My pondering of posts
 

I was pondering (in my pondering chair), does anyone else thing that moderators get extra posts when they close threads, I mean, no offence intended and really I dont mind, it was a ponder of mine and I thought I should tell you, I mean, I know it helps to say 'this thread is close' but surely you will realise when you cant reply because it says 'topic closed' instead of reply.........has anyone else noticed this or is it just me? and a little point also, why is everyone so paranoid about getting the most posts, again another thing I've noticed, I mean if I have a missing part in my post then I edit it not add another one, am I getting the point across here?

I subconsciously realise that I am increasing my post count everytime I close a thread and respond, but being a staff member, we have that right. Post count isn't a measure of one's stance or position here.

Alcar...

Plus, you can move them to Necrum and have ALL the posts nullified.

Why is the postcount even there?

Just to hyjinx the thread for a moment, I'd like to point out that one of the members is being a royal prick at the moment, and that a certain other member's "joking around" is/was making it difficult to have a discussion. They aren't the only ones either, there've been several others just generally messing around. I would like to know why the moderators don't really do anything about this kind of behaviour until it descends into total anarchy, at which point they swoop in to close the thread. It seems there's been a hell of a lot of "slack" lately and people are just doing whatever the hell they want - and they're getting away with it.

I don't mind people having the odd joke or expressing their disapproval of another member's behavior once in a while, but what's the point if it's all they ever do? I'm not seeing much other than disruptive behaviour coming from these people, so you basically have a pack of trolls set loose, free to do however they please here. It's making it at worst impossible and at best unpleasant for the people who just want to have civilised discussions. There's been an unusually high number of thread closings lately, suggesting that this kind of thing has been getting more common.

Could we have a serious discussion subforum or something? Just somewhere we can have discussions and debates without jokers and pricks screwing things up would be nice. Or at least can the moderators be more active in enforcing the rules. Less spam and jokey crap and more content would be good.

I utterly agree with Dino.

That randomosity thread should have been dealt with when the flaming first began. It went on for four pages, with members getting agrivated and causing a giant flame war.

It's good to get people's opinions out and about, but we've gotta have respect. If you don't respect others opinions, why should others respect yours? And it should apply to everyone. Some people shouldn't be allowed to take sly digs at other members and get away with it, when others are penalised [sp?] for it.

I never even thought about the staff getting more posts, but it doesn't particularly matter. Topics are rarely closed [although it is becoming more frequent], so in my opinion, it oesn't even matter. [Also, IMHO post counts mean nothing.]

- Rexy

I reckon people should stop attacking Dino's opinions just because they don't like him. Like him or not, he's back and he's here to stay, so stop all the 'Shut up and leave Dino' or 'Dino you've left so your opinion sucks, you gay' rubbish.

Yeah, that's a point, I'd forgotten about that.

Like I said in the other thread here (the one that got closed), opinions are fine, we all have a right to express them - but it's not right expressing opinions if you're doing it just to offend someone.

The idea is that EVERY forum area is like that, since there's no designated joke-post area. I'll admit, it really doesn't appear to be that way.

I think moderation has slipped, or else is spread too thin on OWF at the moment. It took a long time for the "Hello" thread to be dealt with, even though it was obviously out of the topic and into the flames shortly after it started.

Removing post count should stop people spamming to appear better, since they can't appear any better if they don't have a title. Of course, the problem (or maybe not a problem) there is that you'd have to remove titles as well (exept for moderators or people who deserve/have earned them). I don't care about my post count or title on OWF (or most other forums, to be honest). I know I don't spam much (since I can't be bothered to talk about nothing). I would support the removal of titles/post count if it would stop the spam.

Yea sorry about that. I never knew it would break out in such a war. Taketh myeth apologyeth (That goes to everyone who did not like it.). :(

And I thought I hit a good point! Wow this has become bigger than I thought, I respect everyones opinions (unless they're just continually spamming about how much of a prick this one guy is), I think we might have thought of something with the removing post count, but I feel its a bit too drastic, cant we just title them how they have done (e.g. someone that has continually just spammed over and over and has a post count of say 300 will only get status as a grug ( I forgot what the lowest rank is :()

Good lord, is anyone else thinking, it's just a ****ing post count?

Your post count doesn't make you any higher than any other members. It does show a sign that you got to know the place if you have a post count of 400 or more (not so in all situations, mind you). But if the person is beingan ass, then delete their bad posts, but don't send their whole count down the anus.

I vote we remove the postcount, rank and star system. It serves no purpose except to bloat egos and breed animosity. I think we can all pretty much agree that posting on a forum isn't much of an "achievement", and it doesn't mean much unless you're using shop hack.

But that doesn't solve anything with regards to the apparant lack of moderation. Perhaps another mod is in order? I suggest a vote to elect a replacement for Hobo to make up the usual 3 mods with OT duresdiction.

I don't agree with removing the star system, but I do think we need another mod. OT is our most active forum and [no offence Staff] but it seems to me that the people incharge of OT are slacking off.

