We’ve Added Ranks!

Why add ranks, you ask? For a couple of reasons:

First, we needed a way to distinguish those who are normal members from those who are managers and caregivers. Every healthy online community needs community leaders. Mariners and Officers are our Streams Community leaders.

Second, we didn’t want the hierarchy of leadership to be based on financial ability. We didn’t want someone to simply pay their way into premium levels. Therefore, we’ve introduced ranks that are not based on financial means, but rather on conduct and commitment to our community.

How can ranks help exactly?

One cannot be on the Dive Level unless he or she is a Mariner. And the only way a person can become a Mariner is to be sponsored by another Mariner. In this way, someone is basically placing their stamp of approval on that person, so to speak.

Both Mariners and Officers will go through training and have regular briefings with our Streams Captains. We believe this will empower our community leaders and help our global community to thrive and keep growing.

What’s the difference in ranks and levels?

In a nutshell, levels are about content, and ranks are about people. To be more specific, levels determine the kind of content that members can access, while ranks determine the kind of members that can access certain levels.

We would love to hear your thoughts about our new ranks. Are we overthinking this idea? Is there more we could do in this way?

Please leave your comments below. We promise to read and consider them. Thanks!