Member titles

[Alice Holmes]

I was wanting to know how the member titles on this forum work. I know that there should be standard titles that change, depending on the rank. I was wondering what those were. Also, on many forums it is a special privilege to get to choose your own title. I was curious as to wether we do that too, and if we do, what the requirements would be.

[Undead Medic]

At the moment we have the following user ranks:

• Trainee Detective: 0-10 posts. (Moderated)
• Junior Detective: 10-200 posts.
• Senior Detective: 200-1500 posts.
• Consulting Detective: 1500+ posts.

These could be tweaked at some point if anyone has any suggestions.

[Alice Holmes]

OK. I do have a couple of thoughts though...

 

it seems a bit odd that it only takes 10 posts to change from Trainee to Junior, but then 190 to change to Detective. With my experience with forums, titles start out more closely together and gradually grow fewer and farther between. I know that this may be difficult due to the fact that there are only four ranks, but we could always add more. And I especially think this may be a good idea due to the fact that the forum is still relatively small. (We are growing, however, which is fabulous!!) It will take an inordinate ammount of time to change ranks, and when people join a forum, and after the two or three day rush is over, you need something to motivate them to keep coming. It may seem like a silly thing to be motivated by, but subconciously people do think about it.

 

Just a few thoughts, not trying to boss anybody...

[Undead Medic]

• Trainee Detective 0
• Junior Detective 10
• Detective Sergeant 30
• DI Lestrade 50
• Lestrade's Boss 100
• Senior Detective 200
• Army Doctor 500
• Consulting Detective 1500

I've added a few more ranks.

 

If anyone's got any suggestions for other ranks feel free to post them. Who knows the best ones might make their way into the system.

[Alice Holmes]

Nice. Sorry if I was bossy...

 

These are great! I'll let you know if I have any ideas.

[Undead Medic]

We're always open to constructive suggestions, This is supposed to be a community after all.

[Alice Holmes]

Indeed.

[Alice Holmes]

Wait--one more thing. By "Lestrade" do you mean Detective Inspector, and by "Lestreade's Boss", do you mean Detective Superintendant? Juuuust...wondering....

[Undead Medic]

Could be a Detective Chief Inspector, Or A Detective Superintendent or Detective Chief Superintendent I suppose.

[aely]

Or Sherlock...

[Alice Holmes]

Yeah or that...LOL I'll shut up now...

[Carol the Dabbler]

OK, this explains why I suddenly became a "Detective Sergeant" a few days ago. Cool!

 

• Trainee Detective 0
• Junior Detective 10
• Detective Sergeant 30
• DI Lestrade 50
• Lestrade's Boss 100
• Senior Detective 200
• Army Doctor 500
• Consulting Detective 1500

Just one suggestion: It could be a bit confusing to use names of specific characters, since a lot of members use character names as their screen names. Maybe it could be simply "Detective Inspector" instead of "DI Lestrade," for example. Then above that, as you say, the next three could be:

 

... Detective Chief Inspector,

... Detective Superintendent

... Detective Chief Superintendent ...

 

And you're quite right, "Consulting Detective" is obviously the highest rank!

 

I think I'll go to bed now, and see if this post makes any sense to me in the morning ....

[onthegokc]

This is very interesting. Is this spelled out anywhere else in the Forum? Can't wait to move up the ladder towards being a Sherlock "Consulting Detective." I'm also working on getting my picture on the wall, and a T-Shirt, from a local hot dog restaurant, when I eat every one of their 39 different hot dog menu items. They have some wild combinations. It may take me a few weeks as I am sure it may take me a few weeks to move up the ranks to be a Detective. (Yes, my life is full!)

[Undead Medic]

The ranks as they currently stand are:

• Trainee Detective Constable 0
• Detective Constable 10
• Detective Sergeant 30
• Detective Inspector 50
• Detective Chief Inspector 100
• Detective Superintendent 200
• Detective Chief Superintendent 500
• Consulting Detective 1500

[Carol the Dabbler]

That last step seems a bit steep, but I suppose by the time someone has 500 posts, they're motivated more by the participation itself, not so much by getting gold stars pasted on. (Assuming that someone is all grown up.) (Which I may be someday.)

