Change in Post Count Policy

[grsamf]

Decisions, decisions. Which thread to jump in? This one or the one on congrats for number of posts that is taking a similar path? This one, I guess.

A few random thoughts:

This is all related, I believe, to the ongoing tech v. OT discussions. Much of that is misguided. There is real reason for concern when tech discussions decrease, but it is a mistake to conclude that because OT outnumbers tech posts, we can somehow increase the tech posts by decreasing OT. As far as I know, there is not yet a limit on the number of posts that results in the loss of a tech post everytime someone posts OT.

Are number of posts important? Probably not. Reaching 1,000 or 10,000 posts just shows a certain persistance, not any particular expertise or brilliance, whether it's tech or OT. Any way I look at it, I have trouble figuring out why, if post count is not important, people want to make such a big deal out of the fact that others comment on someone reaching a milestone. (Of course, I'm still upset because several months ago, I was the 100th member to reach 1,000 posts and I didn't even win a prize. )

As kONGO said in the other thread, how do we decide whether a post is worthy of being counted? I have seen some total nonsense in the tech threads.

To repeat, the problem, if there is a problem, is not that many people have high posts counts from OT posts or that sometimes the congrats threads get a bit carried away. The problem to be solved is how to improve the quality of the tech side of the forum. That won't happen by getting rid of OT or by fudging numbers on post counts or by any of the other suggestions that simply foster an us versus them mentality. In the almost two years I have been a member here, I have seen an appreciated the help in the tech forums and I have also seen and appreciated the "human-ness" of OT. It takes both to make ABXZone what it is.

PS: I decided against posting this in the other thread as well as here to inflate my post count.

[spookyload]

I agree. If they took OT out of the post count, I would post about the same as I do right now. Nothing would change. The price of gas wouldn't go down, and I wouldn't get more back on my tax return. I think the whole point of KT's post was missed. I personally thought that removing the post count from below the avatar was sufficient, as someone would have to actually go the persons profile to see what the post count for a member was. If they are that interested to bother looking, then they are the ones with the problem. Any member who has been here for a while knows who is who and who knows what. They don't have to click on my profile to know I don't know jack about Linux due to my post count. Though, if I made a recommendation in the linux forum, people who frequent there would know I was talking out my a$$ because I have never owned linux and have never posted there...ever. So does a post count really show anything? NO. Now lets all just do a Rodney King..."can't we all just get along?"(King, 1995)

[KingTermite]

Originally Posted by spookyload

I think the whole point of KT's post was missed.

Isn't that the truth.

Although it started an interesting discussion, my suggestion was really out of vanity more than anything. I, personally, wanted to stop getting all those congrat threads.....and figured other high posters would feel the same.

I had no intention of starting a huge debate about what posts count toward total, etc....... My point was quit congratulating me because I don't do it for that reason.

[Briton]

Originally Posted by KingTermite

Although it started an interesting discussion, my suggestion was really out of vanity more than anything. I, personally, wanted to stop getting all those congrat threads.....and figured other high posters would feel the same.

I had no intention of starting a huge debate about what posts count toward total, etc....... My point was quit congratulating me because I don't do it for that reason.

Some people, even the non-high posters, feel that way. ;-)

[mtek]

Originally Posted by spookyload

I think BSOD's are a practical joke by Bill Gates. Everytime a Windows user gets one, it sets of a light in his house and he giggles like a little girl.

THAT'S NOT TRUE
what really happens is your modem dials his pager which is in his
pocket set on vibrate...

post counts don't really mean too much to me, normally I come
here for info...can usually search through the forums to find what
I need, occasionally I get an opportunity to offer help & suggestions
to a member, and vice-versa, the setup "WE" have here now is fine
imo

[Ozzie]

Personally - I feel post counts are not necessary at all.
The only reason they add any value at all is to get an avatar, after that, the post count is mute.
Someone thinking a member with a high post count is more techically oriented and deserves more value is a mistake.
Also thinking that adding to the post count will make a member stick around and be active is absurd.
It's the atmosphere that we have that makes someone be involved here. They like the fact that we can joke around and just hang out - while at the same time if a tech problem comes up the members respond - and usually very well.

This is what makes our forums a great place - post counts have very little to do with that. The fact that we have reduced their value by not displaying them and not incurred a drop in membership or above average complaining testifies to that.

