Should we delete the posts counts or start another way of ranking posts?

[sdalton]

I agree with some that the post counts have fueled some members to post rediculous topics just to get their counts up high. Should we not have a post count?? Should we just have a rating system for posts??

I think we should rate a persons post and that rating should be averaged and included under the persons member name, every time he posts.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

There is no option in the software for a rating system for users. There also are no hacks available to provide that. To enable something like that would take many hours of coding (probably 10+) that would have to be redone every time vBulletin is updated. We really do not have the resources available to put something like that into place. The "top thread starter" and "top poster" could be removed - it was added because of user requests several months ago. What can be done is I can set the software so that posts in the Other forum do not add to someones post count. I don't think there's any way to remove them from the top thread starter and top poster counts though.



-Steve St. Laurent

Webmaster

 

[sdalton]

I know nothing of web design or creating. So, I will defer to your expertise. I have seen other sites where users are rated, but I didnt know how complicated it was.

Reseting all post counts, and not allowing Other Forum post to count would be a good start. Thanks.



Scott

 

[Whitmore]

set em all to zero

I dont think anyone cares how many times they posted, its simply a little extra comerodery amongst friends

 

[TPCDrafting]

Why is it ok to get post counts for crying and complaining,

but not for non-informational content posts?

 

[MDW]

I tried to post but it won't let me???



So heres my vote: Eliminate the post counts.

 

[Clinton]

As a fairly new member I'd have to vote to keep the post count active. I hear what you're saying, but you're not obligated to read all those foolish posts. Also, when a new guy is setting out to learn about his machine, those post counts can be a guidline for who to trust. When I see somebody crying or posting BS all the time and they have a high count I generally disregard them in the future. Same is true the other way around, when I see somebody with a high count consistantly trying their best to solve problems, I pay close attention to them in the future. But hey, I'm with you on the irritating results when you hit the 'View New Posts' and you get about 10 hits that have nothing to do with anything. They somehow find their way into your searches too.

 

[KMeek]

PLEASE stop the counts. They only serve to encourage some Posters to believe they know more because they post more! "Stupid" irrelevant posts clog up the search feature and have become far too common.

 

[dmurdock]

Dean, here's your cue:

 

[sdalton]

Clinton, I have to disagree. Some of the best advise is given by the ones who have been around the longest, not the ones who post the most. Look under the names and see when they joined. Relying on someones expertise because he has a lot of time on his hands and likes to talk is no way to base a persons knowledge.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

There's no way we will be removing the post counts. Recently when I restored the archived posts I had to do it in a way that reduced the number of posts of some of the long time members (those that had posted prior to 2/1/2001). I took a LOT of heat from those members since they felt VERY strongly that their post count said something about their standing on the site. Let's try to keep the talk on this to something that is practical and won't cause the management sleepless nights, extra workload, and STRESS answering a bunch of hate mail!



I have proposed a solution for the original concern of having to weed through the "other" posts when using the view new posts option - there is a poll in the website forum on that. I can take the "top thread starter" and "top poster" off of the stats at the top of the forum page (keep in mind that this was requested by users). I can also set it so that posts that are in the other forum do not count towards your total post count.



-Steve St. Laurent

Webmaster and Lead Moderator

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Steve - *I*, personally, have no problem with the post counts showing beneath a poster's name each time he posts - only the "scoreboard" in the board header. It seems to create some sort of challenge for those only interested in volume, but not content of posting material...



Clinton sez:



"but you're not obligated to read all those foolish posts. "



Perhaps not - but which would YOU rather walk thru in the late evening - a nice level and CLEAN park - or over in the pet-walking area - where you have to spend more time watching where you step than enjoying the rest of what the park was created for?



I, for one, get sorta tired of having to dodge and step over the crud!

 

[illflem]

The post count means nothing, get rid of it if it's causing problems. I pay little attention to it.

 

[KatDiesel]

Originally posted by Steve St. Laurent

What can be done is I can set the software so that posts in the Other forum do not add to someones post count.

I visit a couple of forums with this feature, its interesting. To me that would sound like a decent compromise.



Whether posts counts stay or go... ... . don't matter to me.

 

[Doc Tinker]

Originally posted by Steve St. Laurent

I can also set it so that posts that are in the other forum do not count towards your total post count.

Sounds reasonable to me



Doc

 

[The patriot]

I dont have a problem leaving it the way it is.

Can you just make it an option in the personal settings, to have them there on the screen when youre viewing, or not?

I dont see why some individuals starting topics just to build up their own post count should change the site for all of us.

After all, stupid topics, etc. etc. will eventually get "pruned" out of the site, and their post count will drop accordingly. Wont they?



I think a much more worthwhile change would be to automatically NOT add the signature. It's a PITA to have to take the sig out of the message, rather than make it so that you have to check the box to put it in the message.

Eric

 

[emarsh]

they should be ranked by how rank they are.

 

[Pit Bull]

Get rid of post count and register date, both of them don't mean anything.

 

[daveshoe]

If it is possible to do , leave the post count alone and filter the ''other '' from the'' View New Posts''

If someone wants to have a high post count and the ''other'' does not count as a new post, would that person be tempted to put trash posts on the more ''legitimate'' sections of the TDR--just to keep his post count high?

I have made a few posts myself that I wish I could take back. Some show my ignorance and one defended a person who flamed others to excess--made me as unkind as him.

I do think the New Members Section is a nice addition. If after you have used the Search feature, you still have a basic question about your truck, some of the old pros can jump in and straighten you out. If a TDR member gets tired of seeing the same ole stuff the New Members section is probably a place to stay away from.

In closing just let me say that I have learned a bunch just from hangin out here, it is educational and fun

 

[Deezul1]

Leave it like it is, it doesnt hurt a thing. If you dont like post counts dont look at em. Goofy posts usually come from the same people most of the time so dont read those posts.