What's with all the new folks?

[DaveStebbins]

I agree that the mechanism for post counts is vital to admin of the site. I only see the post counts as stifling newbies from speaking out on topics. After all, why take anyone seriously if they only have 50 posts to their name... they obviously aren't serious about their hobby (sarcasm).

It must be sarcasm, becasue I don't ever remember seeing an attiitude like that expressed on these boards. I lurked for a couple years before I started posting and I did feel a little intimidated, but not by other poeples' postcounts. Perhaps reasons for low postcounts are as varied as the people who have them. I like seeing postcounts, even though I'm still way down on page 19 on the postcount list.

-Dave
(Oops, I just checked and have recently moved up to page 17. I must be posting more often now that I am comfortable in doing so. Woohoo, page 17! I'm almost in the top 500. I'm SOMEBODY now! In your face everyone on page 18 or higher!)

 

[smootrk]

I'm not sure hiding the post count would do much. The whole point behind this thread is I've seen a large influx of new posters. If keeping the post count visible is supposed to keep some people from posting, I don't think those people are on ENWorld.

I sorta dis-agree. Anything that quiets or even remotely restrains individuals from joining dialogs is something that can be addressed and a fix can be attempted (again; I am spouting those opinions again). Anything that encourages more views, opinions, and experiences to be shared is going to be a good thing for the whole community.

 

[Psionicist]

I visit many online message boards, including computer game forums where the average member is 16 years old or something like that. I dont know how it happened or why, but ENW is by far the worst forum I know of when it comes to post-count-centrisim (if thats a word ). There are more discussions about post counts, more threads about "hey, look at my post count", and more jokes about members with high post counts on this forum than any other I've seen. On the other hand, ENW is better in all other areas and respects such as friendliness, intelligence, language etc.

Anyone have a theory about this? I think its weird.

 

[smootrk]

It must be sarcasm, becasue I don't ever remember seeing an attiitude like that expressed on these boards. I lurked for a couple years before I started posting and I did feel a little intimidated, but not by other poeples' postcounts. Perhaps reasons for low postcounts are as varied as the people who have them. I like seeing postcounts, even though I'm still way down on page 19 on the postcount list.

-Dave
(Oops, I just checked and have recently moved up to page 17. I must be posting more often now that I am comfortable in doing so. Woohoo, page 17! I'm almost in the top 500. I'm SOMEBODY now! In your face everyone on page 18 or higher!)

This is what I was just trying to illustrate... having the low number, and thus feeling somehow inferior because of it, and holding back.

btw - I do enjoy seeing my own post count go up. Fuel for my own ego. Just don't need to see anyone else's post count... not productive for sharing.

 

[reveal]

This is what I was just trying to illustrate... having the low number, and thus feeling somehow inferior because of it, and holding back.

btw - I do enjoy seeing my own post count go up. Fuel for my own ego. Just don't need to see anyone else's post count... not productive for sharing.

What he said was "and I did feel a little intimidated, but not by other poeples' postcounts." So it actually goes against what you are saying. He didn't post and did feel intimidated but not by other people's postcounts.

I admit I was a little intimidated when I first started posted but only because of all the other "elitist" boards you talk about. I was afraid that every other thread on here was going to be a flamefest, like they are so many boards, WOTC's included. And while I have seen my share of them on here, it's rare.

Edit: BTW Dave, I'm on page 10 so

 

[smootrk]

The point I am failing to illustrate correctly is that any situation, statistic, personal feeling, etc. that causes someone to feel that their opinion is not worthy of sharing is something that can be addressed to correct. All should be encouraged at all levels to feel free to comment. It is likely an un-attainable goal but endeavoring to try is something the community should try to move towards (much like world peace).

I doubt I would bring up topics like this if it wasn't such a status symbol for the post count to be high. Just browsing through a sampling of the forums will likely lead to someone commenting on post-count of someone (mostly references to the almighty Crothian.

 

[Desdichado]

The point I am failing to illustrate correctly is that any situation, statistic, personal feeling, etc. that causes someone to feel that their opinion is not worthy of sharing is something that can be addressed to correct. All should be encouraged at all levels to feel free to comment. It is likely an un-attainable goal but endeavoring to try is something the community should try to move towards (much like world peace).

At some point, though, you have to cut bait and say, "look, if this makes you feel inferior, you need to grow a real skin, step up, and stop blaming other things for your problems." You can never make everyone happy, so trying too hard to reach that last 2%, or whatever the number happens to be, usually just ends of alienating everyone else.

I'm not saying that postcount is that point, though. Postcount is hardly important, and we could certainly do without seeing it, and it wouldn't really make too much difference. But a lot of folks find it interesting, and I'd wager that more people find it interesting than find it intimidating. Although there's a lot of joking talk about postcount, ribbing of Crothian, "hey, congrats to me for hitting 1000" threads and the like, it's just more like an in-joke than anything else. I don't think anyone takes postcount seriously around here; at least not anyone who's in the really high numbers.

 

[Nifft]

I don't think anyone takes postcount seriously around here; at least not anyone who's in the really high numbers.

... but you must admit it is fun to call the little ones "Pre-K".

-- N

 

[Goblyn]

... but you must admit it is fun to call the little ones "Pre-K".

-- N

:: that rolling, laughing smiley because I think what you said is funny ::

I think 'tard' sounds funny.

Goblyn's postcount = Goblyn's postcount + 1

 

[wingsandsword]

Y'know, it's a good thing there are so many new people around here. It means the site is getting fresh blood, and is an indicator that the hobby is growing and well. We should be a lot more worried if we never see anybody new, and all the posters have been here for years and have zillions of posts.

But post count isn't all it is cracked up to be. As was pointed out, the join date is also important. Lots of people are lurkers who may register and never post, or even never register then suddenly sign up one day to post on a thread that gets their attention (or they really want to say something). They'll look like a total newbie, but have been reading for months or years.

However, even as one with a lowly ~400 post count, I don't mind them there and don't want them removed. It's just part of the local culture, and I do find it somehow amazing just how many posts some people here have made.