Silly Title wanted, or not!

**ccga3359** · 8th June 10, 09:00 PM

Originally Posted by Dr. Mac

Totally agree with Improv1. The poll indicates that a definite majority of the rabble want the titles returned (hopefully of all types). I'm noting that the posts on this issue are mostly Mar/Apr and there are still no titles restored (now in June) for post counts.
Please restore those, too, Steve. They don't separate us, honest. They add incentive, nurture involvement, and contribute zest to the forum!

Perhaps I never got my original silly title restored, I still did receive a new one that i'm equally proud of. Titles have been quietly applied. I'm seeing this as case closed, perhaps the poll should too.

**Chas** · 9th June 10, 02:44 AM

I have tried to ignore this. After all it has nothing to do with kilts. Ego, yes. Personal preference, yes. Oneupmanship, yes. But kilts, no. But still it won't die; it keeps coming back. And at the end of this month the debate will rage anew.

Having personal titles is divisive, pure and simple. Those that have and those that have not.

Under the old system, before they disappeared, no new titles had been granted for almost 2 years. What about all those members who joined in the last 2 years? Obviously not worthy enough. No matter how many posts they made; no matter how many photographs they took and posted; no matter how many reports of events they posted; no matter how many kilts, or sporrans, or sgians, or belts they made, or jackets they modified - they are just not worthy enough!

Or could it be that they just weren't friends with the right people. Can anyone name a member, who received a personal title, who at that time wasn't a friend of a Mod? Don't be shy people - name names - if you can. Will it be a long list? - I think not.

What about all the 'little' members, all those without titles; those, who accidentally happen to be the bulk of the membership? Those who get on with life and wear their kilts, often in difficult circumstances. Who relate their stories of triumph and disaster. Who ask advice and get conflicting replies. What about them? Well they get the pleasure of seeing someone else getting a personal title.

Everybody wants to be well liked. Everybody wants to to think that they have the respect of their peers. Everybody wants to think that they are worthy of that respect. That is the clue - EVERYBODY.

We are all members of the same forum - there are no 'super members'. One kilt or one hundred kilts; traditional or contemporary; wearing it for a month or for 40 years - it makes no difference, we are all XMarkers and should be treated the same.

Either there are personal titles for every member or for no members. There is no middle ground.

Regards

Chas

**robthehiker** · 9th June 10, 04:21 AM

Originally Posted by Chas

I have tried to ignore this. After all it has nothing to do with kilts. Ego, yes. Personal preference, yes. Oneupmanship, yes. But kilts, no. But still it won't die; it keeps coming back. And at the end of this month the debate will rage anew.

Having personal titles is divisive, pure and simple. Those that have and those that have not.

Under the old system, before they disappeared, no new titles had been granted for almost 2 years. What about all those members who joined in the last 2 years? Obviously not worthy enough. No matter how many posts they made; no matter how many photographs they took and posted; no matter how many reports of events they posted; no matter how many kilts, or sporrans, or sgians, or belts they made, or jackets they modified - they are just not worthy enough!

Or could it be that they just weren't friends with the right people. Can anyone name a member, who received a personal title, who at that time wasn't a friend of a Mod? Don't be shy people - name names - if you can. Will it be a long list? - I think not.

What about all the 'little' members, all those without titles; those, who accidentally happen to be the bulk of the membership? Those who get on with life and wear their kilts, often in difficult circumstances. Who relate their stories of triumph and disaster. Who ask advice and get conflicting replies. What about them? Well they get the pleasure of seeing someone else getting a personal title.

Everybody wants to be well liked. Everybody wants to to think that they have the respect of their peers. Everybody wants to think that they are worthy of that respect. That is the clue - EVERYBODY.

We are all members of the same forum - there are no 'super members'. One kilt or one hundred kilts; traditional or contemporary; wearing it for a month or for 40 years - it makes no difference, we are all XMarkers and should be treated the same.

Either there are personal titles for every member or for no members. There is no middle ground.

Regards

Chas

This poll is about titles earned by postcount - kilted warrior, kilted elder, grand defender of the kilt etc., not about the "special" titles given out by the mods.

**Jock Scot** · 9th June 10, 04:31 AM

Originally Posted by robthehiker

This poll is about titles earned by postcount - kilted warrior, kilted elder, grand defender of the kilt etc., not about the "special" titles given out by the mods.

