Member Rankings/Titles

**Colin** · 9th March 10, 11:29 AM

Special titles aside, if you guys really want to make everyone equal and to take out any discomfort for new people than you need to get rid of the post count as well. More emphasis is given to the post count than was ever given to the titles people had. People on Xmarks were basing someone's knowledge on the post count of others. Someone new can come onto the site and post a 1000 "way to go!" comments and climb up the post count ladder in weeks, but they are still not going to have a clue about Scottish culture, history, or the kilt.

Based on Steve's comment about why the titles are gone, that you also need to delete the "number of kilts" part of the profile. Again, more detail is paid to the number of kilts on has than the quality of their input. I have seen some revered on this site for the number of kilts and post they have, yet what they add pales in comparison to the posts of some that have 1 kilt and rarely post. (Hamish is the major exception. He knows what he is talking about and he deserves our admiration. Not for the number of kilts he owns, the experience and knowledge he shares, but because of the stand up person he is. Never was the word "Gentleman" used better than when used to describe Hamish)

Having a couple dozen kilts and spending a ton of time on an internet forum means you have too much time and disposable income, not necessarily knowledge about the subject. I often find the biggest talkers are the ones that know the least.

So if you guys really want the focus to be on the kilt and the shared experiences on a level playing field than ditch the "kilt count" and the " post count". Deleting the voted on special titles of people that were awarded those titles (as silly as some may have been) for their example and contribution to Xmarks is not going to do that.

**davidlpope** · 9th March 10, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by Colin

Special titles aside, if you guys really want to make everyone equal and to take out any discomfort for new people than you need to get rid of the post count as well. More emphasis is given to the post count than was ever given to the titles people had. People on Xmarks were basing someone's knowledge on the post count of others. Someone new can come onto the site and post a 1000 "way to go!" comments and climb up the post count ladder in weeks, but they are still not going to have a clue about Scottish culture, history, or the kilt.

So if you guys really want the focus to be on the kilt and the shared experiences on a level playing field than ditch the "kilt count" and the " post count". Deleting the voted on special titles of people that were awarded those titles (as silly as some may have been) for their example and contribution to Xmarks is not going to do that.

I tend to agree. "Rankings" based on your number of posts tell me little about what value your "voice" adds to this forum. It just tells me that you post a lot, nothing about the quality of your posts. Likewise, the number of kilts you own tells me about your disposable income, not about what you contribute on this forum. Some of the voices that I respect the most own very few kilts...

On the other hand, I think it's a fallacy to believe that all members here contribute equally in terms of their insight, experience, and wisdom. A "great levelling" doesn't serve to make new folks feel welcome, it just serves to confuse them because everyone's opinion on a matter (regardless of how unfounded that opinion may be) seems to have the same weight. Honorary titles, when properly vetted through the site's moderators, would separate the sheep from the goats, as it were, thus: (1) recognizing the important contributions of folks like Matt, Rocky, Barb, Hamish, etc., etc.,(too many to adequately list here, my apologies to the rest of you worthy souls..) and (2) providing guidance to new members of these folks' proven reliability and wisdom.

Cordially,

David

**BoldHighlander** · 9th March 10, 12:53 PM

Having been a moderator on more than a few egroups I fully appreciate the difficulty involved in making any forum first rate. And as stated earlier I do appreciate the efforts of all involved (past & present).
But I must lend my voice to those who miss the special titles. Even though I never had one (& thus no real dog in the fight) I always enjoyed viewing those that others had (e.g. Kilted Ghillie etc), and felt that it made XMarks just that much more of a special place. Please rethink the decision & return the special titles.
Thanks.