I lost my baaaadge

Since I'm a horrible S2k'er of 10 years and only log about once or twice a week this last year (contract work, a broken car, and running a business in your "free" time tends to slow down your social life), I wanted to at least put in my two cents here since the original thread was closed before I could add to it.

A short clip from Jeff's post in the (now closed) thread:
[QUOTE=WhrDLMI]First, let me explain why we have badges. This plan was instituted a few years ago by the Community Organizers as a way to prevent fraud.

 

I still remember you

 

Werd...



Understandable rant

Edited to add: And it looks like along with that badge, I just noticed another one got deleted from my sig. I guess whoever did the deleting did so carelessly. I guess I'll have to pay for a membership to not get my crap deleted.... if that ends up higher on my priority list than say, utilities, which I doubt it will.

(Sorry, I didn't mean to start my own mini-rant.)

 

Just an FYI, Community badges can only be given by "that" region's COs. They don't have access to your other badges.

 

MacGyver, the badge doesn't really have any bearing on your credibility around here with anyone, I don't think. I don't believe anyone who sees that you've been a member here for over 9 years, and have a 2.5 post per day average is really going to question whether you're a trustworthy and honest guy. Do you? I think I speak for most rational-minded people in Mid-A (and on the forum as a whole) in saying that a person who has been a long time and regular contributor to the discourse that takes place around here is going to have a more valued opinion than some noob that has a badge in his sig. If I were going to buy something from someone that I've never met in person, something that I often do as a member of s2ki, I'm going to be checking their history on the boards and not whether they have a badge in their sig. Same goes for taking advice on how to fix my car (well I'll call Cory for that, but that's another story). So, even though I've never met you, you have credibility on the boards in my book.

So, while I agree that maybe it's a little silly that being a paid member is a prerequisite to badging, I also think it's a little silly that you're even sweating the issue. If you're really that concerned though, I'll be happy to pony up the $20 for you to have a year's membership if that's what you want. Merry Christmas.

 

I think the premise behind the badges is stupid. I never wanted one since I joined here and I still don't want one. I think that if someone is going to trust you (even me) its going to be through word of mouth of others, not because of a badge.

I think the badge thing goes back to high school as far as who is in the "cool" group.

Just my $.02.

 

 

Awww, MacGyver, dont be upset. Im still new to this community and I know when you write in to take your words to heart. You are Mid-A's Hirotoshi Honda

 

Ok, gentlemen, I hear your concern. However, the requirement for your badge is, and has been, that you:

1. be a member
2. attend meets

Therefore, if you are not a member, you do not get to have a badge. Whatever value you place on it (or do not place on it) those are the rules.

 

So basically be in the "cool" group.

Seriously, some of us happen to attend meets with others when our time permits, just no one notices. Just because we don't get out to a sanctioned meet that the COs attend or organize means we can't be a member. Seriously?

I'm sorry that we have to cater to the schedules of the COs to be a member of s2ki.

I'm sorry that I have a job that has a demanding schedule and I don't have time to make it to a meet that a CO attends.

I'm sorry that I can't attend every meet that is in the middle of VA because I live 2+ hours away and when I try to organize a meet somewhere north of VA no one wants to attend because they don't want to drive north of the VA border.

I am no means crying that I don't have a badge. I like i said, I don't want one. I just don't think it is fair to others who try to be as active as possible as their schedules permit and they become an outcast because they disappear for a few months at a time.

What about our military members? I know there are plenty of members here who are in the armed forces. Are you going to strip them of their Mid-A badge because they go away for 9-12 months for a tour of duty and can't show up except through teleconference?

If you want to strip someone of their badge for not paying, fine. I can understand that. But for not attending a meet because they have other priorities such as their families, putting food on the tables for their family, I.E. their job (especially in this economy we have to be very careful of skipping out of work for a meet with the job cuts going on), or because they are away serving our country so you can drive your own S2000 on your public roads freely and attend meets that they cant.

Get off your high horses people!

I'm proud to be a s2000 owner, s2ki member, and a member of the Mid-A region regardless of whether I have a badge or not. But stripping tenured members of their badges (who have put in their time here just like anyone else) is so juvenile and I think gives the Mid-A region a bad name.