As a longtime user, I've been reading through /SG/feedback-from-new-superconductor-us and responding to some of the comments, and it's really interesting! (One random takeaway is that Manifold should rename loans, or at least explain them better.)

Anyway, one of the things that surprised me at first is users talking about how there wasn't enough variety of topics. As someone who bets in markets about elections, podcasts, sleep schedules, news events, school policies, romantic relationships, math, TV shows, personal goals, friends, Manifold itself, rationalussy, and much more, I felt like Manifold does a great job with this - since you can search for markets about almost anything, and create the markets that don't exist yet.

However, I realized that for newer users, the mana cost of making a market can actually be significant. Furthermore, without a long record on the site, your markets might receive less trust and attention. Since I've got some spare mana, I wanted to fix some of this!

Guidelines

If your net worth (visible on profile) is under 2000 mana (negotiable, if you convince me that market costs are a barrier for the questions you want to ask), then you are eligible for my market funding! Currently, I'll put no limit on the number of markets per person, but I may change that if it becomes a problem.

This can work in one of two ways - you can choose:

1. [Default option] I give you the cost of creating a new market (varies based on market type: M$50 for yes/no, more for multiple choice, etc), and then you make the market! If you want, you can link it here. Then if I have any familiarity with the topic, I'll bet in it, and if I especially like the idea, I may subsidize (add to the pool) as well.

2. I make the market for you based on your idea (crediting you), and link it here. I only offer this because I'm a longtime user with a record of running and resolving markets fairly, "the badge," and a decent number of followers. So if you think me creating it will produce more eyeballs/trust on your market, or if it's a bit subjective but you want to bet without creating suspicion, I'll volunteer this as an option.

Since I'm funding, I will set some standards: I will only fund markets that are sufficiently new and non-spammy, and I will only fund markets that have clear resolution criteria. Note that subjective can still be clear, and that I'll fund markets on any topic (within reason), including personal ones!

The bounty size on this market (currently M$1000) is arbitrary, I may increase it if it runs out.

I reserve the right to make modifications to these guidelines in the future, in case I think of (or you suggest) an improvement to the system!

General policy for my bounty markets: In the rare event of a conflict between my stated criteria and the agreed-upon common-sense spirit of the bounty market, I may pay out funds according to the bounty market's spirit or not at all.