Post counts in OT and Gaming Room forums

[terri]

Like many other forums, we are taking the step to limit the number of forums where member posts are counted. As this is a photography forum, first and foremost, we have decided not to count posts in the Off-Topic Forum, and also in the Gaming Room.

We appreciate that some of you enjoy tracking your post count and showing off the number of posts, and as a general rule we are fine with this. However, there can be a midguided assumption that a member with a high post count may be an expert photographer, and thus confusing to new members. In addition, we have members who enjoy these non-photography related forums more than the others, and it is felt their post counts may be better served to reflect that with these controls in place.

We hope you continue to enjoy all of the forums here at TPF. Thanks for your support!

[Hertz van Rental]

there can be a midguided assumption that a member with a high post count may be an expert photographer

Is such an assumption always misguided? :lmao:

[Overread]

No complaints from me - like you say this is a common policy in many forums not to count off topic and gaming area posts in postcounts.

[Helen B]

I think that it is an excellent idea. Will it be retrospective?

Thanks,
Helen

[icassell]

Excellent move (and the bulk of my posts are in Gaming)

[Arch]

I think that it is an excellent idea. Will it be retrospective?

Thanks,
Helen

We thought it was about time this was implemented, we did think that it may have effected previous posts, but we have already implimented it, and it didn't. So from now on posts in OT and games won't count.
Like anything thats changed, it has its pros and cons but we think it is the best way forward. ;)

[Chiller]

Poor newbies.:lmao::lmao::lmao:

[Hertz van Rental]

Anyone who thinks it to be a good idea is as obsessed with post count as someone who thinks it a bad idea.
People shouldn't care in any way about post count.
For my part I think the post count should be turned off completely.
To argue that people could be misled into thinking that a high post count = good photographer can only lead to the conclusion that the post count system should go. Otherwise you are saying that you believe people take more notice of the post count than they do of what is written in a post, and I do not think this is the case.
Turning off the post count just in the Off Topic will not stop people spamming the other forums to get their post count up. And this will still result in the situation you claim the Mods are trying to avoid.
Turning the post count off totally means that members will only/can only be judged by what they post. Which is how it should be.
Seems to me that this move has not been properly thought through and is just motivated by politics ;)

[Overread]

I tend to consider high post count as indecating a good member -- or rather indecating a member who has been present for some time and also is representative of the population - a bully and mean member would get banned in time on most decent forums - if not its probably a forum I don't want to be in.
Further some people post directly, which can appear insulting - if they have a high post count I tend to look on them as being direct, but not meaning to be insulting (again by virtue of the mod ban)

besdies I only ever see people with a post count past the silly numbers who advocates its removal ;)

[Arch]

Hmm not really Hertz... we have thought this through alot.
I agree with you that it could be better to be rid of post counts all together, but we cannot ignore that some people do like to be part of forums for the whole experience of being part of a group and 'collecting' a number of posts.

This may seem odd to you and me, but to deny people that pleasure is unnecessary, especially to someone who doesn't care one way or another.

But please do not take this idea of 'posts means better photogrpher' as the main reason for this change... it is not.. it is simply a (happy) by-product.

One of the main reasons is actually one of the 'problems' you mentioned... making people who want to raise thier post count post more in the other galleries...
Even if it is just a 'nice shot', this equals a faster turnaround of threads making the forum more active and hopefully giving threads that have no comments a better chance of being commented on and bumped.... how can this be a bad thing?
It is certainly better than having (yet another) 'rant here' thread or 'whats your fav film'...

As mentioned we have thought this through carefully and there are certainly more reasons to why this will work as to why it wouldn't.... turning counts off completely is another matter entirely. ;)

[Hawaii Five-O]

too bad instead of post counts, we couldn't use an gold star rating system., Like each star represents a certain number of posts. For example out of 5 stars, one start would represent 100 ( but actual post number isn't shown) posts made in appropriate forums. And the stars could change color once you reach 5 stars and every time after that when you've made 500 posts.

noobs could start off with rusted steel or aluminum stars and work up platinum stars haha

[terri]

Is such an assumption always misguided? :lmao:
You tell me. :biglaugh:

To argue that... You've been spared most of the conversation, of course. ;) No one's arguing with too much passion one way or the other. Many of us, including TPF's owner, wouldn't mind seeing the post counts turned off completely. It's a simple default to count posts when creating separate forums; we've been too lazy to give it much consideration in the past.

