Ok, so I realize a few of you are proabably going to hate me for posting this. I don't care. You are entitled to your opinion.

My suggestion is that Off-Topic posts should not count towards the overall post count.

Why, you ask? I'll explain:

People seem to be really concerned about post counts, and think that by posting a lot of junk everyone, other people will like them. I've seen some examples (no names here, but I'm sure you know who I'm talking about) who post random crap in Off-Topic just to increase their post count. Then they get frusterated when their posts get deleted, and post more crap to increase their post count again. Since it all gets deleted anyways, why don't we just make it not count towards the post count so people aren't concerned about post count deduction? It would also cut down on some of the spam in the Off-Topic forum as well.

So? I guess this suggestion is aimed more towards the staff, but if anyone has some other input, I'd like to hear it.

Excellent idea. Not sure if it's possible with this forum setup, but...

I would actually VERY much prefer that the post count not even be shown, because why should it matter? Still, that's up to the big dog. I'm just a guard dog.

I'm the shark with a gun for a mouth, but what does that have to do with anything?

I agree, if it can be done.

SotG does it, and alot of other boards, I still do like seeing post counts though.

Post counts don't make someone respected, just look at me!

(ok, maby I'm not respected, but, I'm still well known here)

I think we should keep the post count as it is.
But I do think we should add a reputation system.
Here's how it's set up at The Hive Workshop, a Warcraft 3 modding site that I frequent
Reputation FAQ
It works very nicely at The Hive.
Here at GT would promote helpfulness and would help to kill the "spam to make myself look important" mentality.
It would also make for better contests where the winner gets +Rep.
This discussion reminded me of a song

John Reuben - Nuisance
I'm not trying to be a nuisance
I just think we can do better than this
That was simply my two cents
You can, you can take it or leave it.

[EDIT]
Lol! Skratch, you joined an hour and 49 minutes before I did.

Agreed. Joining date is more of a merit than the post count, that's the way it should be.

I will look into removal / closure of the rank feature. its sooo rank.

Leave it to Guru to pull out a bad joke

I actually like Saitek's Idea. Although I might not quite sure about if it will solve anything.

of course there is no rank disable button so now i may have to hand toss all those ranks LOL.

Ranks or not, some people will still post just to hump their count, and I think we should keep the post count display cause it is a easy way of determining someone's experience/time here.

I think the original Idea will fix any worthless post count humping, and encourage users to make more meaningful posts in other regions.


If you take away ranks, People will post count bump.
If you remove the post display, people will have no reason not to spam. (besides the rules.)
and the point is to discourage spam.

But If you make posts in the offtopic section not count:
1. They won't gain any ranks by spaming.
2. They won't get a higher post count.
Overall powerfully discouraging Irrelevant spam.
which will just leave off-topic for those who don't care if they don't gain posts, and just want to post there for the sake of doing so in a topic unrelated to any of the other boards.

I say

1) Make Off-topic not count towards post count

2) Remove the rank system

Why? For number 1, see Xavious's first post. It encourages people to spam off-topic so they can get a higher post count.

For number 2, it removes the motive for increasing post-count and thereby reduces spam.

I will set up this post like the last two posts.

1) Hide post counts, but keep ranks,

and if possible,

2) Hide join dates.

I'm just sick of seeing, "Oh, my post count is higher, I'm better!" or "I joined 3 years ago, therefore I'm much smarter than everyone else!"

Fusion wrote: I'm just sick of seeing, "Oh, my post count is higher, I'm better!" or "I joined 3 years ago, therefore I'm much smarter than everyone else!"

No one here ever says that.

I like trains idea.

Caleb1117 wrote:

Fusion wrote: I'm just sick of seeing, "Oh, my post count is higher, I'm better!" or "I joined 3 years ago, therefore I'm much smarter than everyone else!"

No one here ever says that.

QFT, In the two years I've been here I haven't seen it become a problem.

Fusion wrote:I will set up this post like the last two posts.

1) Hide post counts, but keep ranks,

and if possible,

2) Hide join dates.

I'm just sick of seeing, "Oh, my post count is higher, I'm better!" or "I joined 3 years ago, therefore I'm much smarter than everyone else!"

Now that's a bit too much, it isn't done THAT often

I remember having the second one happening to me last year, but I'm not going to say who it was (seeing as he/she/it still posts here occasionally).

I wasn't saying anything about you guys, no need to ninja-attack me all at once

So it happens occassionally. I don't see it as a problem. I don't see what's wrong with removing join dates either.