Thread: Remove Post Counts

Why is it that people feel the need to wear their post counts?

To me, it seems to promote a “status-based” sort of community more than anything else, which in my opinion is something that takes away from the forum. Sure, most of us would agree that it’s more or less insignificant, and that it may not even be worth debating over (or so it seems). Nevertheless, whether or not you want to admit it, people still have a tendency of seeing one’s post count as an indicator of that person’s “place” within the community, even if in an unspoken manner. After all, if that number was truly as insignificant as we all say it is, why is it that posts in the Senseless Banter forum do not count towards one’s displayed post count, eh?

The question isn’t whether or that little number is seen and/or used as a status symbol by forum goers, the question is if that is something we should be perpetuating here at Dream Views? Most of us probably think such a thing is silly, and maybe even worth criticizing me for since its such a trivial concern…but of those people, especially those of you with relatively high post counts, who of you would actually erase/reset that number if you were given the option? Who of you could honestly say you be indifferent if one day your post count was just gone and you couldn’t get it back?

Not many I’m betting. This is why I am proposing that an individual’s post count be relocated within that person’s profile, and not right under their avatar like some sort of merit badge. Or, at the very least, there should be an option allowing you the option of whether or not you want your post count displayed (as it is with your age and such). In fact, Id find it interesting just to see who would actually choose to display their post count…

Even right now as you read this very message, I’m betting some of you are looking at my post count and formulating judgments about me, and perhaps even about why I’m writing this (ex. “only 100 posts huh? He’s just a n00b/ just jealous). But perhaps if you knew that, in the past, I had abandoned my SN of 3 years and a 4600+ post count simply because of the way I feel about this issue, you would understand just how serious I am about this.

So what do you all think? I know I’m going run into a bit of resistance over this, especially of those with “impressive” post counts. I must admit that I am curious as to how they are going to explain themselves. If my experience has taught me anything, these people will play down the importance of the post count, while simultaneously advocating we keep it for some “unrelated” reason.

I don’t know, too many forum goers are just too caught up with their post count, which has a way of making other people caught up in it as well (like myself). And even though you tend to get the whole “it’s not really important” from those who happen to have large post counts, it seems that these people are the most attached to that number. It’s like the larger the number, the more it becomes a part of “them”. And a lot of time they don’t even realize how attached to that number they really are until it becomes jeopardized. I was once a friend with a person like this at the forum I used to go to before this one. He was, no doubt, the most prominent and respected person at the website, even more so that the owner. He had been there since the very beginning. He also had the largest post count, close to 9000 if I remember correctly. And as I said before, he was a good friend of mine. He was smart, nice, funny as hell, wise, all of that good stuff. Well, one day something happened with his account and it was just gone. He had to make a second account. Surprisingly and unfortunately this caused him a great deal of grief, not having this number under his name. He pleaded with the owner until it was restored, and it made me question everything I knew about him. How could a person of his caliber be so…shallow? Nothing about him seemed to fit the profile of someone who was concerned with how many posts he had,he himself had criticized its imporance on several occasions. And keep in mind his posts weren’t restored, seeing as they were still there under his old SN, which now had the custom title of “guest”…it was just the number he was concerned about.

(sorry a bit of track)


Proposition: Relocate post count to user profile and/or create an option for displaying post count.

Reasoning: As it is set up now, it promotes discrimination, immaturity, and a false sense of superiority/inferiority. Plus, I see no good reason to keep it as it is besides apathy over this issue, which is all the more reason to stop reinforcing the significance of the post count anyway.

I think those that worry about it, post about it.....

Actually what I mean is, I'm sure people don't view it as this...

I don't know....

(adds to post count lol)

then there shouldn't be a problem with doing this. But the thing is that a lot of people do, and thats exactly what I want to stop.

*cough* http://dreamviews.com/community/showthread.php?t=40296 *cough*

Do I smell a hint of jealousy? You misunderstand what the post count is about. First of all, you say it's not important yet you're fighting to have it changed. Secondly, the post counter simply displays a member's relative involvement. It has nothing to do with status or contribution to the site's overall well-being and advancement. If you feel it does then you're the one that feels that way. Sure, it matters to some people and it gets brought up from time to time but so what?

What matters is what that member posts. And that can only be determined by the reader, as it's quite subjective. Now, if you want the member's "status" within the community, we need the rep system I mentioned in another thread. There's a perfectly good rep system available for the vBulletin software.

Originally Posted by ethen

To me, it seems to promote a “status-based” sort of community more than anything else, which in my opinion is something that takes away from the forum.

But you'll find that anywhere, with post counters or not. The only time when perceived status becomes an issue is when it's made into one, like now.

After all, if that number was truly as insignificant as we all say it is, why is it that posts in the Senseless Banter forum do not count towards one’s displayed post count, eh?

