main page, or asks for comments below if it is already on a talk page.

This is a proposal made on {{{date}}}. Please leave comments and suggestions on Talk:Proposed achievements, indicating your thoughts on the proposal, including:

• Support - you think this proposal should be added with zero or minor changes
• Do not oppose - you think it's boring/meh/not for you, but it wouldn't harm to have it created
• Oppose - you have a specific reason as to why this ribbon should not exist (state this reasoning in your comment)
• Needs work - you think the achievement should be created after more significant changes have been made

See Proposed achievements for more information on this process.

The template Template:Rejected puts a message box on the page, detailing the reasons for rejection and adding the page to the respective category

This achievement was proposed in the past, but has been rejected, because it was too good to be true. Please read the discussion page for more details.

As per the page proposed achievements: If an achievement has strong opposition and the reasons for opposition are not resolved through discussion, then the proposed achievements category is replaced with the rejected achievements category, the reason explained succinctly on the page, and the page otherwise marked to make sure it isn't confused with an achievements page.

Background: why?

We need this system:

• To preserve good ideas and get them turned into ribbons when their proposers don't know how.
• To ensure that every new achievement is well thought out, clearly described and free of controversy.
• To block the creation of stupid ribbons (the same ideas can still be Gratuitous Ribbons).
• To ensure that newly created ribbons comply with naming conventions and are properly listed and categorized.
• To make it easy for people to find out about new ribbons.
• To save time on "we already talked about that and no one liked it" discussions.

A couple of examples: One achievement that could have used such a process is the Speed racer achievement, which to discourage lawbreaking, specifies that achievers must drive the speed limit, but is now controversial when there is no speed limit (Autobahn, unofficial road) or a very low speed limit. Meanwhile the First Geohasher award (now renamed the Earliest geohasher achievement because of this confusion) was originally intended for the purpose now served by the Graticule Unlocked award, but was poorly defined and ended up meaning something else.