Member levels

[InsaneApache]

You could always swear at Tosa or flame a new member. You'd soon be demoted to a more satisfactory level.

Nice to see you old friend.

[Kas]

lol Hello Apache!

[Togakure]

Heh, Kas--as usual, you are too kind. Thank you but there are things of which you are probably not aware. And I don't really value such labels of merit anyway.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I have, in the past, complained stridently about the Member vs. Senior Member distinction being elitist. I have, in the past, requested removal of my Hall of Fame award to support this point of view, and was refused. This, along with some clan issues back in the VI days, prompted my change of account to Masamune (new account, no badge, etc.). Only recently did I request that account be merged back into my original in anticipation of S2TW, a request which was kindly granted.

There was one occasion long ago when I, as a matter of principle, refused to apologize after deliberately insulting an elite Backroom member. You might remember how rigid I can be about principle. The mod who asked me to apologize is now an admin. I think that incident had a lasting negative effect. And there were plenty of others, less poignant, but I'm sure, annoying to staff. As my old "un-clan" leader and MP wing m8, you probably remember that I can be as much a pain in the ass as I can be a help. I say it how I see it, and often don't sugar-coat. Sincerity and all that. Being "just" a member is fine. Preferred, actually. Thanks for the shout-out though, m8.

You were around in the days of the original Shogun, playing MP. You've led ambitious projects to improve and diversify the community and were good at it. You were well-known and respected in the MP community long before I even knew what GL HF and 4 max no ashi meant. I think most if not all who know you here would agree that you definitely deserve the distinction of Senior Member. It's good to have you back. Please stay for a while.

[Kas]

Going off topic now, but I'll stay...sulking until STW2 will be released

I don't play any other TW versions now. Gave up on STW/MI/WE, sadly my comp just don't like older stuff.

I'll wait...already happy a new Shoggie in the pipeline.

Back on topic...the rank thingy not a big issue of course...was just wondering about it.

[LittleGrizzly]

I think you've got it all wrong anyway, us senior members are the useless old guys talking about the glory days, so its fits us quite aptly

[Togakure]

Ah, Senior Citizen members--I get it now. But where are the discounts??

[drone]

The best perk is access to the .Org's secret pr0n stash.

[Monk]

Heh, Kas--as usual, you are too kind. Thank you but there are things of which you are probably not aware. And I don't really value such labels of merit anyway.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I have, in the past, complained stridently about the Member vs. Senior Member distinction being elitist. I have, in the past, requested removal of my Hall of Fame award to support this point of view, and was refused. This, along with some clan issues back in the VI days, prompted my change of account to Masamune (new account, no badge, etc.). Only recently did I request that account be merged back into my original in anticipation of S2TW, a request which was kindly granted.

There was one occasion long ago when I, as a matter of principle, refused to apologize after deliberately insulting an elite Backroom member. You might remember how rigid I can be about principle. The mod who asked me to apologize is now an admin. I think that incident had a lasting negative effect. And there were plenty of others, less poignant, but I'm sure, annoying to staff. As my old "un-clan" leader and MP wing m8, you probably remember that I can be as much a pain in the ass as I can be a help. I say it how I see it, and often don't sugar-coat. Sincerity and all that. Being "just" a member is fine. Preferred, actually. Thanks for the shout-out though, m8.

You were around in the days of the original Shogun, playing MP. You've led ambitious projects to improve and diversify the community and were good at it. You were well-known and respected in the MP community long before I even knew what GL HF and 4 max no ashi meant. I think most if not all who know you here would agree that you definitely deserve the distinction of Senior Member. It's good to have you back. Please stay for a while.

Sorry if I'm jumping in here late, allow me to give a bit from Staff perspective.

The purpose behind the Senior membership tag is not at all an attempt to divide or make distinction between favorites and undesirables. In its simplest, it is a way that we (the staff) see fit to give our thanks to those members who have done extraordinary things for both the .Org and the Total War community at large. This normally takes the form of guides or walkthroughs of consistent and amazing quality, but can also be as simple as welcoming new users to the site and answering the mundane questions that everyone has when coming to a new place.

It is the way for us to demonstrate an example to others and to honor those efforts. In the past, some have misunderstood our intentions and thought themselves above our rules simply because they were senior members, which is nothing short of dishonorable by definition. When it comes to dealing out infractions or deleting offending material, the membership status of a user is never once on my mind in regards to the severity of the punishment received. All incidents are taken on a case by case methodology. To my knowledge the staff has never turned away feedback or criticism because someone was "just a member".

As for the incident you describe, Togakure, I can't comment as I don't know the specifics. Though I can say personally since I first saw you posting (on the Masamune account) you've been nothing short of a positive influence here. If you're curious, the only thing that changes for you when you become a Senior is a bigger PM box.

Back on topic...the rank thingy not a big issue of course...was just wondering about it.

If you'd really like to be demoted, send a PM to one of our admins (Ser Clegane or TosaInu) to get the ball rolling, we have removed the senior membership tag in the past on request - i can't see why that'd be different now.

[Togakure]

Thanks for sharing your point of view, Monk. That's essentially the same basic response I got before, a perspective which I understand. It may be that the Senior Member title is seen as you describe by some, even many, but I think it is still perceived as "status symbol" by some--evident by the periodic inquiries in the Tower. Intent and reality don't always match.

But: it doesn't matter--I don't want to reopen the debate. As stated, I'm content and would prefer things remain as they are. I just felt it necessary to respond to Kas' inquiry as he mentioned me specifically. He remembers a time long before I changed my name here to Masamune, when I was much more passionate and involved.

[caravel]

I don't see why HoF awards can't be removed on member request? If you really want it removed you should PM TosaInu (seems like a very respectable HoF award though and from my perspective doesn't carry an "elite" tag).

I can see both sides of the argument - why the SM honorific is bestowed and why it might appear "elitist" to some. The .org actually has a pretty simple ranking system in comparision to some other forums. If the SM promotions were done through public nominations and voting, then in reality it would just be a "popularity contest" which is not what Senior Membership is about.

[Togakure]

I don't see why HoF awards can't be removed on member request? If you really want it removed you should PM TosaInu (seems like a very respectable HoF award though and from my perspective doesn't carry an "elite" tag).

I can see both sides of the argument - why the SM honorific is bestowed and why it might appear "elitist" to some. The .org actually has a pretty simple ranking system in comparision to some other forums. If the SM promotions were done through public nominations and voting, then in reality it would just be a "popularity contest" which is not what Senior Membership is about.

Heh, It was with TosaInu-sama that I had that exchange, and it was he who denied my request, based on my "expecting" attitude and "consequential" behavior at the time. I still have the PM exchanges, though this took place several years ago. I just retired the old account, started a new one, and got rid of the badge in the process. Since then, I've realized that I was being silly, and that it's not a big deal, nor was it ever, to anyone but me. I was acting on a matter of principle--to support my stance about elitist distinctions creating "classes" within the population here, etc..

I recently requested the merge back to the old account because no one returning for S2TW would recognize Masa, but they might remember Toga.

Tosa and I have put that behind us and get along fine now. Playing lots of MP together and chatting afterwards can work wonders in making new friends.