Originally Posted by Steph3n (Post 17777008)

I'd prefer post counts be hidden from all but mods, they are meaningless anyone that cares about them is caring about the wrong thing, quantity and not quality.

Originally Posted by HansGolden (Post 17775449)

To count OMNI posts goes against the whole point of a post count: to get a rough idea of how experienced the poster is. While there are people with massive post counts and zero experience (I'll refrain from mentioning names), it's harder to rack up huge meaningless post counts outside of OMNI.

CC posts, OTOH, should count. CC has one of the strictest set of rules of any forum about extraneous posts.

Originally Posted by DenverBrian (Post 17772239)

Good lord people. I can't believe how much energy and time continues to be expended on the wrong solution to the wrong problem.

This isn't about OMNI, lounge threads, or anything related. This has always been about those little numbers under your handle that say "Posts: xxxxx".

FlyerTalk attracts people who are trying to gain more - more flying benefits, higher elite status, better advice, more money in the pocket, etc.

The "Posts: xxxxx" feeds this like crack cocaine. For a group that's already addicted to more, more, more, it's the presence of this statistic in every handle's description that's the problem...not these petty side distractions that pop up every year about whether OMNI should count, or whether CC should count, or whether lounge threads should count.

The obvious answer: Eliminate the broadcasting of individual post counts in handles. For those addicts and (mostly) men suffering from SPS, you could still see your own post count in your own profile. Heck, you could even advertise it in your signature. But there is absolutely no need to be broadcasting what has become a "mine's bigger than yours" sideshow.

And yes, this probably means eliminating titles too, although you might be able to retain titles based on a percentage rather than a raw number of posts. Get into the top 50% of all posters on FT? Get a Pewter status. Top 10%? Gold. Top 1%? Platinum. Top 0.1%? Molybdenum. This would mitigate post-padding issues far more efficiently than endless debate on which forums and threads should count.

Harumph.

Originally Posted by matthandy (Post 17776265)

Here's a new idea: How about a motion that prevents TB members from bringing up defeated motions again after only a few months?

In my view, repeating this motion damages the reputation of the TalkBoard and I am disappointed that some of the people that I voted for, who promised new thoughts and ideas chose this as one of the first motions since the election. Guys, this is rather poor :td:. Where are the fresh ideas? Do you have no respect for the people that came before you and all of the opinions that were aired by ordinary members on this topic?

Wouldn't it be better to review the concept of post counts, decide on how they are perceived and then make a decision on which forums should count? I would strongly suspect that new members and lurkers associate post count with a level of experience and knowledge. That may not be translate into actual experience, but I suspect that is the initial perception.

In my view, if you make a contribution to the community, it should count, OMNI or not, since it is very much a community in itself. However, counting games make zero contribution as they are nothing more than a post padding exercise. I've seen a few names that I recognise posting on such threads and my opinion of those posters dropped significantly.

To those TalkBoard members that publicly state that their vote is swayed by popular opinion (which it should be if they claim to represent the community) you should vote no surely, based on this thread? That is not the impression that I get though. Basically it's: 'I've discussed this with some of my friends and they like the idea, so I'm going to vote yes'. Also, at least one member has stated that they've already voted. Surely it would have been better to review the feedback first, and vote after the feedback thread has been closed? If you claim to represent the community, then surely any other course of action is in opposition to this statement?
I ask, what is the point in expressing an opinion at all if this is the case?? :confused:

Very disappointed in you TalkBoard.

Originally Posted by Mary2e (Post 17777562)

As I have said many times before, I cannot believe the venom displayed by some regarding Omni posts. For a bunch of intelligent people, no one appears to be able to reconcile the fact that thousands upon thousands upon thousands of OT posts have been made in contest threads as well as lounge threads. We won't even talk about some entire forums that are maginally travel related. If anyone is really interested, I can send you to M&P threads where a few posters have over 20k (each) in posts - and they post virtually nowhere else on FT.

Yet, it's the official OT area that gets all the venom.

For me, it's about consistency. Either treat all OT the same or don't. Let's not make 3 forums FT's redheaded stepchildren.

Or, don't count anyones posts.

As for post padding counting games (and even the contests) - I'm also all for deleting all that currently exist and also prevent any others from being started.

Originally Posted by RichMSN (Post 17777656)

Very doubtful this would get the six required votes. It would never get mine.

Look at it from my perspective. I ran for TB partially because I disagreed with what the TB did last year. People voted for me, possibly because they agreed with me. And then my hands should be tied? I'm sorry if you voted for me and think I'm not representing you, but if you read this debate thread, koko and I made it very clear that one of us would make the motion and the other would second it. Why would we break our campaign promises?

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/talkb...ni-omnipr.html

Like Congress, this is a representative body. I'm elected to vote my conscience. On some issues where I feel I need guidance from members of FT, I'll hold back my vote and see if people have ideas that guide me. On this one, I made the motion and voted immediately.

Unlike Congress, I am not going to be guided solely by "how will this affect my chances of getting re-elected?" The pay isn't that good and I'd rather have one good term than 2 where I sit back and do nothing.

Originally Posted by Ritz (Post 17778270)

Having been a contributing FlyerTalker since 2007, and a dedicated lurker since 2002 - I can say with firm conviction that counting OMNI et. al. in post counts is a joke. For those of us that post when we feel it benefits the community, OMNI is a slap in the face...and so would counting its posts.

Further, shame on TB for dragging the issue up again so soon after the last vote. Sometimes it is prudent not to legislate. Just because you won your election doesn't mean you need to mire FT in previous issues - why not get creative and enact your own ideas, instead of revisiting past TB topics?

Originally Posted by kipper (Post 17778306)

I wouldn't be in favor of a motion that prohibits members from bringing up previously defeated motions, in part because as TB elections occur, and TB members are replaced, a motion that was previously defeated might then stand a chance of being passed. Also, depending on wording, it could prohibit motions that have been modified, like this one, which includes Coupon Connection, and doesn't limit the scope to OMNI, from being raised. I would hope that a motion like that would not have the support of 6 TalkBoard members.

I'm happy to see that at least one TalkBoard member would rather have 1 productive term than 2 unproductive terms! ^

I think this motion is better than the prior one, in that it does encompass all forums.

Originally Posted by PhoenixRev (Post 17776246)

That is the God's honest truth.

I am active on a lot of forums where a post count is listed and every single post counts whether it is on topic or off topic, listing a bug in the Tech forum, or even a Haiku post that is annoying, but can occasionally be amusing.

It is even made worse here where post counting seems fairly arbitrary because some off-topic posts count and some don't.

Originally Posted by njx9 (Post 17778790)

It's extremely entertaining to me that people want OMNI posts to count because they have just as much value as any other post, but they are adamantly against letting sub-180 post users read those valuable posts.