- Rexy

I haven't seen anyone bragging about their postcounts lately and no blatant posting to boost the count. Plenty of stupid, spammy posts but that's just due to basic stupidity rather than maliciousness.

There may not have been many arguments and neccessarily people saying I have a higher postcount therefore I'm better but it definatley is used to patronise people. As for the rmeoving of bad posts from the post count it's a good idea, but removing star ranking etc. I would have to disagree. I also vote we elect a new candidate (oh how swanky am I? :D) because I haven't noticed much taking charge of many threads (no offence moderators etc.)

IMO the postcount and ranking system can stay. People who think they are better then anyone else will have their asses flamed off within a few minutes anyway, so I dunno why anyone is botherd in the first place.

The only single situation where I ever pulled rank was when some retard was spamming up the help section and no moderators were around to stop it. I told the guy: You're here for 2 days, I'm here for 2 years. I know how things work around here, you don't. Now sit down and shut up, or get lost.

But yea, we could use some more moderators around. Preferably members who visit the forum on a more regular basis then just once or twice a day. I remember last year we had 3 boards coverd by moderators who were hardly ever on. Which, needless to say, isn't realy effective.

But if we remove cruddy posts from the post count it will stop people having an 'excuse' to spam and get on our tits (metephorically speaking :P), but extra moderators would help alot

People don't spam to get their postcount up. Well ofcourse you have the selected bunch of n00bs, but most of the spammers don't even realize they are spamming untill someone points that out. Deleting stupid posts from the postcount is just more presure for the staff and is completely uncalled for. We need an additional moderator on the OT section, that should be suffecient to solve any spam problems.

God you're gorgeous when you're powerful. ^_~

I agree. I do think we need another mod.

- Rexy

I'll lend my support to removing post counts, especially from the postbit bars. I've always thought that. I've never got the deal with the stars, they seem inferior to the rank system as a judgement of veterancy, and are by no account as fun. Removing all this clutter would also put an end to people asking about it in GD, and anywhere else.

They only ask about it once every couple of months. And even then we just need to forward them on the Abe Babe's thread and it's okay.

I say stick with what we got. It's fun and really not as much of a bother as everyone is saying.

I dunno about removing the post count and the stars. The post count or the stars do help new members to identify veteran members who they may turn to for help on the forum. So if your gonna remove stuff, either remove the post count or the stars, but not both. I see some usefullness in either one of them.

In that case, keep the stars. Whereas the post count is just a raw statistic, there can be some degree of meaning to the stars. The colour already donates the power or prestige of the user (a mod or Inhabitant), but the number of stars is simply tied in with the post count, isn't it?

I agree with the removing only post counts, but if we do, then we have to think of some other ranking, I would leave that up to the moderators I have no means to say

Yea it is. Removing the post count would probably be a good idea if the stars would stay around :).

Grrr... I still don't get why it's necessary. As I've said before, there really isn't anyone still here who is arrogant about post count and we've seen little post-count related spamming lately so why the heck should Alcar go to the effort of taking it out of the forum code?

Actualy its a matter of pulling a switch ;). But I don't realy care, for all I care they can stay. But if they want to get it out that badly, all I wanted to note is that either the post count or the stars should stay.

Sure there's no arguments directly related to post count, but if you look at the behaviour of those with a higher postcount, and those with a lower one, you begin to realise that the larger their postcount is, the worse their behaviour gets. It's like it gives them a license to act like a prick and think they can get away with it. That isn't really a positive thing in a small community like this one, so I think we should get rid of it.

Now, I am fairly concerned that stars represent the same problem. Lots of stars = high postcount, so it's basically exactly the same as a postcount, and can be used for the same "judgement of authority" as a postcount. That's why I believe that stars should be fixed at either one or six, and be used by colour only to denote a moderator, administrator, or normal user.

For the same reasons, I feel that rank should be removed and replaced with a static rank, denoting a normal user without a custom title.

If all of this is done, it will be impossible to tell who has a higher postcount than who, which would hopefully deflate a few bloated egos, and make a finer point of the fact that we are all equal with equal rights and so forth.

Of course, if you all (referring to those of you who are guilty of thinking you're better than others because of your postcount) spent more time off the forums and had a bit more of a life, then maybe you'd be less inclined to treat it like such a pissing contest. But since I don't think that's likely to happen, I won't offer it as a serious suggestion.

I disagree with you Dino. The members with the highest postcount are Xav and Alcar who are models of courtesy (at least when Alcar isn't going nazi on our arses). I find most of the others with 2000+ postcounts to be extremely friendly people who give every new member a chance and will only lash out after repeated spamming and bad behaviour. (I am excluding from this people like DI and others who have not visited the forum in a while)

On the other hand, look at the members who have been behaving maliciously and causing fights in the last month. I think you'll find they have all been here less than half a year.

Now, I know you will disagree with me on this because of the way that many members have treated you but you have to remember that that's the exception, not the rule.

nate, I'm pretty sure Dino was talking about new members with oddly large post counts.

Of course people who have stuck around are going to help the forums grow (unless they get all l33ty against 'n00bs'). It's people who have been here a month (or less) and have around 800 posts that (I think) Dino is talking about.