Removing post counts from TFP's site?
 

Does anybody else think that removing the post counts, at least from the site pages, would be a good idea? Maybe even the "ranking" i.e. "Tilted", "Rookie", "Insane", etc..

Just a thought, since people were discussing Halx's post count.

I think quality matters a lot more than quantity. Not to discourage positive feedback, even if short! :)

So my opinion is to remove the post counts, though I don't really care much about the "ranking"...

How about you make it optional instead?

What would be the benefit of removing the post count? I agree with you that quality matters more than quantity. Do you think that removing the post count would help people focus more on quality? I would guess that the individuals who are really committed to the forum don't pay that much attention to their post count. (I could be wrong. I've never had thousands of posts). I do think that the post count requirement for an avatar should remain even if the post counter is removed from the pages. Finally, I kind of like the ranking.

No.

Post count seperates the men from the boys... or the women from the girls... or the dogs from the puppies... or the cats from the kittens.


It doen't really matter.

With greater participation comes greater benefits. With more participation you get access to the members lounge, an avatar and a custom title. That is the main reason the post count is there, and also so we don't get bandwidth leeches and no way to track and boot them.

I wasn't suggesting removing the counts altogether, just from the pages. As far as I know (and I'm not a TFP veteran or anything), they serve mostly to detect inactive people. I.e., an administrative purpose.

What about using a points-based system instead of post count based? So people could vote on a particular post's value to the community, etc. On a 1 to 5 scale, or something like that?

you can change the 'rookie' or whatever standings.

or at least u could in the old version.

I like the post counts.

I think the post counts are there for reason. I started participating more when Halx threatened to remove those who didn't have a certain post count.

I like the post counts. Like I know that everyone knows that I posted a lot. That makes me all warm inside.

There can't be voting on whos threads/posts are more valuable than others. That's so subjective it's insane.

For arguement's sake: Who are you to judge my posts? Who am I to judge yours?

This is much ado about nothing.

Also, it should go in "Titled Suggestions."

postcounts are cool

Sorry for the incorrect category.

In any case, what I was thinking would be similar to the system at advogato.org, where people evaluate others in an arbitrary fashion. At some point there's a group that becomes "established" etc. etc.

Well, if that doesn't do it for you, that's ok.

I don't want you to think I'm being a dick, I intended that as a friendly reminder. I am persnicketty.

If people evaluate others in an arbitrary fasion, what would the point be? I'm not understanding how that would work, I think.

Well, for a better discussion of how it would work than I could ever come up with, see: http://www.advogato.org/trust-metric.html

Of course, maybe that's just too complicated to bother with. That'd be a perfectly understandable conclusion. :)

I'm just wondering if the "post count" approach could be improved on, as TFP uses that particular metric to decide when people get their avatar.

Everyone here answered the question without Mods or Admin input. Good for all of you. :D

I don't mind the post counts...especially now...just kidding. Mine was never that high and I don't care. There were posters that the first time I noticed them their post count was in the 300's so it made it easy to see that they were regular members.

I really don't like the rate a poster deal. I agree with billege on that one.

Counts are cool with me its the effort to get back to 250 after my 1400 thats killing me, I just want my avatar and title editing features back, then quality will return.

I got excited when I was close to receiving/earning my avatar.
Then nothing until I was near the one thousand mark.

I would be much much happier if I could place a new post on the boobie board. However, my conection and puter are very old and slow. My puter knowledge to do such things also lacks.
My income is low I have a family to suport. So buying porno memberships is a no go, then to find a host.

All I can do is comment to new friends and be proud to be a member of the best site on the net!

Post counts are the only variables that are objective in a case like this. Rating on quality or type of post is too subjective--and would open a whole other can of worms. Post counts apply to everybody and, like justice, the Post Counter Ticker is blind. :)

Is there really anything particularly bad that ratings are subjecive? Would you want someone who is an asshole to have an avatar? Or some other bad qualities? Sure post counts are not subjective, but is everyone sure they don't want a subjective means of determining someone's avatar status?

Post count doesn't mean a damn thing. I'm more impressed by those who have a lower post count and provide quality then those who have a higher post count and don't say a damned thing.

