Improve the forum experience - Ditch the post count!

EdGrune

So the question goes to you who have said that you use the post count to evaluate a poster's worth,  do you go strictly by the post count or do you go by the name and reputation of the responder?    It was Sy Symms, the suit salesman who used to say in his TV commercials that  an educated consumer knows the value of a brand name.   If you reply truthfully I believe that most of you, the educated consumer,  will go by the poster's reputation for good, straight-forward, accurate information over one-word fluff. 

Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think anyone's said the use the post count to evaluate a poster's worth, but I guess I'm probably one of the closest to having said that. 

Here's the thing. I use the post count as just one factor when I encounter and respond to a post from someone I'm not familiar with. One among many:

- The actual content of the post. What's being asked or said? Is it "I'm getting back into the hobby, what airbrush should I buy?" or is it "I have an Iwata CS and want to get a second airbrush for fine lines, what do you recommend?". General level of experience and familiarity, basically.

- The grammar of the post. Yeah I realize grammar rules tend to be a bit more lax on forums. Heck, I find myself making stupid mistakes that I'd never make professionally (I tend to bugger they're/their/there a ton here for some reason, even though that's one of my biggest peeves). But I still take it into account.

- Poster's location: US/UK/Europe/Australia/etc? It mattters a whole lot in terms of kit prices, paint availability, so on and so forth. And it's frustrating when it's not listed and it turns out the poster is in Vladivostok or something.

- Join date and post count: If somebody's a new member, I want to know that. It's one cue to go on. If somebody has five posts and has been a member longer than I have, why? Do they just lurk and not post, or do the flit out for long periods? 

Somebody mentioned all the non-verbal cues we rely on when dealing with an unfamiliar person in reality. We don't have those here, and something like the post count can at least give you a partial picture of who you're dealing with. 

Is this part of what we are voting on?:

52,024 users have contributed to 707,319 threads and 832,227 posts.

Oh, and can we get our PM's added to our post count if we decide to keep it?

Echo139er

... before this thread gets locked.

Why would this thread get locked? It's Friday afternoon, afterall.... what could possibly go wrong...

bbrowniii

Echo139er:

... before this thread gets locked.

 

Why would this thread get locked? It's Friday afternoon, afterall.... what could possibly go wrong...

Do you really have to ask?

Seems to me that the answer might be a new "Federal Bureau of Internet Forum Decorum", it could deal with such pressing issues.

Post counts are fine, in the context of the old axiom "It's the quality, not the quantity".

Manstein's revenge

Is this part of what we are voting on?:

52,024 users have contributed to 707,319 threads and 832,227 posts.

Oh, and can we get our PM's added to our post count if we decide to keep it?

The average thread receives just 1.18 responses. Pretty pathetic wouldn't you say?

tigerman

Manstein's revenge:

Is this part of what we are voting on?:

52,024 users have contributed to 707,319 threads and 832,227 posts.

Oh, and can we get our PM's added to our post count if we decide to keep it?

 

The average thread receives just 1.18 responses. Pretty pathetic wouldn't you say?

I just read 9 pages of this thread. Silly, if you don't want a thread count, don't look at it. If you like it, just try not to be predjudiced towards someone because of it. And jeez, is it really that hard?

MilitaryAircraft101

I just read 9 pages of this thread. Silly, if you don't want a thread count, don't look at it. If you like it, just try not to be predjudiced towards someone because of it. And jeez, is it really that hard?

well said...

MilitaryAircraft101

I just read 9 pages of this thread. Silly, if you don't want a thread count, don't look at it. If you like it, just try not to be predjudiced towards someone because of it. And jeez, is it really that hard?

Post counts really an issue? Really? I say keep them if for no other reason than to just irritate the living crap out of some.

ogrejohn

Post counts really an issue? Really? I say keep them if for no other reason than to just irritate the living crap out of some.

Keep 'em Monday, Wednesday and Friday to irritate some.  Then take 'em away Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday to irritate the others.  Then close down the forums on Sundays to irritate everyone.

wing_nut

 

ogrejohn:

 

Post counts really an issue? Really? I say keep them if for no other reason than to just irritate the living crap out of some.

 

 

 

Keep 'em Monday, Wednesday and Friday to irritate some.  Then take 'em away Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday to irritate the others.  Then close down the forums on Sundays to irritate everyone.

An excellent idea!

I propose tha t if you visit a thread and do not post on it you have one post count subtracted from your total ! That'll teach you lurkers !!!

ogrejohn

Post counts really an issue? Really? I say keep them if for no other reason than to just irritate the living crap out of some.

I wonder how much of an issue it really was,the original poster still has not replied since the initial post.

Manstein's revenge

HisNHer Tanks:

I think I can sum up this whole thread's future in one word.

Men!.

You should already know how it was pronouced.

I've never bought the 'not me' or the 'I dunno' defense either.

 

 

You seem to have a real problem with us "little boys", as you put it....I am frankly tired of your gender-bashing comments....

I agree Manny . I think she is doing that "sexual harrasment" thing to us "little boys " !

Hans von Hammer

Knock it off...

I think we should elect Hans as "SS (Sat. and Sun.) Forum Sheriff !!!!

Shellback

Manstein's revenge:

HisNHer Tanks:

I think I can sum up this whole thread's future in one word.

