I suppose that "Male Junior Member" and "Male Member" are out of the running along with "Female Junior Member" and "Female Member."

Oops, "Board temporarily out of service due to malfunctioning member."

>>I would recommend changing the new status to "Newbie" instead of "Jr. Member" which can be a bit demeaning. The "Newbie" status could change to the "Member" level after about 10 posts or so.

"Newbie?" Oh, please. That's an Internet beginner. Much more demeaning than "Junior Member." I've been posting using the Internet for years, even if I am new here.

The mental image I get is tatooed and pierced Gen-X'er, sneer on face, can scarcely bring him/herself to utter the word "newbie." I've been living in the Bay Area too long.

I kind of like "Junior Birdman" for us non-elites, but can't come up with anything similarly good for the old timers. "Silver Wings," perhaps?

I agree with Catman and others that we don't need levels. But, If Randy is afraid to "hack the system" to eliminate them, I'd go for onefreeman's version, as modified by Randy's following suggestion. Tying the levels to our FF program levels would probably create a bunch of problems. In my years with Delta, I've always been at least Silver, but I've bounced back and forth and even been Platinum (just one year). Why complicate the record keeping?

please don't use any "dubious/offending" adjectivs (like addicted).

if it has to be two classes I vote for:
1) New Member
2) Member

if it has to be three classes:
1) New Member
2) Member
3) Senior Member

My support goes for the plans proposed by - in their order of my preference - Catman - and Onefreeman. Either no levels, or something amusing - let's not get too serious, folks!!

I'm not certain about this forum, but when it comes to getting on a plane, the different "elite" levels are not what they appear. Somewhere, in the dark recesses of the mind of each of us, where we allow no one else to enter, I suspect there are really only two levels: Me, and Everyone Else.

Regards,

Ken Hamer
P.S. Oh yeah... about the new member ratings system, how 'bout just putting the total number of posts beside or below the members name?

As a new poster but very long time lurker, I would like to add my opinion to this thread. I agree with several others that different levels are not desirable - anyone who has been reading here for a while knows who is and isn't posting good information. Since you are unwilling to hack the code, could you set a single level by making the threshold for the second level so high that nobody will ever reach it?

If levels are a must (commercially, politically, technologically), I like Rudi's suggestion. It seems to combine the maximum dignity with the minium potential for offence.

Best wishes,
James

If we have to have levels then I vote for Rudi's sugestion.

Randy,
I have to agree with proposed "member" and "senior member" designations.
A "lurker" designation for those of us who read all the posts but do not reply is unfair.
Unless I have a contribution to make, I refrain from responding.The erudite and knowledgeable amongst us have provided valuable commentary. Why toss my two cents in just to make "senior member".
Flyer Talk is a most valuable asset.

After onefreemans' post, I had to reply! Yes many are "addicted", I've seen withdrawals first hand, not a pretty sight. I have a problem tho with "Lurker" makes me sound like a peeping tom.

The lovely raeban just gave me another argument against ANY designation... WHY should people be labeled if they just check out the post and are afraid too or don't feel like posting??? It makes someone labeled a lurker or a junior member virtually a NOTHING or someone to be badgered at.

If people get information whether they post 3000 times or two times a year then that's what should matter most: getting the most of our travel and our travel dollars.

I'm like a broken record: No levels! No LEVELS! NO LEVELS!


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MEOW! MEOW! MEOW!!!

Thanks for the continued dialog on this issue, it's actually very good research on how a community works. I think I've got a few ideas and promise a resolve to the original question in the next few weeks. As I hope you understand, all the opinions noted here is very valuable input.

I see you're up to 29 posts, Randy! Reply to this one, and you're in!

I've been a "member" before with many posts but lost my status during the server tech problems so I'm almost back there. But that comment brings another observation to the idea of levels names, what if we got rid of level names and listed below your name was just the number of posts that you made? Or, what if there were no level names but we could allow members to add an icon below their name. This selection of icons would maybe be the logo for your favorite frequent traveler program, or maybe icons for a variety of self-described traveler identities, all of these icons being graphic based. Just another question. Though I have to say, it's really great to reread this thread from the top each time. While I know it seems that several don't really care for level names (please remember that the software engine for this system came that way), it is still interesting for me to note that when there were some server tech problems, most of the email we got was from people worried about restoring their posts numbers for "member" status......

But, what's your thoughts on id of the number of posts each person who posts has made?

I've been "lurking" in this thread for a while, but haven't suggested anything. It looks like Randy might be concluding here at some point so I'll throw two cents in...

We start as Piper Cubs or something similarly small and work our way up to 777 status or the almost unattainable "Concord" status, i.e. Catman, Rudi.

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aloha!
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