Just a simple title, that's all that is really needed. Something that when you click on a person's profile will show other than citizen, subscriber is a good idea.

Perhaps 'plain registration' gets you 'Citizen' and subscribing defaults that to 'Subscriber', a naming option available at all levels from then on....eg. an Apprentice level person could also call himself 'Subscriber' [assuming he has, of course]...

Cool idea Jafo! I definately like that one.

Personally, I'm less demanding of recognition then you guys.....I just want the title of 'Pope'

@yrag

You may have already, given your decision to use such language on this site. (Not that never heard it before or used such language myself, but given the site rules certainly not kosher here.)

Ah, edited to add that the comment I responded to miraculously evaporated rather quickly. Apparently a mod/Admin provided another response to the poster's remark.
[Message Edited]

Maybe we should be called supporters?

If you can't be a skinner at least be a supporter.

Like the line in the movie "If you can't be an athelete at least be an atheletic ..........."

I like the icon idea. As far as titles go, I'm good either way. After all, when you're Chef all other titles pale anyway.

I have been hesitant to post on this thread for fear my comments might be misconstrued, but I have finally decided I need to get this off my chest and risk the potential fallout. Having become somewhat familiar with Essencay through this messageboard, I would like to believe he did not intend to be disparaging of Stardock customers in the resolution of his petition. Nevertheless, this last line of the resolution disturbs me:

"The time is now to distinguish these residents from the mass of non-paying Wincustomize registered users (level 2) and residents who have only purchased Stardock products (level 3)." [Emphasis mine.]

Stephen, I'm sorry to single you out, but it appears you authored the resolution. I would have let this pass completely except that recently I have seen some comments reflecting a similarly superior attitude toward those who are only Stardock customers and not (yet?) subscribers to WC.

My understanding is that a major source of funding for this site is a grant from Stardock. Forgive me for assuming, if I am wrong, but I believe it could be reasonably argued that those funds by extension come from people who "have only purchased Stardock products." I am an Object Desktop subscriber, for which I paid $49.95, and I will pay another $34.95 to renew my subscription during the same period of time in which someone who uses only Stardock freeware and subscribes to WC will pay only $19.95.

Let me say now that I love the Stardock products, I love WinCustomize, and I avidly promote both to anyone who is willing to listen, as well as to a few relatives who are sick of hearing about it. I also have been trying to contribute here by answering help questions, and will soon be posting my skins which hopefully people will appreciate. And I know for a fact that there are other Stardock customers 'only' who do as much or more than I do here.

I am not debating the value of a WC subscription, nor am I ungrateful to those who have contributed directly to the financial support of this site. The only reason I haven't purchased a subscription, yet, is that my fiancee tipped me off that my soon-to-be step-children want to give a subscription to me for my birthday in May. (At ages 10 and 8 they have to save for a bit to come up with the money. )

But I also know that for a number of people, students, for example, coming up with that extra $19.95 is a luxury on top of purchasing a Stardock product, a luxury that they may have to wait on for a while. Regardless of their reason for not yet purchasing a WC subscription, I don't think it is very conducive to recruitment to refer to us in a condescending manner.

I apologize for the lengthy post, but I was unable to edit it any further and be sure I said all I felt necessary.
[Message Edited]

Shameless Designs - No offense taken and I agree with what you have said. Yeah when I go back and read the last line again myself I can see your point. That effect was purily unintentional. I was looking more for words that were a rallying call to gain support for an idea to say thanks to people who help support WC in a financial way. There are alternatives available to folks to reach (level 4) other than shelling out money and when folks are promoted to this level, through other contributions to WC, they receive a title change, a recognition in the community. Nevertheless, To all community members please accept my apology for coming across as condescending and not giving value to what each and every person here contributes to the community.

Shameless....Essencay....note the reticence in #1.....my concern was for the fairness of not being elitist or discriminatory while at the same time acknowledging a person's contribution/s to the site.

By 'praising' one form of contribution are we really degrading another?.

Actually, the idea of distinguishing by 'degrees' of monetary contribution that someone proposed is pretty horrid....next it'll be means-tested or indexed to GDP.....

I tend to think that someone who 'subscribes' to the site is doing so to support the site directly, whereas a Stardock product purchaser is achieving the same by a less direct approach as a by-product of the Proggy purchase/s.

Perhaps the salient point is that these Subscribers may also be Stardock Customers as well so are perhaps 'more' noteworthy for contributing both directly AND indirectly.

Anyway...as long as it's a title that is optional it need not be poked into people's faces as a discriminating tool...

 

From my understanding the only way to reach level 4 is to subscribe.Pruching Stardock products only gets you level 3. I agree with most of what Jafo said (in both his posts), I don't need a special icon for being a contributer. If there's one fine, if not thats also fine.

ok...since i happen to be a subscriber,i'd personally love to have a kind of title...when i first signed here and found the title of citizen in front of helenangel i thought it was a little queer and i sent it away... i have to say i felt a kind of inferior in front of the author's and other titles of the community.So ,i agree with Stephen as long as the title is something that will come out of the free will and mood of all of us..Let us vote ...

I still go by my original post.
I think a title saying 'subscriber' would do the job. No need for an icon.
It's not as though subscribers need this so they're getting their money's worth. They already have access to the quick servers, plus all the subscriber suites that get released.

Fully agree to Hippy.

Essencay, thank you very much for acknowledging and graciously understanding the point I was trying to make.

Jafo, your reticence in post #1 was noted, at least by me, and as ever, sir, your perspicacity is appreciated.

To all subscribers, lest you think I somehow intended to diminish your contribution by my post, I assure you that was not my intent. I applaud you for supporting WinCustomize, and agree whole-heartedly that you are deserving of recognition. As one who has benefitted from your donations, I do thank you all very much.

The next version of WC (yes, we are working on one) will show little badges like GalCiv.com does.  It's in the works, it's just not done yet.

I think that a subscriber title option is a great idea.

Maybe this is one of those moments I should keep my mouth closed but, how about giving the non subscribers a new title. A title like "Moocher" might draw in a few subscribers.

The next version of WC (yes, we are working on one) will show little badges like GalCiv.com does. It's in the works, it's just not done yet.

If this is the case, then this thread is moot

/me must be psychic

Badges? Badges? We don't need no stinkin badges!

j/k

@ sig101...that's classic

It was a typo.
All subscribers will get free badgers.

free badgers

Yeah free vittles Anybody got any good recipes

my favorite recipe is badger au jus