Should the post count/Stars be removed

[lnmnky]

I will be the first one laughing when one day the database got nuked and all the post counts got deleted

585870423[/snapback]

That's where the weekly back ups on Sundays come into play.

I vote NO to the removal.

My post means alot to me, because I know that I don't spam, and it's therefore a proper post count (give or take a few percent, I'm only human)

[FiREFLi]

no but the milestone forum should be taken down

585869993[/snapback]

agreed (Y)

do you really need to hear a thousand "congrats'"? is your self esteem that low that you rely on meaningless congratulations from some 13 year old boy on the other side of the world?

Oh, is it that low? Sorry.

[lnmnky]

agreed (Y)

do you really need to hear a thousand "congrats'"? is your self esteem that low that you rely on meaningless congratulations from some 13 year old boy on the other side of the world?

Oh, is it that low? Sorry.

585870581[/snapback]

Yes, but they were totally clogging up general discussion. So milestones as a thread need to be totally banned.

Maybe if people didn't "celebrate" their post count then people wouldn't "congrats" so much, and the whole circle of post whoring would stop.

(I have celebrated in the past, but I wouldn't miss it.)

I guess it's an ego boost to get a load of people all replying in _your_ thread, just for you.

[mr.pingu]

Maybe if the mods deducted 100 posts per 1 stupid post people would get the point

585870296[/snapback]

but what would you class as a stupid post?

personally yes post count is nice but it wouldnt bother me one bit if it was removed, i dont know about other people but i dont look at peoples post count before deciding wether to reply or not, whoever it is i try and help if i can.

im not sure whether removing post count would stop pointless posts though, as if someone says its there birthday for example, course people are going to say 'happy birthday', or if someone posts something funny people are going to say 'lol', whether they have a post count or not.

so basically i wouldnt be bothered if they removed the post count but likewise wouldnt mind if it stayed.

[altezza Veteran]

I love the postcounts and I won't have any problems if it was removed. Some members were trying to elevate post counts by spamming...like typing only one word and post it. Yet some of them also posting crap and spending too much free time and got nothing to do...talking about nonsense, etc.

There have been numerous debates about postcounts and as long as I remember that postcounts are here to stay. Postcounts are not to be used for the bad reasons above, its only purpose is to describe how particular members have contribute to the entire Neowin community.

[David Scaife]

I voted yes, because if they were no longer displayed, it would almost certainly improve the useful : useless posts ratio. Seing people post emoticon-only replies is bad enough; seeing posts that merely say "dunno" is worse still (and I've seen quite a few of those lately). So I guess the number of posts I've made isn't nearly as important to me as the helpfulness of posts I've made.

Edited May 4, 2005 by scaife

[Rix]

Yes, the Milestones section needs Post Count locking too. I'm sure smashguy would stay away then :whistle:

[)-(orus]

I wouldn't say crap em, but a rank based on number of posts doesn't mean that much, if people could award people with recognition for helpful hints etc, this might be more useful.

[BoundToEarth]

I really don't believe they should get removed. I don't know why posts are such a big deal. :s

[rezza Veteran]

I voted "yes", but I see I am one of a very few...

Post counts tend to promote unproductive repeated one-word posts or all-smiley posts. :no: If they were gone, then people would not be motivated for "more starz!!11!oneone", and be more likely to post only when they had something meaningful to say.

Plus, I judge people by their "warning level", not their "post count". :ninja:

585869832[/snapback]

Yes. (Y) Stars serve no purpose and encourage immature and useless posts. Removing them would in no way hurt Neowin, and likely benefit it by helping to restore the credibility it once held. In the end, stars mean nothing. Ranking members get no special benefits. Their only real purpose is separating the 'n00bs' from the '1337s'. Is that what NW is about? or do we care about meaningful discussion and helpful threads?

585870272[/snapback]

Bang on the money, imho. Down with postcounts! ;) I just think it would result in a better-respected forum.

[himeee]

I voted yes, remove that feature. Why? That's because I think the postcount merely does the whole hierarchy matter. I don't post much, but I read a lot and I don't really care about postcounts and such things.

[ZZOOzzoo]

I don't think post count and starts should be removed, and I absolutely love them because it shows how active I've been involved in this community.

However, some sections seriously need post count locking.

I can come up with at least three members who goes to EVERY SINGLE MILESTONE thread and post "congrats lolz :fun:", and that's what milestone section is becoming, a spamming section.

[Veedems Veteran]

I like the post count, but I feel there should be more reprecussions for spamming the board with useful "congrats" posts, etc.  Then again, I probably just don't notice when punishment is given out for those offenses, so we should just keep the system the way it is.

585870126[/snapback]

We do hand out warnings/bannings for such behavior. While you may not notice it, the members who post the same crap repeatedly do notice our punishments, first hand.

[altezza Veteran]

I wholeheartedly agree that the Milestone threads should be post count locked. It is the best way to reduce spamming.

[Joshie]

Why not replace it with something symbolizing post frequency? I don't really know how it would work, but the idea would be something like average posts-per-month, and maybe a neato little mini-icon emoting the rank. Retardedly high averages could be some insane fat Star Wars fan with a goatee. Who knows?

[delta13]

abandon post counts please!!!

instead introduce a rating that tells how active the user is, like, "very active, active, ...". i find these kind of titles more informative than post counts.

you could tie the activity with some rating system, like awarding stars or something like that.

the reason why i dont like the post count is to see all the "my x.000th post" threads all over the place.

and at last neowin would be a pioneer by abondoning the post counts...

EDIT: i second the idea of introducing awards for e.g. being very helpful to other members, or having great knowlegde :D... and the awards should be awarded by the vote of the members .. ( sounds like an awful lot of trouble i know :( )

Edited May 4, 2005 by omega3112

[Fred Derf Veteran]

I wholeheartedly agree that the Milestone threads should be post count locked. It is the best way to reduce spamming.

585871935[/snapback]

Maybe we mods should moderate the Milestone section more thoroughly. I don't mean closing threads or removing posts either.

I mean posting statements like... "You're lucky to make it this far. Good luck reaching your next one" or "Has it only been a year?" or "You're only xx years old? That explains a lot!"

:p

don't take this post seriously

[SerialStorm]

Why the hell would you want to remove our stars & Post count numbers?!?

I personaly try to set a goal (1000 posts in one year or less) and see if I can meet it.

Some of my posts are congrats type posts but many others are voiceing opinions/helping someone.

Granted the post count does not mean much to some but is a personal acheivement to others.

[+chorpeac MVC]

It is a visible notification that represents seniority. It's easier and nicer to look at than the date. You always refer to the date though, because a new member that has a thousand posts most likely has no content and is in a race.

[Milan -]

postcounts show your eliteness your 1337/\/35

[Nelsinho]

No... I love my stars :wub:

585869812[/snapback]

exactly :yes: (Y)

[rojack]

seems like people who bitch over this are just a little bit uptight :huh:

[kronik]

why not make a system where we (the readers) state whether or not a certain post was useful to us or not, the same way imdb.com do it, that way people would make an effort in their posts, rather than posting smileys to enhance their e-penis like many do.

[Larney]

+1

:p

585870214[/snapback]

Indeed. I think both should stay because it would upset too many people for them to go, bangbang023. but then again I want them to go because its annoying people being petty and spamming to get their +1 (like that loser SeMz :woot:)

[quick]

Don't mind it staying.... But i think it just lets me know something about the poster, is this someone that just joined or some regular user, some fanatic poster....

Other then that not much else use for me personally...