Member Titles

[Kitty]

[size=1][color=blue]No, this has nothing to do with users' custom titles, just so you know.

Actually, what I'm referring to is a member title. The one [i]above[/i] a user's custom title that says whether they're a member or new member depending on their post count.

Back in v.6, there were a lot more member titles. For instance, when I first joined, I was a "newbie", and I was deemed a "newbie" until my post count reached 250. Then I became a "member", I think. (Don't quite remember exactly, but it was something like that). Then I was stuck as a "member" until my post count reached 500 posts. Then I became something else. Then I'd be stuck at that certain title until I reached 1000 posts and became an "Otaku".

The point is, here in v.7, we don't have as many member titles, and for the two we have, you don't have to post all that much to become a "member".

My question for the members is: "Should the administrators bring back the member titles?"

It is, however, entirely up to the administrators whether or not they want to bring back this feature. Though I do not think it would be that difficult, I have no idea how to run a forum like this, so don't take it from me.[/color][/size]

[Panda]

My 2 cents on the titles. On other message boards that I have been a member of whenever there is a "title" that members can attain via post count some people will spam their way to a higher title. I would be afraid that if the "title for post count" came back that this would incourage quanity over quality posts just for a title. I think having the custom title area for members is enough to fulfill that need for some sort of member title.

[Kitty]

[quote name='Panda']I would be afraid that if the "title for post count" came back that this would incourage quanity over quality posts just for a title.[/quote] [color=blue][size=1]Good point, Panda. It could overwork moderators who are busy weeding out spam and trying to find decent threads. I did think of that. But for those who want to be dedicated, their post quality will improve.

Back when I was a new member, my post quality did kind of stink, but I didn't use internet lingo very often. Hearing about the member titles made me want to post more. But I felt that if I just posted spam everywhere, I'd get banned, and I didn't want that. So, eventually, my post quality improved and developed to where it is now.

I'm not saying [i]every[/i] case is like mine, but it's not all that uncommon, right?[/size][/color]

[Dragon Warrior]

No, because then people will try posting a lot more (and it'll be crap, I'm sure) just to reach higher ranks. It's a good idea to keep it simple with two member titles and it's even better that they aren't shown anywhere but your profile.

The Black Mage has spoken.

[Gavin]

[SIZE=1]Interesting, most interesting.

Well I have to admit that I do sort of miss the old Member Titles, although I myself never got to the coveted "[I]Otaku[/I]" Title for those with a thousand posts and over. That said however I think that if brining back the old Titles would simply inflame people to post relentlessly in the hope of reaching a higher newer title then it's better that they're gone.

One solution I can think of would be to link Member Titles to the length of time someone has been on OB, that way there'd be no way to cheat your way up. I have to admit though that since I've been here 3 and a bit years already I may be slightly biased in my idea, however it does represent one way in which people would have to stick around. [/SIZE]

[James]

[color=#B0251E]We introduced the custom title so that this would not be an issue: you can make your own title and it can be whatever you want.

The core member titles won't change, because a great deal of consideration went into the current system we have now. Unfortunately when we did have multiple "levels", a lot of newer members (and even some older ones - you know who you are) were spamming and competing to get to higher levels.

Rather than take that approach, I felt it would be best to let people choose their own custom title. This is also why we don't display post counts on posts themselves; we've removed a competitive element.

If anything, I think I'd rather that people compete for [i]better quality[/i] posts, as opposed to a greater number of posts. This relates to both raw post count and member titles (as member titles are dependent on post count).[/color]

[Semjaza]

You're either new or your not. I prefer it simple and think the custom title more than suffices, personally.

[Desbreko]

[color=#4B0082]Anymore, I don't even really look at the titles in the instances where I actually take into account whether someone is new or not. Instead, I check their profile to see how long they've been registered, then I check out the first page or so of their most recent posts with the "Find all posts by " thing. That, I find, is about the best way to check someone's familiarity with OB. Whereas a title based on post count is worthless in pretty much every way.[/color]

[TheShinje]

[color=DimGray][size=1][b]I liked the old meber titles, [/b]and the idea that your post title would change over time depending on your post count, was quite cool.

