#24 The 4/25 Rule

[El Héroe Oscuro]

Question Of The Day #24: Should the 4/25 rule exist?

The 4/25 rules is probably one of the infamous rules of PokeCommunity, as there has been multiple accounts of squabbling as to whether or not the rule should exist on this site. As it entails, users in their posts must have four words accounting to no less than twenty five characters in order for a post to be deemed valid and pass the coding of the site, which some say is too strict. On the other hand, some people believe that it holds standings within the site and should be respected for holding some kind of order.

What is your position on the 4/25 rule? Do you believe that it's a good thing that the 4/25 rule exists? Or do you believe the rule should be tossed out the window? Or, do you believe that some kind of middle ground can be met?

Feel free to discuss all entities of this topic below.​

 

[gimmepie]

Even though I don't know about the possibility of meeting in the middle, I have mixed feelings on the rule. I mean, it does promote more detailed discussion and it isn't really harming the site any, but there are other times when it is annoying because a very short sentence or response gif is really all that's required.

I'm all for removing it as a trial though to see what happens, especially if it is a rule made forum specific. I don't want to see every second post just as a gif mind you, but I don't think the community is liable to devolve into a reddit any time soon either.

 

[Zehn]

I think it is stupid since peopel will just put (25 character rule) at the end of a post if it is too short

 

[Sonata]

I believe we should keep it because we need at least some kind of standard of quality, but if there must be some kind of middle ground I say 3/10. If you can't make a post that has at least 3 words and 10 characters you shouldn't be posting it. If you can't make a post that has at least 4 words and 25 characters you probably shouldn't be posting it outside of pokemon trivia forum games and any other parts of PC that already don't have the rule for whatever reason.

 

[Pendraflare]

As I mentioned in the thread in FQ&F, I still think it's really not a big deal because it's not hard to think of 25 characters to put in a post. This is rarely something that comes up for me when I have to adjust to it so I have no preference.

 

[Belldandy]

I've already vouched my opinion in the other thread, but basically by removing it we're inviting people to create less quality posts and thus detracting from discussion.

We're also inviting people using memes rather than words to respond to a post. As I previously mentioned, I'll be darned if I write an eloquent post only to be responded to with the "You Don't Say?" guy.

 

[Universe]

I think the 4/25 rule (you guys should take 5 characters off 8) ) is valid in some forum sections, but not others?

For instance, it should stay in place for sections like D&D and other places that try to promote discussion.. while being lifted in places like GC because a lot of humor and chat-based shenanigans are lost when you have to add more words. :Ic

But then again I dunno, I feel like PC's memberbase knows when to put more than a few words and when not to. I'd say doing a trial by leaving the limit off for a while to see how things go could work? And if discussion-heavy forums start to have less than contributory posts, re-add the limit?

*Tosses two cents*

 

[Her]

people break it all the time the least that should be done is a trial run in 'less eloquent' sections

 

[Auticorn]

I'm actually on the fence about this. Mainly because I can see how both sides make perfectly good points. I can't really say who's right or who's wrong. I see the benefits from each side, and it's hard to really decide what is better for the forums for me. D:

However, I do agree with Harley Quinn. Give it a trial run and see how people do without the rule. If things get out of hand with it, then by all means... put the rule back. Maybe then it will allow most of the ones who hate the rule to see why it's needed.

 

[esperance]

I honestly forgot this was actually a rule until recently when I started seeing people making more posts mentioning it.

I guess I can see why sometimes it would be nice to have the rule removed, like in Forum Games, but for the most part it probably isn't a constructive post if you can't at least have 4 words in it.

 

[Sirfetch’d]

I've given my thoughts on this before, but I really think it should be up to section moderators on whether or not it should be allowed. I remember back when I was a GC mod and we once discussed potentially removing it for just the DCC alone because that thread and many other threads in that forum legit only require one word or a gif/pic to respond to. However there are some forums who absolutely should enforce this rule such as The Welcome Lounge, D&D, Celebrations, and those alike. IMO those forums require more constructed posts.

 

[Hikamaru]

I've given my thoughts on this before, but I really think it should be up to section moderators on whether or not it should be allowed. I remember back when I was a GC mod and we once discussed potentially removing it for just the DCC alone because that thread and many other threads in that forum legit only require one word or a gif/pic to respond to. However there are some forums who absolutely should enforce this rule such as The Welcome Lounge, D&D, Celebrations, and those alike. IMO those forums require more constructed posts.

This.

The rule should still be in place, but only in sections where you need to go constructive with your posts. General Chat, Forum Games and Pokemon Trivia are not those so they can go by without it, but I do admit the 4/25 sometimes bugs me when I post in Culture & Media's WAYLT thread, because it makes me have to add filler I wouldn't even want.

So, in the end the rule can be non-existent in some sections but still stay in others. It's just dependent on how the section's posts are required to be constructive and well-thought in nature.