Arena2045 Posted March 28, 2004 Posted March 28, 2004 This is the discussion thread for the forum announcement : Visible Post Counts In addition to updating the profile system so users can add their system specs (x3) I've made another change to the board...It was discussed sometime ago, by the Administration and Moderation staff, to remove/hide the post counts of users on threads, but keep it visible under the profile system. Tonight I've modified the forum so that when viewing threads, users will no longer see individual's post counts. If you are interested in seeing a user's post counts we encourage you to view that members profile (by clicking on their username, above their avatar).
Neil P Posted March 28, 2004 Posted March 28, 2004 I voted for the new way (profile only).The only reason I have done so is when someone new to the forum makes a post, they may (not saying it happens here, but it could) not be taken as seriously as, say, Bruno with his near-9000 posts. This way, the post is judged more on the content rather than the poster him/her-self.Just my opinion. At MozillaZine, the admins dropped the post count and you would have sworn someone was going to be killed. But then the big fuss died, and I think the forums are better because of it.Good move, I'd say
SonicDragon Posted March 28, 2004 Posted March 28, 2004 I don't really care very strongly either way, but i think steeler is right. Sometimes people's posts aren't taken the same way if they have a low post count. I don't think that happens very much here, but i guess it would certainly help prevent the problem from occuring. Also, it can be intimidating for someone that is new to the forums to break into our group of users who have obviously been here a long time. Maybe more users would join if they realized they didn't have to have a high post count to fit in and be friendly with us
Ed_P Posted March 28, 2004 Posted March 28, 2004 then the big fuss died Probably as the frustrated contributors left the forums.Personally I judge a person's question based on what they ask rather than how many times they've posted. Answers I judge on how helpful they are to my problem. Unless the message count displays are what causes the foums to be slow at times I don't see any reason to change them. If you want the people to judge postings solely on content remove the Member No and Joined date too. Just because a member has a high post count or is even an admin doesn't necessarily mean they've posted anything useful.imo
Jeber Posted March 28, 2004 Posted March 28, 2004 If you want the people to judge postings solely on content remove the Member Number and Join Dates too.That's been considered. May happen, may not.Just because a member has a high post count or is even an admin doesn't necessarily mean they've posted anything useful.Couldn't agree more.
Arena2045 Posted March 28, 2004 Author Posted March 28, 2004 The poll has been updated to include a neutral position.Please vote again, if you have done so already.
Neil P Posted March 28, 2004 Posted March 28, 2004 Personally I judge a person's question based on what they ask rather than how many times they've posted. Answers I judge on how helpful they are to my problem.You and me both, Ed. But that still doesn't stop it from happening to other people. Also, it curbs "post count pumping" (again, not prevalent here, but whats to say it won't happen?), where people just post so they have a huge post count number. Apparently it makes some people feel better about themselves.
Guest JoS Posted March 28, 2004 Posted March 28, 2004 How about limiting people to 10 posts a day. 5 for admins. That should slow down the blabber mouths. It would also help keep threads more focused. However the board would need to add a daily post count to the poster's post display so they don't loose track.
RichNRockville Posted March 28, 2004 Posted March 28, 2004 I voted for showing the number of posts.Rational is that when I see a message with a link, I am much more trusting that the link is not a spam link if the number of posts is a few more than 1.There are spammers that join, place one message with a link that goes to a dubious siteand then they never come back.At least I can give some credence to someone's advice (although not a given) if they havehad a few posts.There are some that seem wound up with having a high post count and those people, many times just like to hear themselves talk. (or see their name on the screen)
ross549 Posted March 28, 2004 Posted March 28, 2004 *the following is only Ross549's $0.02*Personally, I have always had them at every forum I have been a part of, and I like them. Do I like them enough to complain? Certainly not.
