Forgive me, as this is my very first post in your forum. But as I was looking for a specific forum to ask about using OnePass airline points for hotels and cars, I surfed along and found an ongoing forum debate over turning off post counts because of post padding.

Again, this is just my suggestion:

I happen to be a moderator and administrator at another worldwide forum that uses the same software as this forum does (at least in generic form). We had the same challenge five years ago and wanted to reward our longtime members with both a graduated User Title that is based on an increase in their post counts, as well as provide a solution to allow other members to pad all day long in forum areas where they could. Once the changes were made (which only took 30 minutes), all 50,000+ forum members are happy now.

Here is what we did:

1) With over 200+ forums and sub-forums, our team decided which forums would be designated as chit-chat, nonsense postings, games, puzzles, just about anything that did not have to do with the meat and potatoes of our main forum mission. Once those forums were designated, we simply went in the Administrators Control Panel (CP) and manually turned OFF the option that allows each post in that forum to be conted toward a Post Count.

2) For very large off-topic threads in the other forums, we simply moved tem to the chit-chat forums and performed a forum maintenance which reduced post counts for some members who were either padding or posting chats. Yes, we had a few debates, but they were few and far between because everyone agreed to have their own clubhouse forum for whatever purpose they needed.

3) For those members whose posts added to the overall quality of the forums, the admins awarded an avatar SEAL LOGO to the member. (I see that the avatar option is turned off here for members)

Summary: In the end everyone had their favorite forums to participate in, including the padders, and those who worked very hard to contribute with posts with something more than a quick hello were awarded in the forums with a post count.

Your thoughts?

Allen

Welcome to ORP and FT!

This thread.

Well, I'm thinking whether this input, as well intentioned as I've no doubt it was offered with, deserved it's own thread since there's already one on the subject.

So what, we get dupe threads all the time and he is a newbie with what I think are good ideas. The number of post padding threads throughout FT is becoming a PITA frankly and the more its discussed the better chances of getting action on this pesty problem.

Then I guess we disagree. One longer thread with many good ideas would, to me, have more weight than many shorter threads on the same subject. BTW, I did notice OP was a newbie and couched my advice with that in mind.

Frankly, while your concern is post padding, mine is unnecessary dupe threads, whether it's by newbies or veterans. To each his own...

Have we not seen some dupe threads by you recently...its not a perfect world

Inadvertant dupe threads are one thing, but purposely creating another thread for whatever reason is another.

FT did do exactly what you suggest in (1) some time back for 'OMNI' at least, which is roughly the FT equivalent of what you outline. (As a newer member I am not sure if you can access/view OMNI) IIRC posts there did not count for some time.

But then at some point I understand they did.

So that idea seems tried and abandoned here.

yep......

I wish it could be revisited. There are so many game threads an other absurd
threads out there as to diminish the ideals of FT IMO. Omni is one thing but all that other game stuff that goes with it is nonsense.

Thanks for the comments.

Yes, I purposely authored a New Thread with a specific and single solution in mind to suggest and to discuss, so as not to get lost in the "general ideas" topic. As a moderator at another site, I certainly know the reasons why we do not encourage duplicate threads and the challenges for moderators to keep the boards free of clutter. That is why I carefully authored a single idea to stand out for it's merits or demise, according to the wishes of the owner.

Mentioned here also was that other programs of this kind may have not worked. Perhaps the map to it's success was not formulated:

1) Modify the current Forum Rules to include the new provision of "padding posts does not escalate User Titles".

2) Modify the Forum Rules to include that Moderators have the right to edit, limit, or suspend a member's account if the forum rules are infracted by the member. (Notice we use "infraction" rather than "violation".

With the above set up, then the tool to enforcing the rules is something I failed to mention:

1) In the Control Panel each member is assigned to a User Group, such as "Registered". But a duplicate User Group with the same privileges can be installed in 60 seconds, such as "Registered-Moderated" with one difference: That is, the Registered-Moderated members can author posts but their posts are manually approved or edited or deleted by a moderator.

2) Therefore, if a member begins padding posts in the forums where post counts escalate User Titles, a moderator can change that members User Group from Registered to Registered-Moderated until the member stops the padding.

3) Moderators can still edit padded posts that have nothing to do with the SUBJECT CONTENT of the topic. And they can use little items to gently pursuade members, such as the following image:



Again, the tools are here to help members refrain from padding in the wrong forums where posts escalate User Titles, and allow those who want to chit chat in forums where the posts do not escalate User Titles. And the tools are here to enforce (gently) those rules.

But in the end, the owner needs trusted and qualified moderators to make this happen.

In the other site where I have been a moderator for 5 years, our moderator training became quite intense because of the tens of thousands of members we manage. It typically takes 3 months to train our moderators.

I hope what I have written is seen as a suggestion with deep respect for the mission of this site,

Allen

Welcome to FT!. If you hang around long enough to gain OMNI access, you will find countless threads that are nothing but post-padding disguised as political discussion.

I appreciate the offer. But the main purpose for me registering here was to gain much valuable insight and tips on the world of frequent traveller and rewards programs . . . and not to read through countless, mindless gab of unrelated chit chat, even though there may be members who need that outlet.

It is interesting that since the internet started the technology has allowed very lonely people to keep their copy and pasting skills alive.

Allen

Niiiiiiice.... Are you sure this community is the best place for you? Many people here travel in excess of 250000 miles a year, and when stuck in a hotel room in the middle of nowhere turn to their virtual friends on Flyertalk.

REALLY; before making such remarks you might want to get a feel of what a wonderful community we have here.

Yes, you are correct. I suppose I was typing away so quickly in responding to another member who seemed to suggest that members were padding posts to have their User Titles promoted, not to pass away leg trips or layovers to "participate" here.

My apology if I offended,

Allen