Thanks for your comments, all.

[lostprophet]

Personally speaking I thought the post count was turned off to stop the amount of posts being made in OT by new members trying to get their post count up.

OT has been a mess of late, it doesn't have the same feel as it used to have.

There is one way ease the amount of people who join that mainly stay in OT and the games room, hide them from non members like the subscribers forum is hidden from members who haven't subscribed. That way there would be less people joining just to play games.

Speaking of hiding forums, I would like to see the meetup forum hidden from non members, and thinking about it, what about hiding the buy and sell forum? I really believe it makes this forum look bad when people join just to sell something and who would trust someone who joins a forum just to sell something? I always wonder why they are selling here when eBay has millions of members. It just makes me think its a scam.

[Battou]

You will get no complaints about the reached conclution from me, however I do not like the idea turning them off completely. As far as OT and gaming no problem, but I would suggest adding "Welcomes and Introductions" to that list as well. Welcomes are an good source of easy posts.

There is one way ease the amount of people who join that mainly stay in OT and the games room, hide them from non members like the subscribers forum is hidden from members who haven't subscribed. That way there would be less people joining just to play games.

Speaking of hiding forums, I would like to see the meetup forum hidden from non members, and thinking about it, what about hiding the buy and sell forum? I really believe it makes this forum look bad when people join just to sell something and who would trust someone who joins a forum just to sell something? I always wonder why they are selling here when eBay has millions of members. It just makes me think its a scam.

Agreed, I suggest hiding the entire "Cafe TPF" and "The Marketplace" subsections from unregistered users.

[O|||||||O]

Many of us, including TPF's owner, wouldn't mind seeing the post counts turned off completely.
But how will we know who's winning?

j/k

Although I'm sure some will fight this to the death, I see no problem with it.
I guess join date would become the new post count, no way to alter your join date.

[LaFoto]

Speaking of hiding forums, I would like to see the meetup forum hidden from non members...

Oh, now that you mention it, Andy: it was a great concern of mine, indeed, that while we were in the planning stages of the Germany meet-up, and I posted maps to help people find their way here, that just about EVERYONE would be able to study those maps and come and ... do whatever. What do I know. Nothing of the kind happened, but I was wondering back then: how much can I reveal to help people decide and how much needs to stay hidden from an ALL-public view as not to put ourselves into any possible danger?

Ah, and as to post counts, so that everyone knows once and for all:
I like mine :biggrin: !!!

[Alex_B]

I like mine :biggrin: !!!

yes, and if we subtract off-topic gaming from your count, it probably would not change ;)

[Alex_B]

anyway, i totally understand this recent change.
after all this is a photography forum. it is great,that gaming is allowed, and also i do it on occasions, or join in some senseless silly rant threads, but it is not what the forum really is about.

For new members, and the first weeks they are actively around, post count of others is the only way how they judge some advice they get from the respective member. I am not saying that newbies do not use their brain, but they might be more suspicious to follow advice from a member with just 1 post compared to a member with say 500 posts. I know this is in principle wrong, but it is the only possibility for someone just starting here.

And for this reason it makes sense to have the postcount concentrate more on the photography related posts.

I know this forum is run by admins and mods, but there is quite a strong group of senior members who really help the place running smoothly since members, in particular new members, listen to them. So I suspect taking postcounts away totally would result in much more work for the mods in the end.

[O|||||||O]

For new members, and the first weeks they are actively around, post count of others is the only way how they judge some advice they get from the respective member.
[...]
So I suspect taking post counts away totally would result in much more work for the mods in the end.
Do you think just showing the join date would accomplish the same thing, or not quite?