Men!.

You should already know how it was pronouced.

I've never bought the 'not me' or the 'I dunno' defense either.

 

 

You seem to have a real problem with us "little boys", as you put it....I am frankly tired of your gender-bashing comments....

 

I agree Manny . I think she is doing that "sexual harrasment" thing to us "little boys " !

Manstein's revenge

Shellback:

Manstein's revenge:

HisNHer Tanks:

I think I can sum up this whole thread's future in one word.

Men!.

You should already know how it was pronouced.

I've never bought the 'not me' or the 'I dunno' defense either.

 

 

You seem to have a real problem with us "little boys", as you put it....I am frankly tired of your gender-bashing comments....

 

I agree Manny . I think she is doing that "sexual harrasment" thing to us "little boys " !

 

She's trying to turn the Forum into an episode of "Everybody Loves Raymond"...

His overbearing wife ................

Hey, if we are getting rid of the post counts (and smilies - thanks for resurrecting that one Manny), can we ditch the avatars too? How about screen names? Profiles (which seem to be mostly gone anyways)? Log-ons?

Hell, lets just ditch this whole damn forum. It's just too irritating...

I wonder how much of an issue it really was,the original poster still has not replied since the initial post.

It's one form of a "Troll Post"... However, it has nothing to do with the mythical creature that lives under bridges, devouring billy-goats, or the furry-headed things found on some co-worker's desks..

It's "trolling" as in the fishing venue... One starts a thread that is of a controversial, inflammatory, or devisive nature, one that one thinks may cause the other members to "take the bait" and then he or she sits back and watches the "fun"...  This doesn't make the OP a "troll" in the classic sense, sometimes it's even accidental...   Sometimes, it's simply that the OP hasn't returned yet, but will show up on the next day...  Other times, it's so controversial that the OP genuinely wishes he hadn't done it, and simply pops smoke and skies out.. 

But my experience leads me to believe that this one was deliberate and intended to stir up some trouble, with what was a rather useless (IMNSHO) gripe about something that actually causes no harm to the forum or its membership...  It just divides the membership into two camps, along with the usual number of fence-sitters and popcorn-eaters...

However, I think it back-fired, if it is indeed a troll-thread... This thread HAS provided some useful insight to other's stands on certain subject matter, and moreover, some insight as to their real personalties...

bbrowniii

Hey, if we are getting rid of the post counts (and smilies - thanks for resurrecting that one Manny), can we ditch the avatars too? How about screen names? Profiles (which seem to be mostly gone anyways)? Log-ons?

Hell, lets just ditch this whole damn forum. It's just too irritating...

I notice there are 7 people following this thread and I presume receiving e-mail updates. So I can't be the only one seeing posts appear that I can only assume are immediately deleted...

anthony2779

 

ogrejohn:

 

Post counts really an issue? Really? I say keep them if for no other reason than to just irritate the living crap out of some.

 

 

 

I wonder how much of an issue it really was,the original poster still has not replied since the initial post.

Now you don't think a guy with the username M.F.S.O.B would try to start something now would you?

I'll stand up for mfsob. Not as if he cares if I do, but he's not trolling and he's a regular, back to before me.

bbrowniii

Hey, if we are getting rid of the post counts (and smilies - thanks for resurrecting that one Manny), can we ditch the avatars too? How about screen names? Profiles (which seem to be mostly gone anyways)? Log-ons?

Hell, lets just ditch this whole damn forum. It's just too irritating...

Don't forget the sig line stuff Boyd! It's just devastating!

Hans von Hammer

 

I wonder how much of an issue it really was,the original poster still has not replied since the initial post.

 

It's one form of a "Troll Post"... However, it has nothing to do with the mythical creature that lives under bridges, devouring billy-goats, or the furry-headed things found on some co-worker's desks..

It's "trolling" as in the fishing venue... One starts a thread that is of a controversial, inflammatory, or devisive nature, one that one thinks may cause the other members to "take the bait" and then he or she sits back and watches the "fun"...  This doesn't make the OP a "troll" in the classic sense, sometimes it's even accidental...   Sometimes, it's simply that the OP hasn't returned yet, but will show up on the next day...

Hans,

Your comment prompted me to check the OP post log.

Per the forum member Activity list,  the OP has been logged on each day for a sufficient length of time to post on one thread per day since creating this thread.

I cannot surmise the reason for the OP posting on other threads yet ignoring his own creation; I was very actively involved in responding to posts on my "FSM Forums Dying? No Way!" thread.

Unless mfsob chooses to comment, his interest in his own creation will remain a mystery.

Keep 'em.

This thread is allowing me to inflate my post count.  Well played.  Well played.

DoogsATX

I notice there are 7 people following this thread and I presume receiving e-mail updates. So I can't be the only one seeing posts appear that I can only assume are immediately deleted...

Conspiracy theory ?

And yes ,Thats another post for me . ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Shellback

DoogsATX:

I notice there are 7 people following this thread and I presume receiving e-mail updates. So I can't be the only one seeing posts appear that I can only assume are immediately deleted...

 

Conspiracy theory ?

And yes ,Thats another post for me . ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

BAM! Add another post to my ever-increasing total...if it goes much higher my head just might explode...