Additional Titles

[COBOLdinosaur]

During the discussion of the titles, a suggestion was made for the use of seeker.  I rather like that and it seems not quite right to call all the members simply member. So...

I propose we add the titles seeker at a level of 10 posts
and scholar at a level of 100 posts to reflect the activity of users coming to us for assistance.

[Huntress]

I'll second that.

[Anonymous]

Can you recap what the levels are and their titles please?

[keneso]

Look here
http://expertsrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=66

10 and 100 are ok, but I'd stop at that level to give titles by number of posts, after which it'd be better to do it in some other way, to not have people abuse it, posting irrelevant stuff, just to pump the counter.

[COBOLdinosaur]

member (1), seeker(10, and scholar(100), would be the only one based on post count.  All the rest are "earned" titles, and are assigned manually from the admin control panel.

[Anonymous]

Change member to novice.

Or if you feel like using a hunting metaphor ...

Rat-catcher
Scarlet
Master Of Hounds

[COBOLdinosaur]

Some people might be offended being called novice, and anyone who did not understand the terms would probably consider rat-catcher as a negative label.

[Huntress]

I think sticking with the scholastic lines will be better.

[Daydreams]

member (1), seeker(10, and scholar(100)

This sounds good, but what about members who join and answer questions? Are they members, seekers or mentors?

I can imagine, just like TOS, there will be members who ask as much as they answer. Also "scholar" sounds more advanced than "mentor".

[COBOLdinosaur]

I don't know how you would come to scholar>mentor.  Scholar is by definition an advanced student and one who seeks higher learning.  Mentor by definition is a teacher.  That seem a straight forward extension of the relationship.

Now as to those who both ask and answer.  That is the Standard forum model; we are moving away from.  Anyone can ask.  A Mentor might ask.  The asking of a question is the definition of a problem; the beginning of a discussion to examine options to a solution.  There is no "answer"; though the poser of the question will find their answer in the form of a solution.  There is no accepted comment, grade or points... so no one "answers" a question. One or many may contribute to a solution.

The path from member/seeker/scholar is not automatic or based on an arbitary point system.  To be an advisor; a member must want to do that and be judge by the Mentors in their area as possessing adequate knowlege of the basics to be able to add to the positive effort to find a solution.  Going from advisor to coach is a subjective evaluation by the Mentors that the member bring value to discusssion they are in.  The move to Mentor is a recognition by the Mentors the the member is/has become a qualified teacher.

A very qualified and gifted member could choose not to be a Mentor; and instead be a seeker or scholar... there is no automatic poof! you are an expert.  The member initiates the transition, and thus the motivation is not to gain free resources, but because they want to help others; which for many of us is simple an ego thing. It is the seeking of approval from peers; respected an proven Mentors that should be the strongest motivation.

[Daydreams]

Scholar is by definition an advanced student and one who seeks higher learning. Mentor by definition is a teacher. That seem a straight forward extension of the relationship.

I see now, of course! The rest of the explanation is excellent as well. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Are we basing our levels on questions asked or posts made?

I can ask a few questions, but may reply a LOT to my mentor. My replies should not afford me a greater level, only my questions.

And if a question is directed by a mentor to another solution, should this count? I don't think it should.

[COBOLdinosaur]

Right now the code is only supporting the post count. However the topic table, does have the poster id, so I can query it to get the total questions asked and substitute that instead o;f post count.  However the query will not be very optimized, so we might want to add a column to te user table or change the way we use the number of post column.  

In any case it will take some programming to do, but is not a big deal.  So I would suggest, that we avoid hijacking this, and that we wee if it passes.  Then you can post a proposal to count questions instead of posts.  i think that would pass, and then we can do the programming change.

[Anonymous]

Fair enough.

[Jasper]

As usual, I agree and think it sounds great.  I was a little thrown off by the use of scholar till Cd&'s explanation.  Just seemed to me a scholar was someone who was highly educated in a certain area.

Jason

 8)