[Alex_B]

Do you think just showing the join date would accomplish the same thing, or not quite?

hmm, so i join to sell a lens now, and a year later i have my second post on the forum, maybe selling another lens, or telling people whatever. Life is easy then for me since I am one of the experienced and active members.

Might not be the worst model, but no, I do not think it would accomplish the same.

[O|||||||O]

Good point, I didn't think of that scenario.

[Alex_B]

Good point, I didn't think of that scenario.

just one of many thinkable ;)

[Battou]

anyway, i totally understand this recent change.
after all this is a photography forum. it is great,that gaming is allowed, and also i do it on occasions, or join in some senseless silly rant threads, but it is not what the forum really is about.

For new members, and the first weeks they are actively around, post count of others is the only way how they judge some advice they get from the respective member. I am not saying that newbies do not use their brain, but they might be more suspicious to follow advice from a member with just 1 post compared to a member with say 500 posts. I know this is in principle wrong, but it is the only possibility for someone just starting here.

And for this reason it makes sense to have the postcount concentrate more on the photography related posts.

I know this forum is run by admins and mods, but there is quite a strong group of senior members who really help the place running smoothly since members, in particular new members, listen to them. So I suspect taking postcounts away totally would result in much more work for the mods in the end.

Actually, more accurately, Post count paired with join date shows a users dedication to the forum at hand, especially to new users. It's more along the lines of "he has 2000 posts in the last year....He'll be here tommorow to help me again" where as "He has 200 posts in the past three years...um what if I have another question, is he gonna be there to answer it when I need it?". It's a subconsious thing, and you are right, no just the join date will not accomplish the same confidence level.

[Alex_B]

Actually, more accurately, Post count paired with join date shows a users dedication to the forum at hand, especially to new users. It's more along the lines of "he has 2000 posts in the last year....He'll be here tommorow to help me again" where as "He has 200 posts in the past three years...um what if I have another question, is he gonna be there to answer it when I need it?". It's a subconsious thing, and you are right, no just the join date will not accomplish the same confidence level.

True also, there is many aspects to this.

But there is also a danger ... people with high post counts could easily claim they are the macro god, and many would believe him :lmao: Sorry, just kidding ;) :)

[O|||||||O]

Actually, more accurately, Post count paired with join date shows a users dedication to the forum at hand, especially to new users. It's more along the lines of "he has 2000 posts in the last year....He'll be here tommorow to help me again" where as "He has 200 posts in the past three years...um what if I have another question, is he gonna be there to answer it when I need it?". It's a subconsious thing, and you are right, no just the join date will not accomplish the same confidence level.
Sounds like the "posts per day" stat (which shows up in your profile). For example, you (Battou) have 10.46 posts per day, while I have 2.36.

-edit-
Wow, Alex has 17.79!

[Alex_B]

Sounds like the "posts per day" stat (which shows up in your profile). For example, you (Battou) have 10.46 posts per day, while I have 2.36.

-edit-
Wow, Alex has 17.79!

*lol* , that is from some very active times about a year ago. Now i just cannot get rid of the 17 ;)

And no, it is not all gaming ;) you hardly see me there these days.

[Battou]

True also, there is many aspects to this.

But there is also a danger ... people with high post counts could easily claim they are the macro god, and many would believe him :lmao: Sorry, just kidding ;) :)


Can you do macro that close with a Wall-Mart point and shoot. ;)

Sounds like the "posts per day" stat (which shows up in your profile). For example, you (Battou) have 10.46 posts per day, while I have 2.36.

-edit-
Wow, Alex has 17.79!

Under the new section rules, Mine will prolly drop to around mid to high nines, but anywho, that is a hidden statistic that one has to actually look for and aquire, where as the overall count and join date are right there in the open and available at a glance.

[O|||||||O]

[...]that is a hidden statistic that one has to actually look for and aquire, where as the overall count and join date are right there in the open and available at a glance.
But - it *could* be right out in the open, if those who decided such things decided so.

