Since 2011, they site has added Rep to each person that has an account here. It has nearly been a year since this has happened and there are still people on here that think their rep is unfair.
We know that the lowest is Fluffy (hidden from most users, even from the user him/herself). To most Fluffy means you are just another person that doesn't understand what magick is and think magick is harry potter. Others think Fluffy is another term for trolls and such. It really doesn't matter what it means, it is just the lowest title on the site.
Some people will think they have that title because they do not see any Rep on their profile. Which comes to another type of Rep, the blank title. This just means you are new and haven't really done anything to impress anyone important (Important as in people with high rep). If you want to improve your rep just kiss up to the knowledgeable people and the Adepts.
Then the list goes on to beginner, novice, knowledgeable, and adept.
For those that worry about their own rep will try to get adept as best as they possibly could. These people will also complain about why their rep is so low or that their rep isn't on the same level as them.
Rep to me is something that really doesn't matter because only a handful can improve your rank. Because if you post something they agree then they will give you some points but if you post something that you believe but they don't than they will most likely give you bad points. So it is more of a popular contest than how much you know about magick (I understand that is a strong word, but it is the closest one I can think that will match the ranking system).
It takes a lot of work into the site with that one profile to really improve yourself here. You cannot just ask someone to improve it for you, you have to do it yourself. But if you have blank for rep just put it out of your mind and go out and help people on the site. There are lots of people here that need help and if you know how than go help them. Do not get blind by the ranking system to start posting random stuff that really doesn't matter to people. And besides, I know some really smart people that do not have any rep because they don't have a lot of time for this site due to job and family.
This basically shows us how the site reflects the human attributes. Ambitions, deep desires, broad systems, authorities, etc.
I really recommend checking this out. I find the 'reflecting thread fairly genius. It really reflects our attributes and associates them with our online magic community.
it's true. i just shrug my shoulders and move on really, i don't see why so many people complain about it. maybe they don't know that, like, 10% of users can rank people, and of those about 8% are very busy individuals that don't have time to read everything usuer111232 has done and then rank them fairly. i think what happens is they see a series of posts by the user, then ranks them, or they get ticked because the user believes werewolves are real and rank them down. like i've said before, nobody's perfect, nor is this system perfect. just ignore it. i'll admit i was happy being ranked novice, i'm no expert in one single thing, but i've been studying long enough to be advanced in many subjects. but beginner and novice are almost identical, there's no real need to moan over a few points.
myself, i'd like to know why people care about rank. more important though, why the system was brought out in the first place? before the ranking system [and still after] a person's credibility on this site has always come down to what they say and do. i don't care if you're ranked adept, if you go around say you're a thousand year old vampire, i'm going to think you're lying [and i know no one adept thinks that it's an example.]
Really the only thing it does is give users a general idea of the level of knowledge that a user has. A stupid person will now have the knowledgeable rank. If you say something that is not intelligent you will be ranked down. If you know what you are talking about then you are ranked up. New members usually go to someone with a higher ranking for help and advise. So to some degree it does serve a purpose. But it is very flawed.
Fortunately, most rank fairly fair. However, those that rank based on a different of beliefs do so because to them, even what is possible within particular systems of magick, is impossible because it hasn't happened to them before. The sad thing about it is, you can only rank so well based on what you see and know of a person, for most like me, I prefer not to be in the public circus. So, I remain unranked. It doesn't matter what "level" I am at, or what "level" I see myself at. What matters is what others see myself at.
And honestly, I don't care what others see myself as. I will be the person I am, believe the things that I believe, whether or not Joe, Billy, or Bob know what I know, or believe what I believe. Rankings show more the flow of ideas, than what a person believes. Some people are so afraid to back up their own beliefs when they are shot down by others. If you can hold your own without becoming the violent, irrational, irritating member screaming at the top of your lungs that it is possible, I wish to see those knowledgeable and adept types taking notice of that.
