members rank

[ghelman]

What is a Members Rank?

[grandpopswalt]

Not sure what you mean. Are you refering to the number of stars above some members names?

Walt

[Anonymous]

Come on Walt, the only stars old blokes like us see is when we have had too much to drink.


Rgds Ian

[ghelman]

Yes

[vsmith]

Basicly its a measure of how much time ones wastes here instead of doing more productive things like, planting, weeding, laying track, running trains...you know. The more number of stars, the bigger goldbrick you are.

Me? I'm 22k pure, look at them stars
[:D][:o)][8][:O][8)][:)][;)][X-)][%-)][censored][D)][(-D][:-,][alien]

[ghelman]

Gotcha. Thanks

[Tom The Brat]

More precicely: It indicates our inability to keep quiet[:-^]

[ghelman]

I am still trying to figure how vsmith knew I was at work goldbricking. I mean, are you goldbricking if you are at home on this forum? [:)]

[grandpopswalt]

George (Rusty G),

Actually it is ranking system. Anyone who joins this forum becomes an officer. People without stars are junior grade officers while people with stars are general staff officers. Just as in the army or navy, the more stars, the higher the rank. For example: we have BennysRR, Capt Johnson, Tangerine Jack and many others with 2 stars, they're Major-Generals (we also have a unique title on this forum called captain-general reserved only for our two captains, Capt, Johnson and and Capt Carrales).
Underworld and many others have 3 stars and are called Lieutentant-Generals while TurboOne, CarpenterMatt, etc, have 4 stars and hold the rank of General. Then there is VSmith, the General-of-the-Forum with 5 stars.


Mind you we take this very seriously so please show proper respect for senior officers.

Walt

[cacole]

In the Army, we used to ask, "OK, who's the rankest person here?"

[ghelman]

Suppose it makes since. But, coming from a Navy background, sounds more Army than Navy. US Navy has Officer ranks of Ensign, Lieutenant, Lieutenant JG, Lieutenant Commander, Commander, Captain and Admiral. Myself I was enlisted and made the grade of Senior Chief before retiring after 20 years. This forum is a lot of fun and most of all informative. Sometimes a question or comment can take a thread in a completely different directions. Thanks for the info. [:)]

[TurboOne]

[#welcome] George. You also hit the nail on the head in threads have a way of wandering. That is what makes the forum sooooooo fun. Enjoy the time, ask questions, stop by the coffee shop (open forum thread) and say hello.

Take care and have a fantastic day. [:D][:D]


Tim

[RhB_HJ]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ghelman

I am still trying to figure how vsmith knew I was at work goldbricking. I mean, are you goldbricking if you are at home on this forum? [:)]

Wellllllllll George!

I tell you, Vic has read the "Hitchhiker's Guide" so many times his mind is almost at warp speed - no, that's not the same as having a warped mind, but it's close - and he gets really good at guessing while he cruises the GRR universe. [:)][}:)][}:)][:D][:D][:D]
A-N-D BTW guys, the rankest member should really head for the shower![:o)][;)][:o)]

[grandpopswalt]

George,

I was Navy as well and rose to the exalted rank of ETR3 (we all rise to the level of our incompetence). I used the Army metaphor to work in the use of “Capt-General” to use with Lieutant-General (worked better than Capt-Admiral, don’t you think?).

For those of us of the sea-faring persuasion, we can freely substitute “Admiral” in place of “General” without changing the results of the ranking system.

Walt

[ghelman]

Walt,

I noticed that you are from Southestern CT. Have you heard of a town called Fall River MA? In the very early 70s I was stationed there. First duty station as a matter of fact.

Vic,

Maybe the location/time zone gave it away. I do get breaks now and then. I better get back to work though, I plan on a little golf this afternoon but have a few things to finish first.

Have a great day! [^]

[Capt Bob Johnson]

Next thing you know we're going to be telling sea stories here, and I got a whole boatload of them!

I thought we were discussing the relative period of time between the present and the last shower/bath! Remember " Rank hath its priveliges", and the ranker you are the more space you get to operate in!

A thing to remember is that the Capt. from Texas is the one who Flies; the one from Delaware floats. Boy does a lot of stuff float!

Hope you have a bunch of fun in this hobby!

[Anonymous]

Thanks you much for the Rank grade...now, here is a question about time-in-grade...

When I advance in rank, do I go from Capt-General to Major-General or to Capt-Major General?

May I suggest the working rank of Brevet Capt-General Extraordinary and Major Plenipotentiary? Just kidding!!!

I love this kind of banter!!!

