Member Botanical Tags and footprints

[Jayps68]

HI, So, under each user name, theres a set of footsteps blocked out to a greater or lesser degree, and a Latin, (or psuedo-Latin) usually botanical, tag. My questions is, by what criteria are more footsteps gained, and by how is each user's botanical name chosen? While I am proud to be labelled Nothofagus Gunnii, I am wondering why?

[MickyB]

G'day Jayps68 . Hope this helps answer your question.

What is my rank and how do I change it?
Ranks, which appear below your username, indicate the number of posts you have made or identify certain users, e.g. moderators and administrators. In general, you cannot directly change the wording of any board ranks as they are set by the board administrator. Please do not abuse the board by posting unnecessarily just to increase your rank. Most boards will not tolerate this and the moderator or administrator will simply lower your post count.

faq.php

[Jayps68]

That does explain it most adequately. Thanks. Although it now begs the question why relative noobs such as myself are designated as one of the most unique plants in the country?... Just a thought. It also begs the lesser question of whether this post was actually intended to test the theory that the rank is in fact contingent upon the number of posts of a member. Who will ever know???

[north-north-west]

This forum started out as BushwalkTasmania. Then it expanded. Became BushwalkAustralia. Then just Bushwalk.com. Then it was sold but the name and set-up retained. The origins mean that the ranking flora are all Tasmanian endemics (I think).

As for upping your post count by means of sneaky and (possibly) unnecessary questions (or answers ) . . . meh, half the fun is in seeing if you can get away with it.

[icefest]

To get an understanding of when you change species, have a look at the member list sorted by post count: memberlist.php?mode=&sk=d&sd=d#memberlist

You'll also see some of the longest members have custom species names.

[MickyB]

You'll also see some of the longest members have custom species names.

I couldn't find any members with custom species names. Maybe I'm not looking in the right place. From what I can see:

6 feet = Lagarostrobos franklinii
5 feet = Athrotaxis selaginoides
4 feet = Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
3 feet = Athrotaxis cupressoides
2 feet = Atherosperma moschatum
1 foot = Nothofagus gunnii

Perhaps Wayno should now get to change his rank to a New Zealand species such as Agathis australis or Cyathea dealbata.

[Son of a Beach]

Although it now begs the question why relative noobs such as myself are designated as one of the most unique plants in the country?... Just a thought.

This forum started out as BushwalkTasmania. Then it expanded. Became BushwalkAustralia. Then just Bushwalk.com. Then it was sold but the name and set-up retained. The origins mean that the ranking flora are all Tasmanian endemics (I think).

Spot on.

6 feet = Lagarostrobos franklinii
5 feet = Athrotaxis selaginoides
4 feet = Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
3 feet = Athrotaxis cupressoides
2 feet = Atherosperma moschatum
1 foot = Nothofagus gunnii

The scientific latinised names were selected according to how likely you might be to see them on a bushwalk in Tasmania (at a time when the site was Tasmania-specific). Note that it doesn't reflect how common the species actually is (in Tasmania or otherwise). Eg, one botany lecturer told me that King Billy Pines are actually rarer than Huon Pines, but you're definitely less likely to see Huon Pines while bushwalking than King Billies. Not sure why Gunnii is first on the list, I think it was originally Cunninghammii first on the list, but was changed to Gunnii early on when the Gunnii leaves began being used in topic/forum icons.

By this methodology, the ranking may or may not suit your own observations when bushwalking, but it all depends on where you've been walking, and how well you observe and recognise what's around you. So it's completely subjective.

(Originally there were 5 ranks, not six. I can't remember which was the newly added rank when they were re-organised. Either Pencil Pine of Sassafras, I think.).

Last edited by Son of a Beach on Fri 21 Aug, 2015 12:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Strider]

I thought the most common species in NZ was Pinus radiata?

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[MickyB]

I thought the most common species in NZ was Pinus radiata?

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If you were referring to my post Strider you could be right but I was referring to nz endemic plants. I am not 100% sure but I don't think Pinus radiata is native to nz.