 

Each of the lower ranks is approximately 2x the one below, but then Consulting Detective is 3x. However, lowering it to 2x (1000 posts) would leave one with nothing to aspire to after that. What would you think of inserting a new rank at 1000, then bumping Consulting Detective up to 2500?

[Undead Medic]

Ranks above Detective Chief Superintendent to choose from:

• Commander (Metropolitan Police)
• Deputy Assistant Comissioner (Metropolitan Police)
• Assistant Comissioner (Metropolitan Police)
• Deputy Comissioner (Metropolitan Police)
• Comissioner (Metropolitan Police)
• Assistant Chief Constable (Other Forces)
• Deputy Chief Constable (Other Forces)
• Chief Constable (Other Forces)

We seem (To my knowledge) to have run out of specific detective ranks.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Near as I can see, yes we have.

 

Instead of trying to pick just one of those administrative ranks, how about adding Assistant Consulting Detective at 1000 (as a nod to John), then Consulting Detective at 2500? We presumably want a structure that will remain something of a challenge for a few years yet. Does 2500 seem high enough to you, Tim -- or anyone else who'd like to offer an opinion?

[Undead Medic]

There's always "Army Doctor" which is a rank I originally had in mind as a nod to John.

[Carol the Dabbler]

I guess it's just my amateur OCD that likes to see the list be all detectives. But that's just me!

 

Unfortunately, I have no idea what else to suggest, since I have no idea what John's "title" might be when he's working with Sherlock. He's referred to himself as a "colleague," but "collegial consulting detective" doesn't have much of a ring to it. My dictionary gives "associate" as a synonym for "colleague" -- what do you think of "associate consulting detective"?

 

Or other ideas? Anybody?

 

No great rush, obviously!

[aely]

John basically watches Sherlock's back, he's his security - bodyguard if you like - in more ways than one. Maybe use that somehow? I like the idea of another rank before we hit the 'top' with Consulting Detective (though I do like Army Doctor).

[Carol the Dabbler]

John basically watches Sherlock's back, he's his security - bodyguard if you like - in more ways than one. Maybe use that somehow? I like the idea of another rank before we hit the 'top' with Consulting Detective (though I do like Army Doctor).

Consulting Detective's Bodyguard?

 

At the end of "Study in Pink" (or maybe the pilot?), John tells Lestrade, "I'm his doctor" -- which covers "bodyguard" in certain senses. I've also noticed in several episodes that John sounds like he's acting as Sherlock's psychologist (saying things like, "And how do we feel about that?") So even though he's no longer an active army doctor, he's nevertheless a very active doctor. Maybe Consulting Detective's Doctor?

[aely]

I like "Consulting Detective's Doctor" but he's also Sherlock's conscience...

[Carol the Dabbler]

His moral doctor, too, maybe? The term "doctor" can cover a lot of territory!

[chironsgirl]

Um. Could we slip in "Pathologist" along side of Army Doctor? Just...you know....supporting our Molly. Becuz she is brilliant, and does cover Sherlock's back too.

[onthegokc]

That last step seems a bit steep, but I suppose by the time someone has 500 posts, they're motivated more by the participation itself, not so much by getting gold stars pasted on. (Assuming that someone is all grown up.) (Which I may be someday.)

 

Each of the lower ranks is approximately 2x the one below, but then Consulting Detective is 3x. However, lowering it to 2x (1000 posts) would leave one with nothing to aspire to after that. What would you think of inserting a new rank at 1000, then bumping Consulting Detective up to 2500?

 

 

I like that idea. It is great setting the level high for the final Consulting Detective but adding as many levels below will only make those moving up the ranks have a little more joy at meeting another level. So, i'm all for it.