I do miss posting to obtain a new title, and that doesn't mean spamming for it. mind you, I just liked the personal challenge of reaching a higher level, to see what the next title would be, if that makes sense. This is sense of achievement is something that the custom titles will not accomplsih for me.

I do see the reason behind the decision to scrap them, and it is a non-issue really. Doesn't mean that i don't miss them.
[/size][/color]

[Baron Samedi]

[size=1]The feeling of fulfilment and achievement you get when you finally break that milestone is awesome. It makes you feel all warm and cosy inside, and the idea is really cool. I loved it. But at the same time, OBV7 strives for quality rather than quantity...and having any indication other than the practical new/regular title change gives the wrong impression...that post-count is important.[/size]

[Semjaza]

What achievement? You posted a lot. Congratulations.

I don't know why people put so much stock into that, lol. I have the third most posts on this site and I don't give a crap, I don't see why anyone else should.

[Sandy]

[QUOTE=Generic NPC #3]What achievement? You posted a lot. Congratulations.

I don't know why people put so much stock into that, lol. I have the third most posts on this site and I don't give a crap, I don't see why anyone else should.[/QUOTE]

Aw come one! It [I]was[/I] a big achievement to gain the famed "Otaku" title! (It still kind of bothers me that I lost so many of my 1000+ posts when the old threads were deleted/moved to archives - but I'm back to over 800 posts, steadily rising towards the people who joined at the same time as I did (three years ago!!!)). Okay, so I care about my post count? So what? It's not like I'm spamming the boards in order to grow it. I just want to... take care of it. :toothy:

But as far as member titles go, I must say this new system is much better. I know few words that ooze as much loath as "newbie", or even "junior member" ("Otaku" had a nice ring to it, however ;) ).


PS. I think it's kind of a hypocrite thing to say "I have the third most posts on this site and I don't give a crap", Semmy, as such bragging clearly states that you give a [I]huge[/I] crap. :smirk: You should be proud to have made such an [I]achievement[/I], really! I know I would...

[Semjaza]

How is it hypocritical? It's wasn't bragging in any sense. I was making a point of how purposeless it is. I hardly used it in a way to be like "hey look at me and my super high number!"

If someone like me that managed to actually post that much over my comparatively short time here doesn't give a crap about the title why should it matter to people with even less posts? It seemingly makes just as little difference to the two people above me as well. Hell, the top group in general I would say, from what I know of them. If they don't care, why should anyone. Quality being more important than quantity is a mantra everyone should adopt, regardless of how much they actually do bother to write here.

If that's hypocritical then I guess I have the definition all wrong :animestun

[Sandy]

Er, I wasn't being that serious about my claim, Semmy-boy (that's why I put the smiley there). I know what you tried to say, but the way you said it could be interpreted in two different ways (and me being the silly me, I decided to nudge you a bit about the other possible interpretation). Just think if somebody said to you: "I've got all this money but I don't need it". There's many ways one could understand that claim as well. ;)

Anyhow, it is easy for you people who post often to say "if we don't care, who should anybody else?", because you don't really understand how diminishing a low post count or title or whatever makes the others feel (or maybe you've just forgotten it). You have this status, this aura of respect upon you whenever and where-ever you post, and many people take it for granted that all of you must be some sort of superpeople just for being able to make such many quality posts. It is really weird, I know, but I feel like that sometimes.I'm also guilty for letting people into my rpgs at the Adventure Arena just based on their high post count, even if the sign-up wasn't that fabulous. Authority is a powerful thing, and its effects are often unseen. It attracts people, and makes them want it for themselves.

[I]That's[/I] why we care about our post count. ;)

[Lord Dante]

[QUOTE=James][color=#B0251E]We introduced the custom title so that this would not be an issue: you can make your own title and it can be whatever you want.

The core member titles won't change, because a great deal of consideration went into the current system we have now. Unfortunately when we did have multiple "levels", a lot of newer members (and even some older ones - you know who you are) were spamming and competing to get to higher levels.

Rather than take that approach, I felt it would be best to let people choose their own custom title. This is also why we don't display post counts on posts themselves; we've removed a competitive element.

