Blot: You talk a lot about priorities for things getting done. What is on the TO DO short list?

Four Degreez: The short list includes making improvements to the sign-up process, including adding testimonials, so that 4K is more inviting. It also includes altering the post rating system to include a personal preference rating, and using that to create a post recommendation feature.

Blot: Will you ever make a government on 4K?

Four Degreez: The government idea is still a possibility. I'm not sure it makes sense unless we get a larger group of members here.

Blot: There are lots of criticism over the lack of icons in the stores, what do you say in defense to the criticism and do you have any plans in appeasement?

Four Degreez: I'm not sure what the best solution for icons is, given all the older ones started out in such short supply and most are unattainable. One idea would be to create more instances of these older icons, so if only four exist currently, double it to eight. This would probably be controversial. In the meantime I simply have to remember to add more icons to the stores, and also add profile backgrounds.

Blot: What is the deal with the advancement of status and those "paths" you had in mind when creating this version? What are the obstacles or issues with creating this idea you had?

Four Degreez: The advanced status idea stalled because the higher status levels were supposed to gain certain new priveledges on the site. This entails a lot of work, not to create the new status levels, but to create those new priveledges. As a result, it has been put off. I guess I could create these status levels without the priveledges being in place.

Blot: What, if anything, do you feel has been a failure to the hopes you had for this site? Actually, if you can express what you envisioned for this site before it started...how has it evolved compared to that vision?

Four Degreez: The vision was, generally speaking, to build a better version of 4degreez.com. A version that would solve the problems of the old site. One problem was the presence of trolls and immature members, so we have the immigration process to handle that. One problem was controversy over status, so the status system here is automated, and the higher levels were supposed to be so diverse that you couldn't easily compare whether one person was higher status than another. The government idea was meant to allow members the chance to be active in making decisions for the site. Some of the other things were just for fun, like icons and blackjack.

Blot: Do you have thoughts to just let this place go and not really make improvements?

Four Degreez: Obviously, four years later, not everything has been created. So the ultimate vision has not been achieved. But I do think that 4K is superior to 4degreez.com. More improvements will continue to be made.

Blot: What are your expectations, if any, for the members of this site?

Four Degreez: My expectation of the members centers on the fact that 4K is what the people make of it, so if people believe in the site, then they will start good threads and try to avoid drama, and pitch in to do what they can to keep 4K interesting and alive. I hope to see that when things get slow, rather than shuffling off to other sites, members will try to enliven the place and get things hoppin again. I also like to see older members being friendly toward newer members.

If you have any questions you'd like to submit to the Blot for future interviews, please contact any Blot Staffer or email us at 4kblot@gmail.com!!