I would find it very helpful for posters to list their TD certification level when commenting about rule interpretation. Yes, I know how to look up certification levels by using the USCF IDs, but it really slows down reading a particular thread to have to keep looking up TD status for people with unfamiliar names/handles.
Club TDs or even non-TDs can add a lot to a conversation, and they certainly have a right to post even their own personal opinions. I wouldn’t want to stop that at all. It just helps me as a reader if I know whether the poster is a non-TD player or an NTD!
I have no authority here, so this is a polite request only. I seem to recall that this was our practice some years ago, but now it seems no one lists their credentials.
Brenda Tramel Hardesty
Eldorado, Texas
Senior TD
12662345
Sure. I’m game, myself. How could I refuse a request from a Moogy? (Trek joke… ) Signature shift and I’ll move my city/state to the actual location where it should be in my profile. (Though I don’t think what TD level - or rating - someone is currently at is necessarily helpful, personally.)
Some other ideas…
How about a feature request for a phpBB hack… The USCF ID is set for each person, no? Would it be possible to enable a custom profile field for TD level and allow that to be displayed in user data if non-empty? For that matter, one could have titled player field as well. (And, as with Location - and I think maybe USCF ID - such things are on the honor system anyway… just like they are in a signature block. Maybe those choices can be set as a drop-list with fixed choices.)
BTW, this is asking a lot, and I know that. Any level of hack like this - even one allowed by the system - has the potential to off-kilter the whole db – I’ve seen phpBBs blow because of a hack or new feature enablement that ‘shoulda’ worked.
At any rate, Club TD and at the moment Unrated Player, at your service. Signature edits coming up…
I find attaching titles to one’s name somewhat distasteful. If someone wants to know, they can look it up, but shoving it in their faces seems more about vanity than merit.
I only request this on threads where we are discussing the interpretation of the rules. For those threads, it helps me to know if the poster is a non-TD player stating his/her opinion of what the rules should be, or an NTD (way past my level of knowledge).
If if bothers you, don’t do it.
Moogy
(BTW, I am grateful someone recognized the Star Trek handle…)
I’ve only occasionally mentioned my TD level and peak rating, and then only if I felt it was necessary (such as the recent thread about TDs and ratings). Otherwise I agree with RFEDITOR in that it is a bit vain. Also, I don’t want to intimidate a Club TD or non-TD into not commenting since NTDs don’t automatically have all of the answers. One of this area’s instrumental chess organizers was a mother who didn’t even know the rules of the game that her son and husband played. She did, however, know how to organize an event, publicize it, obtain a staff, and who to talk to so that she could find out what was made a chess tournament different from other events. She sparked the growth of K-8 chess in IL and began an annual tournament that saw its 27th year today. She also helped other tournaments grow and secured a successor in her school before transitioning out of being involved.
Wasn’t sure that it absolutely was- but glad I guessed right. I’d have to turn in my pointed ears if I missed that one.
For me, I’d much prefer to use my signature line for that, then try to remember to append it only into threads talking about rules. And I usually forget to click off my sig after the first post in a thread - I really should, given its length. Then again, being unrated and club level, I don’t have a lot of vanity about that to display. (I hope.) And rethinking what I wrote earlier, there have been times when it would have helped me shape what I wrote if I knew the rating and/or TD level of whom I was replying to.
One little letter and my meaning changes all over the place. In this case, I meant to say, “…than try to remember to append it…” The comma splice didn’t help none either. Or more accurately, “I’d rather use my signature to include my level, instead of manually posting the information into every thread talking about rules.” Sorry for being unclear!
But in each reply post one can switch signature on or off. For example, this post doesn’t carry my signature. Elsewhere I tried to follow a guide of having the signature on for the first post or reply in the thread, then switching it off for all remaining posts to that thread. (Under “options” below the submit button is, “Attach a signature…” Unchecking that disables the signature for that post.) That is not always easy to remember, though.
Oh, and did you forget, “CJA” in your credentials? - couldn’t resist that one.
Like this one? I would have to hit the rulebook for a few hours before running a tournament from scratch nowadays although I’ve helped out from time to time running scholastic events. My main reason for getting the 5th edition of Official Rules was Chapter 12.
LM = Life Master. I have certificates somewhere certifying me as a Distinguished Chess Professional (for the Year of the Chess Professional) and a Distinguished Chess Volunteer (from the year of the Chess Volunteer). And anyone who attaches a list of titles to his name is a Pompous Fool.
) Signature shift and I’ll move my city/state to the actual location where it should be in my profile. 
The comma splice didn’t help none either. Or more accurately, “I’d rather use my signature to include my level, instead of manually posting the information into every thread talking about rules.” Sorry for being unclear!
- couldn’t resist that one.
) LM (Life Member)