teacher Posted March 28, 2004 Posted March 28, 2004 I like having them under the profile only. I think that will make it friendlier here. Newcomers would not be intimidated that way. I have reached the point where I only look at what is shown on an individual in that area if it is someone I have not seen before. Then I am just as likely to go to their profile anyway to see if they have been posting in sections I don't frequent often and look more at their recent posts than the number of them. Julia
SonicDragon Posted March 28, 2004 Posted March 28, 2004 Rational is that when I see a message with a link, I am much more trusting that the link is not a spam link if the number of posts is a few more than 1.There are spammers that join, place one message with a link that goes to a dubious siteand then they never come back.At least I can give some credence to someone's advice (although not a given) if they havehad a few posts.This also crossed my mind. However, i think those are solved by keeping the "rank" portion intact... that like bunch of square boxes indicating about how many posts were made and a title like "message mogul".
nlinecomputers Posted March 28, 2004 Posted March 28, 2004 Spamming on this board is not allowed and we don't see much (any?) of it here and when they do the mods delete it. We've been lucky not to have many trolls, spammers, or other online vermin to choke up this board. Makes it a nice place to be.
Arena2045 Posted March 28, 2004 Author Posted March 28, 2004 Side Note:The recent modifications to the forum code may produce some visual irregularities for members using Mozzilla and/or Mozilla FireFox (bird) browsers.Please log out, clear your browser cache, and log back in. If any part of the board still looks strange please take a screen shot and upload it to a server. If you do not have a server in which you can upload images, private message either myself, LilBambi, or Jeber, and we can assist you further.Thank you.
Cluttermagnet Posted March 28, 2004 Posted March 28, 2004 Considering that I'd rather not take the side trip to look over user profiles, I experience this change as a loss. I'd much prefer to have the post numbers everywhere. Notice that it is a very close vote- ignoring neutrals, I see it is 9 to 8 in favor of dumping them at this particulat moment. Well, why am I wasting my time on this issue? It was presented to us as a fiat accompli. What's the point of debating it now, or even running a poll? Were there some hotter dissents than the admins were expecting?In effect, this will force me to take the profiles sidetrip considerably more often to obtain some useful info that I have always weighed in assessing a post and its author. Certainly a high number of posts is not necessarily a good thing. Some folks write actual content, whereas others are content for the most part to post links- in effect to let others do the leg work for them. When evaluating a personal website, for example, although I am at times impressed when a large number of really good links is present, the one factor I weigh the most is whether the webmeister has invested themself in the site by providing original content, whether fact, fiction, humor, conjecture, or analysis. The real contributors stand out above the background noise of the internet.I might add that a low post number does not prejudice me in the vast majority of cases- unless the actual content of the post shows a lack of thought, caring, and effort. There are some folks on here with low post numbers that I actually enjoy hearing from the most. They have something valuable to add, and I quickly learn who these folks are and am far more likely to go check out a new post by them even if the topic is not particularly a 'bell-ringer' for me. And usually it proves to have been worth the effort.BTW if the number of posts is a problem and might make newbies 'feel bad', why don't we get rid of all the trappings? Maybe someone will feel inadequate because the order of my joining Scot's Forum puts me in the three digit category at 902. So that must mean I'm a lot more salty than someone who has a number greater than 2000? Maybe newcomers will feel intimidated because I am a "Thread Head"? My number of posts is implicit in that title, so why don't we do away with that too? Personally, I found all the info interesting, helpful, and sometimes entertaining. Certainly the avatars can be very enjoyable (IMHO). Some of the more annoying ones, generally those that are animated, I AdBlock in Firebird or Firefox if I don't want to view them any more. Overall, I think the sort of choice which has been made here would be handled far better by leaving the choice to individual user preferences. Perhaps that is not possible due to limits in the forum software, however.
SonicDragon Posted March 28, 2004 Posted March 28, 2004 Perhaps that is not possible due to limits in the forum software, however.That's not a bad idea. Maybe have it default to the no post counts and if someone wants to changed it, they can. Or vise versa. However, i also have no idea if this is possible of not.
