Plagiarism is an express ticket to being stripped. Generally breaking the terms of agreement and public guidelines are the only way to be stripped,gagged, etc.
You don't have to beat yourself up..it could possibly be what Lark said..you could of been ranked lower as a result of posting. Just learn and help people on areas you feel comfortable with.
Perhaps, and this is just a shot into the dark, just contribute more and see whether or not you regain your lost, judged by people, rank you want back. I think, honestly if you're not spouting off inaccuracies in information or things within the land of 'impossibilities' you're fine. I wouldn't worry about what someoneelse labels you as especially if you're not deserving of it.
Unfortunately we do not have the authority to choose what we feel is deserving of ourselves. Though, keep you head up and keep on helping. Do not let another's opinion discourage you from legitimately helping.
I try the best that I can to provide valid information, but I don't have a rank yet. You may be stripped if you speak ; fluff, get into arguments, or if a higher ranked person decides you don't have a proper rank, or you may not deserve it.
Just don't worry about it, keep showing your knowledge and not try to care if you have ranking or not. It it a title, and doesn't make you unworthy.
I honestly think that you should help just because you want too, heck I wish I hsd a rank but it gives me something to work for. When I get one, it too will make the work pay off. Good luck!!
Don't take it personally. If you care about a ranking on a website then you clearly care what people think about you- my advice: don't!
You know what you know, just because yourprofile has a label attached to it does not change that. If people judge your information based on the label of your profile, they do not deserve the information in the first place.
You, yourself, and the information you provide is what matters, not the ranking you have been given.
I was ranked knowledgeable, I am now back down to novice. I don't care. I know what I know, I know much more than I share on here. The day I start caring about a ranking on a website is the day I start treating this site like a competition, or a game.
There are people ranked as fluffs who are clearly not fluffs, perhaps to satisfy someone who has had an ego trip or is suffering from a God Complex- they want to be omniscient.
End of the day, be yourself and do not care what others may think about your actions- espescially people who do not know you personally.