Post count.

[Nick]

If post count doesn't matter - or if people are trying to push the idea that it doesn't matter -

a. Why do we have post count at all?
b. Why do some forums have post count disabled?
c. Why are there rewards for having X posts?

Just some questions. Not trying to start anything, but I want to know. Because I've seen some staff members post that they're trying to recognize that post count doesn't matter. I think examining these questions should be important if you're actually considering making them not really matter.

 

[Aquacorde]

tbh the idea of post count not mattering is a little odd to me. Because really, isn't that the best measure of how contributive a member is to the community? That's why we have rewards based upon the number, that's why more relaxed forums have post count turned off. If it's left on its own, it is a good measurement of activity and dedication. I think the notion trying to be dispelled is that post count is not a measure of someone's worth. That it is not a number to be increased for the sake of increasing, nor a number one should base assumptions off of. I just think that should probably be communicated a little better than the vague "it doesn't really matter".

 

[wolf]

Post count is the only objective way to reward for activity, aside from recording log-ins and stuff like that. Blogs and Member Encyclopedia in particular use post count to encourage people to either donate or be active in order to gain access to them. If post count was removed entirely, they would either have to be made available to everyone or exclusive to only Supporters. The former would be controversial since they can be used as incentives for donating, while the latter would needlessly exclude active users.

This doesn't mean that post count needs to be as public as it is now (i.e. displayed in postbits), but it's nice to have as a statistic.

 

[Belldandy]

I like it as it allows me to feel more like a "veteran" of sorts in the community. It doesn't necessarily mean anything to others (and it oughtn't, really), but I know my posts are typically quality ones, especially on this new account.

Otherwise, I think if people are put off by it, in your Options you can disable it as part of the post bit :)

 

[3749374]

It's a fun statistic you can choose to hide or not. We're also discussing enabling post-count in all forums now. Rewards are fun too, people like rewards for loyalty. So considering we can't hand out loyalty cards, this is something we can do instead.

 

[Nick]

It's a fun statistic you can choose to hide or not. We're also discussing enabling post-count in all forums now. Rewards are fun too, people like rewards for loyalty. So considering we can't hand out loyalty cards, this is something we can do instead.

That's great. That's what I was subtly hinting towards.

I don't think post count should be abolished, because I agree with what everything said. But I do also believe - which I think is in the minority - that no matter how small the contribution is, (or the quality of the post), it's still a contribution.

And I do think that people should stop going around pretending post count isn't important. Even though it isn't the most important thing there is, it's still something that's pretty important around here and I don't think it should be downplayed to be less than. That really frustrates me.

I think these questions are pretty legitimate to consider before saying that post count doesn't matter.