I like Dave's suggestion if it's possible, that is to carry over both the "joining date" and TOTAL number of posts (on both sites) but have the option of choosing a different rank display on this site.

It reinforces the concept that our "identity" is tied to the overall site, and not two totally "different" sites. But our "membership" is in the total family.

But if that's too hard to do for technical reasons, it TRULY isn't a show stopper by any means.

Tom

No offense taken, my friend, I'm way past that at my stage in life!
And as far as my call sign goes, mate, my Dad (a career Marine DI~SEMPER FI!!! ) gave me that nickname at a VERY young age, and it has stuck since...can't really go by anything else, know what I mean? And quite honestly Rodge, a real Marine does have an anchor close to his heart now, doesn't he!?
~Gunny

Boy, I'm sure glad that this is Staff Jim's problem. There's a number of neat ideas floating around out there, but no matter what he does somebody's going to gripe.

I like the plankowner idea (cuz I think I qualify). As to changing the number of posts for a promotion, sounds good, but, since the break out, I'm posting 20 to 1 here vs. Armorama. Kinda disturbing since I consider myself to be an airplane guy.

I think over reacting is an under statement.

The whole issue of ranks and post counts is constantly debated at the micro-level of forum management, usually well outside the periphery of the readers. In this case, it was a matter of symantics and trying to find a matter of how to incorporate naval rankings with army rankings when you're on the other side of the server. To me, it's a macro-level discussion, as I personally think they're a waste of time, because no matter what you do, someone is not going to be happy with it. The only solution then is to eliminate the problem by eliminating the system and making everyone equal...hey, like a peace-loving naval ship modeling commune - dude. Can you dig?

The inevitable problem (as I stressed before) is that some people post up useless posts simply to increase their post count (and their rank as a result), as there's some perception that a high post count equals superior intellect. Never, anywhere, did I consider you part of that group.

As I mentioned before, it's the quality of the information that people share that makes the community a viable, useful forum. Posts with nothing but smileys or "he he" in the body text does nothing to improve the quality of the content.

If you're offended by the term JORG (Junior Officer Requiring Guidance) well, that wasn't directed at you either. It was intended for those wide-eyed individuals who come to the forum looking for guidance and direction. It was not meant in a derogatory manner, nor is it considered derogatory aboard ship. It pokes a little fun, sure.

As for wearing the uniform, yes, I did. Ironically, it was Army, not Navy, although I should have since I love the sea. As the son a 3-tour Vietnam helo pilot (West Point '63, now a retired general), the grandson of a retired Korean War Army full-bird Col. and a highly decorated WW2 Marine officer (killed in 1945), and the great-grandson of a 1st Div. infantry officer that served in Cantigny, Soissons, St. Mihiel and the Argonne Forest, I think I've earned the right to poke fun and use military jargon. Although I must confess, aside from my great-grandfather arriving on the Continent in 1918, no one is my family has contributed directly to preserving the crown or the commonwealth.

There, now my rant is done.

And I must ask...why does something as trivial as ranks or post counts matter anyway? Does it make us better people? More respected by our peers? Is it a badge of honor that says we're here more than we should be?

I just don't get it. To me, it matters not, nor do I take someone else's rank or post count into consideration when I offer advice or help.

That, I believe, is the one thing we agree about.

Jeff

Do I own a splinter yet?

Shut up Steve


ok.

Should I call a corpsmen or a medic? If you do own a splinter, where is it located and does it require removal? Either way, I know I've got the paperwork for a Purple Heart around here somewhere...

For those of you who know me, this is my nature and you've come to expect nothing less. I can joke around as much as the next guy, but there's a few things I've learned in my life, especially in managing large forums, that are just not worth wasting brain cells on. This subject happens to be one of them.

For those of you who don't know me, if I'm directing something at you personally, there's no mincing words and there will be no doubt in your mind. I practice sledgehammer diplomacy with a tinge of humor. That being said, I'm also the same man that will spend hours of his own, precious time looking for a single photo or drawing to help out a fellow modeler.

