LABELS/TITLES: Wise One/Burnout, Advanced Truth Seeker, TruthSeeker, et.
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As Salaamu Alaikum Forum,
I have not been able to find a post or forum rule guideline on what the titles with corresponding stars indicate, mean, represent. Nor how they are distributed and attached to one's name on this site. I have seen these thus far
Administrator-Advanced Truth Seeker (with 5 stars underneath)
Global Moderator-Wise One/Burnout (with 5 stars underneath)
Wise One/Burnout (with 5 stars underneath)
Advanced Truth Seeker (with 4 stars underneath)
Truth Seeker (with 3 stars underneath)
Apprentice (with 2 stars underneath)
Beginner/Inquirer (with 1 star underneath)Is this some sort of level or position of knowledge that should let those visiting the site know who has the knowledge and understanding of Quran and who doesn't?
The titles also represent some disturbing points to some as myself. For example, "Wise One/Burnout", does this indicate that once you become "wise", by whose ever's definition, you will for sure experience "burnout"?
While I can clearly see the need or reasoning behind saying "administrator, moderator" or titles that indicate function of the like, how are these other "labels/titles" helpful in anyway or truthful?
What is the significance of the stars? They clearly seem to coordinate with definition associated with the number of stars posted, but this seems rather arrogant to me since in school we were taught that getting more "stars" means that you have achieved more than those who don't have them.
Of course the particular individuals with the labels/titles and stars are not necessarily the ones that I am pointing out that may have arrogance or whatever due to these, because it is clear that it is inherent in the system, unless I have missed something on the site.
To me it would make more sense of putting on someone's date of joining the forum, to indicate how long they have been here. Surely one being here for years does not indicate that they have a better understanding of the Quran than one who has not, and vice versa.
Don't get me wrong, I am not politicing for a new title with more stars, I would rather not have any title other than the one that I have chosen for myself. I don't want any stars. If the sites wants to post the date that I registrared on the site, that is fine as well; althought it would not be truly representative of how long I have been here. I have watching and reading this site and others for over two years now. I accepted Quran only as my source of Al-Islam about that same times as well. So unlike my "other" title would indicate, I am not a beginner at this. But let me do say again, I DO NOT WANT ANOTHER TITLED ATTACHED TO MY NAME AND THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS POST IS ABOUT.
Hope this makes sense to someone. ;D
As Salaamu Alaikum
Please excuse me and my posts that have larger font and or colors, etc. I am getting older and it makes it easier for me to see them better!
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Salaam,
I totally agree that they are meaningless, but with all of the attention to detail that we give here, it is clear that a new person visiting the forum will not know, or may not know that they are meaningless. They can be very misleading to a person that is unsure of themselves and seeking the truth and guidance from Allah alone. They can begin to believe that those with the highest stars and titles are the best ones to trust on the forum. They may give more credence to the posts regardless of what the evidence is. They may believe that the majority of the people agree with the majority of what those who possess these stars and titles say, which could be true or untrue depending on the topic of discussion.
So just my two cents, but I think they should be done away with. It isn't cute or productive, but can be very harmful to someone's growth, understanding and/or transition.
If it is important how many posts a person has posted, put the number of posts by the person under their name. That would make more sense if that is what it is meant to indicate.
As Salaamu Alaikum
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Salaams all,
How long can this keep up? ;D
Do we actually have something on the site that maybe "everyone" will agree with? -\
Nahhhhhhh...that would just be too good to be true wouldn't it? group
As Salaamu Alaikum
(How long can it last? bravo
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Peace and welcom ImamQO, all,
Let's look at it from another angle. If a person with the "wise one" label is involved in a discussion with a "beginner" and the "beginner" has made succint points to which the "wise one" must admit, hasn't it proved that we're all just students and no one has any authority over another? If anything, I think the fact that these labels exist provides an impetus to challenge so-called authority or hierarchy in it's truthful validity.
I would think that most who visit this site do so having already gone against the grain, and thus, have opened their minds to the point where a label or title does not have any significance whatsoever. It is the truth we're after, and the truth has been made distinct from the false, no matter who's mouth it came out of.
Overall, I'm not for or against the use of the labels. Both positions have their positives and negatives.
Peace,
Tay -
Salaams Tay,
It is of course true that a 16 ounce glass could only contain 8 ounces of a substance. I guess then we have to figure out whether it is half full or half empty. Seems like you are saying that it is both and doesn't matter which way we look at it.
I would say that you are obviously correct, but putting the best possible light on the situation, and taking the best from it, those that want to do that would say that the glass if half full. Doesn't mean that those who say it is half empty are wrong, one is just more of a positive outlook on the situation.
So I think ultimately the labes/titles/stars do more harm than good. But that's just my opinion. Nor do they convey what "they were supposedly intended for"; to denote how many posts a person has posted. This could be easily done as well.
Now I already know that you can post a rebuttal to this analysis, but just so you know, it's no big deal so I am going to focus on something else and move on my friend. ;D
As Salaamu Alaikum handshake
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Peace
Are you the The leader of the Quran only or it just a mere label ? In that case you are higher than all the wiseguys here.
