in reply to How about coloured names based on xp's?
Update: note that I read kiat’s node as suggesting that level indicators be available throughout the site – in particular, including on nodes in threads. This is what my arguments apply to. They do not touch upon kiat’s actual request, that this be done only for the Other Users nodelet, where implementing his idea is harmless.
I am strongly opposed to having any indicator of the poster’s level on nodes. I’ve seen what happens on forums which have such indicators – rank whoring is amplified manifold, people use a user’s rank to judge him or his post, off-topic discussions about it ensue in the middle of threads, the works.
My answer is the most emphatic possible NO.
Makeshifts last the longest.