Since I'm being quoted, let me make myself relentlessly clear on this subject;

I liked, and am in favor of returning, the auto-generated post count titles like 'Kilted Warrior', 'Kilted Elder', etc. I also like, and am in favor of the honorific or 'vanity' titles, either as descriptive or humorous references to certain members and their contributions.

I strongly disagree with the statment in our FAQ page that says;
"Post Ranks and Special Titles have now become more about separating us instead of bringing us together."

I guess I never saw an example of this "separating" factor, I know sometimes newbies would ask about the titles, but I always saw those questions and answers as a way to help them engage with the XMarks clan, not make them feel bad about not posting enough.

Were there really some sad sacks on here that felt threatened because they were not a 'kilted FNG" or whatever yet? If so, was it worth making the place bland and personality free to the point of alienating some of our more "energetic" and unique members just to keep them?

I think the post ranks were a good way for the members to get a little reward for sticking around and making a contribution. If post ranks are such a bad thing, quit showing the post count number on the post headers as well, thats what drives a lot of the post whores on here that run up like 7000 posts without saying anything useful.

(and I'm NOT saying that everyone that has thousands of posts is a post whore!)

(or that all post whores never make a useful contribution!)

I'll sum my opinion up for you;

Post Ranks, or "tier-based, **** patting" as some might say, Like them!

Special Titles, Like them too!

Post Count Number, not a fan, but don't really care.