I posted this message in another thread where there was a problem but all users should be aware of this.

I would also like to remind everyone to keep their comments On-Topic and RELEVANT (unless you are posting in the Off-Topic forums). This site has never had a militaristic view about enforcing this request but BE AWARE that non-relevant posts that appear to be made for the purpose of gaining post levels (for rank) WILL BE REMOVED. Persistent posting of silly comments, one-word remarks (or even a couple) or off-topic remarks is grounds for your membership being cancelled. Please don't do it.

Remember we all want to relax and have fun but posts should show regard for everyones time. Spam posts are a waste of time for those reading them and will eventually be a waste for those writing them (as they will be deleted and you WILL loose that post).

If you have questions or feedback about this policy please post it here. If English is not your native tongue and you are unsure of what I mean by the above please post your question in one of our non-English forums and I am sure someone there can help.

Thanks,
Jim

What is the big deal with ranks...

Who cares if we're all "Privates" for ever...(demote me now!!!)

I just don't get some folk...

All the best

Rowan

Personaly, I take the rank system with a grain of salt. It's a nice touch that Jim has done. It actually mean nothing!!! We all can tell how a person is from reading their posts. I think most of us can tell if someone is an idiot by what that posts. I think its important to go with a little commonsense and not take the ranks to seriously. I meen it!!! If I were to take it seriously I'd remind Jim that that birdy thingie I have is a CAPTAIN! #:-) STUG

Jim I don't even really notice the ranks now and I too would not mind being kept as a private.

The actual problem is not so much with the "rank" some posters are after, but rather the empty garbage that gets added to a thread while they seek the higher rank. The answer a person is looking for, or advice or whatever the case may be, becomes a long and arduous exercise in reading all the "empty" posts for the one looking for help.

I don't care about the rank either. But, I do agree with keeping the nonsense posts to a min. I have enjoyed this site because the c___ is kept to a min.

I think the campaign medals and ribbons are more an indication of interest and involvement than the rank.

BTW, speaking of campaign ribbons, what happened to the ones for the Small and Big Campaign? HMMM? (Where's my bleeding gong? #:-) )

Hi. Understand about the ranking system and why it was used here to encourage particpation on the site, but I, like you, have seen examples of it getting out of hand in certain postings. My only suggestion would be to limit this 'rank advancement' to postings that actually have something to do with modeling and it's sub-fields, questions and answers and such. Anything else would simply be counted as a post but not added to the number required for the next rank promotion. Or some such thing. Unfortulately this may create some hard feelings for those new posters out there, as it would make it harder for them to advance as others have done in the past.

Tell the truth I wasn't to pleased to make a rank above Sgt. as I never cared for officers in the real military anyway. Ha, ha!

What ever you decide will be okay by me. Love the site. Have learned much here and am pleased with all the answers to the various questions I have posted. Thanks for all your heard work on it, it's appreciated.

Take care, sgirty

I agree with sgrity... The rank system does promote participation .. But for people to literally double their number of posts overnight is just a waste os the space and the time of folks who are reading the threads to hopefully find some answers.. Perhaps it needs to be policed a bit more..

Dave

Here we get into a problem with policing the forums. There are 3000+ members and most participate in some small way, this would be enormously difficult to read each post and deem it rank worthy or not. As a forum moderator, I find it difficult enough to read each post in my forum (Searching For, Buy, Sell, or Trade) and keeping Jeff Jones out. This would be impossible in a more active forum like general modelling or Armor without several highly coordinated and highly motivated moderators. This is just a volunteer site guys, you can't expect that kind of thing from volunteers. I like the fact that I chose my rank a long time ago and that it doesn't change so I feel free to just be myself and post what I want where I want and no one can accuse me of rank hunting. Jim, what about setting up a system where someone can pick their own rank after so many posts like the 80 you used to do, but maybe a little higher? Just do it all automated so you don't have to do anything on it.

Rob

It may have something to do with being "new" to site. I don't think that anyone means any harm but they don't realize that 2 word post slow everything down. There was some discussion in one of the threads about writing a basic forum ettiquete blurb that could be giving to new members. I think Sabot originally the idea.

Maybe something along the lines of the information I found at the link below. Yeah, I know it is about a foster care forum, but hey, it is early on Saturday morning and I'm at work...

Shaun

Forum Ettiquite

My 2 cents: The rank system is kind of cool, but most people don't take it to seriously. And if they do they are probably some of the younger members. I kind of like some of the off topic or strange threads that get going, and I don't mind reading short posts if they are saying something. But are 2 word posts saying " me too! or cool man!" really adding anything to the discussion.

Hi again




I quite agree - the "Off Topic" threads can be really fun and, like Introductions, I think they add to the sense of community. (Perhaps these categories shouldn't count towards rank?)

Maybe the "problem" is that promotions come too quickly...

If it took 500 posts to reach Corporal, maybe the "nonsense posters" would get bored and give up! :-)

For now, maybe "culprits" should be told politely to "get a life"...

All the best

Rowan

It doesn't make much difference to me anyhow, but it is a nice touch... But Geez Jim you said that posting of nonsense is not welcome... LOOK AT DSB threads! it's all about the comedy! We're a bunch of goof balls relaxing with a bit of fun. Not that most of us don't post elsewhere, even I've managed to give a tip or two and I don't even build kits.. Find me a nude figure and I'm happy or ask about Oil colors and I can help, but the rest is GREEK to me.

muhahahaha anne

no for real I like the ranking system and their is a new user around who made captain in 3 days its like strange cause that means you have 2 post @ anything and any forum that goes round

and noone normally post @ all the forum's

atleast I dont thats why Im still a captain I guess hahaha

jim cant you set a minimum of words for a post or someth?
not for the dsb forum tough cause sometimes one word sais enough.
and I dont care for rank aslong as I can be a general
hehehehe

Well the DSB is a special case.

Besides I doubt you guys/gals would want someone posting like 50 "yeah" messages in a single topic thread. Get's old.

Jim

It's not impossible to post real content and gain rank. I don't visit most off-topic forums and never in the DSB forum. I refrain from posting just the "Looks great, excellent job" posts. I try to give some constructive critiques where possible.

I think I have more posts than anyone else, but the percentage of fluff posts is quite low, although I did post just to avoid the number 666 and reach 667.

Me too.

(Just kidding)


Honestly, when you’ve been on this site for awhile, you tend to notice names more than rank. I’m much more interested in reading what Kencelot or Tin Can have to say, than I am to read the post of some “general”. I don’t think there’s a real answer for this, except perhaps to ignore the people who are not adding to the conversation, and hopefully they will get tired and go away. Policing the site, I think, is untenable. And, since they are only breaking the rule of common sense, maybe this is something we just have to endure.


Mike

lol no wonder noone ever replies 2 my questions and I was thinking they was 2 difficult LOL
:P

I really like the rank system although I don't take it seriously. Like others have said I tend to look at the names of the people posting, and gathering a mental list of those I respect and always read their posts first. I also look at not only the rank, but also how many posts they have in what lenght of time. By that if I see somebody who has posted 300 posts in a month I tend to wonder just what they could possibly have to say in that short of time.

I think every one here knows who this thread is in response to. It seems to me that this should be a job for the moderators to police, and I don't want to heap too much on these great folks who have volunteered to help out here. If somebody startsto notice that one or more people are "posting for rank", or any other frowned upon activety, then they should PM each other to see what should be done. A warning should be given privately to the offending person, if they don't change their ways they should then be banned.

I've seen things like this before on other sites. Usually the people involved are immature and when they see people aren't responding to their posts they usually go away pretty quickly anyway.

What I don't want to see though is any kind of limits to the length of posts. Sometimes I really just want to post a short reply to let people know that I have read their post, I appreciate it, and want to thank them. I also don't want to eliminate, or even change, the rank system just because a few people might abuse it.

When done sincerely I don't think anyone has a problem with these instances. Just to let you know.

Jim

I have to admit that I have laid off posting unless I feel like I have something really relevant to say. I almost never start a thread. That said, I will still write a five or six word thanks to someone that post a link to a web site that I add to my favorites. I don't think Jim or anyone else else is telling us to be shy. I think they may be telling us that ;0 is not a proper response. Maybe?

Shaun

That's a good point Shaun, it's rather annoying when you find nothing but a smiley or single word comment... In all honesty I did get a chuckle from my other half and his "Hi Dave" posts a while back, but even that became unnerving after a while.. God knows SS-74 became frustrated by it. I don't know much about the armor kits or planes but when pals ask me to take a look I'll give them my opinion and it may sometimes seem repetitive. But when you're not completely familiar with the object that they are working on it may be the only way you can give that person praise or objectionable comment. sorry...

All good points here so far

What has been said before I actually only see the name of the post or thread I`m reading and I read a serious amount of threads and sections here on Armorama. I only stopped posting on things I actually know nothing about. My last plane is built 9 years ago and I have actually not done anything on that area ever since I`m not familiar with the techniques/painting and more of that so I can`t say anything valuable then: "nice job" and with that I`m not really adding something to the thread. This same situation counts for modern armor, Ship models, Sci Fi, and name it I`m a WW2 modeler and even from that I have a little amount of knowledge. I know the techniques in that part of modeling I know the kits and more of that here I can say something usefull. Same as with dio building here I can give my experience in dio building and things I did to solve.
Several times people accused me from being a rankhunter.. I will call no names. But as far as I did look back I think I have never seriously spammed this site but the fact that people said that I did It for the ranks was enough to me to limit my posts to things I only know something from or I have a question in particular.

For me the Ranking system is of no Value. Keep in mind it`s not the rank that makes you a true member of armorama It`s you behind the rank. I have met several guys who are member of Armorama here in holland and when we talk about Armorama we are never talking bout: "hey that Captain Ladida is a good guy" NO we are always talking bout callsigns or even original names if we know them so the ranking system is not a thing of great importance for me and I know there are more people out there who think the same as I do

Robert,
I agree. The rank and medals are all in fun. Everyone should remember that rank really doesn't gain you any special favors on this site. Your contributions will however (at least in my eyes).

Also the whole point of my original post was to make clear that what is really important here (for new members to learn) is that spamming the site is NOT acceptable. I want to stress that again.

Thanks,
Jim