The title “Straight Dope Science Advisory Board” has been given to persons who are active in writing at least one Staff Report (or Special Report, or Mailbag, or whatever the heck they’re called) each year. Up till now, we’ve also used it as an honorary title for former moderators.
However, we’re doing some housecleaning, and we’re removing that title from those who haven’t actually written a Staff Report for well over a year. We’re also removing it from retired moderators.
I’m just posting this so you know. Most of the people who are losing the title haven’t even posted on the Message Boards in two or three years, let alone help with Staff Reports. So, it’s probably not actually much of an issue, but in case there’s any flak or curiousity, I thought I’d let y’all know.
Not your decision, I know, Dex, but to relay it to Ed and The Suits: IMO, those who have stepped down from Moderation for “honorable” reasons – too busy a personal life, burnt out, etc. – as opposed to those in a “quit or be fired” situation – should get some sort of honorarium title. If it wouldn’t mislead some into thinking there’s still a staff relationship, I’d sugget “Moderator Emeritus” – the ‘professor/minister emeritus’ is classically a ‘he’s retired but still well loved’ usage that shouldn’t mislead.
It might also be worth your while to explain how people become SDSAB members. I gather that an offer is made and accepted to write a Staff Report, it’s scrutinized, and if one or two such reports pass your exacting standards and the person is amenable, he/she is offered the title. But I’ll bet I’m wrong in at least one detail on that, and it’d be interesting to know how they are chosen.
I’m involved with the administration of the SDSAB, so I can’t speak to titles like “Moderator Emeritus,” but the Powers (and I don’t disagree) feel that, deep down inside, the fewer titles the better… espesh those that are not self-explanatory.
No, you’re not wrong, although usually it’s more than two such reports to get someone into the coveted and highly distinguished group.
With all of the hoopla that went on regarding whether or not SDSAB meant ‘member of the establishment’, people want to have ex-moderators keep the word ‘moderator’ in their title?
Yeesh, not that I’m expecting to ever be made a Mod here, but if I was, and I stepped down, and I continued posting… I don’t think I’d still want to have some title hanging around my neck that would get me dragged into the pit every other week for my off-the-wall explanations of SDMB policy.
One issue to consider is that the board software shows that member’s current title on all their old posts. (And I really don’t like that behavior) It’s sometimes confusing reading through an old thread and seeing posts that refer to titles and/or positions that are no longer current.
How about for former mods, we bestow the title “Charter Member” upon them? It’s sleek, classy, and leads to as little confusion as possible. Simply put, it’s perfection.