Now, I may be quite wrong here, but I thought we were talking about and voting on, primarily re-instating the "special" titles.

**Chas** · 9th June 10, 04:36 AM

Originally Posted by robthehiker

This poll is about titles earned by postcount - kilted warrior, kilted elder, grand defender of the kilt etc., not about the "special" titles given out by the mods.

Read post 30 onwards. On balance, I believe that this thread is about the special titles.

Regards

Chas

**Zardoz** · 9th June 10, 01:18 PM

I think a readthough of this thread would show this poll is about the titles earned by postcounts - kilted warrior, kilted elder etc., as well as the "special" titles given out by the mods. While the discussion has wandered, this has been re-affirmed by various posts in the thread, some by the original poster. (post #52)

While I endorse the idea that we are all in this forum together etc. One must realize that in any group there are individuals that for better or worse, stand out for some reason. All the "special" titles we had and have were given out to recognise someone's special skills or contributions, sometimes factual, more often tongue in cheek.

As far as someone being a friend of a Mod; online forums are not real life, but just like real life, they are not an egalitarian anthill either. Like it or not sometimes "who you know" can help things.
I know I'm friends with a couple of the mods from those days, and not just "internet friends", we've broken bread. One might suppose that with some of the stuff I go on about on here, I would have had some kind of wacky title, about flatcaps or sci-fi etc, but I never got one, and untill now never really thought about it. And now that I have, I don't care! I've never had a burning desire to have one.

I don't pretend to know original poster' Morrison's mind, but I think the heart this thread was never really about titles as a display of "egos" or "oneupmanship". I have always seen it as a reaction to some of the forum changes, specifically the abrupt removal of titles, and the element of fun about them that many of us enjoyed.
As Morrison said; "AFTER ALL, it IS about humor. The titles and getting them and all!"

**Zardoz** · 9th June 10, 01:21 PM

Double post deleted

**artificer** · 9th June 10, 01:34 PM

I haven't been around all that long, and probably missed the titles vanishing. I don't mind them, either version.

The post-count related titles are a clever way to show your activity on the forums, rather than just a number.

The mod-awarded ones are fine as well. Certain members make HUGE contributions to the spirit of this board. I find it hard to believe that anyone would begrudge them something as insubstantial as a silly title below their forum name.

As to the idea that "if you're chummy with mods, you get one, otherwise you're ignored"... okay... It's a silly title, seems to me like if you're that hurt by not having one, you should probably get out more (ideally in a kilt

)

**Chas** · 9th June 10, 01:51 PM

Originally Posted by artificer

As to the idea that "if you're chummy with mods, you get one, otherwise you're ignored"... okay... It's a silly title, seems to me like if you're that hurt by not having one, you should probably get out more (ideally in a kilt)

I knew someone would come out with this. I have made my position clear, I do not want a special title, but I know members who do. My post was to put a different perspective to the thread, yours is a personal attack and I find it offensive.

And while we are on the subject - my question still stands.

Chas

**artificer** · 9th June 10, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by Chas

I knew someone would come out with this. I have made my position clear, I do not want a special title, but I know members who do. My post was to put a different perspective to the thread, yours is a personal attack and I find it offensive.

And while we are on the subject - my question still stands.

Chas

Chas, my apologies. The intent wasn't to offend, nor were my comments aimed directly at you (if they were, I would have quoted part of your post).

My (rather flip, apparently) comments were intended to make the point that the titles DO nothing, are WORTH nothing, and affect nothing. If you don't want a title, refuse it. I'm sure history has some example of a title being turned away.

As to members being recognized for going above and beyond, there ARE some members who make very large contributions that aid many (Jamie and Glen's "10 looks with one kilt" comes to mind, as it is oft-cited as a reference to noobs). If the 'lure' of a title influences more people to commit the time and effort needed to generate these kinds of posts, then I think the purpose of such titles would be well served.

For those who feel 'left out' by not having a title... I really have no response. I just don't see that it is a big enough deal to get upset about.
If a forum member is THAT upset about not being 'recognized'... I guess that IS an argument against titles...

As to giving everyone titles... wouldn't that title just be 'participant'?

I hope I don't seem uncaring, it's just that I don't see the whole issue of titles as a very big deal. If everyone wants them active, great! I think they lend a unique flavour to websites. If everyone wants to avoid hurt feelings, fine, whatever. They don't make that big a difference anyway. It just seems a bit silly to give such a little thing such emotional importance.