Do away with post counts
 

Hi Randy,

I am sure you know about the issue with a removed thread at DL.

One of reasons given was post padding.

This made me think, very unusual for me, and I went back to every community that I belong to. Professional, hobbies, perverts :D , etc...NONE of them issue a post count.

Why do we do that here at FT? I hope it is not an ego issue.

If it is a Coupon Connection or OMNI issue, than count posts up to 1000 or whatever number you choose.

Like I said in many posts, you cannot spend a post count!

Thanks,

Mike

I think this is a good idea.

Wait, not just a "good" idea an "excellent" idea.

Superexcellent really. Bordering on marvelous

Suprised someone hadn't suggested this sooner!

I think it should be acted on ASAP

a worthy idea - an idea who's time has come!

^

Double ^

Well, I will say that I am still fairly new to BBS posting and even newer to FT but I will say that I find someone with a higher post count AND a long "Join Date" to have more credibility than someone without those same credentials. Now, please don't flame me regarding padding the post count with one liners or the like; I'm just saying that new FTers or even lurkers will see those statistics and base their opinions on what is said on that information.
Maybe I'm a little naive but if I have that mindset, I'm sure there are dozens more that do, too.

Keep the join date, dump the posts

I am all for this idea.

I agree. I believe that it will lead to more substantitive posts; surely far better than the ^ or :) answers.

^

^

I ........

don't ......

like .....

this .....

idea. :p

But I do like mikey's signature ... cracked me up!

Well, all of the boards with which I am familiar display a member's post count in their profile. It's a good indicator of not just number of posts, but several other things, as well.

And no offense, but some people here have always obsessed about post counts. May be something Freudian, I think. ;)

If it's not broke, don't fix it, as Ann Landers used to say.

Sorry. Please count me as a negative. I find it interesting (although sometimes padded) and useful information.

I like the post count total. I look at mine in awe and wonder everyday. Plus, contrary to what my buddy mikey1003 said, I used my FT post count as collateral for a bank loan the other day....:p.
Seriously, I DO like showing post counts as it helps me put statements from posters in perspective. If I'm not familiar with a particular poster, his/her post total gives me an idea how experienced they are with FT. Since we can't "see" or "hear" each other on an IBB such facts as post total, join date, etc. help me understand where a poster is coming from.
And speaking as a moderator, single digit post counts are important as they indicate a newbie who should be welcomed and given an extra degree of help. I might not always notice the join date but a post count of 2 or 3 jumps right out. Plus single digit post counts help us recognize folks who have registered another handle for the sole purpose of trolling. Not that that would ever happen on FlyerTalk.....;).
On another bulletin board I visit from time to time, they have two post count totals: On-Topic and Off-Topic. In the case of FlyerTalk, all posts in airline, hotel and other travel related Forums would be listed as "On-Topic" posts. Any posts in OMNI, Coupon Connection, ORP and other non-travel related Forums would be listed as "Off-Topic" posts. This sort of gives you an idea of how much value a particular poster has contributed to the bulletin board.

I like the idea of OMNI, CC, ORP, Spam, Talkboard, Suggestions not counting to post count.

Me too :)

I think that is an excellent idea and a great compromise.

Best idea I have heard all day. Also, Cholula raised some excellent points

I just felt like quoting Kiwi Flyer for the fourth consecutive milepost in a row.

Does this count as milepost padding?...

While this would de-evangelize me, I would support it -- under condition that we added Travel Security and Newstand to the lists.

We had this discussion before

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=345442

:(

Yes!

Ironically, none of these suggestions would have helped with the removed thread discussed in the OP.

In that particular case people were not post padding for the usual reasons (such as Omni qualification).

They were post padding for the sole purpose of having the most posts in that thread. It seemed to be a pointless contest in which they were having fun.

Fun? Fun!?! No fun Allowed Here! Move Along..Move Along...

Most BB's I use DO have post counts, or at the very least some sort of status increases. I think that they should not necessarily be banished, but perhaps as suggested above, whack them off from certain forums.

For someone like myself who's not here that often and doesn't know the players , the post count provides a measure of credibility. It may be an imprecise measure but if I have conflicting responses to a question from someone with 20 posts or someone with 4,000 I am going to give a little more weight to the person with the higher post count. KEEP 'UM.

Maybe we could add a Hide Post Count feature? ;) (sorry, just a joke I couldn't resist - back to your regularly scheduled post count padding... :) )

Geez, I thought that happened to you back when you were... oh, nevermind.

Well, we could bring back reputation :D :p :eek:

Never is a rimshot when needed, eh? ^