Don't need no stinking Del for that.

ROFL !

Hi Transcendian,

"Sometimes I might simply turn to them to help me make up my own mind.

How's Guru Turn To Guy sound?"

What are you saying? Is it that we need another member posting category?

• 0 - Browser
• 1 - 4 Participant
• 5 - 9 Member
• 10 - 24 Active Contributor
• 25 - 54 Associate
• 55 - 99 Commentator
• 100 - 499 Power-User
• 500 - 999999 Guru
• >100 Super Guru - Those that exhibit exceptional aptitude in their chosen field, as evidenced by their incredible ability to impart valuable knowledge and make everyone else feel like idiots (in their chosen field). _{(That was a joke - no disrespect to super-gurus intended)}

As far as these guys are concerned, I agree. However, I believe that the more important thing to them is the sharing of information and being able to communicate their ideas for discussion and learning.

I want to commend you on finally getting your new avatar posted (but suspenders?!??!! I just drink lots of beer - that keeps my pants up fine!). Also, your grammar and punctuation have improved greatly since you started here.

Best Regards,

Mike

You know what's funny about the grammar and spelling is that when I switched over to Mac's I didn't have a split two click and can't yet figure out how to get spell check.

Hence if I don't know how to spell a word, I actually have to look it up in the dictionary.

Yes I am saying that another member category is appropriate for some of the contributions of certain contributors.

This has been batted around. We know that quantity and quality are not synonymous.

P.S. This is simply an internal to CR4 suggestion. I put it up for discussion. It is in the final hour (10 minutes) up to the administrators. As a political scientist I am interested in the outcome for any change would call for consensus, which is an odd sort of way to change things.-apparently

…and everywhere you go people needs heroes. Gurus, masters, specialists... Almost 100% of the time, no matter how good someone is there will be someone else "feeling uncomfortable" with them being "better".

Luckily for me, people just accept me for asking a lot of questions, making no comments on how stupid I am, because I already know that ...

I think most people I have "met" on CR4 are great people and to all, thank you for all your answers so far!

Hi Quobaldt,

Luckily for me, people just accept me for asking a lot of questions, making no comments on how stupid I am, because I already know that ...

There is a vast difference in being unwillfully ignorant and being stupid. The willfully ignorant think they know everything they need to. This is the equivalent of being stupid. Only the truly wise (smart) know that there is a vast (OK, I used it twice) ocean of things they do not know. The only stupid person is one that stops learning. You're far from stupid!

Mike

Part of my point has to do with good questions as equal to good answers.

There's another one of those "stupid questions" that will have all of the Super-Guru's tossing, turning, and pondering all night.

Not sure that we need another level of Guru, as who would bestow the title and on what grounds.

As said before, GA's are not a reliable criteria as I have seen some truly cretinous answers (in my opinion) classed as good and some brilliant ones (in my opinion) not acknowledged, so this could not be used.

Number of posts is more a reflection on the time available to a poster than his actual ability or insight, so that is not a very good way to do it.

I personally have a spreadsheet of about 15 names (so far) of people whose answers I would trust and on what particular subject. This list is based on my opinion of their previous answers/questions/comments, not on how many posts or GA's.

By the way, all the people you mention are on that list.

Gee time for a spreadsheet, but no time to register

I couldn't find PWSlack's comment, but not matter, I think most regulars would know it to be an apt description.

Those are some fine people you mention, but there are many more. Masu doesn't show up on regular threads so much, but his blogs are outstanding. People who visit the Challenge Questions will be familiar with Physicist. The list is long.

Most people probably carry a list of who's stuff to check out on various subjects. Not having a Guru++ title might be better - visitors would have to engage a bit, rather than just flocking to the guru of designation on any given topic.

We seem to have had threads like this a fair bit before. Wouldn't it be easier just to drop a note of thanks/tin of tuna to hero of choice ?

http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/33392/Member-Status-Revisited

http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/5858/What-Makes-a-Guru-a-Guru

http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/15639/Guruship

http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/14712/Hall-of-Fame-for-CR4

Note to C. Leonard : Pls add "Send Tuna" button to CR4 comments.