[Overread]

Oh, now that you mention it, Andy: it was a great concern of mine, indeed, that while we were in the planning stages of the Germany meet-up, and I posted maps to help people find their way here, that just about EVERYONE would be able to study those maps and come and ... do whatever. What do I know. Nothing of the kind happened, but I was wondering back then: how much can I reveal to help people decide and how much needs to stay hidden from an ALL-public view as not to put ourselves into any possible danger?

Ah, and as to post counts, so that everyone knows once and for all:
I like mine :biggrin: !!!

Buy and sell I understand as it would reduce those who do just join to sell and then move on - though it could also be seen that by only allowing members to buy and sell that TPF was making some vetting on members - thus ensuring good sales practice and responcibility - that would have to be firmly outlined as not happening.

As for the meets I disagree here - a lot. I think firstly having meets shown on the public side shows the community we have here - it shows we have darn good one to have so many meets in such a short space of time and that is reflective of the forum as a whole. Plus there are quite a few people who are not paid members who would wish to turn up to these meets - suddenly hiding them away would mean that prospective new members in the futur would have no idea of these meets till a meetup thread appears (which might not even happen as it might appear in the members only section). The result of which is they feel left out of the loop - that they can't penetrate this hard group of select friends.

If you are worried about details and such you could just mass pm them to those who have expressed interest in comming rather than post it in the general forum area

[Chris of Arabia]

Oh, now that you mention it, Andy: it was a great concern of mine, indeed, that while we were in the planning stages of the Germany meet-up, and I posted maps to help people find their way here, that just about EVERYONE would be able to study those maps and come and ... do whatever. What do I know. Nothing of the kind happened, but I was wondering back then: how much can I reveal to help people decide and how much needs to stay hidden from an ALL-public view as not to put ourselves into any possible danger?

We were just casing the joint out - now we know your guard is down... :mrgreen:

[Hawaii Five-O]

"He has 200 posts in the past three years...um what if I have another question, is he gonna be there to answer it when I need it?".
yeah thats probably true for some people, but I think a lot of people with lower post counts just lurk around and read, but they are still active on the boards. After a while posting can get kind of old and just tapers off for some folks. But they still come out of th shadows now and then when they see a thread they like.

[nealjpage]

I think I should subscribe now... ;-)

[lostprophet]

As for the meets I disagree here - a lot. I think firstly having meets shown on the public side shows the community we have here - it shows we have darn good one to have so many meets in such a short space of time and that is reflective of the forum as a whole. Plus there are quite a few people who are not paid members who would wish to turn up to these meets - suddenly hiding them away would mean that prospective new members in the futur would have no idea of these meets till a meetup thread appears (which might not even happen as it might appear in the members only section). The result of which is they feel left out of the loop - that they can't penetrate this hard group of select friends.


I was talking about hiding the meetup forum from non forum members NOT from members who are not subscribers, if you are a member of TPF you get to see it, if your not a member you can't see it.

[Overread]

ahh I see your point LP
no argument s there :)

[JohnMF]

It's a shame this post count thing didn't work in retrospect. It would have been interesting to see the results on some members (including myself) :lol:

Speaking of hiding forums, I would like to see the meetup forum hidden from non members, and thinking about it, what about hiding the buy and sell forum? I really believe it makes this forum look bad when people join just to sell something and who would trust someone who joins a forum just to sell something? I always wonder why they are selling here when eBay has millions of members. It just makes me think its a scam.

I would second that idea. I kind of think meet-up photo threads should be hidden from non-members too if that's possible.

[Chiller]

If the post count thing is such a ta-do, and some want it, and some dont, cant it be a user controlled option.
Some forums have rep points, that are user controlled. If you want peeps to see them, click the little button, of ya dont, then turn the button off. Maybe the same thing might work with the post counts.
Just a thought.....back to my crypt..:er:

[matt-l]

i think rep points are a great idea!!

[Chiller]

i think rep points are a great idea!!

They were over used here. It became a game more then anything. On some forums it works, but here it didnt. But....we could use it now, to weasle out those bad tpfers. whwhahahahaha...give them that big red square they deserve. :lmao::lmao::lmao:

[Hawaii Five-O]

I like your idea too, I think we should do it.:thumbup: