Should PM Add to Your Post Count?

[GenMarshall]

I think this obsession about post count it PATHETIC and STUPID.

Spam is going to slowly kill CFC.

What will happen when the interesting, smart posts disappear, when all post are boring, single sentenced posts?
That will be the end for CFC.

I say end with post count, those that really enjoy posting don't care about Post Count

POst Count is the biggest cause of spam and dumb, pointless posts.

*CivGeneral tapes Marshal Zhukov's mouth and proceeds to put him in a potato bag.

Shh, We dont want the Off Topicers to hear you now .

 

[Volum]

I think this obsession about post count it PATHETIC and STUPID.

Spam is going to slowly kill CFC.

What will happen when the interesting, smart posts disappear, when all post are boring, single sentenced posts?
That will be the end for CFC.

I say end with post count, those that really enjoy posting don't care about Post Count

POst Count is the biggest cause of spam and dumb, pointless posts.

Oh cmon, have some faith in our mods. The have a spam-rader, and postcount dont spam people, people do!

 

[Simetrical]

How about, no.

Unless a custom avatar limit above the number of posts I have is imposed

 

[The Person]

I don't see why if PMs added to postcount would increase postcounts very much? We can only have 70 at a time, and I'm sure that if you delete a PM your postcount will drop by one, just like it does when one of your posts is deleted.

 

[Birdjaguar]

I think this obsession about post count it PATHETIC and STUPID.
...
What will happen when the interesting, smart posts disappear, when all post are boring, single sentenced posts?
That will be the end for CFC.

I say end with post count, those that really enjoy posting don't care about Post Count

POst Count is the biggest cause of spam and dumb, pointless posts.

Hmmm...I enjoy posting. I try to make them more than a single sentence. I try not to make them boring. And I think post count is essential to CFC. I have posted a lot about it and its role in the community and why it is important. I won't bore the rest of you with a repeat of those posts here. Oh heck, yes I will. This snip is from a SF thread discussion of pc from September.

Spoiler thread [url :

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=128778&page=4][/url]

Elitism:
The premise seems to be that high post counts that are visible foster an elitism that has a negative impact on the site. Those posters with high counts are in some way revered or given undue respect by others. Status can be achieved if one has a high post count and so people who want such status will increase their pc through spamming to be well regarded. This behavior is seen as negative by you and others. You clearly feel that the visibility of a person’s pc feeds this mentality and to hide it will reduce the spamming behavior associated with it.

To begin, certain posters will always have higher status than others. You cannot eliminate the fact that people judge and rank others in their community. There will always be posters who are considered “elite” by other posters. You cannot change that. While I will agree that some people do confer status to posters who have lots and lots of posts, I do not think that pc is the most important criterion that people here use. I think longevity, quality of content and overall participation probably count more. The top posters here have status that is not solely based on pc. Having a visible 10,000 plus pc does not confer anything. It only identifies them as prolific and probably long time posters. They get their status from other people who see those qualities as important. People confer status. Titles (if you are a moderator) confer status. We create community elites through public acknowledgement and recognition of whatever they do. You may not life the way the community confers status, but no matter what the rules here, some people will deemed “better” (whatever that means) than others. You cannot control by fiat the standards the community will use to elevate posters they esteem. Careful manipulation can try to direct people away from specific kinds of standards, but you run the risk of alienating people.

There are many respected (elite) posters here who have fewer than 2000 posts. They are recognized and applauded for their wit, and clear thinking on issues they address and the fact that they participate in discussions. At the other end of the spectrum posters like TLC, Xen and Cgannon (there are others too) who are respected for their posts, but because a high pc is part of their forum persona, they are also noted for that.

Posters like Curt and Perfection, in addition to post count and participation, have other bits of flotsam and jetsam attached to their forum persona which add to and subtract from their status. Which came first for all these folks? Were they respected before they crossed over the “high post count threshold”, or did they only gain that status once they had a superior number of posts? I would suggest that they had the stature and respect long before the high post count.

