I know that “more scratch ranks” are rejected, but since this isn’t a “rank above scratcher” ranking, I believe that it is still allowed.

I’ll be referring to the Scratch Team as “ST” the Scratch Team rank as “STR” and the Scratcher rank as “SR” in this post to save time typing and make this post less long.


When a user leaves the Scratch Team, the * is removed from their username and their scratch rank is changed from Scratch Team back to Scratcher. The only way for a user to know if they were a ST member is if they put it in their profile information. But, one can easily put “I used to be in the Scratch Team!” in their about me. Yes, they can be reported and have it removed, but it’s still likely that a few people will fall for it.


It’s understandable that when someone leaves the ST that they wouldn’t have the STR anymore, but them just being called SR feels a bit… off? Since they used to be a moderator/site developer/etc, they should deserve some recognition.


So, what if there was a “Former Scratch Team Member” rank? And, maybe they could have a different symbol next to their usernames, like a ^.



I suppose there’s not much else to say about this.

Let me know if anything needs to be cleared up!

Edit: there was a similar ranking for retired forum moderators back when the rank still existed.
https://en.scratch-wiki.info/wiki/Retired_Community_Moderator
If this was possible, it should be possible for the Scratch Team, too.

Support, would definitely clear up confusion about whether or not an account was actually an ST member.
I think “Retired Scratch Team Member” could also work.

I don't think a different symbol is necessary, because they really don't have any power anymore, and just the thing under their name is enough.

Another thing to think about is the very unlikely event, that a former scratch team member tried to convince people or persuade people or try to gain power in something, or even bully someone because they were a scratch team member.

I think that ST members would get fired for trying to do anything harmful to someone, and that they wouldn't get the rank in that case so they can't get any more boosts from the fact that they were a ST member.

But taking it away from them and not everyone does not seem right because it is true they were a ST member, and denying it seems wrong.

SquirreIstar wrote:

I think “Retired Scratch Team Member” could also work.

I was also considering that name, but since the word retired is frequently associated with old people I didn’t think it’d be appropriate.

M1mikyu wrote:

SquirreIstar wrote:

I think “Retired Scratch Team Member” could also work.

I was also considering that name, but since the word retired is frequently associated with old people I didn’t think it’d be appropriate.

I guess you are right about that.

Support, there are quite a few former ST members (e.g. Lightnin) and it looks a bit strange if they have the normal Scratcher rank.

Maximouse wrote:

M1mikyu wrote:

SquirreIstar wrote:

I think “Retired Scratch Team Member” could also work.

I was also considering that name, but since the word retired is frequently associated with old people I didn’t think it’d be appropriate.

I guess you are right about that.

Support, there are quite a few former ST members (e.g. Lightnin) and it looks a bit strange if they have the normal Scratcher rank.

Yep, that’s what I was thinking.

Support but it depends on why they left

If it was their fault (due to something THEY did wrong, which is unlikely) they had to leave (fired for example), they can't have a Former Scratch Team Member Rank.
If it was not their fault, or they left to find a new job, they can have it.

I agree it is really confusing when a Scratch Team member leaves, and you see all of these comments and posts and think why would a normal scratcher post “I moderate the forums” for example.

thr565ono wrote:

If it was their fault (due to something THEY did wrong, which is unlikely) they had to leave (fired for example), they can't have a Former Scratch Team Member Rank.

I agree it is really confusing when a Scratch Team member leaves, and you see all of these comments and posts and think why would a normal scratcher post “I moderate the forums” for example.

Both very good points there.

I don’t think there ever was a time where an ST member was fired due to doing bad things, but it still might happen someday.

Users like Lightnin and andresmh were very important in Scratch’s history, and they really do deserve to have some kind of ST related rank.


Looking back, this suggestion might be a bit of a “rank above scratcher” thing, as the ranking is technically higher than Scratcher. But it’s more of a sub ranking of ST, and there also was the Community Moderator ranking (which I believe isn’t in use anymore, but it still is worth mentioning) which is also a sub ranking.




But the biggest problem with my suggestion is that the name is a bit lengthy. Any other ideas on what the name could be?

M1mikyu wrote:

… there also was the Community Moderator ranking (which I believe isn’t in use anymore, but it still is worth mentioning) which is also a sub ranking.

The Community Moderator program is gone, but the former ST member @LiFaytheGoblin has a similar rank called “Forum Moderator”, which basically means permission to make topics in Announcements.

Update, they had a similar ranking for retired forum moderators https://en.scratch-wiki.info/wiki/Retired_Community_Moderator
If that was possible, I don’t see how it couldn’t be done for Scratch Team moderators.

Absolute support! The way it is now, anyone can claim to be a former scratch team member, and you have no way to tell if what they claim is legit!

What about this:

Former ST

Or a badge on their profile?

Here is the list of people which would have this rank, if you are interested.

thr565ono wrote:

What about this:

Former ST

I like that one.

PizzaAddict4Life wrote:

I don't think a different symbol is necessary, because they really don't have any power anymore, and just the thing under their name is enough.

Another thing to think about is the very unlikely event, that a former scratch team member tried to convince people or persuade people or try to gain power in something, or even bully someone because they were a scratch team member.

I think that ST members would get fired for trying to do anything harmful to someone, and that they wouldn't get the rank in that case so they can't get any more boosts from the fact that they were a ST member.

But taking it away from them and not everyone does not seem right because it is true they were a ST member, and denying it seems wrong.

Their power is taken away. c'mon . Its like saying to all the military veterans. you don't deserve to have a day named after you because you don't serve ANYMORE. I like this idea because any ST or former ST member deserves recognition because they helped create the website.

Sunarcher wrote:

PizzaAddict4Life wrote:

I don't think a different symbol is necessary, because they really don't have any power anymore, and just the thing under their name is enough.

Another thing to think about is the very unlikely event, that a former scratch team member tried to convince people or persuade people or try to gain power in something, or even bully someone because they were a scratch team member.

I think that ST members would get fired for trying to do anything harmful to someone, and that they wouldn't get the rank in that case so they can't get any more boosts from the fact that they were a ST member.

But taking it away from them and not everyone does not seem right because it is true they were a ST member, and denying it seems wrong.

Their power is taken away. c'mon . Its like saying to all the military veterans. you don't deserve to have a day named after you because you don't serve ANYMORE. I like this idea because any ST or former ST member deserves recognition because they helped create the website.

You have a point… I would say that that might be ok if they quit, but not if they were fired

Honestly i think Scratch team members should have a yellow name and a former one should have the asterisk

ittybitmap wrote:

Honestly i think Scratch team members should have a yellow name and a former one should have the asterisk

What's the point? Lightnin is hard to read.

ok then, gold