Many of us agree that the reputation/ranking system on SoM was made with good intentions, but has become a widely abused political tool that does not meet its intended purpose. This is a call for the site admin to remove the ranking system, and I will list reasons below why.
A description of the ranking system and its purpose may be found in this post:
Not all members can vote, and a fair system should be all inclusive. Would it be fair if only certain people could vote in government elections? No! That is why we had the American civil rights movement. Not all members can see their ranking and have to ask others if they have been ranked fluffy. The fact that it is not all inclusive leads to an inaccessible oligarchy of members on the site who control the rankings.
The ranking system is inaccurate and not useful.
There are a number of mature members here who know a considerable amount about magic and the occult, and still have low, none, or fluffy rankings. Many who have fluffy rankings
There are a number of members here with "knowledgeable" rankings who do little to help other members. I have seen them frequently make condescendending remarks to new members, deride other members' paths, start heated arguments in chat, and otherwise treat people with disrespect.
I have noticed factual inaccuracy, lack of citing, and even what could be considered hate speech in forum posts by high ranked members.
The very fact that fluffy rankings are not visible to normal members makes them a useless feature
The ranking system is heavily abused and contributes to bad behavior on the site.
A member who learns they have a fluffy ranking is discouraged from contributing. Similarly, those who can see fluffy rankings are discouraged from helping those who have them.
Members who learn they have a fluffy ranking now have just cause in their mind and little to lose by trolling members whom they suspect gave them that ranking.
The ranking system is often used vindictively when a low ranked member and "knowledgeable" member have a disagreement. Fluffy rankings are a form of "badge of shame" like the felt yellow badge that Nazis forced Jews to sew on their clothes prior to the holocaust.
Rankings are more often used as a political tool to reward friends for agreeing, and "fluff" those who ask tough questions or have differing points of view. They are also frequently brought up when members talk about others behind their back in coven chat.
Rankings are used as a way to discriminate against cartain paths and practices. People have different opinions about what constitutes legitimate magical practice, that does not make it okay to lump everyone under a derogatory term applied to those who make untruthful claims about being a non-existant creature or claiming success in fantasy magic.
if this post results in me getting a fluffy tag, I will wear it with honor. Personally, I would prefer this unfair system gone than have the ability to rank others myself.
What are your opinions on the ranking system? Do you feel it has been used against you unfairly? Would you rather see it changed in some way than removed?