Women here have it easier. They begin with stature and respect just because they were brave enough to reveal themselves as female and post in this “swamp of testosterone”. They are “elites” by virtue of their birth. Most of them have proved their mettle and rightly earned additional merit through contribution and participation in what must be for them, some very strange discussions.

Like real life, posting at CFC can be a struggle for respect and recognition by others. Some don’t want it and don’t care; some want it and never get it. Some don’t want others to have it. Is there anyone here who wouldn’t like to be quoted in someone else’s sig?

 

[marshal zhukov]

Hmmm...I enjoy posting. I try to make them more than a single sentence. I try not to make them boring. And I think post count is essential to CFC. I have posted a lot about it and its role in the community and why it is important. I won't bore the rest of you with a repeat of those posts here. Oh heck, yes I will. This snip is from a SF thread discussion of pc from September.

Spoiler thread [url :

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=128778&page=4][/url]

Why not do word count then?
I've never read one convincing argument pro-post count. It's meaningless, spam creator.

Interesting, I've never attached the idea of respect or status to high number of posts. Content matters more.

I care more about the content of the user's post. After a patern develops I start to respect and/or recognize the user.
- Is the post interesting?
- Is it funny?
- Was it worth reading?

The problem could be solved if a Spam sub-Forum were created, then users could just spam away this forum so much that their post count would reach 1000 in a day. (One letter post allowed, for example)

 

[The Person]

(One letter post allowed, for example)

It's not hard to make one word posts. Just type "Interesting.", and you have 12 characters. Add two periods and you have 14!

 

[marshal zhukov]

It's not hard to make one word posts. Just type "Interesting.", and you have 12 characters. Add two periods and you have 14!

Read it again.
I said 1 LETTER posts allowed in the new Spam sub-forum.

 

[Simetrical]

I don't see why if PMs added to postcount would increase postcounts very much? We can only have 70 at a time, and I'm sure that if you delete a PM your postcount will drop by one, just like it does when one of your posts is deleted.

How about you make 312 accounts that you never post with, and PM all of them 70 times?

 

[Birdjaguar]

Why not do word count then?
I've never read one convincing argument pro-post count. It's meaningless, spam creator.

There are many possible measuring sticks for posters: posts, words, characters, posts per day, moving average of posts per day, etc. People here seem to prefer posts. You should read through the Sept. 2005 post count thread here in SF ignoring the raucous enthusiasm for counts.

Interesting, I've never attached the idea of respect or status to high number of posts. Content matters more.

I care more about the content of the user's post. After a patern develops I start to respect and/or recognize the user.
- Is the post interesting?
- Is it funny?
- Was it worth reading?

Well, you are not alone, but none the less many here use their own standards that may differ from yours. Spammy posts can also be interesting and funny. They can show off a lot more personality than on topic posts. I think of them like asides in a conversation, when someone makes a remark unrelated to the topic, but germaine to the people there. We all find posters we like to follow as well as those we don't care so much about. It is part of being in a community. I've been in forums where nobody spams; they just stay on topic. They are ponderous, weighty places that never seem to have any fun. CFC, and OT in particular, has a very nice balance between serious posting and having fun.

The problem could be solved if a Spam sub-Forum were created, then users could just spam away this forum so much that their post count would reach 1000 in a day. (One letter post allowed, for example)

I don't think so. Not only are spam forum boring, the pc doesn't mean anything. Here the pc does have meaning. The members have given it value. The Mods work to shut down the extreme spam to keep it under control. One nice thing about CFC is that low post count people can and do get respect for what they say. If you are like Cgannon and post alot and still manage to say great stuff, then you get a additional respect. Most of the guys over 8,000 posts fall into that category. I cannot think of a single one who doesn't pull his own weight in discussions. Such people are an enormous asset to this site. They are here day in and day out adding continuously to the vitality of this place while the rest of us just show up to post four or five times and then leave.