Thx.

LOL

That's maybe a good idea ; we all get 1 chance per month to hit someones 'tuna button', admin tot up the results, and the end of years biggest scorer gets a prezzie (avatar on the Times Square billboard, spot at Superbowl doing a song or something)

Send Tuna! Now your making Del's mouth water. Hope he's not drooling on his keyboard!

As I said, it has been batted around before. In this case I was prompted by the title PWSlack employed.

Jorrie's brain soars to levels that mere mortals can only aspire to.

Those involved with friction losses in pipe elbows, power factor correction, cable sizing and corrosion problems in non-return valves can only wonder at the cosmos in the vain hope that one day, perhaps, one's ashes will be used to pollute the soil of another world....

Meanwhile, back at the ranch.....

"Jorrie's brain soars to levels that mere mortals can only aspire to"

To infinity and beyond!

I think what we need, more than a new category to show that someone has posted a lot, is a special title for those who have garnered a large number of GAs on a single post. Here is such a post, and I propose that its creator be titled: His Holiness and Most Exalted Purveyor of Knowledge Bits in all Matters, with a Distinct Propensity for Verbal Diarrhea and a Tendency to Ramble and Repeat Himself.

thanks I can use a good laugh, always good to reminisce from before you kept a low profile

The title is from one of the only Road Runner cartoons where the coyote speaks. he keeps repeating Wile E Coyote Super Genus

Woe woe and thrice woe...
All is lost, you've found your way onto the Bath thread....
My commisserations Blinky...you are doomed with the rest of us now...

Oh..no, this is a different thread.
Whetever you do, DON'T go to the bath breaking thread.
Del
(BTW, I think I have the record for the most off topic votes on one post)

Wow, how many did you actually get?

Can't remember, it was in the teens.
Del

Thats a lot!!!

I do not think CR4 really needs to add another category (super guru or whatever). I started off a casual observer reading posts from time to time and it didn't take long before I was able to recognize who was able to answer a post in an accurate yet concise manner. Of course had I been a newbie asking a question that I needed a spot on answer to quickly, it might be nice to have a way to easily tell who's answer I should give the most credence to. But what fun is that?

Aren't we still "a bunch of depressed overly self concerned jerks" even WITH Del?

Is he not our "Glorious Leader" or "Fuhrer"?

"Heil Del" is what I say!!!

Oh, my God, I was about to register... What a bunch of losers....

Ignore the navel-gazing and register. We need more contributors who are mainly interested in the engineering...

Transcendian,

May I ask who actually cares if one has a title of Guru or not - if I am not mistaken this "title" is not based on the quality of answers provided it is based on the quantity.

In some cases (no names mentioned) it would appear that certain persons actually believe in their Guru title. They pontificate to others on their chosen subjects.

So from starting out as an engineering forum it is now turning into a "Look how great I am" forum.

Kind Regards

Mr. W.A Snow

I sincerely believe that we should remove the title completely.......

Its not necessary....

I agree with Andy. I would drop it. It is only based on number of posts - which is a silly way to rate "guru" or the like. "just dropped by" vs "lives at this water cooler" or "has squatters rights" or even "first with the flag" would be a more accurate title for the number of times you have made a remark.

Some of us are here for a chat, sometimes. Should we only speak when we have profound wisdom to impart I personally am uncomfortable with the "guru" title popping up just because I said something more than 500 times on this site in half a year.

Maybe admin could resolve this by leaving a blank space prefix on the 'title' for the user to enter on their own. I would make mine "no-guru" for starters. The real talent could be persuaded I suppose to rate themselves "super" and everyone would be free to modify their rating anyway you like.

Gee, I wonder

Maybe it was the pope

He's usually busy in the woods.

I just cannot stop talking to myself, even in a CR4 Blog.

My wife is worried about me.

Should I worry too, I ask myself?

But I never get a sensible answer!!!

WHY?

Your idea is not bad at all, but I would tend to ignore anyone who called themselves a "Guru" completely..........off putting.

I certainly do not want the title at all, I just want to be me.

