The real question that is being asked here and has largely be skirted around by most contributors so far is "What is the true significance of a post count to the forum overall"?

To my way of thinking the post count should be a reflection of a member's contribution to the forum content.

This is what I believe has prompted Caniffe (and Sir Timo?) to again look at the removal of Off-Topic posts from the overall post count.

This appears to be a reflection of a perception that OT posts add nothing to the forum content of any "value".

Different members will each have their own opinion on this view........

I would however suggest (as others already have) that there are a significant proportion of posts that occur in other parts of the forum that have far lesser value to the contnent of this forum and in many cases are completely counter productive and result in extended disruption to numerous threads.

It would be completely impractical to in any way moderate such posts, the forum doesn't even have the resources to effectively and promptly deal with blatant spam attacks or other disruptive influences. Yet these posts are to continue to be "valued" where posts that contribute to a sense of "community" do not?

I have always believed that post counts reflect a member's contribution towards the forum overall, it comes down to a question of whether you consider that OT plays a part in the overall "life" of the forum (and yes in may ways the forum is a living thing, though more like an ecosystem).

My thoughts expressed in Nov 2006 remain much the same:

http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?s=&...st&p=539835

My concerns are not with post count or coloured teles but with Senior Membership status, which affords privileges esp editing, if the title of Senior is gained by majority of posts in OT. Senior Member appears to me to indicate that such poster is pretty cluey in regards to some aspect of DTV or related equipment.

I have therefore voted Yes.

swordfish's post above expresses well my feelings, esp my main concern:

But Caniffe has to ask himself if chaning the post count rules would lessen the incentive for people to visit the forum and thus the advertising revenues the forum pulls in.

FWIW I think the basic rationale for having a post count is twofold. Firstly, it gives some indication on who the most knowledgeable people on the forum are. Secondly it gives them some recognition for volunteering expertise to help others.

I have to say that i don't feel that a high post count automatically means a particular member is more knowledgeable than, say a brand new member with a post count of 5. It simply means that person signed up earlier.

You could have someone here with a post count of 5000 which was mainly due to posts expressing personal opinions of products or just general issues, then along comes a new member who happens to be the leading technical designer for a major home electronics manufacturer.

Who has the most knowledge??

If it were up for a vote, i'd vote for no visible post count, but retention of the coloured TV icons (we all need something to aim for!)

Thanks

I feel that the OT area is just that.. off topic... and generally not contributing to the primary function of the forum, being DTV and AV discussions.

Yes, I have contributed to some OT threads and have even started one or two, but I have no qualms about any loss of post count figures, should these be deducted.

The OT area is largely used as a 'social' chat area, to amuse ourselves and others, which is great that members have that facility as a 'sideline' to the main objective of the forum.

At present, there is no easy indication of how a member's post count is comprised, which I feel should be a primary indication of their contribution to the core subjects, not those which have little or no relevance to those core subjects.

Think of it as a club, in which there are rewards/acknowledgement for those who contribute to the club's main function... and that club also has a social group. What occurs in the social activities does not count towards the club's awards structure.

There's another option.... do away with OT alltogether and concentrate on the primary function of the forum.... that would surely free up some space and probably speed up the pages loading time.

I for one would certainly not want to see the OT area go, it's a great area for those who wish to participate there, but I also feel posts made there should not be included in the post count, as they are 'off topic" and therefore not pertinent to the core subjects of the forum.

swordfish's post above expresses well my feelings, esp my main concern:

RE: Advertising

Revenues are far greater when visitors click the links, rather than just have them display. For this reason based on current click throughs, it's not a big concern.

I feel that the OT area is just that.. off topic... and generally not contributing to the primary function of the forum, being DTV and AV discussions.

Yes, I have contributed to some OT threads and have even started one or two, but I have no qualms about any loss of post count figures, should these be deducted.

The OT area is largely used as a 'social' chat area, to amuse ourselves and others, which is great that members have that facility as a 'sideline' to the main objective of the forum.

At present, there is no easy indication of how a member's post count is comprised, which I feel should be a primary indication of their contribution to the core subjects, not those which have little or no relevance to those core subjects.

Think of it as a club, in which there are rewards/acknowledgement for those who contribute to the club's main function... and that club also has a social group. What occurs in the social activities does not count towards the club's awards structure.

There's another option.... do away with OT alltogether and concentrate on the primary function of the forum.... that would surely free up some space and probably speed up the pages loading time.

I for one would certainly not want to see the OT area go, it's a great area for those who wish to participate there, but I also feel posts made there should not be included in the post count, as they are 'off topic" and therefore not pertinent to the core subjects of the forum.

