Individual Deletion of Post Count?

[alsih2o]

if it is not too much trouble could you alter my account to only display my postcount if it is currently a prime number, or a number in the fibonacci series?

 

[garyh]

if it is not too much trouble could you alter my account to only display my postcount if it is currently a prime number, or a number in the fibonacci series?

I'd like my post count to only display when it is a number that ends in i.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

So it's the case that others are having a problem with it, not you?

Colonel, when people are attacking you just because of your post count, shoot me an e-mail, ok?
Also, consider: If it's just about the post count, they won't attack only you; they'll attack anyone with a high post count - so hiding/resetting your post count won't make the problem go away...

Or, less seriously, just show them this handy link; that should take care of the situation, too.

It has nothing to do with being attacked. It has to do with being self-consistent. I don't want people to feel like they have to have high post counts to be part of the community. That discourages newbies and encourages an increasing atmosphere of cliquishness. I'm not saying anyone is doing that purposely, but a newbie who sees some of our high post counts, and sees some of the commentary about high post counts being desirable (even if it's done in jest), might move on to another community, thinking there's no way he or she will ever fit in. Since I have made comments like this, I thought it would be self-consistent to not display my post count, whiuch is high. It's no big deal in the grand scheme of things, but I was just thinking about the folks who might feel left out. As a gamer, I have empathy for such a feeling. I just thought I'd put my money where my mouth is. It's not some hidden commentary on anyone or anything, beyond what I've written here and on the threads I referred to. I don't think the less of anyone with a high post count, nor do I want them to hide theirs. I simply wanted to know if I could do so for myself - that's all. People hide their e-mails, their locations, and any of the other info that is on the registration forms for the site, I don't see why it would be a big deal to ask about post count. The reasons for my asking are everything that I've written here. Since it cannot be done technically, the point is moot. I'm sorry to have brought it up. I didn't mean anything hostile or ironic by it. Irony and subtlety are not my strong points; anyone who has been here at EN World for any length of time has seen ample evidence of that.

 

[Horacio]

Using the famous wors of the inmortal Crothian, "Postcount means nothing"

 

[ColonelHardisson]

Ok; I think I understand what happened now:

When you gave a very short answer that agreed with the sentiment that post count means nothing, creamsteak (who has 500 posts more than you, BTW) rather icily wrote a sarcastic reply, implying that posting short posts is symptomatic of desiring high post counts. (So maybe he considers his post count important?)

And now, you feel that you have to prove him wrong. Don't; this is not worth getting worked up over...

No; you are misinterpreting what I meant. I agreed with creamsteak's point! He made a good point that caused me to consider my own position, and what I could do to become self-consistent. Check my reply to his post. I know on the internet that nobody ever admits to being wrong or ever agrees that someone else made a good point, but, in this case, that's exactly what happened.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

Could someone please lock this thread? I really am sorry for the trouble.

 

[Morrus]

Someone else implied I was just boosting my own post count by doing so. I saw the point. My post count is high, so it's easy enough, in the view of those for whom post count matters, for me to say it's no big deal. Especially with post count being fairly prominently displayed; remember, I initially asked for it to be removed from where it could be seen, not reset. My request isn't made in a hostile manner, but apparently it's being taken that way. If I don't want what is considered a status symbol by some to be displayed, I don't see why that makes me out to be deceitful. Forget I asked. I apologize for the inconvenience. If you'd like to lock the thread or delete it, please do so.

Colonel, you're reading too much into all this, I think. I didn't interpret the request as hostile, and certainly not deceitful - I just didn't see the point.

If you want my opinion, adjusting your postcount really won't make any difference to any problem, whether or not it exists. In fact, I think that by doing so, you're making a bigger deal out of postcounts than if you'd just never mentioned them in the first place. It kinda supports the "postcounts are important" minority, in my eyes - otherwise, why change it?

I fully agree that it would be cool that if there were an option I could tick to remove them, it would be something worth doing. But I don't agree that it's a particularly big deal.

You'll always get cliques on a large messageboard. Most, like the hivemind, are non-exlcusive, harmless and can be ignored.

I don't want people to feel like they have to have high post counts to be part of the community. That discourages newbies and encourages an increasing atmosphere of cliquishness. I'm not saying anyone is doing that purposely, but a newbie who sees some of our high post counts, and sees some of the commentary about high post counts being desirable (even if it's done in jest), might move on to another community, thinking there's no way he or she will ever fit in.

If I saw any signs of this, then, again, I'd agree it to be a bad thing. But I honestly don't think that this is happening, or is even likely. New poeple join all the time, most of them fit in right away - and the few that don't aren't caused by postcounts, but due to a general incompatibility with this style of messageboard. Those few move on to places they feel more comfortable; but I really, honestly, don't think that cliqueishness, postcounts or anything else are scaring people away.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

I'm sorry, again. I made this a much bigger deal than I intended it to be. I should have asked by private e-mail. It was just a dumb mistake on my part.

 

[jdavis]

Being relatively new around here I'll put in that postcount never bothered me (as my own swelling count attest to). The thing I like the most around here is the fact that people are so welcoming, within two or three post by a new person there is normally somebody welcoming them in or congratulating them for showing up. As long as that attitude keeps up then I'm sure post count won't be a problem. I never felt like I was on the outside or didn't belong right from the first post, this is the only messageboard I can truly say that about and the only board I am currently a part of. I think you people should be proud of how little postcount actually does matter here.

Ok I will admit that Crothian's post count is a little disturbing just by it's shear size.

 

[Morrus]

Don't worry about it, really. It's fair enough to ask. You didn't annoy me or anything silly like that - absolutely no need to apologise!

One other thing occurs to me - postcounts can be a useful tool for moderators when they need to see quickly whether or not somebody should "know better" or whether they are new and just need to acclimatise themselves. Someone new posting a political thread, for example, will get a friendly, polite email just letting them know not to do it, whereas someone with a postcount of 600+ will get a strongly worded "What the hell were you thinking?!?!" email.