Suggestion for validating staff members of this forum

[whole diary]

[Ollie]

We've always checked posts that are potentially false in this way, and how we make those checks has been tested and honed pretty well now. That's fantastic news for everyone else, as it means that official ans staff posts have that greater validity - something of a stamp of authority.

As an idea, maybe members who are proven to be staff could get some sort of rank?

[JayMac]

Captain Ollie? 

[Ollie]

Captain Ollie? 

I'd go with that

[Worcester_Passenger]

Perhaps Captain Ollie RNFGW?

[sheepbingo]

As an idea, maybe members who are proven to be staff could get some sort of rank?

That may be a good idea -  I [grahame] posting this from a test account to show you the sort of thing we could do 

[LiskeardRich]

I can only agree, something between name and avatar to show who is verified to be a genuine staff member. I think i've seen 3 people pretending to be staff in the last week now!

[Ollie]

Perhaps Captain Ollie RNFGW?

Dare I ask what the RN stands for?

[Worcester_Passenger]

Perhaps Captain Ollie RNFGW?

Dare I ask what the RN stands for?

"RN" after "Captain XYZ" usually stands for "Royal Navy", to differentiate it from the Army's (lower) rank of Captain.

"RNFGW" just had a nice ring, though I can't come up with a good backronym.

[readytostart]

With some of the posters produced across the network it could quite easily stand for Resident (k)Now-it-all. (Meant with the utmost respect Ollie) 

[JayMac]

Military style ranks could be problematical though.

What if we get rail staff members joining who are called Mainwaring, Jones, or Pike?

 

[grahame]

As soon as we get to different rankings, we're looking at how we differentiate.

How about two groups:

a) For staff members who work for national network companies in a rail role for at least 20 hours a week.  Working title - National Railway Team Member

b) For staff and volunteers who work on heritage lines, for companies providing services and supplies to the rail industry, volunteers with community rail groups, etc, who have a knowledge that's at such a level that they can represent their group.  Working title - Supporting Railway Team Member

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

What if your both 

[grahame]

What if your both 

See what I mean about differentiation problems 

Then perhaps you can be both, or take the higher(??) National rank.   Dunno.  What do you think?

I am concerned at the borders.  Volunteer groups can start off with one or two people saying "let's get together to organise xxx" and then it grows - sometimes into something pretty serious.  At what point do the main players in such a group become eligible for SRTM status?  It's a bit of a minefield.  Or perhaps we should ask the members / vote?  Star chamber? (yuk!).

[Btline]

I think something simple such as "FGW^▸ (First Great Western) staff" or just "Rail staff". Or, if the person doesn't mind giving away their function: "Guard"/"Customer Service"

[JayMac]

Or just a simple request to TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)/Network Rail or Community/Heritage/Volunteer staff to include their bona fides (if they so wish - some way wish to retain anonimity) in their signature or avatar text?

Ollie is already quite clear in his signature text:

Anything I post is my own view and not that of FGW^▸ (First Great Western).
Anything official from FGW will be marked as such.