Wow

[BSF]

I actually disagree with that. As someone who has a low post count but lurks everyday, I've put that to a test. I used to frequent a MMORPG forum a few years ago where I had the highest post count and was one of the "popular" guys on the forum. No matter what I would post, I'd have at least one person quote and reply to me in any thread.

I noticed here that whenever I post, I don't get many replies. If I start a new thread, there's always replies to the original post which is nice, but it seems like pity replies just so the thread doesn't sink with 0 replies. I get that feeling because if I respond after the initial post, the only people to respond back are other low post count people (which is never many). The regulars never seem to respond again. But, when the regulars post on any thread, people will quote and respond to them over & over.

*scratches head*

OK, I have a few thousand posts so perhaps I can rebut this. Most of the threads I start don't go anywhere. The most popular threads I have support Ceramic DM, which isn't even my creation. I have been the apparent thread killer on several occasions as well. I guess if I look at post totals, there are between 125 and 130 folks with more posts. Perhaps that doesn't make me popular enough?

I will readily admit that popularity holds a place on EN World. To try to argue that would be foolhardy. But EN World isn't all about popularity either. Rather it is about visibility. The posters that I remember the best are the folks that have said something that really grabbed my attention. The more times they say something that interests me, the higher visibility I have for them. In some cases, I will hit a thread just because I see that somebody specific posted in the thread. (No Crothian is not one of those people - sorry Crothian!) There are some folks with a relatively low postcount that are always interesting to me. *shrug* Perhaps that is popularity as measured in my terms though.

Spelling errors occasionally annoy me. They really annoy me when I make them myself! It is late and I should be asleep. Surely there is at least one spelling error in this post. When I realize it later, I will mumble a curse of some sort. When somebody else points it out, I will laugh at myself. When other folks make a spelling error, I try to be forgiving. Alas, there are times when the post in unintelligible. When that occurs, I resort to skipping the post entirely. If it happens regularly, I begin to skip over that person's post habitually. It isn't pesonal, but it happens. I suppose some would accuse me of being elitist or "cliquish" because I read some people's posts no matter what and have learned to ignore others. IBut that is part of the dynamics of social interaction.

 

[BSF]

I agree about high post count meaning something. If I didn't have 1600+ posts to my name, many people here would dismiss me as the crank I am. And when someone says something I disagree with, I'm much more likely to challenge them on it if they have a high post count. Why? The reason is pretty simple: I come here to argue with people; I can trust high post count people to argue with me much more reliably than low post count people.

I partially disagree with you here. You often have something interesting to say. I may or may not agree with you, but whatever you are saying is often worth reading. If for no other reason than to get the grey matter working.

However, I acknowledge that when I want to post a reply that might be viewed as acerbic, I am more likely to click on the "submit reply" button if I perceive the poster as being a regular. I know I am unlikely to scare him or her off.

BTW - wingsandsword and Raging Epistaxis, I recognize both of your screen names from previous posts I have read. Despite a low post count, I pretty much consider both of you to be quiet regulars.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

The (futile) hope that it will prompt a person to improve their use of the language, so their future posts become more coherent and readable.

If only that were true. Most of the time, on the Internet, including here, it's an attempt to score a cheap point. Spelling corrections happen most of the time on threads where there's an issue of contention, and one side has run out of substantive comments.

 

[Darth K'Trava]

I agree about high post count meaning something. If I didn't have 1600+ posts to my name, many people here would dismiss me as the crank I am. And when someone says something I disagree with, I'm much more likely to challenge them on it if they have a high post count. Why? The reason is pretty simple: I come here to argue with people; I can trust high post count people to argue with me much more reliably than low post count people.

So, even though some high post count people are utterly reviled and disliked, the simple fact that they have name recognition and a bunch of posts to their name makes people far more likely to respond to them, whether they like them or not.

If that's the case, then Crothian can only hold a discussion with Hong..... (the first name of a high post count I can come up with..) Or only a few others like JoshuaDyal...... but noone else as there's not many who are "in his league" as far as post counts go (going by this argument).

I admit I don't have a "high post count" but then I haven't been here that long........

 

[Darth K'Trava]

At any rate, that is my $0.02 and if I misspelled or committed incorrect grammar, just correct me and I will remove myself from the gene pool immediately.

R E

I didn't know they handed out Darwin Awards for bad spelling and grammar.......

 

[Darth K'Trava]

If only that were true. Most of the time, on the Internet, including here, it's an attempt to score a cheap point. Spelling corrections happen most of the time on threads where there's an issue of contention, and one side has run out of substantive comments.

And people do take offense when someone *dares* correct their mistakes. Mistakes that they either didn't know they made or don't have the requisite knowledge to pick them up.....

I heavily proofread my own threads as I know I type crappy and make lots of typos, worse the more tired I get. It's the rare one that gets past my level of "pickiness".....

And this coming from a person who had anywhere from a B to a C in English. Flunked one year, but I didn't like the teacher, so I didn't care. Made up for that over the summer of that year......

 

[KaosDevice]

Oh lordy, this thread was funny enough to make me feel both insulted and amused. Really, I suppose my hurt factor came out of the fact not that I had my spelling corrected (that was a big barb slinger back in the Fidonet days), but that I had posted a few things I thought were fairly erudite or insightful and had them completely disregarded. I had been watching this forum off and on for quite some time (look at my join date vs. number of posts) and thought it was a conversational sort of place. So I felt a tad wounded and disappointed (and ok sure, a little sour grapey, and really the spelling thing didn't bother me that much), when I wasn't allowed to play in the sand box with everyone else.

Lose vs. loose...bfd. It was a pretty silly minor thing. The thing was the elitest exclusionary vibe I got out of the place. Which really disappointed me. I didn't see it coming and it blindsided me.

I felt like I had as much to contribute as anyone else. I wanted to play, I wanted to talk with the rest of you, so when I finally jumped in, being pretty much ignored or what ever ..kinda hurt, just like it would to any other breathing person. On the end of all of the ASCII is someone else, you know who took the time out of their life to write this or that or make this or that observation. It is worthy of respect, YOU are worthy of respect for taking time to read this or write a response or a review of something else or whatever you write as part of the community. You took time to participate and communicate and that is important. And I took time to participate and communicate so I felt that was meaningful.

Been on the 'net (and the pre-net for those that remember the Fido days), for quite some time so I dig the functionality of a good board. I thought there was one here, that's why I jumped in. I wanted to be part of it. So the dis level I felt after that jump in was bothersome. Look, I didn't want to be revered or anything, I just wanted to talk to you. That was it, simple discussion.

............

For the cat that was asking who I wrote for; Pagan Publishing and Fantasy Flight(For Cthulhu Live)

Wow, and who figured out I used to write for RPG.net? That is creepy, I didn't think anybody read those old Phobia columns.

Oh and get off Kluge...he wasn't the reason for the inital post, just a symptom. I reckon he wrote that other attack style post because he himself felt attacked, I didn't post because of him (although correcting peoples' spelling is lame and very tired) but because of all of the above. I wish only the best for die_kluge.

 

[Goblyn]

Erm.

I was one of the first replies to KaosDevice. I have followed throught the strange eddies and currents of this discussion. Much has been hinted at. Much has been suggested.

Having read the entire thread, I can say with confidence: I have no idea what the hell we're talking about.

 

[KaosDevice]

I think it had something to do with animal sacrifice and the worship of pagan gods...

 

[Goblyn]

I think it had something to do with animal sacrifice and the worship of pagan gods...

In that case I'd better go back and re-read it, for I think I missed those top8cs completely
I fear I may come to the same conclusion, however.