[Strider]

Sorry. Sarcasm doesn't convey well online

[MickyB]

Sorry. Sarcasm doesn't convey well online

Should have picked that up. Sorry - it's been a looooooooooooong week

[icefest]

Sorry. Sarcasm doesn't convey well online

Should have picked that up. Sorry - it's been a looooooooooooong week

Use the just joking tags

Like this

(Just Joking)

I couldn't find any members with custom species names. Maybe I'm not looking in the right place. From what I can see:

Tasadam
Magnus administratio
memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=37

Corvus:
Vercundus gearus-freakius
memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=40

Autobot:
Optimus Imago
memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=3

Joe:
in vino veritas
memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=30

Macca81
Auctorita modica
memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=1500

[MickyB]

I couldn't find any members with custom species names. Maybe I'm not looking in the right place. From what I can see:

Tasadam
Magnus administratio
memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=37

Corvus:
Vercundus gearus-freakius
memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=40

Autobot:
Optimus Imago
memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=3

Joe:
in vino veritas
memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=30

Macca81
Auctorita modica
memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=1500

Thanks icefest. Obviously I wasn't looking in the right place. I noticed most of these members are/have been Mods. Would this be why they have custom species names???

As for upping your post count by means of sneaky and (possibly) unnecessary questions (or answers ) . . . meh, half the fun is in seeing if you can get away with it.

There are currently one or two members having a lot of that fun you mention

[corvus]

Joe and corvus have never been Mods.

[MickyB]

Joe and corvus have never been Mods.

Sorry corvus. I thought you had been a mod many moons ago (before my time of joining). Wasn't sure about Joe.

[corvus]

No worries both Joe and I accepted "cheeky tags"from Soab and Tasadam.

[icefest]

6 feet = Lagarostrobos franklinii
5 feet = Athrotaxis selaginoides
4 feet = Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
3 feet = Athrotaxis cupressoides
2 feet = Atherosperma moschatum
1 foot = Nothofagus gunnii

To further help:
≥2000 posts = 6 feet = Lagarostrobos franklinii
≥1000 posts = 5 feet = Athrotaxis selaginoides
≥500 posts = 4 feet = Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
≥100 posts = 3 feet = Athrotaxis cupressoides
≥50 posts = 2 feet = Atherosperma moschatum
≥10 posts = 1 foot = Nothofagus gunnii

There are currently one or two members having a lot of that fun you mention

Who could that be?....

[corvus]

Some members who have made very little as to real informative input have many hundreds of post due to the guessing games about where they they think it is in the "where am I " thread

[pazzar]

They all count Corvus!

[corvus]

Agree pazar and it must be good for the marketing of the Forum to have over 27000 replies and over 683000 looks on a thread in only eight years old don't you think ?

Last edited by corvus on Fri 28 Aug, 2015 8:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Strider]

From memory Corvus this thread is one of the most visited by both members AND guests. Google bot loves it. Surely this means it is one of the main channels for new members to find the site?

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[north-north-west]

Given how many posters are well beyond the 2,000 mark, we need some new rankings. And who will be first to get to that magical 10,000 posts . . . ?

[doogs]

Given how many posters are well beyond the 2,000 mark, we need some new rankings. And who will be first to get to that magical 10,000 posts . . . ?

Well done, you are in bronze position Click on the word POST in its' column and it sorts them into order of most>least.
memberlist.php?sk=d&sd=a&start=8450

[north-north-west]

Long way to go to catch Luvverboy, but then he's not really much of a threat at the moment . . .

[Tortoise]

Some members who have made very little as to real informative input have many hundreds of post due to the guessing games about where they they think it is in the "where am I " thread

Agree pazar and it must be good for the marketing of the Forum to have over 27000 replies and over 683000 looks on a thread in only eight years old don't you think ?

Corvus, I sense some nasturtiums being cast! Surely if something is so popular on a site such as this, then it's worthwhile? I don't think the footprints are an assessment of the value of people's posts (there are plenty of contributions I'd consider less valuable ), but rather people's engagement with this community in some way. Cans of worms will hopefully stay shut here - just a bit of musing on my part.

The games work best when lots of people are playing, and guesses usually get us closer. It is indeed one of the things that drew me into BWA. The next best thing to being in the bush is being inspired/challenged by photos of it, checking out maps etc . It brings back a flood of great memories for me, and increases the anticipation of future walks.

BTW I really wouldn't mind if I lost a footprint for 'invalid' posts.