Yes, there are impossible things, like werewolves, vampires, invisibility, etc. But within certain systems of magick, the things that the majority sees as impossible constantly flux with who is making up the majority. Certain ideas, like that of a god form, will be rejected in the current status quo, but a year or two from now if the amount of people understand chaos magick changes, it may become a well discussed and believed in idea. Things like zombies, which are misunderstood as unreality by most, will be backed by those who are actually a part of Voodoo, such as MentisAmor. Things which are possible within certain systems of magick traditionally, like that of the Mayan's moulding bone as if it were clay to fix a break, or their movement to another place until a later date, exist, but they are stories to us who "know better". Those who know old stories, will either laugh at them or consider them seriously as metaphors, or even the possiblities of getting towards a true answer of how it could be done.
With those who merely laugh and go the other way, they lose something, some small sense of being, some small sense of knowing. It may not be obvious, but it happens. Those who consider the stories as metaphors end up learning, even if it is just a story.
The moulding of bone could be a hint at medicines of the Amazon that could allow bone to be reset and regrow straight and true. The movement to another place could explain where they went when people came to settle the land. The tradition of zombies in Voodoo needs no explanation, as we have reports by people who were zombies all over. The god form of chaos magick is something well known and understood by the chaos magician, but poorly researched by the rest for the insult it gives to those who work with and/or believe in deities.
The more you learn, the more you know, the more you grow. At no point you do not stop learning. Understanding between each other as to the information given, that's the key. ;)
I agree with these. I've seen some people losing their ranks and complaining it's not fair. First they don't see what they have done or what mistake they make, they just complain others by posting in the forums about it. Getting a rank is not important, the people whom your hearts you have won by giving advices, teaching them, sharing their experiences is important. I also some people having a Ego about the ranks. I'm not pointing out to everyone who has been ranked but some i see. Ranking is not the ultimate goal, there are more things to be done and made.
I agree with a lot of what is being said here. The ranking system isn't perfect, and we can all acknowledge that. But what matters isn't some shiny bar next to your name, what matters is the maturity, knowledge and content you bring to the table so to speak. If you don't feel the rank accurately represents you, and you cannot simply ignore it and go about your business, there are ways to go about improving it. Write articles, post things in the forum, bring up intelligent conversation in the chatter, and so on. Just because you say you have 20 years of experience doesn't mean you are knowledgeable in any sort of fashion.
However, there are some things said here I disagree with. For instance, "If you want to improve your rep just kiss up to the knowledgeable people and the Adepts." That is as far from the truth as you can get. If you try to "kiss up" to someone with a high rank, they're going to know what you're doing. And I can tell you personally that it isn't appreciated. Often, if someone sucks up to me I end up thinking less of them. Bothering people who are capable of ranking is not going to get you ranked any higher, and may in fact end up getting you ranked lower because rank has to do with maturity as well. " So it is more of a popular contest than how much you know about magick" No it isn't a popularity contest. There are certain things members look for when ranking others. Members who are capable of ranking do not randomly go silly-nilly through members profiles and rank. Often, they rarely rank, and when they do they put great consideration into how they rank others. I'm not afraid to admit I've ranked people I'm very good friends with down, because they were not at the level it said they were. Being popular or friends with someone with a rank is not going to get you a free ticket to a higher ranking either.
Most of the people who are ranked high around here are ranked that way for a reason. They are knowledgable in certain areas (some have more specialized areas than others), have a steady head on their shoulders, prove themselves to generally be mature and capable, and are active in contributing things to the site. But they are all human as well. And to error is human. We all make mistakes. Don't forget the people ranking are just like you.
I am not trying to harm anyone or hurt feelings, just saying how I see the ranking system.
Like a few of you have said we have to add a human factor to the system. Which doesn't make it perfect because nothing is always perfect. Just stating that getting a title on this site is as useless as getting a title in a video game. Yes the title will get you respect from people online, but will mean little to nothing in the real world. I have some friends that do the same as me, study magick, and they stopped going on here since 2008 and never came back. Even if I show them my rank on here they do not care much for it.
Again, people that only care about their rank is trying to make this site their life and home. I do not mind the home part but you do not need to make this site your life. It is okay to have magick in your life but following a site to have others look up to you isn't magick.
The ranking system is ideal for giving the new guys an idea of who knows what, not arguing with that. But we are here to learn and befriend people that are alike us, not worrying about our image. So try to not care for the ranking system if you know what is wrong and is right.