Is there a way to have separate counts for Titty Board and Everything else? Then we could see who the veterans really are. Maybe keep the TB count hidden.

The rating users is available in vBuletin 3, (still a beta) it's reputation, and you can get a general idea of how well liked someone is by looking at their reputation description (numbers can only be seen by the person they apply to.) It can be turned off if people don't want to use it.

I eat post-count haters for breakfast.

I think the post counters are both good and bad. On one hand, it helps a newcomer know who has been here a while, and lets people get an idea of who are regular posters and who just stop in occasionally. However, it also can lead to people really pushing to reach 250 for the sole purpose of getting an avatar. I don't know if they should be kept or done away with.

That said, I also don't think the post ratings are necessary. I can see how if flame wars were an issue that might help, but I haven't see any of those here. Post rating systems tend to show how many people agree or disagree with a point, rather than the quality of the post. And the main point of a discussion board (at least as I see it) is, if you have a different point, you discuss it, rather than just give the post a bad rating. I think people's replies are the best post rating system there is.

I can't see post counts here on my computer any more. Just wondering if they got turned off or whether my computer is broken.

I'm cool with the current system Hal set up. I'll check when I think I'm close to a major milestone, or maybe the next day.

Relax, participate, and don't sweat it. Your post count will grow.
:-)

I don't get post counts anymore either? Was a decision made in this regard?

Posts are still counted, just not displayed. You can go to your user profile to find your count.

This angers me... Really.

Crap, now how will the ladies know how big a man I am?

Like rs8001 said, it´s the "agony" of starting all over again when a certain post-count has been reached that is tough. I´d like my avatar back too, but I guess that it´ll take the time it needs....

We all lost our post counts guys (and gals). I lost 3000+ posts. Yet, I'm not spamming to get my post count back and I'm not being upset over the loss.

{tough love}
No one's situation here is unique. Not a single one of you. There are hundreds of other users who lost their avatar. Thousands who lost posts, and hundreds of those who lost a large number of posts. However many posts you had - with the exception of one person whom I'm not even sure who it is - someone else lost MORE.
{/tough love}

Every single one of the people on the TFP staff lost hundreds and, in many cases, thousands of posts. After Halx rebuilt the site we just came back and started posting as usual.

If your concern is that since posts counts can no longer be seen in every post you make people won't recognize that you're a significant part of this site, you're wrong. Plain and simple.

Think about it. If you're an avid poster, posting 10-15 posts a day, you will be all over. Someone does not need to see the exact number of posts you have under your name to recognize that they keep seeing your name (and eventually, again, your avatar) all over the board. You will lose no recognition from other members by not having a little number under your name. Besides, if you needed a number under your name in order to get recognition by other members, then that number wasn't high enough to mean anything to them anyway. If you participate, people will notice and they always have, If you don't participate, no one will notice, and they never did.

Yup. I'm more likely to pay attention to someone with a low post count who puts quality in their posts rather then someone who just posts crap to pad their count.

Seems like the original question of this post is no longer relevant, since they got rid of the post count displays. Which is a good development in my opinion. Honestly, just post if you feel you're going to contribute something. Don't post for the sake of posting. Simple as that.

I think avatars are a cool idea, and definitely should stay.

The idea of using a trust metric to determine people's avatar status, well, perhaps that simply isn't for TFP.

Looks like they've gone ahead and done it. Don't know if it's my browser settings or what, but nobody's post count showing on my machine today.

I believe that would be BoCo, and I haven't seen him complain. If he lost over 5000 posts and doesn't complain about it, that sets an example for all of us.

I like the idea that MrSelfDestruct had of separating titty board posts from other boards, maybe just do it in the profile, separate the titty board/request board/links board from the others. I know the top 30 posters page is gone for now, but if it returns once people quit spamming to rebuild their post numbers we could have a searchable option to sort by post number with all posts, and by post numbers for each board. I don't know if that made any sense to you guys.

Yeah, I most definitely agree that separating the Titty Board posts would be best -- there's a huge difference between "I'd Hit It!" posts (hehe) and posts discussing a real topic.

Everyone loves the titty board posts, (hellz yeah!) but they're mostly different from the rest of the forum...no need to separate it any more than that, but I don't think they should necessarily be on the same level as discussion thread posts.

just my 2c..