If anything, I think I'd rather that people compete for [i]better quality[/i] posts, as opposed to a greater number of posts. This relates to both raw post count and member titles (as member titles are dependent on post count).[/color][/QUOTE]
well said.

maybe higher member titles should be awarded on basis of post quality? (i know this will be impossible to enforce, but just thought i'd stir up the concept). i think that member titles [I]can[/I] be a good thing, but they do create a lot of spam. on a previos message board that i was a part of, the root administrator had his own personal spamming thread, just for staff and select members. all fifteen of them had post counts of sixty thousand. spamming is bad m'kay. but i digress...

I think that the custom title system is great. that way you can be whatever you want.

[James]

[color=#B0251E]I have to state the obvious: if people are going to be worried about the number of their posts -- rather than the contents of the post -- OB simply isn't for them. That's really what it comes down to.

I joined another forum recently (for the first time in ages) where I've become a regular. I have less than 100 posts and yet everyone treats me as one of them. Why? Because I deliberately try to at least make my posts readable -- people can see that I'm not being lazy or indifferent.

At OtakuBoards, I want everybody to be treated the same regardless of post count -- this is why post counts, for the most part, no longer exist here. And this is why New Members have occasionally become staff while still being New Members.

The problem is, people then complain that "New Member" is too derogatory or whatever, and that everyone should just be "Member". And then when that happens, people complain that there aren't enough titles. lol

So really, OB itself is never going to win in that situation. All I can do is try to find a happy medium -- two titles, one being totally custom, is that happy medium as far as I'm concerned. Of course, I'm open to changes in the future, but OB7.5 will be feel new enough to keep people occupied so that they don't worry about such things (or so I can hope!)[/color]

[Semjaza]

I figured, Sage :D

Anyway, I think the obvious thing to do is to make several member titles that are [i]all[/i] derrogatory in some way. Then no one wins and everyone loses, bringing us closer together.

[Dagger]

[quote name='Sage']Anyhow, it is easy for you people who post often to say "if we don't care, who should anybody else?", because you don't really understand how diminishing a low post count or title or whatever makes the others feel (or maybe you've just forgotten it).[/quote]
It deeply saddens me that anyone would feel "diminished" by having a low post count, especially since post counts aren't even displayed (except on one's profile page). I like to think that new members are treated with the same consideration & respect as people who have been here a while; if someone is welcomed that way and still develops an inferiority complex (thanks to a post count which is for the most part invisible), I'm not really sure what more we could do.

Anyway, I like the current system (custom titles are awesome!). Tiered titles are ultimately kind of worthless, as Desbreko so succinctly put it--someone with over 100 or 200 or even 500 posts will not necessarily be more plugged-in to the community (or have better post quality) than someone with 30 posts.

~Dagger~

[Sol-Blade]

[COLOR=DarkRed]Post counts are nothing to me, and should be nothing to some people. But I know, after years of foruming...that apparently post counts equal symbols of power. Yes, it's a ridculous statement but it's no secret that people do think that. On my old clan forums, we had at least 7 ranks. And yes, people did spam to get those ranks because they apparently thought that having the title of "Forum Veteran" was the cool thing to do. I love the fact that there are only two forum ranks here. Keeps it really simple, you are either new here or you aren't.

The custom titles are beautiful, as they basically allow the user to give him/herself whatever title they want. I say stick with the two ranks, and leave custom titles.

Just my two cents anyways. :D[/COLOR]

[Sandy]

[quote name='Dagger']It deeply saddens me that anyone would feel "diminished" by having a low post count, especially since post counts aren't even displayed (except on one's profile page). I like to think that new members are treated with the same consideration & respect as people who have been here a while.[/quote]


Such feelings are often subconscious, and require some soul-searching before one figures them out, but at least I believe they are there. They are a part of every human's "dark side": envy, bitterness, inferiority... It's not the fault of the objects of the jealousy, like it rarely is in any case. And there isn't much anybody can do except accept people as they are, which unfortunately is quite hard sometimes.

When someone comes to this boards speaking l33t or using "z"s instead of "s"s, many of us automatically judge him or her as an immature little kid - hey, including me! The thing that you said about consideration & respect, Dagger, is a goal we should always aim, but even though we're on the Internet, we're all still humans who live in a real world. Complex stuff...

