Gets my vote ^

Why are we still discussing if post counts matter?

To me they are a barometer to see how long each one of us has been and how much time we contribute (waste) in this board :p

Like I've said before, no one should take advice from someone just based on their post count.

I have 10,000+ posts, zero contributions, whereas Dino2020 has a measly 680 posts, but all of them count, except for the last one :D

I like the idea of only counting posts from Travel related forums. This would reinforce the notion that the # of posts is an indication of credibility.

You mean we also have to filter all those threads that start with OT

:confused:

If it ain't broken, don't fix it ;)

Concur!

You use it to measure poster's length? ;) Interesting approach to FT participation.

Not sure what you mean. There are certainly off topic threads in the travel forums. It would be impossible to filter those out.

But having a post count from travel forums, and a post count from "other" forums would seem technically feasible.

Ditto.

I would say the OP's experience is unusual if most of the BBs he is on do NOT have post counts. :eek:

I think OMNI posts should not count. For a short while, they didn't, but then at some point they did again. So obviously, this is a topic that has been given a lot of thought already (as well as discussed on other threads), and Randy (and staff/assistants etc.) have come to certain conclusions about post counts. Not sure that any of this will sway him, but I guess it doesn't hurt to sound off about the topic once again. :D

What exactly is "broken" and will the "fix" really solve more problems than it creates? The "padding" of post counts may -- wittingly or unwittingly -- happen just as much in the "on-topic" forums as the "off-topic" forums; and I would not be surprised to see such behavior of "post-count padding" gravitate toward the "on-topic" forums if such a "fix" were applied.

Perhaps one-line or one-sentence responses to posts should not be counted either? Perhaps "clarifications" or "addendums" should not be counted? Perhaps only the first response in a thread will count? Perhaps humorous threads or responses should not count? Perhaps certain "Women Travelers" forum postings won't count since "Male Traveler" items in OMNI won't count? What else did I miss?

I don't really mind whatever general change is or is not done with this matter of post counting. It's not too hard for the more active members of FT to figure out what needs to be figured out without paying attention to post counts. However, for the less active or new FTers, I think post counts are a somewhat useful indicator (of various things) -- until and unless they learn how to use the search feature at its best.

For the less active or new FTer seeking help on a matter, the post-count "padders" with the higher post-counts may be perceived as probably knowing a bit more about FT and FTers than most of the non-post-count-padders. Presumably, as a result of that general perception by the general FT populace, the "post-count padders" probably receive more than a few assistance-seeking PMs/emails from the less active, newer or other (even long-standing) information-seeking FTers.

i really don't care

this is an internet msg forum, everything needs to be taken at face value

comments should only be taken as advice and not solid fact.

although i'd make a great member of the talkboard :D

vote...

for....

You'd have my vote. But, above, are you trying to get votes or lose votes? :D

:D i'm padding my postcount, see? I need all the exposure I can get. :cool:

I may have missed the change ... didn't OMNI post counts stop counting ages back when some folks posted like 5,000 or 10,000 times on one thread or whatever??

And bear in mind that there are the occasional travel/point-related topics in OMNI, ORP and even those other forums (for example, off the top of my head, someone recently asked in OMNI about recorded books for use while traveling in a car on vacation, and here in ORP there has been discussion of the merits of LAN Pass) so while better forums may exist for such threads, the discussion of such topics there adds no less value to the information available here simply because they appear in OMNI or ORP.

I think OMNI posts do get counted once again. That and/or there is some other forum where posts count but which the general FT community cannot access -- like the "hidden" or "restricted" forums.

OMNI posts count, well they count as a post, whether its a contribution too FT now that's another matter :D

I'm not sure I pay a whole lot of attention to the post count, but rather rely on the content of the given post, or my past knowledge of the poster, before deciding on the reliability. I agree that many will be be more likely to give credence to those with higher post counts, or earlier join dates - this is human nature.

Perhaps if the "average posts per day" were visible, as well as the number of posts, it would allow those who actually give a damn to make judgments about those of us who hold their tongue (quality posters?) and those who chatter (quantity posters?) and the many who do a bit of both (look at ajamieson - chatters quite a bit but when he says something about bmi - we all listen, because we have learned to trust his knowledge - quality & quantity posters).