[zapionics<alt>]

I dont care about avatar's but it really annoys me how some ppl seem to post just for the sake of posting, ie: they dont add anything to the thread at all. We have several members who persist in doing that. Some threads read like the "goodnight" thread, with ppl posting "hi'ya's" and smileys and such to each other which contributes nothing to the topic.
Its always the same ppl doing it too and they tend to have high post counts because of it. I think they are suffering from "compulsive posting syndrome" or something.
If only there was some way of removing those posts or not counting them that would be great but how the heck do you do it?

So I think we should not count posts that go off topic, whether they're in the OT forums or not. So long as they stay "on topic" in each respective thread I'm happy.

[FB]

Originally Posted by zapionics<alt>

I dont care about avatar's but it really annoys me how some ppl seem to post just for the sake of posting, ie: they dont add anything to the thread at all. We have several members who persist in doing that. Some threads read like the "goodnight" thread, with ppl posting "hi'ya's" and smileys and such to each other which contributes nothing to the topic.
Its always the same ppl doing it too and they tend to have high post counts because of it. I think they are suffering from "compulsive posting syndrome" or something.
If only there was some way of removing those posts or not counting them that would be great but how the heck do you do it?

So I think we should not count posts that go off topic, whether they're in the OT forums or not. So long as they stay "on topic" in each respective thread I'm happy.

if you don't like it, no one is forcing you to read it.

get over it.

[c_white_wolf]

Simple (NOT) solution:

Posts:
~~~~~~~~~~~
- Technical: 300
- Off-topic: 15000

The post count is stat, nothing more, nothing less. All it shows is how many times a person has requested help from a member, responded to a member or just participated in one the many OT subjects.

And sometimes, for light humour:

Remember poor Sammy's keyboard when he surpassed 65535 posts?
Poor kid had to replace his fingers after that posting spree.

[zapionics<alt>]

Originally Posted by FB -|-+

if you don't like it, no one is forcing you to read it.

get over it.

What do you mean? , you cant avoid posts that crop up in the middle of threads you're reading, you dont know if they are relevant or not until you read them? Are you talking about the OT sections, because I could maybe understand your comment then? I was talking about OT posts in the middle of threads.

[Ozzie]

Originally Posted by zapionics<alt>

[snip}I dont care about avatar's but it really annoys me how some ppl seem to post just for the sake of posting, ie: they dont add anything to the thread at all.[/snip]
[snip]If only there was some way of removing those posts or not counting them that would be great but how the heck do you do it?[/snip]

Very valid points...

A couple of mentions here...keeping a thread on topic is in my opinion what gives us as a forum the most difficulties. A lost art it seems is to always keep the thread on topic - if you must post an off topic comment - always bring it back with something that will advance the thread. Only common courtesy in my opinion.

The other is if mods start removing posts that don't advance the thread - the members will begin carrying armament...

I feel this is very important for the health of the forums.

[FB]

Zap,
i was just referring to the OT forums i guess.

i have noticed it on many other boards i frequent that there are many OT comments.

Think about a normal conversation you have with someone, usually there is something OT or humorous thrown in there as well, it is just Human nature in my mind

[SKI]

I can't help but agree with what zapionics<alt> said about posting when one has nothing cogent to add to a thread. The OT issue (to clarify, going OT within a tech thread: I have no issue with the OT topics themselves) is bad enough, but personally, I get even more irritated by posts that provide an "Overkill Answer" that cannot reasonably be implemented by the person asking for assistance...
What can I say? One of my pet peeves is the post that offers a technically feasable but wildly unreasonable response to the initial request for assistance. Admittedly this is a relatively rare occurance, but every time I see it I want to do someone bodily harm, especially when it's clear that the responder is simply trying to parade his "superior knowledge" in front of the masses, without regard to the needs of the thread-starter.

Those of you who are guilty, expect a big lump of coal in your stockings this year!

[SKI]

FWIW, side comments & such between members within a thread aren't a big deal to me... "Hijacks" are another thing entirely, but I'm not in the mood to tackle that one tonight.

[sammy2066]

Originally Posted by c_white_wolf

Simple (NOT) solution:
Remember poor Sammy's keyboard when he surpassed 65535 posts?
Poor kid had to replace his fingers after that posting spree.

oh damn .... i went OT!!! ...

sorry about that ...

well ... i think we should remove the post count completely .... wouldnt make a difference if it were to go ...

say you become a member for 30 days ... you get your avatar ....

as far as OT goes .... we should remove it from the front page .... so as to give abx a techier feel .....

i think sierra and his a64 threads are the most active ones these days ... i hardly ever see any Intel threads now .....