[Desbreko]

[color=#4B0082]The only title I've ever been at all jealous over or proud to have is that of Moderator. Because I wanted to be one, and was happy James thought me worthy of the position, respectively. Other than that, the Member status that granted a custom avatar back during v3-5 was just something to work towards gradually. And now we don't even have anything related to post count other than the two titles, which I like.

Though now, I actually kind of miss blending in with the masses of other Newbies, which I experienced when I first registered. It was kind of nice to be the new guy and not have to worry about leading by example. Whenever I start posting at a forum where I'm not already known, I get this sort of feeling of freedom that comes with being "just another newbie."[/color]

[Charles]

This is a good "popcorn thread" if there can be such a thing. I find it hilarious. lol

References to deep sadness over the issue (which I sincerely hope was only a figure of speech in its context), followed by Sage's overly complex philosophical explication are priceless and deserve praise for the comic relief they so expertly provide within such an otherwise monotonous discussion. This is especially true when you consider the simple reality of the situation to begin with. Obviously this topic has surfaced numerous times in the past and I can promise that it will arise again at some point despite the availability of custom titles. That is because it's common for kids to associate importance or recognition with post counts; it's not such a despairing issue. In fact, unfortunately, it's quite common for posters to be rewarded elsewhere for attaining a higher number of posts.

If anything, these topics are positive every now and then because they give the same few people that are obligated to reply to these threads the chance to reinforce just where the priorities of the membership should lie here. So, yeah, a chance to clarify a [B]common misconception [/B] isn't a bad thing. Something like soul-searching shouldn't be involved in this and--and--gosh I just have to stop there before I laugh to the point of tears. lol!

[Roxie Faye]

[color=#9933ff]On every version of OtakuBoards before v7, in every suggestion thread about this, I asked for it to be changed to the system that it is now, and I find it very workable, and I love it.

I know of a rare few people who acted overly pompus because of their title (Otaku, no life, etc.) so I do appreciate the new system.

I think this is a bit silly to debate the custom titles If you really really wanted yours to say "Otaku" "No Life" "I live here" just make that your custom title instead. lol.

Besides, you can't have everything, where would you put it?[/color]

[SunfallE]

[QUOTE=Sol-Blade][COLOR=DarkRed]Post counts are nothing to me, and should be nothing to some people. But I know, after years of foruming...that apparently post counts equal symbols of power. Yes, it's a ridculous statement but it's no secret that people do think that. On my old clan forums, we had at least 7 ranks. And yes, people did spam to get those ranks because they apparently thought that having the title of "Forum Veteran" was the cool thing to do. I love the fact that there are only two forum ranks here. Keeps it really simple, you are either new here or you aren't.

The custom titles are beautiful, as they basically allow the user to give him/herself whatever title they want. I say stick with the two ranks, and leave custom titles.

Just my two cents anyways. :D[/COLOR][/QUOTE]

I think the amount of posts shouldn't matter either. Truthfully untill last month I had never even belonged to a forum so when I joined and ran into the spaming on sites just to get a title I found it highly annoying as I felt it distracted from the real reason for posting. Which I think is to have quality discussions with fellow fans on various topics. I personally love the custom titles as it lets you put a brief statement that you choose.

[QUOTE=Dagger]It deeply saddens me that anyone would feel "diminished" by having a low post count, especially since post counts aren't even displayed (except on one's profile page). I like to think that new members are treated with the same consideration & respect as people who have been here a while; if someone is welcomed that way and still develops an inferiority complex (thanks to a post count which is for the most part invisible), I'm not really sure what more we could do.

Anyway, I like the current system (custom titles are awesome!). Tiered titles are ultimately kind of worthless, as Desbreko so succinctly put it--someone with over 100 or 200 or even 500 posts will not necessarily be more plugged-in to the community (or have better post quality) than someone with 30 posts.

~Dagger~[/QUOTE]

I can say that for myself as a new member I was treated with consideration & respect and no one ever commented on the fact that I was a new member. I personally hope that this site never gives titles beyond the simple New Member & Member as I think it would be a distraction. I love how this forum has a higher rate of quality posts instead of tons of spam which was posted just to get a silly title.