His Holiness and Most Exalted Purveyor of Knowledge Bits in all Matters, with a Distinct Propensity for Verbal Diarrhea and a Tendency to Ramble and Repeat Himself.

Can I apply for just HALF of the title?

I believe it's one of those titles that if you apply, you can't possibly be qualified!

I did a study of human motivations as a result of my studies of espionage.

By the time I was pretty much done, our motivations can be categorized as Money, Ideology, Compromise and Ego. -Or Sex, Security and Status.

As is typical with me I add Spontaneous Affection for I am constantly aware that much of what happens in life, does not really make any sense at all.

Nobody particularly has to be here participating in this forum, so it is very low on the Compromise quotient. If there is somebody getting some sex from participating, that story would be a hoot to know about. I am certain some participate and share out of deep ideological convictions. Apparently some make a little money, and some enjoy a certain amount of status.

I'll freely admit that there have been days that were absolutely horrible for me to endure at my job, and it was an ego boost for me to get to my desk and discover that something I had written was considered a GA.

One time I was asked what my greatest flaw was, and I answered, "Lack of Low Self Esteem."

Still when push has come to shove, I myself have always hired up, instead of down.

Personally I very much appreciate it that there are participants on this site who know more than I do, and are willing to share some of that insight.

If I can give them a little status to help them get through a day, well, I'm for that. I'd like for them to get something for helping us out.

Since Status is about all that can be reasonably offered, and it is acknowledged by the members that Guru status is not necessarily a true reflection of certain members contributions to our shared enjoyment of this forum, I am for some titles, such as Super Guru, that acknowledge the esteem some particular members deserve.

Certainly the subject has come up enough so as to recommend to the wise administrators that they determine a way to reward, by title, some of these individuals.

determine a way to reward, by title, some of these individuals

I'd be very surprised if any of them wanted such. We all like to be appreciated/acknowledged, but carrying some sort of extra title sounds like more of a curse to me. If such a plan ever happens I'm not likely to be encumbered with a new title, so that's just speculation. Why not PM the folk you mention ? A reply of 'no thanks' is unlikely to be false modesty, just absence of desire. It's that very lack of fussing over the title nonsense that makes most of them great contributers. They know their stuff and simply take pleasure from helping others.

If any change is ever made to member titles, I'd go with just junking the system. It seems to cause too much confusion. I can't think why, it's all clearly explained in the FAQ's, but it does.

"it's all clearly explained in the FAQ's"

What's that?

Top of the screen on the right, it says "CR4 FAQ" (FAQ = Frequently Asked Questions). Item 27 is "What do member tiles mean" {for some odd reason that link displays as FAQ23 !}. In case you still can't find it, the section reads as under;

"What do member titles mean?

Member titles are a fun way to track user participation on the site. The more posts you submit to CR4, the higher you'll rise along the following scale:

• 0 - Browser
• 1 - 4 Participant
• 5 - 9 Member
• 10 - 24 Active Contributor
• 25 - 54 Associate
• 55 - 99 Commentator
• 100 - 499 Power-User
• 500 - 999999 Guru

Beyond that, we really don't know (and we're kind of scared...).

You must be a registered CR4 member to accrue posts towards user titles. Any actions that you take prior to registering will not be carried over. When you register, you start as a "browser".

Note, user titles in no way reflect the quality of posts provided by an individual, only the number of posts they have provided. A users "Good Answer" total is a better reflection of this.

You may notice a number of folks with titles who are not on this list. They are CR4 Administrators and do not gain rank in this way."

In other words, member title tells you nothing. They're just a bit of fun on the part of the site admins.

If there were promotion by merit instead of quantity, there would be hard feelings, appeals & arguments. The moderators in their finite wisdom have made a wise decision in avoiding all those subjective judgments.

In my case things are ever so clear - I work and am paid in an obscure corner of embedded software development (meaning I don't know why your ATM or your Winders don't work, well - I do but I'm not an expert) and we don't get tricky questions on DO-178b or tricky applications of software.

I am proudly a self-taught tool user. I've spent some money doing things the wrong way - it is a diverse list.

End of my expertise.

But I AM a chatty bastard - and this place did a lot for keeping my head straight when I didn't think I was ever getting hired again.

