Quote Originally Posted by CameronCat View Post
Again, I'm uncertain here as to the meaning of "honorary" title. If it refers to the extra, saltired bar just under your user name I still would like to know how those are determined, but if it's internally bestowed I'm OK with them. Perhaps their sudden removal was offensive to some. But if "honorary" refers to the numeric post-count titles, then I support their removal and applaud their demise.
I, as most everyone else, am NOT referring to the auto-titles the software was assigning based on post count. By honorary I am referring to the custom titles (ie. Kilted Ghillie, Kilted Writer, Kilted Juggernaut, Kilted Dragon etc.) As to assignment and history of those, it has been discussed at great length in this closed thread.



Nor do they tell the truth you seek. At this writing, 68 members out of the many thousand forum members have voted in favor, and that's only 3/4 of those taking time to vote. Fewer than 100 have voted and yet over 1000 have viewed the topic. Right now, the tally stands at 0.068% of viewers in favor, and even less for all members (>2100 active, >11,000 total)

The results are statistically insignificant as a current indicator of the massed rabble's opinion.

To get a more accurate reading, perhaps someone could start a non-partisan thread way up at top of the forum list: "There is a poll being taken, and your opinion is important. Please read this thread, then vote." (Not sure the Forum Lairds would tolerate that, though.)

I'm also not sure that an overwhelming result either way would sway The Laird one bit from his intended course. And that's probably not a bad thing.

But it's still a great conversation. Thanks

Kind regards,
JT
Firstly the views indicate exactly that: how many times that thread has been viewed. It does not indicate that 1,000+ unique users have viewed a thread. It counts each view by each user AND guest. So, unregistered "lurkers" up the count as well. I alone can probably be held to about 15 or so of the views on this thread. In fact, I would be willing to bet there are no where near 1,000 unique users visiting this site on any given day, much less viewing a specific thread.

As to the <100 voters: I also feel that's a more fair pool than the "many thousand members" as many thousand of those are not active. In fact many of those thousand have 1 post or even 0. They registered and never came back. So, to quote those sort of numbers is inaccurate. So, since your misconception of the views equating to unique viewers figured into your guesstimation of 0.068% has been clarified, that percentage can be dismissed as well.

I don't have the raw numbers or access to the sort of resources to give exact numbers, but 200-300 seems about a reasonable guess of active or even semi-active posters on this forum (which is of course the group concnerned and affected by the changes.) If 100~ vote, and the rest do not, then they've indicated they don't really care one way or the other.

This is not a democracy and the poll holds no official weight or pull as to the titles. It was initiated by a member, and not the XMTS staff. To assume that the results of this thread will dictate the fate of the titles would be foolish. However, it is a very good picture into the view from "down here" and the reception and perception of a very brash and sudden change by management. It would be equally foolish of Steve to ignore or dismiss it. My first post was a reference to just that.