Personally the rankings mean nothing to me for two main reasons. First is because i have a personal belief that i can learn something from everyone. because every persons experience is a lesson in itself. Second, I have been on this site for almost a year and from reading members forum post, conversing with them in the chat room, or lurking in chat while they talk about various magick topics, I have already established my own ranking of credibility of members when it comes to magick information and topics that they are knowledgeable about.
Yes, a part of me feels some of the rankings are bias and may have some politics behind them or favoritism in a way. I say that cause I seen this member not participate in chat but has been a large help to many in the forums for the last 3 - 4 months and personally i consider them to be a higher ranking than i but on there profile we are the same. does it make me view them any differently? No, cause i already know from my own judgement where they stand with me.
However for the site as a whole I think this is a good idea for those new and learning members who are looking for help that they can receive credible information from those with higher rankings. at the same token those with higher ranking should be more willing to help the misguided and all those that seek help publicly and in private messages no mater how ridiculous the questions may seem. like they say "With Great Knowledge Comes Great Responsibility!"
I personally think people marked as 'fluffies' should be displayed on posts, profile, ect, because it should be shown who is a fluff; which was the whole intention of this system anyway- to show who knows what, or, doesnt know what.
I also tend not to read people's 'knowledge' levels, because, as forte said above, I have found my own rating for them in how they post, what they say in chat, and so on.
If people who haven't been rated yet and fluffs are not displayed, how would we know whether they have been rated fluffy or not been rated at all?
My personal opinion is that I find this whole rating and ranking thing to be kind of demeaning and can make one feel inferior very easily. Especcially when one knows they are highly intellegent in magick and their profile says they are a beginner simply because they dont use the forums or whatever else as much? Thats a bad way to rank people, even though people should not have to be ranked anyway.
I couldn't careless about it because some poeple have psychological blocks such as: trust issues and paranoia or even inferiority complexes so unless you are one with that person you shall never truly know all of whichthey know
I personally don't like the Knowledge System at all..for one, it should be optional. Also, it's just another lable to put on people, like "Newbie". I for one also know many people that have been labled "Beginner" when it is very clear that they are more knowledgable than that, including myself. How is the site to know howmuch you know or how serious you take your practice? It wouldn't, couldn't. It's just more lables and judgment that no one but the "perfect people" want to have forced onto their profile.
Everyone follows their own unique path. You should know where you are spiritually at. This is just a label, and this system can be really helpful indeed( fluffies-part). Do you want to take this seriously? It's your call. Simple as that.