"Imamquranonly" can be a misleading label.
rotfl what? yay I am? eat Are you serious? ignore This was a joke right? sun
I am a leader that follows Quran only. If I had said "Al-ImamQuranOnly", then maybe you would have a point. nope
An Imam can be the leader of himself, his family, his community group or larger. You are not an Imam only if you refuse to lead at the bare minimum yourself, hopefully your family though as a man. I personally believe that every man should be trying to establish a family. peace
As Salaamu Alaikum
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Peace ImamQO,
Doesn't mean that those who say it is half empty are wrong, one is just more of a positive outlook on the situation.
Precisely.
So I think ultimately the labes/titles/stars do more harm than good.
Of course we're all free to have our opinions. I just don't think you've supported yours here. My argument is that by the very name of this site, most people involved are preset to think outside the box and not take the stars and labels thing so seriously. This is further evidenced by the fact that since it was implemented, there hasn't been a single complaint as far as I know.
Nor do they convey what "they were supposedly intended for"; to denote how many posts a person has posted. This could be easily done as well.
Of course they do. Under each name is the number of posts.
Now I already know that you can post a rebuttal to this analysis, but just so you know, it's no big deal so I am going to focus on something else and move on my friend.
Cool. Please take no offense to this, but in the future, if you have questions that are no big deal and choose not to stick around for the replies, then it's probably better to just send a pm to someone as opposed to starting new threads. handshake
Peace,
Tay -
Salaam Tay again,
I decided to respond again because you mentioned a couple of things that became revelant.
Peace ImamQO,
Precisely.
Of course we're all free to have our opinions. I just don't think you've supported yours here. My argument is that by the very name of this site, most people involved are preset to think outside the box and not take the stars and labels thing so seriously. This is further evidenced by the fact that since it was implemented, there hasn't been a single complaint as far as I know.
We at least agreed on the "precisely" point. That is a good start if you ask me.
I think I supported my opinion well seeing that I was not the first one with this concern. Wakas brought up the issue and his uncomfortableness, if I can term it that way, when the issure first arose. The link is in the thread here, I believe posted by Zenje.
The name of the site has nothing to do with the labels and stars. Most people coming to the site for the first time think that all of the articles represent the majority view of members on here. That may or not be true, but I sense that from the different debates, dialogues and even arguments on the forum, that it is doubtful that there is a majority agreement on lots of issues. Being able to think out of the box doesn't mean that one will not view the labels and stars as some sort of indicator of a writers level of knowledge or credibility. Of course a little research as I am doing will bring to light that it is neither proof of it or not proof of it.
Again, I have already mentioned one complaint, by Wakas, which proves, as you say, that your quote is only pertaining to what "you are aware of" pertaining to complaints about it. There may be many others who have a complaint or concern and have not voiced it, or that have no complaint because they have taken the labels and stars to mean exactly what I pointed out the problem could be in using them. Hence I feel that the level of confusion by members on the site substantiates in a small way my overall point. You may want to think on that one because I don't intend to elaborate on it.
Of course they do. Under each name is the number of posts.
I am glad you pointed that out, although I kind of realized it later after I made that post. I told Wakas that I think my eyesight is getting worse with age. How I missed that I have no idea!
Cool. Please take no offense to this, but in the future, if you have questions that are no big deal and choose not to stick around for the replies, then it's probably better to just send a pm to someone as opposed to starting new threads. handshake
Peace,
TayNo offence taken bro. BUT, I feel no need to pm someone that I don't know to make a simple post that I don't expect to go on forever. Several people answered the post sufficiently to my satisfaction and I was content with that. I am not one that believes every issue, point, or question has to continue endlessly. It was a question that I had and I got my answers. Simple as that. That fact that I had no intention of continuing the dialogue was not a knock to anyone, it was me just saying "Hey, okay, thanks for the answers. It is not that big of a deal. I expressed my point of view. So I will move on."
In other words Tay, I had no intention of starting a petition to get it changed or anything of the sort. I just hadn't seen it brought up so I wanted to see if any others felt or thought the same way about it.
So I think it is clear that I stick around for the replies. I just don't think anyone expects for replies to have no end, at least not me.
As Salaamu Alaikum peace
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Peace ImanQO,
There may be many others who have a complaint or concern and have not voiced it, or that have no complaint because they have taken the labels and stars to mean exactly what I pointed out the problem could be in using them.
That's certainly a possibility. And perhaps this thread of yours will bring more complaints into light and the issue will be re-evaluated.
Peace,
Tay -
Most people coming to the site for the first time think that all of the articles represent the majority view of members on here.
Whilst that is probably true sometimes, there is a clear disclaimer at the top of the articles page
THE ARTICLES DO NOT REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF ALL FREE-MINDS MEMBERS. HOWEVER, THEY ARE POSTED FOR THEIR THOUGHT-PROVOKING CONTENT
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Whilst that is probably true sometimes, there is a clear disclaimer at the top of the articles page
Salaams,
Yes, acknowledged and appreciated.
As Salaamu Alaikum
