Member Rankings/Titles

**David Dubh** · 7th March 10, 08:50 PM

Great idea Steve I read alot of posts but don't add anything if I'm just repeatimg what others are saying.

**BoldHighlander** · 7th March 10, 10:13 PM

Thanks for the explanation Steve

**JSFMACLJR** · 8th March 10, 08:50 AM

It seems a great shame, and smacks of an insult, to drop some of the more descriptive honourific titles. Some folks went to a great effort to establish their "bona fides" as it were, and I really hope Steve, that you thought long and hard how some people might feel after losing a title that might draw attention to their knowledge and research. I fail to see the harm in leaving these titles up. The rankings mean very little to me, but the titles are another matter. Why would you choose to alienate long time members of this forum?

Best regards,
Sandford MacLean

**Jock Scot** · 8th March 10, 09:34 AM

Sandy does have a point , I feel. Alright I quite understand that getting a title just for the number of posts is outdated. No problem there. Where I think some goodwill could be made and is possibly being lost with the "new" regime, are the titles that have been earned and are now defunct. Alright, I am happy to start again from scratch, a blank sheet, there is a reorganisation going on after all and who knows what complications there are lurking behind the scenes. Perhaps a re think Steve?

**Steve Ashton** · 8th March 10, 10:03 AM

You will still see those Title Bars which have been awarded to members for service to the Forum. Those Title Bars were voted on and approved by the Forum Moderators.
There will be more Titles earned, created and awarded. But they will be approved by the Forum Moderators not arbitrarily given by me alone or any one person.

The type of Title that has been deleted are like those like "Kilted Defender of Flat Caps".

Well, we know the person is kilted, that's why we are here in the first place.
And does "Defender of Flat Caps" really add anything to the forum?

If someone performs a service to the forum, or is otherwise deserving of some recognition, then the Forum Moderators will decide and it will become official.
It will be announced to the open forum along with the reason for the Title.

All I am trying to do here is level the playing field. I am trying to take out any excuse for claims of back room politics or favoritism.

If someone is deserving of recognition everyone will know it already. It will be obvious to the entire forum from the quality of their contribution.

Those people will be recognized.

**Raphael** · 9th March 10, 12:10 PM

Originally Posted by Steve Ashton

Well, we know the person is kilted, that's why we are here in the first place.
And does "Defender of Flat Caps" really add anything to the forum?
.

Yes it does and in more ways that you can ever imagine. Your lack of imagination is your main problem, Steve. These titles make members feel like home because these are nick names given my peers. Now we are just members with no personality. Titles motivate members and make them stay. This process produce the traffic and have meaningful conversations. People don't come here for information only. People come here and stay because they found a home in cyberspace. You have taken lots away from us. It is shameful.

New members may be confused by the titles, and what's wrong with that. This is not the only forum that gives out custom titles. Many forums do that. you need to educate yourself more about proper netiquette before talking. It may cause confusion at first but people will learn quickly and navigate. I have read that some members don't really care about them, then again, most of them haven't been here since day 1. I have. I have seen the ups and downs of this website, but respect is what get us through.

Because people care, people created the tartan, kilt pins and t-shirts. These items are not created by the top, but by the people of this forum. There are not created for commercial purpose, but to created for the people and by the people. They are created because we felt that there is bond among us.

People have worked hard to make this a successful forum and you came in and destroy everything. You have no vision and you probably don't know what people want. All you have is a bunch of yes men that dare to oppose you. You have driven away members because of your action.

Have fun at xmarksthesteve.com!

**Semiomniscient** · 10th March 10, 07:38 AM

Originally Posted by JSFMACLJR

It seems a great shame, and smacks of an insult, to drop some of the more descriptive honourific titles. Some folks went to a great effort to establish their "bona fides" as it were, and I really hope Steve, that you thought long and hard how some people might feel after losing a title that might draw attention to their knowledge and research. I fail to see the harm in leaving these titles up. The rankings mean very little to me, but the titles are another matter. Why would you choose to alienate long time members of this forum?

Best regards,
Sandford MacLean

Yeah, I'm with you Sandy. I thought the "rankings" were sometimes pretty silly. I didn't like the idea of a "kilted samurai" as it smacked of utter silliness, but the whole idea of rankings was kind of interesting because I could tell who'd been here a long time and who was "most dedicated" to the forum. I suppose post numbers suffice for this. But the honorifics being revoked seem to be over-the-top. I think it was cool to have "Grand Defender of the Kilt" and to knock those dedicated posters down to the level of myself who mostly lurks around and posts on only a couple of topics is a sort of demotion.
The kilt hails from a country where there are such things as nobility and rank in non-military society, I think it is a bit of a shame to do away with our little version here.

**JolyStNicholas** · 9th March 10, 11:40 AM

"Oh The Shame Of It All" I think I will use this as an excuse to go out and have a pint and order meself a new KILT and celebrate something

**starbkjrus** · 9th March 10, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by The F-H.C.A.G.

Just for the reocrd, I loved the custom titles and thought they were a lot of fun and am disappointed that they are being discarded.

Also, I'm going to refute a few things here.

As far as I am aware, the Mod Squad voted on all of the custom titles. None were "arbitrarily given" by any one person alone.

Also, as far as I am aware, there was no "Defender of Flat Caps", but if there was, it was funny and meant something to those who are "in the know", and would just be shrugged off by those who weren't.

Hear, Hear! I cannot say it better.

Again, I think this is a fallacy. These so-called "vanity titles" were NOT put there by one person with no input from anyone else, but rather voted on by the entire Mod Squad, many of whom are no longer moderators since Steve took over the forum. Some of whom are no longer comfortable even visiting this forum since their input is gradually being erased.

As it was not the whim of an individual before you, Steve.

Sorry, but you asked for opinions and I am an opinionated kind of gal!

Be well,

I agree with Star. The titles were a bit of fun that added quite a bit. Seems to me that piece by piece all the fun is being sucked right out of XMarks. I suspect this is going to become a VERY expensive experiment.