+1

At present, there is no easy indication of how a member's post count is comprised, which I feel should be a primary indication of their contribution to the core subjects, not those which have little or no relevance to those core subjects.

This is true.

Before the forum software upgrade it was at least possible to see where the majorities one's posts occurred.

The current configuration does not seem to show this or at least not that I know of.

This is true.

Before the forum software upgrade it was at least possible to see where the majorities one's posts occurred.

The current configuration does not seem to show this or at least not that I know of.

by that, do you mean over a year ago when it used to say for example:

Member most active in: Regional NSW Viewers Forum.

????

Just as an example.

by that, do you mean over a year ago when it used to say for example:

Member most active in: Regional NSW Viewers Forum.

????

Just as an example.

Yep it was in your profile

Total posts 676

100% of members posts were Off Topic

or something like that

Yep it was in your profile

Total posts 676

100% of members posts were Off Topic

or something like that

That's it.

Am I correct in saying it's gone?

RE: Advertising

Revenues are far greater when visitors click the links, rather than just have them display. For this reason based on current click throughs, it's not a big concern.

What would happen to the Forum front page if you decide to disregard General and Miscellaneous post counts ?

Would we have to roll back our major milestone of 1,000,000 posts served ?

Would we get a repeat of the last time when individuals posts counts were nullified but the Forum still took the credit as in total posts made ?

And if not doesnt that then alter the entire Forums standing averages with Biggest Brother ...IPS Inc ?

~~~~~~~~~~

I still havent heard any real non elitist or non separatist reasons for going to such an extreme measure that could only be perceived as ....well......petty to say the least.

Talk of "clubs" and "my post is better than your post because I mentioned a flux capacitor " does little to encourage The Community....you cant have cliques or clubs within a Community.....it goes against all the principles of a Community.

Whether we like it or not .....OT is here to stay....and whether we like it or not I believe every post should count to the total of that Community...whether DTV related...or whether non DTV banter and subjects amongst what is essentially a Community of like minded and shared interest individuals.

I personally dont give a hoot ......but I speak for those to whom I know it does mean a lot to be treated as an equal and who may not have the technical skills or know how to ...or even maybe choose not to...talk about flux capacitors...but contribute in priceless other ways *

* ( Sort of like the look on anyones face who doesnt have The Spirit when they read this post )

That's it.

Am I correct in saying it's gone?

Yep went ages ago

I have to say that i don't feel that a high post count automatically means a particular member is more knowledgeable than, say a brand new member with a post count of 5. It simply means that person signed up earlier.

Post count indicates joing date? That's a pretty sweeping statement that makes some mighty outrageous assumptions. Is forum useage so easily pidgeonholed? I think not...

Some members who have very early member joining dates don't necessarily have massive post counts. Does that make them less "knowledgeable" than a member who joined recently, but has a massive post count? Maybe; maybe not... Why not read what they have to say to find out?

What about older members who posted in the DTV "relevant" topic areas years ago, but have since felt the need to keep rehashing the same information in the same (or clone like) threads over and over and over again fading - whilst their enjoyment of the OT forum has probably grown, simply because they don't feel like they're constantly regurgitating the same mind numbing information on a subject that they've had years of involvement in - and many newbees ignore anyway - which is their right...

Is it incumbent on someone who was a regular "relevant" forum thread contributor who has had their DTV and HD and HT equipment sorted for a few years at least, to continue posting only in the DTV "relevant" sections of the forums to be seen as "knowledgeable"?

I've grown tired of the same old threads whingeing about "watermarks", "HD quality", "FTA implimentation in Australia", "poor reception in XXX area" and any number of topics that are considered "relevant" despite the fact that they've been around as long as the forum has - yet no-one wants to admit that it's just the same old tedious whining in a slightly different set of "Emperor's New Clothes"... What's so hard about using the "search" feature?... but oh no, "the new thread is about a slight variation to the old thread so it's totally different and deserves an all new thread". Bollocks...

In a world that's becoming more and more concerned with "image", "personal perception" and "self promotion", regardless of how shallow, fascile and totally self-serving that is - it's obvious that some individuals would see high post counts and elevated member status as something any sheep brained visitor to the forum will be suckered in by and therefore covetted. I guess both symbols of a false status would be something they'd hate to see taken from their grasp as a consequence...

What would happen to the Forum front page if you decide to disregard General and Miscellaneous post counts ?

Would we have to roll back our major milestone of 1,000,000 posts served ?

Would we get a repeat of the last time when individuals posts counts were nullified but the Forum still took the credit as in total posts made ?

And if not doesnt that then alter the entire Forums standing averages with Biggest Brother ...IPS Inc ?

