Eliminate Ranking System

As a "Knowledgeable" member, I'm offended to be compared to a Nazi. As a person of German descent, I'm very offended you want to compare a ranking system to the Concentration Camps. I've been to Dachau, seen the gas chambers, the towers, the barbed wire, etc. Comparing an online ranking system to the systematic genocide of a people; not cool man, not cool at all.

Note: As of this post, you are still unranked.

I suppose that means that none of us have abused the system and chosen to rank you unfairly. If our abuses were as rampant and wanton as you are claiming, I'd expect you to be ranked fluffy or beginner. I'd consider that telling in and of itself.

I've been a know' member twice. The first time I honestly tried, worked very hard, and got it. The second time my account jumped to know' within an hour of me stating to coven members "I don't think I'll ever be know' again and I really don't care." Does that make me any less knowledgeable? Not really. I, like most know', am knowledgeable about my path, Kemeticism, outside of my path I can get lost.

I, like most know', don't assume I know everything or even the right thing. We tend to treat people exactly how they act; if you are acting like a troll or are claiming to have grown physical wings, you will be ranked fluffy. If you act like a beginner, you will get a bigger rank, and if you act like a novice or a knowledgeable individual you will get ranked appropriately.

Yes, there are flaws. But the benefits are worth it.

On a related note; the last time I checked I have at least two fluffy ranked members in my coven. Lark and Pixa also have a few fluffy ranked members. So we can't be abandoning or ignoring fluffy ranked members, if we're adding them to our covens.

The vitriol can stop.

I didn't say there weren't harmful sigils, I simply pointed out that putting hex and sigil right next to each other is going to make most people think of hex signs. That is not bullying, it's making a point.

The hostility and assumptions can stop as well, all over the site.

Wow, I am just amazed on how this post turned out, it's almost the Spells of Magic is having a "Civil Rights Movement", in which is going nowhere at all. As stated somewhere on this post only Petrarca can change this and I highly doubt he will. Whether you think the site's "Ranking System" is unfair or not. Now, I am not Knowledgeable or Adept, so I can't see whether someone is "Fluffy" or "No Rank", but honestly, I have faith that the people with higher ranks have ranked them appropriately for now, if the person continues to show maturity and knowledge in the Forums or Chat, then maybe they will get a visible rank, but don't take anything to heart, because honestly, it's not that important.

Whether people "abuse" the system, that is them, but there are many others of, at least, Knowledgeable reputation who can rank you if you just show your knowledge and maturity and not throw a fit because people haven't been ranked or are ranked low. I am ranked low, I ain't complaining, honestly I like the challenge. I post when I can, I show my knowledge when I can.

If you don't like the analogy I used, then let's call it what it is: a useless unfair system.

"On a related note; the last time I checked I have at least two fluffy ranked members in my coven... we're adding them to our covens."

This only further demonstrates how the old guard on this site know the system is broken, seeing fluffy tags are being ignored by some anyway. There is no need for such tags anyway, since it is usually quite obvious who the trolls and role-players are.

Rather than attacking me and defending the status quo, I was hoping some of you would suggest smart alternatives to what I'm proposing. I haven't singled anyone out, so I think we should all calm down and discuss this problem rationally.

I did propose an alternative that didn't require the coding of the site to be changed. We have no power over that, Petrarca does. The alternative I posted as about how we treat the system and more importantly, how we treat each other. There are far more things I see that can be tackled by us whether or not the ranking system was there.

Problems like how we treat newbies. So many of us are more thankful for people who say they don't know something honestly rather than trying to feign knowledge. Those specific people often feel stupid at first until they are told that they are not being a bother (and I see that countless times). Then, there are the newbies that have been misinformed and people are so fed up with how often that is, so those newbies get ridiculed. We can change our attitudes towards people and many of those problems would be far less frequent.

You're so focused on the system that you don't realize that it's the people that should be focused on. Systems are created by people, so if you fix the root of the problem, the symptom is no longer a symptom, but a useful tool.

