Getting higher rank messages

[highlandtide]

One thing I have learned is that this has gone way beyond just being a forum. This is a community. And like Mike1 said we will never keep everyone happy all of the time. As a matter of fact there are quite a number of posters here who have gotten their feelings hurt, "left" the forum, got over it, came back, and are just as happy as ever. It is a part of the cycle.

The post count issue is just one of those issues that comes up from time to time. There is no real way to keep people from trying to boost their post count short of taking away all regular member titles based on post count and issuing titles based on merit and/or reputation. I doubt it will ever happen but you never know...

[starbkjrus]

Gentlemen (and ladies),

As one of the voluteers (along with Rob) who is tasked with reconizing not only birthdays but rank advancement I also feel the need to chime in here.

As has been said there is no way to please everyone all the time. There have been many messages to the MODs about some being recognized for both birthdays and rank advancements and others not. These messages have all consisted of complaints about not being recognized. As has also been said this is WAY more than a forum -- it's a community. One that I really appreciate belonging to. I was reluctant in the beginning to participate in the Celebration Forum as I really didn't see a need but since it is important (and in my opinion a bit of fun) to many of our members then so be it. I am willing to give a little more back to XMARKS that just posting. (Although I am on vacation and have not given Rob the assistance that I intend to in the long run.)

My suggestion (for now) is that if you prefer not to read the posts about birthdays and rank advancements (and as someone said the welcome to newbies) then I recommend that you simply don't. I know that as the forum has grown that I can no longer read each and every thread or post. I pick and choose.

Starting Saturday I intend to start a thread called Kilted Karibbean Kruising. Internet access is hideous from Kruise ships so it will be limited and my asstance to Rob in the Celebration Zone will be limited but I will attemt to document some of the more memorable ventures of Kruising Kilted. (my first foray into mainly kilted all the time.)

Some will enjoy it and some will skip over it.

Just pick and choose and enjoy.

[Jerry]

One thing I have learned is that this has gone way beyond just being a forum. This is a community. And like Mike1 said we will never keep everyone happy all of the time. As a matter of fact there are quite a number of posters here who have gotten their feelings hurt, "left" the forum, got over it, came back, and are just as happy as ever. It is a part of the cycle.

The post count issue is just one of those issues that comes up from time to time. There is no real way to keep people from trying to boost their post count short of taking away all regular member titles based on post count and issuing titles based on merit and/or reputation. I doubt it will ever happen but you never know...

Hank, don't take away the post count rankings. You already have a mixed system, with some receiving titles based on reputation (witness Hamish) Hams is based more on reputation and deservedly so. I can't say that I don't occasionally, in a way, post something to increase my post count, but it is never blatent like a few have done. I'm just not normally very talkative and the post count ratings have kept me replying when I might have otherwise said nothing. I guess the thing I often feel is just a count increasing message is sending a welcome to new members of the forum. But then, everyone does that, and I guess it does make them feel welcome here. I know I did back in Sept 2004, when I first joined. I guess that's all I have to say on the subject, other than i feel that taking away the post ranking would be taking away a big and enjoyable part of the forum.