Member Ranking - Different Titles?

[WallyLlama]

I just scanned an old topic called "Member Ranking." I think most folks realize that the titles (guru, super guru, etc.) given to members is based on the number of posts they've made. (See the topic for the specifics.)

I do understand the value of rewarding participation on the board... and I do understand the difficulty of "valuing" posts. While I haven't been here for years, I have noticed people who feel compelled to post to just about every thread, but I don't think they do it to earn a higher rank. There are probably a host of possible explanations, but that's not the point of this post.

All that said, the "guru" ranking has always troubled me and I do think it goes to some people's heads. The connotation is that someone who's participated (posted) a lot has some special knowledge or insight and I think that can be a negative to new posters -- who often have greater insight than somebody who's a "regular." As I've posted elsewhere, cliques are one of the more negative aspects of many boards and they develop all too quickly and freely.

It just seems to me that the Board tends to develop the appearance of a group of gurus giving advice and it's almost a caste system!

The other thing worth noting is that the number of posts a person has made already appears with their name.

So... I'm wondering:

Do others (gurus and newbies LOL) agree that a different title (or maybe none!) would be less exclusive and carry less implication?

How difficult would it be implement a change if it made sense?

Wally

[Tessie]

Well I will jump in and say I agree with Wally.

When I first came here in May I did think that the different Guru titles meant that those with the highest rank were smarter and had earned such a title.

Now I am an Ultra Guru only because I don't have much of a life and like to post a lot. Heck the majority of my post are pure nonsense that have nothing to do with helping someone or needing help.

I say dump the titles and put the post count in the profiles. Whose egos are we trying to build here?

[duckie]

It definately makes sense to me.

When newbie's come here looking for advice and get responses from people with guru or other versions of guru status they may think or feel that the advice given is from someone that has earned the right because of their knowledge and not the number of posts that they've made. *So to new people not only is it confusing but isn't it a little deceiving?

I too haven't necessarily helped alot of members but have posted alot and alot of which is probably nonsense posting.

It would be nice to label some of the people like Brandye who is definately job qualified and very knowledgable.

[Tjdude]

Being one of the "old ones" in the forum, i do think we need a different ranking system or no ranking at all. Not that i think that i'm a wise guy, and i need to get a very high rank because i give great advice, not at all, some times i can hardly write a few lines here and there, but i've been around for almost 2 years now, and i've seen some people come here to the forum and write all kinds of junk for 2 months and they got to be Supreme Gurus or what ever and then leave and never come back. So, maybe a fix there is needed. c ya.

[experimenter]

I think titles are silly, but I think an exception should be made in Brandye's case. She is medically qualified to give out this type of advice and I think it would be nice if people knew that they were getting the advice of someone with her qualifications. When I first joined here I thought that to have the title of Guru or whatever meant that that person was more knowledgable or whatever, I have since noticed that is not always the case. I would say drop the titles and just have the #of posts. But like I said, in Brandye's case it would be nice for newcomers to know that she is an actual doctor and therefore more qualified to answer some of these questions.

[moderatorII]

Your wish is our command ... titles have been changed to reflect "time-in", rather than "rank". Brandye has been identified separately as "Medical Doctor" to clarify her specific expertise.

BTW ... your new title may not take effect until after your next post.

Thanks for all the feedback on this (and other topics).

the moderator

[thetease13]

i don't think they should've been changed (too late now huh?).

anyone with half a brain could realize they were nothing but titles..just like every other board out there.
it didn't mean you knew any more than anyone else.

i think it went far less to peoples heads than some think. i'm sure it went to some, because that's normal, not just here but anywhere. you reach a certain number of posts and some people think they're all that.

but you know, whatever.

[Tessie]

Tease I don't think it was a matter of certain people having big heads about their status as it was the newbies thinking someone with the title "Ultra Guru" meant they new what they were talking about.

I got my title very fast for no reason then I am a bored housewife that likes to post. *

Plus the definition of the word Guru is: personal religious teacher in Hinduism or expert. Neither are really appropriate for what we are on this board.

[thetease13]

ah, but that's not what part of the original post here was implying.
the vast majority of it was saying that he thought it went to peoples heads and people just replied to get their post count up so they could get a higher ranking.
obviously he thought it did or it wouldn't have been brought up to begin with. he could've said, hey could we change this. i don't think it's right and blah blah blah. but he chose to go a completely different route first.
and i still have no idea what cliques have to do with anything regarding member ranks. so i have no idea why that was even brought up.

and as i said, anyone with half a brain could figure out they were nothing but rankings. they didn't mean anyone had great knowledge or anything.
a ranking is the last thing i pay attention to when someone replies to me. the last thing i look at is how many posts they have. i see what they have to say. i mean, isn't that what a message board is for?

maybe i just feel to strongly about things like this. i dunno.
but i think it's dumb to change something as minute as a member ranking...something that's been set for years.
the only reason member rankings were changed on my board were for a lawsuit issue. i could care less if someone is offended by the word "wiggler".

and why all this now?
it's like this place has been around for years and within like a 3 month time span, everybody has wanted to change something on here or on the site.
yes, i wanted another mod..not because the mod wasn't a good mod, but because he hadn't been around for quite awhile due to working and whatnot and things like spam messages and senseless arguing and name calling (which has never been allowed on this board) was not being taken care of like it needed to.

anyways, i think it's fun to have creative titles.
i think things like "newbie" and "junior" and "veteran" are dumb.
maybe we could come up with some other titles we could all agree on? something not so plain?
just a thought.
i liked that there were like 5 or more levels of member ranking on here. made it fun.
and no, i don't want to get rid of member rankings all together. just want more creative looking ones.

[oberon]

So now we've protected the mentally challenged from being confused by the ranking system... I feel so much better.