I agree that many members are inappropriately ranked, but those who are ranked higher reputations, as it has been said, have spent a great deal of time on this website. It can seem like the ranking of specific members is so specific because really, there are members here who come and go, have different accounts, change names, etc. It's because their reputation has been figured out before hand. There are misunderstandings, there are misconceptions, and so what? Most people don't know they have a fluffy ranking because the feature for members under knowledgeable to see the banner was removed so that people would not be irritated by it, so that people wouldn't be discouraged to post and share.

Many times those who are able to give reputations don't give them out willy nilly, rather they use what they know and how well they know that to reputate you, and that takes time. If you want a good rank, not that it really matters, post accurate information, speak with a level head, keep open minded, and try to just be happy and maybe joke around if the time is right. I think SoM has two communities within it. The insiders, those who contribute actively, hold postions, etc (mods, regulars, eds, coven leaders), and outsiders (freeloaders, little known by the insider community, etc). These members can find it more difficult to achieve a proper reputation.

The reputation system has been abused in previous events, but those who have abused have had their abilities removed and they became regular members. This system is a hot topic and will remain so, I think. As I said, many of those who are ranked ranking reputations don't give these out willy nilly, unless it's blatantly obvious, which is more common in fluff cases than intelligent cases.

Either way, it helps new members and beginners. It only has an issue when someone makes one of it.

Well I agree that the ranking system needs to go because there is no use for it. Many people are fluffies because they were influenced by movies,books or such other things. Why do some people have to point these people out in a bad way. They do not know and they have came to this website to learn and to answers to their questions. Is this really necessary to point them out in a bad way? Also I do not see why we cannot be all equals here and not to be rank. I do not mean to offend anyone but it is true what Whiro is saying.

The fluffy rank, which can only be seen by those of a knowledgeable status and above, doesn't affect anyone, so it doesn't actually matter that you have it. People will hear what you have to say, regardless of your rank, especially since the majority of us can't see it.

I agree, there are a few people who are ranked high who should be brought low and others who should be ranked higher. I have, personally, been the 'victim' of people abusing the 'power' of the ranking system and have been fluffed on multiple accounts in the past, but I took the time in chatter and forums to show that I wasn't and the majority of the higher ranks, who don't abuse their power, restored me to where they thought I should be.

Now, you can not like the system, you can gather all the fluffies you like, but this isn't a system likely to change no matter how you fuss and fight. We aren't a democracy and every member could want to chang it, but the system will stay in place, until Pet decides he doesn't lie it anymore.

Have a good day,

Mad.

This thread is becoming an argument. So, let us get it as clear as can be.
The ranking is given, usually, by what is on your profile.If there is nothing on the profile the rank would be "Unknown". If you write a reasonable and sensible profile, the rank would probably be "Beginner". If the profile states silly things such as "I am a vampire and I change into a bat at night". The rank would be "Fluffy".
Now, the Fluffy rank enables a higher rank to possibly persuade the member where they are going wrong,and guide them into a better, or at least a more sensible, direction.
But, as I have said previously, rankings can, and do, change with time.

I have been on and off this site for the past 4 years. The only thing I have ever had an issue with is that, to my knowledge, 'Fluffy' ranked members have no idea they are ranked that way. It is my hope that this is because I have never earned such a title and therefore have never received any notification in that regard. I have no idea if people are allowed to ask if they are marked 'Fluffy' in the event they are not aware of their ranking. My mind would be settled just knowing that if I were ever to be ranked 'Fluffy', I would have some sort of notification so I may adjust the behavior that earned the title.

Also, I would like to thank Brysing for giving a more in-depth explanation of how ranking is determined. I do not mind any form of ranking system as long as I understand what the benchmarks are and have access to what my standing is.

Lastly, it has been said before but it bears repeating, this website is for fun. It is not a paid service that can be referenced on a resume, it is to have fun and share thoughts. The ranking system is simply a tool that can be used or left in the drawer if not useful at the time. As long as I am allowed to help others when I can, that is all that matters to me.