I am the epitome of a double-edged sociological Damocles' Sword (think on that one for a bit). Damocles' (the JORGs) knows not what Dionysius (the likes of Staff Jim and myself) deal with on an everyday basis, with someone always complaining about something on our respective forums. I just try to put it all into perspective...with an edge, albeit a very sharp one sometimes.

Don't ever take anything I say personally unless I'm specifically directing it at you. Now, if in the course of conversation you THINK I'm directing something at you, then it's your conscience, and not my comments, that are coming into question...

All this babble done, it was not my intention to offend you, and if I did, then I am truly sorry.

Jeff

Rui,

Where's my splinter?

Actually, Tom, I didn't suggest the bit about the joining date and total posts, just the alternate service rank.

I think it's sensible to have a different post count here from the A. The fact that we have ranks & post counts (doesn't matter to me BTW, as I've said before and been kicked for it on the A), means that it matters to site admin as a sort of membership history. Also an expert fig modeller might be a newbie at ships, so makes sense. If there's any carry over, maybe the total posts should count from the first time the member posted in the Ships Forum back when it was on the A, and the joining date also from then.

We asked for it, like it or not, we got it! Looks like Staff-Jim made the post counts merge between both sites.

BZ Jim, now you can work on the things you really want to work on! :-)

I actually was making some of the "network forums" changes tonight and changed the code a bit so that we don't get the silly "unknown user" situaion for people's posts that haven't posted here yet. For now the ranking system is up in the air as to whether it will be universal across sites or tracked on a site to site basis. I agree with Jeff though. Much ado about something that is only intended to be a bit of fun... not a serious matter.

Jim

...and I just noted that my "post" counted in the ModelShipwrights bucket and is not showing up on my regular (Armorama) post count. The posts are still being counted however... they are just not being displayed correctly.

I will have to sort that out sometime this week.

Jim

Geez I can't not log in for even one day without changes. I was wondering how some people I didn't even know on M.S. had more posts than I had even seen.

Seems like the only constant in life is change itself.

Rodger,

It's actually pretty good once you look it over. Now we can keep up with the intros, techniques, and a lot of general modeling stuff with only 1 login.

Must say I was pleased to see the network forums added to MSW as well. I was missing a lot of stuff as I log in here far more often than I do to Armorama now

I was kinda enjoying the starting over rank thing. As Jim says, it was for fun. We used to post in the old Junk drawer our promotions and drink cyber-beers to each other when we achieved new rank As has been said, the ranks meant nothing. I offer a lot of advise and give tips , but I think I ask far more questions then I do give answers. I also like to cut up, but that is just my personality. And yes with 5,000 + posts, I probably do spend too much time on these sites, but what the hey, it's my life and I live it the best I know how.

Just an observation, and I stand ready to be flamed for this, but post counts don't seem to be working here any more.

I've also noticed that when I log in, the "what's new" features (the check marks and the pink folders indicating new threads don't appear to be changing. I'll log in and stuff that is now "old" still appears as "new".


And yes, for some reasons the posting count doesn't seem to be incrementing.


Tom

Well, I'm glad to see someone else notice the post count thing. I thought it was just me

The post incremenation is happening. However the post number being shown is for Armorama not for this site. This was a temporary change so that people who have not yet posted on this site don't all appear as blank profiles.

When the fix is finished you will have this....

Total Posts: 235
This Site: 31

Total being all posts on the network. This site being the site your post is being displayed on.

Cheers,
Jim

I see where you're heading Jim, but I'm afraid to say that I think there is still a gremlin in the works - posts here are not being incremented into totals, but those on Armorama are getting included.

Personally I tend to post a lot more here than I do on Armorama now, and the counts here haven't moved for as long as I can remember.

As an aside, although I do like MSW have to add that I find I don't visit Armorama so much now that they are separate sites - liked having everything 'under one roof' as it were. Just lazy I suppose...

Hmm, all change whilst I was typing that last post - now all the counts have gone! Something I said?

I’ve noticed the missing post count just now aswell.

Also this may be off tapic but sense the network forums are talked about above.
I’ve noticed that the painting and airbrush forum wasn’t added as a network forum and was just woundering why?