We debated this for awhile. We were originally going to call the group “Veterans” but we (or I mostly) felt like the association with actual, military veterans was kind of not so cool. I get that veteran is just a word for someone who has been doing something for awhile and it’s a common one used, but it just didn’t feel right to me. And we also didn’t want this to be solely about people who have been here for a long time. So I threw a thesaurus at Ken and we debated on what word to use. I still think doyen is great. Or adroit. LoL.
Yeah does feel kind of rude. It feels a lot like a certain place whose members are oh so quick to say “OMG read the sidebar STUPID NOOB.” But, I get that sometimes people want to help but they don’t have the time to type out a drawn out response. And a lot of these questions have been asked repeatedly. What do you do? Tell them to read the sidebar and ask again, I guess. But that’s a whole different topic that we could go round and round about for days. LoL
No, I’m not saying that’s the intention. I’m just saying… How could it not end up being that way? A public shout out in the form of a badge/flair is going to bring attention to that person, which isn’t necessarily bad. But it also has the potential to draw attention away from others who might have perfectly good info or input.
I wasn’t gonna comment at all on this… But now I did…lol so I’ll just say I guess I just don’t see the point of it all…
I simply don’t have any problem with it. On one forum I have some crazy title that makes me sound like I invented vaping. Doesn’t help me answer anybody and I don’t get any more questions directed at me. People will go to whoever the connect best with. If someone does flaunt their “status” it will be like flaunting an education or past career endeavor or whatever, it will go over like a turd in a punch bowl. The criteria of “being around for awhile” is nice. One can expect that person to still be around tomorrow. That’s a decent criteria. Let it ride. You’ll know if it gets abused or backfires.
This has been a dilemma for me a few times. When some one asks a question that I’m only starting to get experience with and the only reason I know is from reading what ten other people said in five other places. I can’t answer as if I’m the one who knows this stuff but I try to explain, the only reason I know the answer is because I read this. Then I link to the relevant topics. I hope that doesn’t seem rude or as if I’m pretending to know stuff that I don’t really.
It feels awkward for me to answer at all in such a case since I’m still learning too but it’s better than leaving the question ignored.
for a newcomer the mentor’s advice can be comforting and not just some boob from some site he/she/it hasnt been to before but looking around at the peps holding these badges i wont see any problems w/ them bowing down to someone w/ more experience on that subject
Thank you for voicing your concerns, i appreciate it. If i didnt want this to be discussed i would have just done it without any further word but that aint how i do.
Okay. Instead of jamming it upon us why not have a poll to see how the people feel about It? The fine people of this website. No commenting just a poll.
Maybe we could have a legend of sorts explaining what each badge means? Then by the Mentor badge - These folks have been mixing a long time and have proven helpful YMMV
Then we can have another badge, a Jester hat for @anon44012888 - Don’t click his links…
It also implies that they’re willing to help. Some people have vast experience but would rather not be bothered to help anyone. In some ways, a mixer with years under their belt might have forgotten things but a fledgling mixer has that lesson fresh in their minds and can help a newly hatched mixer.
so i just thought the definition of the word would help, i don’t care about the badge one way or another.
men·tor
ˈmenˌtôr,ˈmenˌtər/Submit
noun
noun: mentor; plural noun: mentors
1.
an experienced and trusted adviser.
"he was her friend and mentor until his death in 1915"
synonyms: adviser, guide, guru, counselor, consultant; confidant(e)
“his political mentors"
an experienced person in a company, college, or school who trains and counsels new employees or students.
synonyms: trainer, teacher, tutor, instructor
"regular meetings between mentor and trainee”
And what would this say about me as a moderator and member of this community. Cave on an untried idea because some folks “think” it will fail? Do i then put every decision i make up to a vote?
Let me ask you this. In my position what would your next step be?
Let me put it this way, because I’m honestly not trying to argue. My issue is simply with the word “Mentor”. If the intention of the title is actually as a preferred resource, then why would anyone else even bother to reply? If that’s how staff wants the site run, then it will need to be stated somewhere that ‘Only Mentors Can Give Advice’. You’d have threads with replies like "Well, personally I would just ‘insert blah blah blah here’, but you’ll need to wait for a Mentor to get the correct advice.
I know @JoJo 's stance on the word ‘veteran’, but a Veteran is a military personnel. A veteran is just someone who’s been around a lot and has been proven to be a good contributer. Most forums do use ‘veteran’ (lower case) because it’s pretty universally understood. If, of course, that’s really what a Mentor is meant to be.