I'm glad you asked. Pull up a seat. The posts aren't tallied in there because of the very same thing you're complaining about. It's so that senseless, BS posts are "artificially" increasing a members post count. The current system is set up so that credit for "meaningless" posts aren't tallied to look like a given member has a higher perceived status, or contribution level to the site.

I know I’m going run into a bit of resistance over this, especially of those with “impressive” post counts.

I'll bet you're right.

I must admit that I am curious as to how they are going to explain themselves. If my experience has taught me anything, these people will play down the importance of the post count, while simultaneously advocating we keep it for some “unrelated” reason.

[re-quote=only the bolded parts have been changed] I must admit that I am curious as to how they are going to explain themselves. If my experience has taught me anything, these people will play down the importance of the post count, while simultaneously advocating we [not] keep it for some “unrelated” reason.[/re-quote]

Notice how what you're doing is the exact same thing you're complaining about, only in reverse, for the other team.

I don’t know, forum goers are just too caught up with their post count, and in a bad way.

Where exactly is this a problem? Who is running around making post count an issue?

He was, no doubt, the most prominent and respected person at the website, even more so that the owner.

Do you realize that you are almost as - if not more - prominent than the owner of this very site right now?

Proposition: Relocate post count to user profile and/or create an option for displaying post count.

Whatever happens with the issue, or rather, NON-issue? I just don't see why it matters. This forum has had post counts on display forever. Now you get offended because others have a higher post count? You can tell how a person is by reading what they post. You learn their status by how other members relate to them. Some people go on posting rampages sometimes (myself included) but, I at least try to put something of meaning or use in at least most of my posts where counts are on.

Reasoning: As it is set up now, it promotes discrimination, immaturity, and a false sense of superiority/inferiority.

And you really think that no longer displaying post counts would make people act more mature? Think again.

Plus, I see no good reason to keep it as it is besides apathy over this issue...

Honestly, I could see the same reasoning being used to argue not changing things.

EDIT:

*cough* http://dreamviews.com/community/showthread.php?t=40296 *cough*

Give me a break. You're going to use my bringing up awareness that people need to learn multi-quoting and to use the edit button as a sign that we need a forum change of that kind? That's about etiquette and forum rules. Surely you can't be comparing those traits to your issue of members having perceived status.

These are two different issues.

I can think of a few examples right now of certain members who had high post count but no status, at least no respectable status.

People who I admire on here, who I consider my friends, all have very varying post counts. It's what impression you build around yourself that matters.

It's not like you magically become a mod or something after some number.

WOW! That was a great break down of the subject.
Well.. when I look at a post count, I don't really think of it as a status.
It just tells me how active the person is on the site, in relation to how long they have been here. When I look at the stars under a members name, I think of status.

I read the first two sentences of the initial post, and the post above me.

To that statement IN the first two sentences, ethen, yes, we are all posting whores who try as hard as we can to post anywhere and everywhere about nothing. I'm beating you at the game right now.

(Who gives a flip??)

Let me just say that you are, as Oneironaught pointed out much more eloquently, just making an issue where there is none. Few of us care one whit about post counts, or the like.


If you don't like post counts, only post in Senseless Banter.

Jesus-tittyfucking-christ, that was like the longest post in senseless ever.

Posts counts are fine. They do give you a slight indication weather someone is a complete newbie or not. I hardly ever look at them, and they mean shit, and just about everyone knows it.

So stop being jealous. : )

Originally Posted by Neruo

Jesus-tittyfucking-christ

Jesus-tittyfucking-X, you mean.

Originally Posted by Moonbeam

Jesus-tittyfucking-X, you mean.

Jesus-Tittyfucking-X-in-a-KFC-bucket.

Originally Posted by ExoByte

Jesus-Tittyfucking-X-in-a-KFC-bucket.

Jumping Jesus Christ on a pogo stick! This is NOT a senseless thread!

Originally Posted by ethen

Bullshit rant Useful information

I bet you're only posting that because your postcount is low.

Originally Posted by TweaK

I bet you're only posting that because your postcount is low.

In senseless banter it has no effect on post count.

Originally Posted by AdamA

In senseless banter it has no effect on post count.

Way to shatter ethen's lofty ambitions of stellar post counts.

Originally Posted by TweaK

I bet you're only posting that because your postcount is low.

Well I must say, you're about as astute as a box of hair, aren't you?

If my post count gets removed, I am going to keep a record of it in my sig line and update it after every post. There is no way you can avoid this. You will know my post count, and there is nothing you can do about it!

you leave me little choice

*points gun to head




Hey wait a second!


*points gun to Universal's head



Ahh thats better.

Originally Posted by ethen

Hey wait a second!


*points gun to Universal's head



Ahh thats better.

Bring it on with yo punk ass. Let's see what you got, biiiiiiiiiiiiiiitch!