Capt-General Carrales

[Anonymous]

Me, I'm just a Sub-lieutenant in the Womens Land Army. [;)]

Annie

[ghelman]

Capt. Bob with 35 years on the Delaware I bet you do have some sea stories. Call me anything but, Ensign. [:)] Please not that. Sorry if I offended any Ensign out there. But, hopefullt you won't be one long. This does give me an escape at times. Have a good day.

[grandpopswalt]

George,

I know Fall River very well but I wasn't aware of a Naval facility located there. Of course Fall River is home to the battleship USS Massachusetts, were you associated with her?

Capt-General Johnson,

As we all know, the only difference between a fairytale and a sea story is that the fairytale starts with “once upon a time” and a sea story starts with “now this ain’t no sh _ _ “. Since this forum deals only with facts and verifiable recollections we’ll have to skip all those sea stories for the time being. This thread started innocently enough with the question “what do those stars by some people’s name mean?” and degenerated into discussions about bathing, or lack thereof, bad smells, questionable hygiene, etc, but what else would you expect when a bunch of sailors get together.

Capt-General Carrales,

What indeed is the next rank after Capt-General. That’s a question that deserves considerable debate and careful scrutiny. Whatever the outcome, it will set a long-lasting precedent for future generations of Capt-Generals. While your excellent suggestions have been noted, a decision of this gravity is best left to the entire officer corps of this forum, so please submit your suggestions forthwith.

LocoAnnie,

Please tell us more about the Women’s land Army. And where in the rank structure does a Sub-Lieutenant fall?

This has been fun.

Walt

[Anonymous]

I noticed you Americans use the term goldbricking a lot and I would be interested to know where it came from.

Here in Oz we use the term bludging instead. this originally came from the term meaning to live off the eqrnings of a prostitute. However over the years it has become most acceptable. If you are accused of bludging, you are said to be not doing much. You can even say "I'm off for a bludge", meaning you are going to have a rest.

I recall I was on a flight back from Singapore one day when the guy sitting next to me asked me in a thick German accent, who won the grand final of the footbal. This was just after the reunification of Germany' he had been back visiting relatives and he commented about the East Germans and said in his thick accent. "They are pack of bludgers mate". It sounded just so funny, he had been away for some time and hadn't realised his accent had changed considerably


Rgds Ian

[Anonymous]

In the UK we scive off, as in 'I'm sciving off for an hour'. So to internationalise this you would have to say 'Us goldbricking scivers are going for a bludge'. That means two thirds of the world are doing sod all at any given moment - works for me!
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

[ghelman]

Walt,
I was station on a destroyer (Purdy DD734) that was home ported at Battleship cove. Few people kew we wre there. Kind of like McCails Navy. Anyway here I go again, goldbricking sciving and bludging. It is back to work I go.

[Capt Bob Johnson]

Grandpopswalt,
As I understand it a subbie is roughly equivilent to our JG; superior to a Middie, over an Ensign, but less than a Lt.!

[Anonymous]

In German I think the Captian issue stands resoved... I believe (and I demand to be corrected if my German fails me...after alll I did fail to take a German course). A land captain (ie. the Flying and Grunting[?]) type would be a Hauptmann, and a floating Captain would be a Kapitan.

Colonel is, despite popular belief is not KERNAL, but rather Oberst. Thus, should our captain-general rank actually be promoted to Oberst-General?

I present his suggestiont o the assemblage of officers.

[grandpopswalt]

My Dear Still-employed Friends,

Since I retired I’ve honed my goldbricking, sciving, and bludging skills to such a fine edge that if I moved any slower I’d actually start moving back in time (kind of the obverse of Einstein’s principle theory). I wi***he same to you someday.

Walt

[Capt Bob Johnson]

Amen Walt!
That's why my railroad is now named the Round Tuit & Faraway.

[markn]

Us Yanks need to remember; Annie's rank is properly pronounced Sub Left tenant-my question is, does a gold one star out rank a green five star and what's with the "pink"?
If you're retired, isn't your primary job description- goldbrick/blodging/knocking about? so "working on the railroad all the live long day" is technically goofing off on the clock..entirely too much work has been put into this thread.. I'm a busy man-I have rivets to count.....

[ghelman]

Ah Mark, I think your asking the really hard to answer question. I sure don't have an answer. I am way to junior, I think I could have a star but it is white, and doesn't show up. [:D][:p]

And how many rviets are you up to now?

A most excellent reply to this post.

[grandpopswalt]

Ah, Markn,

I don't know how old you are, but you obviously have the soul, or at least the makings, of a gifted retiree. I 'm refering to your tendency toward rivit-counting. I believe that the color of the stars is purely accidental (probably randomly generated by a computer) and has no bearing on the ranking system.

Walt