~~~~~~~~~~

I still havent heard any real non elitist or non separatist reasons for going to such an extreme measure that could only be perceived as ....well......petty to say the least.

Talk of "clubs" and "my post is better than your post because I mentioned a flux capacitor " does little to encourage The Community....you cant have cliques or clubs within a Community.....it goes against all the principles of a Community.

Whether we like it or not .....OT is here to stay....and whether we like it or not I believe every post should count to the total of that Community...whether DTV related...or whether non DTV banter and subjects amongst what is essentially a Community of like minded and shared interest individuals.

I personally dont give a hoot ......but I speak for those to whom I know it does mean a lot to be treated as an equal and who may not have the technical skills or know how to ...or even maybe choose not to...talk about flux capacitors...but contribute in priceless other ways *

* ( Sort of like the look on anyones face who doesnt have The Spirit when they read this post )

Hear, hear mello!! Well 'said' or more correctly written!

Clubs... whoever thought that was a good analogy? Clubs are some of the most elitist and parochial organisations ever devised.

Isn't it strange how nearly every club that faces going down the gurgler, for whatever reason (but it's usually mismanagement by a select elitist few) reckon that they must be bailed out by the community... and mystically, social events regain the importance they used to have in making the club relevant to the community that used to support it, although these days club organised "social events" appear much less altruistic than they used to be and rather more designed to raise capital that'll pay off the debts of management committees that would prefer to keep their sins buried.

So what if posts don't count towards that little number under your name? Does it really mean the end of the world? Are we valuing ourselves based on that number?

If so I think we have bigger problems than the topic at hand.

I guess the up side of posts being excluded is that when a new member looks at someone's post count who is replying to them, it is indicative of their involvement with the actual board subjects. The down side is that probably everyone who has posted in this thread will lose posts.

I think it would be brilliant if in addition to the overall DTV ranking system (eg Senior Member etc) the was a secondary rank that made some witty reference to the sub forum you spend most of your time in and your post count in that area eg:

For someone like me who post mostly in the "Home Theater" sub forum there could be sub-titles like "Movie Nut" or "Addicted to LFE" and so on. For someone like mello who spends all his time in OT, there could be sub-titles like "Jokers 'R' Us" or "Comedian at Work". Someone in who spends all his time in the HDTV section could have "it's HD or it's Nothing!" etc.

Ok so im no comedian but I think that would be a fun way of showing others what you fav DTV forum is without sacrificing anyones post counts.

For someone like me who post mostly in the "Home Theater" sub forum there could be sub-titles like "Movie Nut" or "Addicted to LFE" and so on.

what about "Get a LFE"

Jokers Wild

what about "Get a LFE"

Jokers Wild

C'mon mello - isn't being a member of the DTV forum the "getting of LFE", which makes this all about being an even bigger "I" than before joining...

...and pity the poor bugger member who by some quirk of fate has posted equally as much in a number of forum topic areas.

Would they incur a witty comment like "dead" or "useless" simply because they haven't had the nouse to post more in one topic than the others?

what about "Get a LFE"

Jokers Wild

LOL

...and pity the poor bugger member who by some quirk of fate has posted equally as much in a number of forum topic areas.

Would they incur a witty comment like "dead" or "useless" simply because they haven't had the nouse to post more in one topic than the others?

They could alternate between having their post count higher in one forum or the other each day and have a different title depending on the day!

They could alternate between having their post count higher in one forum or the other each day and have a different title depending on the day!

Great! Spamming certain sub-forums because they like a particular description......

They could alternate between having their post count higher in one forum or the other each day and have a different title depending on the day!

Kinda like AC DTV members, compared to DC DTV members...

So... you mean that there'd be "alternaters" and "constant-naters"? Wouldn't that provide a situation where some members might (falsely or not) perceive one or the other group as being "special-aters", which would lead us all back around this circle of discussion yet again?

Great! Spamming certain sub-forums because they like a particular description......

I wonder whether nails ever get cheezed at having their heads hit so often...

Some members who have very early member joining dates don't necessarily have massive post counts. Does that make them less "knowledgeable" than a member who joined recently, but has a massive post count? Maybe; maybe not... Why not read what they have to say to find out?

I agree. Post count numbers have absolutely no correlation to knowledge.

All they indicate are people that have a gift for the gab.

Ooops!

could it be that now certain members are no longer able to continue their crusade in a certain area...................they now have something else to try & conquer

just thinking out loud

oh look a smiley.................that makes it better