The Van Halen Clause
by Elizabeth Wachowski 
Jan 5th 2007 at 1:45PM
Applications for high-end raiding guilds are kind of like job applications. You have to list your experience, your availability, and why you'd be a better player than every other mage/priest/warrior applying. On the other hand, as an officer or leader of a successful guild, you have tens or hundreds of qualified people applying. How do you decide who gets in and who gets shut out?
Lucas, guild master of Gods on the Arthas server, has come up with an interesting way to weed out lazy applicants: the Van Halen clause. Lucas explains a Van Halen clause as such: "placing a frivolous and easily accomplished requirement in a contract to make sure that the other person actually read it." Apparently, Van Halen used to demand a bowl of non-brown M&Ms at every venue they played at to make sure the promoter actually read their contract. All Gods applicants must read the guild rules page, and if they don't find the Van Halen clause and do what it says, they're unlikely to get in. Can you find it?
So is Lucas's policy a good way to keep uncommitted people out of the guild, or is it just a frivolous test of someone's skimming ability?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Wartoad Jan 5th 2007 1:57PM
Yar!
I love Lamp!
I see it's point and use, but doesn't do anything for weeding out jerks.
jestergoblin Jan 5th 2007 2:08PM
Aren't jerks normally illiterate?
I love lamp
(No punctuation! Didn't you read it?)
It was very well hidden from a skimming stand point other than the quotes give it away.
Dahlaine Jan 5th 2007 2:07PM
I find the best way is to require that a specific format be followed in filling out the application with the understanding that if it is not followed, the application will be immediatly scrapped. You simply would not believe the number of people who cannot follow this standard. Including one or two "One Paragraph" answers helps as well because you get to learn whether than person can create legitimate human thought and place it down in writing. Once again, you'd be surprised at the vast people who fail miserably at this.
Pruflas Jan 5th 2007 3:50PM
what happens if you don't love lamp
CiM Jan 5th 2007 2:51PM
It's a good idea. But after reading two or three paragraphs of their "Policy", I wouldn't *want* to join! Also, I'm sure they could make the font/colours/page a little harder to read - but it'd be tough...
jreffy Jan 5th 2007 3:02PM
I help weed out the applicants to my PvP guild. Considering we are the only PvP guild on Horde side, and therefore the most successful PvP groups, we get a lot of applicants to our guild.
Without trying we've found a very effective way of weeding out applicants. A sticky post in our recruitment forums lists questions all applicants need to answer. Furthermore it states that once they have posted an application they are entitled to spots in our PvP raid group. They simply have to /w one of the members of the guild, ask who is leading the raid, and ask for an invite. Naturally applicants recieve priorty over everyone but current members.
To me it is shocking that people who are supposedly serious about PvP would post an applications, and then never once ask a member for a spot in the PvP raid. They simply post an application and then expect us to go to them. In my mind, if they want to be a member, they have to be pro-active in showing us what they can contribute.
I would say that 1 out of every 8 applicants actually seeks out a spot in our PvP raids, the rest post an application, and then we never hear from them.
Karnifex Jan 5th 2007 3:58PM
instant smiting. Very gruesome process for nearby kiddies.
multikast Jan 5th 2007 4:08PM
You should also be able to point out that he spelled "Forty" wrong. that should get you into the guild right away.
Kazzaam Jan 5th 2007 5:27PM
My only problem with this idea is that the game is played by all kinds of people and it should be open to all types. An applicant should not be required to be an English major or a lawyer in order to join a raid guild. They should be judged by their playing skill and their ability to get along with the others. Why should essay writing be a prerequisite for anything but college? Furthermore, this process discriminates against anyone for whom English is a second language.
I prefer #5's method of weeding applicants. Make them demonstrate that they really want to join and then give them a chance.
Or, make them contribute 1000g to the bank. :P
Hide-Eitrigg Jan 5th 2007 5:55PM
Fascist.
Perfect for uberguilds.
++
Kelderek Jan 5th 2007 7:52PM
Multikast is exactly right. If you're going to demand that applicants read your "terms" closely, you should do the same first.
I'm just sayin...