Post counts are a good way to keep score; it weeds out the weak who can only post spam and people like Curt, TLC, Perfection, Bozo, Xen,Nonconformist, Msharpe, Dell, civ general, stapel, stormbind, Hitro, Marla (I know I left some of you out, sorry) etc. have trained many good posters in their time here. Without those guys (and Marla) this place would not be as interesting as it is. They deserve credit and recognition. Post count is an easy way to do so.

 

[thetrooper]

Should PM Add to You Post Count?

Yes please!

Of course not. Interesting scenario: all the heavy spammers start clogging our PM boxes.

 

[Ansar]

No, or else, Perfection and CurtSibling would PM themselves for PC's.

Its just too much, because then everyone would have a high postcount.And then what would be the point of spamming?

 

[Padma]

The problem could be solved if a Spam sub-Forum were created, then users could just spam away this forum so much that their post count would reach 1000 in a day. (One letter post allowed, for example)

The "old heads" here remember the "Peanut Gallery", a no-PC spam forum. It was horrendous, and was rightfully removed.

Spammy posts can also be interesting and funny. They can show off a lot more personality than on topic posts. I think of them like asides in a conversation, when someone makes a remark unrelated to the topic, but germaine to the people there. We all find posters we like to follow as well as those we don't care so much about. It is part of being in a community. I've been in forums where nobody spams; they just stay on topic. They are ponderous, weighty places that never seem to have any fun. CFC, and OT in particular, has a very nice balance between serious posting and having fun.

Which is one of the interesting dilemmas for mods. What is the dividing line between an interesting "aside", and plain spam? We have to make judgement calls on these every day.

 

[nonconformist]

Post counts are a good way to keep score; it weeds out the weak who can only post spam and people like Curt, TLC, Perfection, Bozo, Xen,Nonconformist, Msharpe, Dell, civ general, stapel, stormbind, Hitro, Marla (I know I left some of you out, sorry) etc. have trained many good posters in their time here. Without those guys (and Marla) this place would not be as interesting as it is. They deserve credit and recognition. Post count is an easy way to do so.

And I fully agree with everything our beloved, and learned bard has said.

 

[The Person]

Read it again.
I said 1 LETTER posts allowed in the new Spam sub-forum.

OK, that's a challenge. But I won't give up until I've figured a way to avoid the XCL while still only writing one-letter posts!

I think I have found a way, just put lots of spaces in front of the characters. They will be removed in the post, but still count towards the XCL. Of course I might be wrong, and if I'm right this post will surely be edited to make sure as few as possible know this.

 

[Simetrical]

I think I have found a way, just put lots of spaces in front of the characters. They will be removed in the post, but still count towards the XCL. Of course I might be wrong, and if I'm right this post will surely be edited to make sure as few as possible know this.

Nope, ordinary spaces and most non-ordinary spaces are ignored by the character limit. You have to be more creative than that . . .

Edit: Argh! Damn simulposts! I got distracted, and now the effect below is ruined!

 

[Ansar]

I don't see why if PMs added to postcount would increase postcounts very much? We can only have 70 at a time, and I'm sure that if you delete a PM your postcount will drop by one, just like it does when one of your posts is deleted.

The Person makes a good point, but then again, we could just make another acc, and PM it.

Just an idea...

 

[Simetrical]

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[MarineCorps]

Post counts are a good way to keep score; it weeds out the weak who can only post spam and people like Curt, TLC, Perfection, Bozo, Xen,Nonconformist, Msharpe, Dell, civ general, stapel, stormbind, Hitro, Marla (I know I left some of you out, sorry) etc. have trained many good posters in their time here. Without those guys (and Marla) this place would not be as interesting as it is. They deserve credit and recognition. Post count is an easy way to do so.

And exactly what have curt and perf trained posters to do? Other then to avoid topics on religion that is.

 

[MarineCorps]

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I don't see any img or excess spaces in that post.



Did the 10 char limit go away or something?