So... uh... wth happened to my user title?

[Sorahn]

Just noticed tonight that my user title has now turned to "Novice", with no means of me changing it.

Looking through some other threads it appears this has happened to everyone except moderators and admins.

Normally something this superficial wouldn't really bother me but I have had the same title since I started on here, like over 4 years ago, and I don't see why we need to take them away now, and make them for mods/admins only.

What else rather bothers me is the new titles appear to be based on post count alone. That shouldn't label a person on a RPG forum as it has no bearing on experience.

Again, I guess it's not really that big of a deal, but if anything I would rather not have spent 4 years on this board and obtained level 3 (yes I was inactive for a while) only to be labeled a "Novice". Just because I don't post everyday in threads in the Flying Stone doesn't mean I'm a novice.

[Cyrus the virus]

Despite how much you say it isn't a big deal, you sure seem to be making it one. I kind of understand the frustration, but really, is it that big of a deal?

We've reset them in order to make them less common and more of a priviledge, I suppose. We'll likely replace 'novice' and the like in the near future. More importantly, I think most people are smart enough not to consider you a novice just because it says that under your user name.

[Dissinger]

If you do decide to change them, you should probably come up wiht more neutral names. Hero and novice seem too over the top, especially if the character is a villain.

Journeyman is good. I could maybe see wanderer. However I agree, it kinda was nice being able to make your own custom user title.

[Sorahn]

It's not a big deal, except that I didn't see the need for the change. "If it ain't broke don't fix it" ya know?

Plus after all this time I got kind of used to seeing that title there. I dunno, I guess it just feels like a downgrade. Like I'm being demoted. I know that's not necessarily the case, but I think that's why I originally reacted the way that I did.

I was a moderator once. Can I have mine back? lol

EDIT: Wow... and in an extreme display of irony, this post was my 100th post, thus upgrading me to apprentice. lol

[Atzar]

There's a reason for it. You'll find out about that soon enough, methinks.

As for titles, I think they should be based on random animals of increasing size. Shrew, capybara, dingo, moose, hippo, polar bear.

[Reiko]

I really don't like not having user titles anymore. I felt they allowed people another way to set themselves apart and there wasn't any jealousy since all members could have it and not just a group of people.

It's like returning to the crumby old times when not having a custom title or highlighted user name made you feel small. I mean everyone having a custom title gave everyone some equality when there was other differing things like level and the like. I dunno the generic subtitles just sorta bug me.

It also reminds me of when Althanas had an epidemic of Score syndrome where half the threads and all the PGs had a minimum score to join.

[Serilliant]

I really like animals of increasing size. For some reason, that evokes undeniably hilarious images in my head.

[Atzar]

I'm not gonna ask.

[Cyrus the virus]

Sorry, but if not having a user title makes you feel small, you have issues that having a custom user title isn't going to fix. Not exactly the polite thing to say, I know, but it's true.

Keep in mind you have a signature to use if you like. You used four lines of it, so maybe you could maybe push the potential of that instead?

[Sorahn]

you have issues that having a custom user title isn't going to fix.

Harsh.

And I agree that it creates just another unnecessary competition. Along with making moderators and admins even more elite than they already are. While I love you guys and appreciate all the hard work you put into this site, this gives me the impression of "look at me, I'm better than you".

I guess I just have a problem with being labeled in general. Well that and it doesn't feel good to have something, then have it taken away.

But, since Atzar says there is a reason for all of this, I'll wait a bit to see exactly what that reason is.