I think it's a reasonable idea to exclude some of the "other" forums from post-counts, if you read post count as an indication of reliability. I think it's equally reasonbable to include them as an indication of participation.

Or we could just leave things alone - afterall, the world is not coming to an end, at least not quite yet. Sure, there will be occasional outbreaks of post padding - but we also have Moderators who do a fine job for the most part. We also have a Randy who will exclude people if things really get out of hand.

I think people just need to excercise their judgement on these matters. I suggest we leave post counts alone. I been here a few years and I've done ok - I haven't been damaged (I think :D ).

There are plenty of lurkers who have been here for years and never contributed anything. I don't want to trade coupons with them over someone with an established history. Nor take them to dinner when they are in town, nor fetch their camera from the AF lounge at BCN and FedEx it back to the states. There needs to be some way to indicate who is active and who isn't. An attendance certificate in the form of a join date isn't enough. Every single forum I post on actively has post counts.

On the other hand if there were a way to find out what kind of reputation other posters had, post counts wouldn't be so necessary. There's an idea...

Not counting OMNI-posts and such is a great idea. But keep the post count visible, I'd even go as far to having a rating system on the users as well!

And here I thought everyone who is anyone on Omni was in the RV on vacation with Randy and singing camp fire songs all summer. My omni posts haven't counted since the vacation began :p

I have a great idea, let's create a review board, this board will then see each post in FT. According to the merits of the post, it will classify it as qualifying post, or just a post, pretty much like the airlines do.

After each 10 good posts, the member will then get a reputation point. For each time a person gets 10 report bad post he will lose 1 reputation point. For every suspension or trip on the RV you lose 10 reputation points.

I this case my profile will show something like this

jfe
21 good posts
10,000 posts (1% M/T, 99% other)
Reputation ██

M/T = Miles/Travel

Of course we won't have to segregate the forums, since each post is reviewed, that way posts in OMNI, Community, ORP, Women's Forum, Air Canada (Leaders in OT Topics) that are travel related count



Couldn't be easier than that ;)

God forbid that my 10,000 posts will confuse some poor soul here in FT by giving some advice :p

:D :D :D

Complaining or bragging? ;)

You can see the "average posts per day" by clicking on the user's FT handle and looking at their profile.

But perhaps you already knew that, and meant that statistic should be displayed prominently rather than just tucked away in the profile.

We used to have reputation point type things here but like most good things that comes here, it was abused by a small minority of people who ruined it for everyone else.

Multiple Posts to Same Thread
 

I've often wondered whether multiple posts to the same thread raise the count with each post. Since the count number become retroactive on prior posts, I would have to try it out to see.

For those who watch "Whose Line is it Anyway" (Brit and US versions), the points each comedian accrues have no meaning whatsoever. That's exactly how I view the 'post count' issue. Who cares, folks? :D

You don't get paid a bonus for posting more; you don't win a prize; you just increase a number. Is this somehow important in the grander scheme of things? ;)

Hmmm funny how most* of the people who post a massive amount in OMNI dont see there is need for a change, yet others who post on travel related boards want the change.

* excluding Kiwiflyer :)

My already substantial moderator bonus increases with each post so that's not totally true....:p.

I don't like I need to pad my #s just to get back into CC

I choose my posts carefully

I post quite often in OMNI (there's only so much that you can talk about in the travel forums before you start repeating yourself). I would be in favor of deleting OMNI, etc. posts from the member's FT post count.

I wonder, however, if this is realistic - - I assume that Randy would want to keep the overall post counts high for ad revenue purposes, so deleting a huge numvber of posts from the count would not be in his best interest (but I admit know little or nothing about how the advertising rates actually works, so help me out if I'm wrong).

95+% of my last couple of thousand posts have been in the "travel" forums. :)

"Most* of the people who post a massive amount in OMNI" who "don't see there is a need for a change" -- why is there a "need for a change"? :confused: -- would just post in the other travel forums and/or "Community" ones if "post count" was a motivator. That said, I think my previous post said what I wished to say. :D

Would some people be happier just deleting OMNI -- posts, post counts and all?

Please see also:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showp...48&postcount=8

4 of your last 100 post have been in travel related forums :)

I would call that more than "often" :D


Being serious for a minute though I take back my statement that most people who post in OMNI dont like the idea, I have been proved wrong. Peace to all.

Dino

Would the OOTs go with it?