Arena2045 Posted March 28, 2004 Author Posted March 28, 2004 Perhaps that is not possible due to limits in the forum software, however.That's not a bad idea. Maybe have it default to the no post counts and if someone wants to changed it, they can. Or vise versa. However, i also have no idea if this is possible of not. Sorry that's not possible. It's either on or off (only shown under the profile).
Ed_P Posted March 28, 2004 Posted March 28, 2004 Change for the sake of change and change that causes problems needlessly is a waste of time. If the forums had a problem by all means address it, but as been said this group doesn't have a problem so what's the point?Most corporations that make changes track the before and after effects. Is someone going to track the number of new members added this year before the change and then 3 months from now? If the number of new members increases signficantly it would certainly vindicate the change. Or if the number of postings increase.But then again this forum isn't a corporation or a democracy. At best it's a benevolent dictatorship, ruled by a few. And if we don't like it here we'll be told to leave so I guess we should keep quiet.
Guest Paracelsus Posted March 28, 2004 Posted March 28, 2004 Well...After my original vote & post... I must admit that CM and EdP present some quite valid POV's. And I tend to agree.I've no idea how difficult (if possible at all) an option in Profiles as to whether post #'s is displayed would be.But overall...Perhaps the mantra: "If it Ain't Broke... Why Fix It" comes into play.If there haven't been problems with spammers or other complaints...We may be better off leaving the Status Quo as it is.
Jeber Posted March 28, 2004 Posted March 28, 2004 One point several of you have missed is that we need to look forward, not just at the present moment. Those of us who have been around forums for a while know that post counts are meaningless. But many of those who will join us will be new to this concept, and we want to make the forum as friendly and unintimidating as possible for them. New members should be able to tell from a person's posts whether or not they know the subject at hand. They can also access that person's profile to see their history with the forum, as well as what they've listed as their interests and system.I think once we adjust to the idea that the counts don't matter and we all forget that they ever were posted where they were, life will go on and the forum will be as vibrant as ever, and our community will be stronger and closer because we have one less thing that seperates us from one another.My 2¢ worth.
NRD Posted March 28, 2004 Posted March 28, 2004 I'll add my perspective as a user with a low post count... less than 40If it were up to me, the post count, title, and pips would all be sent to the profile only. In my opinion, the forum mods, admins, and mvp's are the only ones who need titles.When you have a well established community with "regulars" It can be very difficult for new members to jump in...even if the community is as pleasant as SNLF. New members may feel that because they have a low post count, they may be ignored etc. I think its human nature to give prolific users opinions more weight. I know I do. I've found this to be valid in some cases, invalid in an equal number of others. I think the main consideration should be "What is the mission of SNLF?" If its to encourage the sign up and participation of new members, the post count should be relegated to the profile. Its not as if the information will be unavailable, it just won't be a glaring reminder to new members of just how new the are.
Ed_P Posted March 29, 2004 Posted March 29, 2004 Don't listen to NRD, he's a low poster. Sorry, couldn't resist. Thanks for sharing your point of view.I think you will find that even the titles don't quarantee meaningful postings. But I think everyone trys to be helpful and that's the most important aspect.
Grasshopper Posted March 29, 2004 Posted March 29, 2004 I'd like to know where my last post on this poll went?I posted that I'd like to see the post counts stay.I posted after Jeber's second post but before Arena changed the poll.Hmm??Can an admin please enlighten me on this?
Arena2045 Posted March 29, 2004 Author Posted March 29, 2004 I'd like to know where my last post on this poll went?I posted that I'd like to see the post counts stay.I posted after Jeber's second post but before Arena changed the poll.Hmm??Can an admin please enlighten me on this?No posts were deleted. I simply recreated the poll, deleted the old poll, and merged the topics. All the posts transfered over. Not saying that you did or didn't post, but I don't remember seeing a post from you on this thread.
Arena2045 Posted March 29, 2004 Author Posted March 29, 2004 The board suffered some major trauma and reverted back to the pre-modified state. I'm trying to retrace my steps and correct the problem.
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