You told us George, many years ago . .about the manipulation,
And I've been watching carefully ever since.

In 1984 you introduced us to Big Brother, and though I shutter . . .to think about
the harm . . .in Animal Farm . . you made us all equal, although some were more
equal than others. But, if I had my druthers . . . . .
I'd do away with the ranking.
I'd do away with the speech impediment caused by required numbers.

You were right George, they've taken away our freedom of speech. We cannot act
spontaneously anymore George. Now they tell us how many words they want us to
use to express our thoughts.
They have developed a formula George, a formula that ranks us as a
"contributor" to this society. We no longer can be just our old selves, we have to
fit into a "bracket" George, a level of hierarchy created for this democracy of ours.

George, there are no options out of this mess, without just going away. And maybe
that's what they want us to do . .go away.

Some of us have been newly named George. Some of us are called Bronze, or
Silver, or Gold, or Solid, or Platinum, or Cosmic. What we used to be before is now
gone. Some names come with adulation, some not. Are we dividing instead of
uniting ?

I am waiting for my new designation George. I hope I fit in. I want to. My new
name will be Head-Up-Arse. Tell me George, will I be able to move up the ladder
of hierarchy ? Maybe become a "Solid" Head-Up-Arse. Or maybe, just maybe, a
"Cosmic "Head-Up-Arse?

I think I'm learning to go along with the program George. I'm shutting up.

Didn't really expect too much response on this. Kind of touchy, isn't it ?

So . . I have been designated an "Apprentice". Whoopee-doo.

Some formula has determined that I am an "Apprentice". Let's see :
ap-pren-tice (middle english) . . .1.) one bound by indenture to serve
another for a prescribed period, with a view to learning an art or trade,
2.) an inexperienced person : a novice.

So I see the word "Apprentice" every time I log in, and knowing the
definition, it irks me every time just the same.

I don't give a rat's patoot about points, or stars, or flags, or applause on
a personal level. I would like to respond to a post by saying "Great Job",
or "Well Put" but that of course would go against the grain, so I star and
flag whenever I feel it's warranted.

But now we're being told how to express ourselves. (If it takes thirty-seven
words to say what you could say in five . .well that's just the way it is . .
five is too short . .as per the new rules.)

We have titles bestowed upon us without discretion. Have we begun a
points race now that will never end until we ascend into Cosmic bliss ?
Do we have to achieve here now ? We can't just "be" anymore, we have
to progress up the ladder of hierarchy ? It's like everything we do or say
is being "ranked". Are we secretly being graded on our posts now ?

I don't like things shoved down my throat. I don't like being told "that's
just the way it's going to be!". I have no interest in becoming a "Cosmic"
anything. I have been here awhile yet I am a freaking "Apprentice".
Why, because someone says I am ? Baaah !

Equality is being replaced with elitism.

Come walk a mile in my old shoes and then see how applicable the word
"Apprentice" feels to you.

I have no inclination to move "up". I have no inclination to move sideways.
I don't want to be part of the ratings game.

Put simply, I just want to be who I am, to stay who I am.

Let those that want to "move up" move up.

For three years I've been comfortable in my little niche here at ATS, with-
out this designation of "Apprentice".
I do not like titles or someone's manipulation "to achieve". I don't work
for ATS directly. I became a member because I believed this was
as close as you could get to equality in an enviroment like this, that
kicking things around with people without titles here was a heady
experience all by itself, and if you watched closely, the cream would
rise to the top anyway. The experts and gurus always came through,
. . .even without a bestowed title.
I believe that experience may be going away.

I hope some newby doesn't come on here with a fantastic idea and get
intimidated by all of this. I hope he doesn't come to believe that points
are the only criteria for respect.

This is my favorite forum, but tothetenthpower is correct when he says
this thread probably doesn't belong here.
Mods, if you move this thread to another forum please let me know where.

I'm just interested to see if anyone else feels as I do.

tothetenthpower : Thanks for responding. But I feel like I'm beating my
head against a wall and getting nowhere. We all have our little things that
chap our hides. Titles and forced achievement do it for me. Sorry, it's
just the way I feel about things. Take care.

It's funny what a day or two of really talking about something you believe
in can do to you. Whew !

Since posting this originally, I can tell I haven't settled into anyone's good
graces. I asked myself if I was being hypocritical or narrow-minded.

But, I still believe the same. Sorry if that bothers some of you.

As there doesn't appear to be too much discussion on this subject, I guess
I'll just dry up and blow away.

I am worried that some of us who might enter writing contests and such
will be pre-judged up front just because of our "titles". Then again, I look
forward to being judged as an "Apprentice". Remember, I am in training !

Got my head right boss. Got my head right, now. Shaking it boss . . . . .
shaking it . . .