[Pops]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Jack', '(')Oooh, that was subtle!)

[Grifter]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Jack', 'T')his is an absolutely delightful little case study in human behavior and psychology.

Let's see now. We have a title...on an internet forum...and it doesn't come with any particular reward. And angst fairly drips! People beat their chests, rip their garments, and cover themselves in ashes (figuratively speaking, of course). This one got the title, that one didn't, there weren't elections, and so on and so forth, ad infinitum, ad nauseum.

[roccman]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Grifter', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Jack', 'T')his is an absolutely delightful little case study in human behavior and psychology.

Let's see now. We have a title...on an internet forum...and it doesn't come with any particular reward. And angst fairly drips! People beat their chests, rip their garments, and cover themselves in ashes (figuratively speaking, of course). This one got the title, that one didn't, there weren't elections, and so on and so forth, ad infinitum, ad nauseum.

[Ludi]

I answered "no."

[Grifter]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('roccman', '
')
Grifter - I have cleared the land mines for you...

Ask away - why??

And through all this discussion today...not one "expert" has provided a reason why they are worthy AND the PO community has called bullshit.

Sound familiar??

[static66]

Can we nominate posters for different levels up to and including "expert"
5. Newbie- became aware today.
4. Blind- see's the tip of the iceberg
3. 20/20- Has read both sides including Hirsch report/Bottomless Well
2. Professional- Has organized P.O. groups, relocated to P.O. Safe zone (Can grow food in earnest/ livestock/ private water/ alt-energy systems)
1. Expert- Has published book or books on the subject of P.O. and Climate Change. Professor or Oil Geologist. No Investment bankers please.... sorry Byron!

[PrairieMule]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('static66', 'C')an we nominate posters for different levels up to and including "expert"
5. Newbie- became aware today.
4. Blind- see's the tip of the iceberg
3. 20/20- Has read both sides including Hirsch report/Bottomless Well
2. Professional- Has organized P.O. groups, relocated to P.O. Safe zone (Can grow food in earnest/ livestock/ private water/ alt-energy systems)
1. Expert- Has published book or books on the subject of P.O. and Climate Change. Professor or Oil Geologist. No Investment bankers please.... sorry Byron!

[mmasters]

I think the idea is fine without the "Elite" or "Expert" type labels, more like if you could customize your label to something other than "Light Sweet Crude". Something lighthearted and individual, like Jack could choose "Sociopath".

[PenultimateManStanding]

So, now I'm an "expert" too. Hmm, I think I like jato's designation of me as the Obi-Wan Kenobi of peakoil.com better.

[Gigashadow]

The problem with relying purely on the information in a person's post to speak for themselves, rather than a title, is twofold. It is actually a general problem on many different forums covering all sorts of topics, in fact.

First, as this is not a cut and dried issue such as mathematics, many people are capable of making extremely persuasive and reasonable sounding assertions or arguments that are nonetheless incorrect.

Second, some people are either not smart enough or do not yet understand enough about the topic to be able to the evaluate statements for themselves (especially ones in the above category).

[TheDude]

I'm an expert too. Expert at what I can't say. Noticing that there are experts, 'spose.

I seem to recall that this subject was discussed back when - the notion of ranking members ala Slashdot; or perhaps ranking posts - and that there was a comment that it would be unworkable for some reason.

Perhaps a poll could be conducted where we could rate some of our outstanding members, and said member could have their ranking displayed. Determining who could be polled might be contentious of course, unless that could be determined by poll as well. Anonymity's the rule.

Ranking can be advantageous in certain respects, especially when resource depletion goes mainstream - and we all agree that day's coming, right? The other day at the Oil Drum, where members aren't even ranked by number of posts, someone called into question the whole concept of assessing oil production, since how can anyone know that any of the data is verifiable? It was like a falsification reductio ad absurdum. Perhaps the poster had been bringing up the subject for years, but I kinda doubt it. If an Elite (or whatever) member - or even a member with a high post count - had simply jumped in with something along the lines of "Rubbish" instead of having to debate the issue, it could save some unnecessary mucking around.

You can imagine the same applied to common PO debunks like abiotic oil.

[threadbear]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Gigashadow', '.')

First, as this is not a cut and dried issue such as mathematics, many people are capable of making extremely persuasive and reasonable sounding assertions or arguments that are nonetheless incorrect.

.

[Armageddon]

The older I get, the better I was

[Heineken]

The "titles" continue to proliferate, I see, and the hierarchy to harden.

Reminds me of the office world and the barnyard (I'm thinking chickens, see).

I can understand "Elite"---it means you're in tight with the top dogs, if not one of the top dogs yourself. Elitism is something we've traditionally looked askance at here in N. America, but of course it's only human nature. I can live with it, although it makes me want to barf if I think too much about it. If I was ever offered the "Elite" title (fat chance, admittedly), I would politely turn it down. I state that here for the permanent record.

But "Expert" (another title I'd turn down) begs the question, expert at what? Who decides, and how? Does the "Expert" label imply that everyone else isn't? Are those who are not "Expert" deemed fit to offer advice and information? How encouraging can that pecking order be to them, as they consider investing their time and energy contributing to the content of this site?

Overall, a bad idea.

[jasonraymondson]

Yep, Aaron has really kicked himself in the gonads over this one.

[Heineken]

Thank you for the "Expert" title. I'm honored. Now please kindly restore the former "Fusion."

[threadbear]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Heineken', 'T')hank you for the "Expert" title. I'm honored. Now please kindly restore the former "Fusion."

[roccman]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Heineken', 'T')hank you for the "Expert" title. I'm honored. Now please kindly restore the former "Fusion."

[AirlinePilot]

I can take it or leave it. I didn't even notice it until the Dude pointed it out.

It's neither here nor there. Just a bunch of pixels near the avatar. Each participants posts speak for themselves.

I think Aaron is a genius though. What an interesting and enlightening discussion and look into the psyche of the PO boards.

[roccman]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('AirlinePilot', 'I') can take it or leave it. I didn't even notice it until the Dude pointed it out.

It's neither here nor there. Just a bunch of pixels near the avatar. Each participants posts speak for themselves.

I think Aaron is a genius though. What an interesting and enlightening discussion and look into the psyche of the PO boards.