I've been working with perl exclusively for the past couple of months (lucky me!), naturally, I've been asking many questions here at the monastery recently. But now I see in horror that my XP went straight up, putting me at the Bishop level. And I can see that, before too long, I might cross the line and be in the you-know-what level. Now my worry is the following, as someone of the lower rank, I'm entitled to ask any stupid question I want, and I've taken advantage of that. But once I become a "S", I'm sure I'll feel bad asking some naive questions (in fact, when some other saints ask a biginner-like question, I couldn't help thinking: that's a not saint question), which will deminish the value of PM for me. So this is a genuine question: can one choose to stay at a lower level? I don't mind the XP, but do mind the title.

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Re: Can I choose to stay at a lower level?
by revdiablo (Prior) on Dec 01, 2004 at 23:06 UTC
    in fact, when some other saints ask a biginner-like question, I couldn't help thinking: that's a not saint question

    I have to wonder how many other people go through this thought process. I certainly do not. I think that, in general, different people have knowledge in different areas. This is especially true of Perl, with all the nooks and crannies that it encompasses. It does not surprise me when someone asks a newbie question about one aspect of the language, even if they're very experienced in other aspects.

    Furthermore, obtaining Sainthood at Perl Monks does not mean you're an experienced Perl programmer. It means you're an experienced Perl Monk. If you think one is a good indicator of the other, then I guess I can understand your consternation, but I urge you to reconsider the correlation.

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Re: Can I choose to stay at a lower level?
by Happy-the-monk (Canon) on Dec 01, 2004 at 23:21 UTC

    Dear johnnywang,

    Read more on this site and see the saintly business is one like any other. PM's saints aren't venerable and they do the dishes no better than most people.

    Receiving recognition for questions is actually worth more than for answers. Whatever monks may know, they must have learned through some lucky discovery... or some monk asking, be that others or you:

    Questions do build the site no less than answers do.
    Asking questions means taking the lead. Go, champion! =)

    Cheerio, Sören

    PS: but do as you like to choose: find some god and ask for an XP freeze.
    Though I feel that if you don't mind XP, you really shouldn't mind levels either.

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Re: Can I choose to stay at a lower level?
by Your Mother (Archbishop) on Dec 02, 2004 at 00:55 UTC

    You could post a sort of Anti-Paco declaration, and link it from your home node, requesting that every monk, present and future, downvote you once and then move along. That would be a pretty good hand on the forehead of your ecclesiastical progress. You could also just put "PHP rules -- Perl drools!" in your sig block. That would keep you treading water for a long time. :)

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Re: Can I choose to stay at a lower level?
by VSarkiss (Monsignor) on Dec 02, 2004 at 03:13 UTC
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Re: Can I choose to stay at a lower level?
by DaWolf (Curate) on Dec 02, 2004 at 07:37 UTC
    I understand your feelings and kinda relate to them. But don't forget: Since you're now a Bishop, do as I do to ease the pain:

    Contribute as much as you can using your powers - help considering nodes - and of course provide knowledge to those who don't have it every time you can.

    By doing that you help this community.
    By doing that you help Perl.
    By doing that you help others and
    By doing that you help yourself =:c)

    Er Galvão Abbott
    www.galvao.eti.br
    Porto Alegre Perl Mongers
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Re: Can I choose to stay at a lower level?
by bradcathey (Prior) on Dec 02, 2004 at 01:52 UTC

    Read this thread-- I even added my .02 as I approached sainthood, being in the same boat as you claim to be, and feeling a little guilty about it.

    And don't worry, if I'm any indication, sainthood is no reason to stop asking "dumb" questions.

    Of course, if you really want to keep your XP from growing, you could always resurrect some old Wassercrats posts ;^)


    —Brad
    "Don't ever take a fence down until you know the reason it was put up." G. K. Chesterton
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Re: Can I choose to stay at a lower level?
by Arunbear (Prior) on Dec 02, 2004 at 19:43 UTC
    I was going to suggest that you re-incarnate as johnnywang-II, but maybe you've already done that ;-)
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Re: Can I choose to stay at a lower level?
by Anonymous Monk on Dec 15, 2004 at 21:20 UTC
    I've been a saint once and a bishop once (different account). I've found I like posting as Anonymonk best, and reading more. You get to stay out of the stupid pedantic flamewars that way.
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Re: Can I choose to stay at a lower level?
by artist (Parson) on Dec 02, 2004 at 05:12 UTC
    Msg me if you want to really have the knowledge, what you believe at the saint level.
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