The User Titles Discussion

[Colorful Mage]

I personally like this system, as it encourages members to participate. Too many forums I've seen have just died due to inactivity, although I doubt that's a problem here.

[acciaccatura]

Lol, the system is just fine - now if we could just have some substitution for navy ranks... i was thinking, starting off as a lowly violist and ending up the CEO of the amusement park... wouldn't that be something to strive for?

Hmm, I noticed that I have no access to the "Officer's Mess" which I should have according to my post count. But I guess that passengers are a no-no at the captain's table?

[Colorful Mage]

You aren't allowed to visit the Officers' Mess if you're a Civilian. Sorry.

[Frederik Magle]

Well, this does somewhat make for a slight dilemma. As you, acciaccatura, are the first member that has chosen to become "Civilian" I must admit I have not really considered the obivious problem arising about access to the Officers' Mess until now. The way I see I have three choices on what to do (ah, the magic number ):

A. Let things be as they are now, "discriminating" against Civilians

B. Change the name and character of the "Officers' Mess" thus allowing "civilians" access (but honestly, a majority of the activity going on in there at the moment is congratulating each other on "promotions" - just as in real life I suppose )

C. Making a "Mess" for the "civilian" members:
The "Civilian Hippie Lefties Pinko Liberal Green Pacifist Activist Commie-Anarchist Squatter's Quarters" (kiddin! )

I need to ponder this a little. "B" would destroy some of the fun of the current system. "C" could make a fun alternative choice, but the potential disadvantage would be a segregation of members that I would certainly not want, and - if implemented - it would be for a trial period at first (probably of a couple of months to begin with).

I'n the meantime, here's a little addenum to the rules about titles:

• Anyone can at any time request to get the title of "civilian" instead of a "naval rank". The change will happpen as soon as I have the time to edit the user's profile (it must be done manually).

• If you would like to go back to the "naval rank" titles (perhaps to check out what's going on in the "Officers' Mess"), you can do that as well if you have made minimum 100 posts - though only three switches can happen a year (per member) at max. Also, if you go from "Civilian" to "Navy" you will get a "rank" one step lower than the current norm for your post-count.

[Colorful Mage]

We could just raise the post count for civilians to enter the Officers' Mess to 75 or 100. If it is changed to 100, then the civilians still have a goal to reach by posting (which was the original purpose of ranks, n'est-ce pas?), while still penalizing them slightly for being civilians.

[Frederik Magle]

That's a good suggestion Colorful Mage! (Damn, so much for the three magic choices... ). And for now, that's the way it will be. with the current titles it will require 50 posts, after the upcoming change (with has been postponed a little, I'm sorry) it will be 100 posts.

I'm possibly also going to make some additional "ranks" for Civilians, but - like the access to the Officers' Mess - they will require more posts and also be fewer in number (the first will probably start at 100 posts, the next at 250, and then 500, 1000, and so on). The reason for this is that after a user's title has been changed to "Civilian" any further changes must be done manually by me. The automated system is based on the "naval ranks".

[Gareth]

How do you become a civilian?

[Frederik Magle]

You simply send a request (by Private Message or mail) to me or post in this thread.

[Frederik Magle]

Anyhow, I've finalized the system and "ranks" for "Civilians" now (though note that I may change this again later)...

First the upcoming Naval "ranks":

0 = Skulker
1 = Recruit, Pianissimo
5 = Apprentice, Piano
10 = Seaman, Mezzoforte
25 = Midshipman, Forte

Officers (with access to the "Officers' Mess"):
50 = Ensign, Principal
75 = Lieutenant, Associate Concertmaster
100 = Lieutenant Commander, Concertmaster
150 = Commander, Assistant Conductor
250 = Captain of Water Music

Flag Officers (with access to the "Flag Officers' Council & Lounge"):
500 = Commodore [con Forza*]
1000 = Rear Admiral [Appassionata*]
2500 = Vice Admiral [Virtuoso*]
5000 = Admiral [Maestoso*]
10000 = 5 Star Music Admiral [+always custom title*]


Next, the Civilian "hierarchy":

1 = Civilian
100 (currently 50) = Associate in Music (+Access to the "Officers' Mess")
250 = Bachelor of Music
1000 = Musicae Magister [+custom title*] (+Access to the "Flag Officers' Council & Lounge")
2500 = Reader, Mus.D, MA [+custom title*]
5000 = Professor, Mus.D, MA [+custom title*]


* = can have custom title besides the regular title

[Frederik Magle]

Somehow this thread has been messed up during the transfer from the old forum, so I've moved it here and changed it to a discussion thread while making a new "sticky" thread about the user titles in the information forum.

Some of you may have noticed that your user title has been changed. This is a change that has been planned for a while (see the previous post), but I had hoped that all current users could have kept their current titles instead of being "demoted". Unfortunately that was not technically possible. Instead I have have manually edited all users with a current "rank" of "Flag Officer", so they may keep the current rank. (It's simply impossible for me to manually edit all users, so I decided to set the limit at users who can already have a custom title - "flag officers")

But to all that has not kept their ranks; don't worry, you can easily catch up to the flag officers. Current Flag Officers will not be "promoted" further until they have reached a post count by the new standard, so go ahead and post and catch up!

[Kurkikohtaus]

Sorry to dig up this old thread, but just wondering... why the naval titles in the first place? The music titles (concertmaster etc.) are nice and intuitive, but why naval titles on a music site?

This is not criticism, I'm just wondering.

[Frederik Magle]

Ah, that is a good question. It's been so many years I hardly remember what made me chose the naval ranks in the first place I do believe the inspiration came in part from working with the Royal Danish Naval Band and a general interest in seafaring. It may not be the most obvious choice for a music forum but it has become a MIMF tradition now - reminding us of the good old days. This forum has actually gone through many changes through time (and in "internet time" it's actually a quite old forum).

My advice to all members is to only take it for what it is: a fun, quirky touch.