Forum "Ranks"

[bdperkin]

From the moment you register an account, you have a "Rank". The Rank title and, in some cases, Rank image are displayed below your user name and Avatar image. There are 22 of these ranks that you will be automatically assigned based on your number of posts. As you pass certain post thresholds your rank will automatically change.

However, it is sometimes fun to have a personalized rank that reflects you as you would like to be seen. As a result, we have created a policy for requesting a special Rank title and Rank image:

• If you would like a custom Rank title, you must have 216 Posts and a Joined date of more than a year before the date of the request.
• If you would like a custom Rank image, you must have 432 Posts and a Joined date of more than two years before the date of the request.

To make your request, send a private message to "Forum Admin" at ucp.php?i=pm&mode=compose&u=2 with your Rank image URL and/or Rank title text. The granting of Rank images and Rank titles is at the discretion of the Forum administrators and Global moderators. If your request is deemed inappropriate in any way, you will be requested to submit a new request and you will be provided the reason the first request was denied.

• Images should be no larger than 120x120 pixels and preferably a JPEG format image.
• Titles should be no more than 36 characters.

This policy is subject to change at any time and is for entertainment purposes only. "Ranks" do not reflect any official relative status. We hope that you enjoy this feature of the Forums.

[Nathan Cross]

I do not think I understand "rank image". Does that mean new users have a predetermined avatar or some such and cannot pick their own until they fulfill the requirements?

[bdperkin]

This post attempts to answer the question "Where did the Posts and Joined values come from?" The short answer is that it is relatively arbitrary and is, of course, subject to change. For this first pass, the Joined value of one year for a rank title and the Joined value of two years for a rank image is purely based on the likelihood that a forum user for one year has been to at least one Animazement and a forum user for two years has been to at least two Animazements. The moderators and administrators do nothing to verify this, we just believe it to be a safe assumption and is an easy value to find for each user.

The Posts value is slightly more complex, but still is relatively arbitrary. The Posts value of 216 for a rank title and the Posts value of 432 for a rank image is based on Harshad numbers:

A Harshad number, or Niven number in a given number base, is an integer that is divisible by the sum of its digits when written in that base. Harshad numbers were defined by D. R. Kaprekar, a mathematician from India. The word "Harshad" comes from the Sanskrit harṣa, meaning "great joy".

More about Harshad numbers at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harshad_number

The formula created for the posts is simply:

P = 108 * 2Y

where:
P = Post count
108 = Constant derived primarily from a cultural tradition in Japan,

at the end of the year, a bell is chimed 108 times to finish the old year and welcome the new one. Each ring represents one of 108 earthly temptations a person must overcome to achieve nirvana

. Other reasons for this constant's selection can be found at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/108_(number)#In_Eastern_religions_.26_traditions
2 = 2 (Your Code Monkeys are Computer Science graduates, enough said)
Y = Years since joining the forum

The results are:

Rank Title: 216 = 108 * 21
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/216_(number)

Rank Image: 432 = 108 * 22
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/432_(number)#430s

And that is really all there is behind these values. For those of you that had the question at the beginning of the post, I hope this answers your questions. For those of you that did not care, but read anyway, hope you learned something interesting.

[bdperkin]

I do not think I understand "rank image". Does that mean new users have a predetermined avatar or some such and cannot pick their own until they fulfill the requirements?

Avatars and Rank Images are two separate things. There has been no change to Avatar policies and there are no plans to change those policies. There are currently only two ranks that take advantage of the rank image on the forum at this time. Nobody saw a good reason to restrict this functionality to only two ranks, so it is an extra perk for those that have been around for two years and 432 posts.

[Nathan Cross]

Sorry about getting in between your posts, there, I jumped the gun a bit. xD

[Writing Otaku]

It's amazing how you can explain that and I still don't get it. But okay.

[Nathan Cross]

Yeah, I think you might want to be a little less technical cause I'm not entirely sure any of us need that deep an explanation for the ranks and all that and I know the majority of us don't understand it at all (like me). I think just a simple explanation as to "why" would go miles farther. xD

[aderyn]

The post numbers are kind of odd. However, I kind of get the 108 thing as a cultural aspect (though I do not understand the math behind it, nor ever will) so that's kinda cool. And as for the rank avatar, is this like some sort of image that goes above your current avatar?

[asnaylor]

Here's an example which might clear up some confusion (I hope animexCrazedxFan does not mind my using them as an example!! ):



In the image above there are four elements:

1) The square image is the user avatar
2) Below the avatar image is the username, "animexCrazedxFan"
3) Below the username is that person's custom rank, "Cutest Card Capturer"
4) And finally, the user's custom rank image of a tiara.

Does that help?

[Nathan Cross]

Why yes, that actually clears up everything quite nicely. :3 Thanks much!

[aderyn]

Being as the example was using a crown, would it make more sense to put them on top of the avatar? I believe that is what it was like before.

[Kyaroru]

.
.
.
<-------------- subsilver2 has it on top



Replicant2 has it underneath in this general vicinity ------------------------>

[animexCrazedxFan]

:O I was an example! but now I understand it all

[Takashi-san]

Didn't it used to be like 1000 posts or something crazy like that?

[PuppetQueen]

Didn't it used to be like 1000 posts or something crazy like that?

yes, which in post people's minds wasn't a crazy number. It signified that you were dedicated to the forums and Animazement, and that you weren't just a spammer.

[BobD]

Rats! I've got 247 posts to go.

[PuppetQueen]

xD

I didn't mean it in a bad way or anything, I find the calculations for the new requirement interesting [:

[BobD]

xD

I didn't mean it in a bad way or anything, I find the calculations for the new requirement interesting [:

We like to think of ourselves as "unique" from all those other forums out there...

[aderyn]

ranking of post system ≠ understanding. The math! D: <--horrible at math

[Dimmuburger]

So, shouldn't I have one of those things by now?