Hence I am a guru - but I certainly never had illusions about why, and I don't think anyone else here does either. Neither do I think the titles actually have changed anyone's behavior.

Our arrogant gits were arrogant coming in the door, our humble sods were humble coming in the door. And they are both ours as long as they hang around.

If the titles are off-putting lets change them to something more accurate:

x - xxx New Guy

xxx - xxx Settled In

xxx - xxx Old Shoe

xxx - xxxx either Do Shut Up Already or Are You STILL Here?

Suggestions?

xxxxx - xxxxxx : "Dyed in the fur"

Not to be confused with furries

It's a deep rooted psychological thing - secretly wanting to be back in the comfort of the womb, covered in lanugo.

Years ago a girlfriend was making some money by doing Christmas promotional work at a large shopping centre ('mall'). Along with a bunch of other people she was dressed up as a cartoon character (in her case, Garfield). The place was packed, all the kids drawn to this funny giant characters they knew from TV. As she bent over to listen to one of them her 'head' fell off ! Parents and kids alike were gasping in horror. I probably shouldn't laugh at the thought of all those shocked toddlers, but I was on the floor with laughter. She had to scrabble around on the floor trying to retrieve the head and get it back on.

i propose to change super guru to yoda ;)

"YODA" -now, that's a FUN title.

I second the motion. <LOL>

From the moment I got my Guru Title I have felt OMNIPOTENT!!

All should bow before me and worship the screen I type on, for:

I am he who is in the know.

I am he who is all powerful.

I am he who is so full of bunk that I can rule the world.

HA HA HA HA HA HA <choke> <cough> <sputter> anyone gotta glass of water, Thanks now where was I, oh yes:

I am he who without any assistance at all have been able to make myself look like a complete ass. (Any arguments are welcome at this point)

At any rate I appreciate the GA votes I have received from my esteemed peers. But really, I am here for the camaraderie and knowledge shared. The rest is just individual perspective, and opinion. Hopefully I have helped others with their problems even with the responses that weren't rated as GA's

I am he who without any assistance at all have been able to make myself look like a complete ass. (Any arguments are welcome at this point)

A lot of my stuff is half-assed, so in fact I've been a complete ass more times than your pathetic once. The trophy is mine !!!!

The last part I agree with.......who typed the first part while you were away?

My evil half twins, cousins, brother

That's enough!

<LOL> looks like you opened a Pandora's box of sorts.

IMO, everyone's happy as CR4 is. otherwise, none of those who've commented for the removal of the Guru title would still be around.

<LOL>

You pose like you are against removal of GURU status. But you do not want to open your identity.

(I am not against not pro for GURU... it can continue or may be removed. It doesn't matter at all)

<LOL> that was me, gsuhas, I forgot to log in before posting.

but, yes, I think after all this time, CR4 has always been a pleasant distraction. so I vote to let it stay as it is.

but now Transcendian has asked that the thread be closed. in closing, I'll pin 3 stars on the thread.

Good Langyaw

I am not against or pro Guru ststus. But, I a against "Guest" log in.

Anyway. As you wish, welcome to Guru status (shortly) after 100 + posts from you.

Did you mean "Guest posting"?

A personal view:

It is possible to use postings on CR4 to help deepen understanding of the technical issues. I would imagine that this is what the majority of readers are after. Knowledge of a contributor's track record may help decide which postings are worthy of most attention.
On the other hand, a thread originator may simply need a specific factual answer to the question. In this case it really can help to know whether the respondent really knows what he is talking about.

Whatever one's requirements, it remains best to take each posting on its merits. Remember that in other environments an "expert" is anyone active in the field who doesn't happen to work next doors, and a consultant is someone who borrows your watch to tell you the time.

Toujours, one muss caveat emptor no oldivarse.

Any info from the internet is suspect

Due diligence is always required...

no,no,no every few posts we need new quirky new post ratings to differentiate the elitist poster from the common poster, and we need VIP(Very Impressive Poster) lounge

and we need VIP(Very Impressive Poster) lounge

Apparently you've never helped break the bath