I wouldn't mind seeing some reasoning behind Digitalj's comment. Ultimately, if in 12 months someone goes hey post counts shouldn't be counted, then I can point them at this thread and that was the collective decision.

Why does +1 cause someone to have more fun in a subforum? Why would +0 make that person be active any less - isn't the point of your fun to post in those threads, or is the point of the fun adding to a post count?

If its the latter, does that not relate to post counts being used in the wrong vein and thus we should change "Posts" to "Contributions" or something non-hierarchical?

If its the latter, does that not relate to post counts being used in the wrong vein and thus we should change "Posts" to "Contributions" or something non-hierarchical?

Or just get rid of posts counts all together

I quite like the method used on www.ls1.com.au

There is a post count behind the scenes, but all is displayed is "Rarely Contributes to the Forum", "Occasional Contributor to the Forums", "Forum Contributor", "Fair Contributor to the Forums", "Substantial Contributor to the Forum" and then some special tags for the "gurus".

And not only does it only count posts in the technical sub forums (ie not the OT sub forums) but it is based on a rolling average of posts per some undefined period of time ... so if you stop posting for a year then your "rank" starts to slide.

edit: they changed the labels since last time I visited

I wouldn't mind seeing some reasoning behind Digitalj's comment. Ultimately, if in 12 months someone goes hey post counts shouldn't be counted, then I can point them at this thread and that was the collective decision.

Why does +1 cause someone to have more fun in a subforum? Why would +0 make that person be active any less - isn't the point of your fun to post in those threads, or is the point of the fun adding to a post count?

If its the latter, does that not relate to post counts being used in the wrong vein and thus we should change "Posts" to "Contributions" or something non-hierarchical?

Why indeed...

I don't think there is any logic or reasoning behind dig's comment. It is, because to many people, it just is.

I think it's a bit misguided, I suspect you do, and plenty of others do too. But what harm is it doing in the meantime to count OT posts? Has anyone actually posted in this thread a reasonable argument that it detracts from the overall success or appeal of this forum? It begs the question: what prompted this poll in the first place?

The crux of dig's argument, is that not counting OT posts could make this forum less successful and appealing, because for those number crunchers that do draw satisfaction from the post count, it is an incentive to hang around in OT waiting for the next technical discussion.

Aaahhhh...

Do you reckon you can get the lid back on before all the worms get out?

What about the introduction of a "is this post helpful" system. So if someone posts a contribution, people could click yes or no (which would also eliminate the need for +1's and posts doing nothing but agreeing). It could be policed behind the scenes in that if an individual poster marks x number of posts by another poster as "no" (or "yes") within certain time frames, it raises a flag for the mod to check the posts and either take action against the poster or the person abusing the system.

Why indeed...

I don't think there is any logic or reasoning behind dig's comment. It is, because to many people, it just is.

I think it's a bit misguided, I suspect you do, and plenty of others do too. But what harm is it doing in the meantime to count OT posts? Has anyone actually posted in this thread a reasonable argument that it detracts from the overall success or appeal of this forum? It begs the question: what prompted this poll in the first place?

The crux of dig's argument, is that not counting OT posts could make this forum less successful and appealing, because for those number crunchers that do draw satisfaction from the post count, it is an incentive to hang around in OT waiting for the next technical discussion.

Aaahhhh...

Do you reckon you can get the lid back on before all the worms get out?

I trully also do not understand this reasoning behind this drive to not count OT posts ?

I'm personally at the point where I couldnt give a rats whether my own posts count here there or anywhere.

I hardly post in the OT section anyways, but do come here and value the posts of the people who hang out here. it makes the forum the place it is.

I do think that their posts count.

as said by MM I really do wonder too, what harm is it actually doing to count OT posts?

Do we dare bring the rating system back, if it provides a "is this person helpful" viewpoint.

Provided naturally you lot don't abuse it like last time

The Off-topic - General & Miscellaneous also isn't just used for having fun, e.g.

Lets say I want to get a laptop and want to ask other people's opinion's.

Am I going to go to another forum that I either don't visit regularly or find another forum that focus's on laptops and get their opinion's, or am I going to ask here in the General & Miscellaneous - Off-topic forum?

I think I'm more likely to ask here so that I get responses from people I know I can trust, and in this case I think the posts by those who help should be counted.

Then you would have to try and differentiate between threads that are there to help members and threads that are just for fun.

Should the +0 post count thing go ahead, I think OT should be further split so that you have 1 forum that's for getting help with other things not covered in other forums and another forum that's for general chat.

Do we dare bring the rating system back, if it provides a "is this person helpful" viewpoint.

Provided naturally you lot don't abuse it like last time

Why not a "are you being helpful" viewpoint - so the judgement isn't about someone else... that might dissuade the sorts of abuses that are inherent in any system that allows anonymous judgement of forum members very few of us have ever actually met face to face!

Do we dare bring the rating system back, if it provides a "is this person helpful" viewpoint.

Provided naturally you lot don't abuse it like last time

I've been around since 2003 and dont ever recall a rating system here?? I guess it must have been short-lived then?

I personally think the OT brings a great deal of character to the forums, and you can visit almost any thread in any section from time to time and find rubbish in them as well as OT so where does that leave us?

Post counts should reflect contributions by area as this can be a useful tool to those seeking advice at times, but then what would I know this is my first post!

I've been around since 2003 and dont ever recall a rating system here?? I guess it must have been short-lived then?

It came with V2 of the board. Unfortunately, some folk decided to up the rating on their "mates" which naturally didn't look great.

It came with V2 of the board. Unfortunately, some folk decided to up the rating on their "mates" which naturally didn't look great.

Ah ok, not ideal at all!

It came with V2 of the board. Unfortunately, some folk decided to up the rating on their "mates" which naturally didn't look great.

That certainly wouldn't be a good situation.

Lets say I want to get a laptop and want to ask other people's opinion's.

Am I going to go to another forum that I either don't visit regularly or find another forum that focus's on laptops and get their opinion's

Yes.

Look up top - DTV Forum Australia's leading Digital TV and AV Forum

I guess the question comes down to "what does this forum want itself to be?"

I use to rage against the fact that whirlpool closed down it's OT forum, but I think I better understand now why they did.

Unfortunately, some folk decided to up the rating on their "mates" which naturally didn't look great.

I thought the problem was more along the lines of people getting their knickers in a twist because their rating were marked down.

It came with V2 of the board. Unfortunately, some folk decided to up the rating on their "mates" which naturally didn't look great.

But with as many members as we have, surely you would have to have a lot of mates to truly rort the system

I think a system whereby useful posts are acknowledged and that feeds into a rating would work better. Of course I also recognize you can only work with the tools you have. Maybe you could exclude ratings from people who are on each others friends lists Of course the chances people are friends are because they post well.

Or was the system abused by dummy accounts being used to inflate ratings?

I thought the problem was more along the lines of people getting their knickers in a twist because their rating were marked down.

Actually this got me thinking.

If anyone wants to see why the anonymous rating system is such a bad idea, read this thread from this point onwards.

OT, what a wonderful place to be.

IMO the merit of posts in OT contributing to post count is that it acknowledges the contribution of that post. Why should any contribution in any section of the DTVforum not be acknowledged?

So much freedom, openness and warmth in OT make it a place to want to hang out at times. OT has all these by virtue of the contributions of members posts. Acknowledgement of that contribution seems necessary, even if contributors don’t need the post count, at least it is acknowledgement.

Many facets in this poll question to be considered. I only wish I had the answers.

Truly this is a great forum, made so by so many over many years, so perhaps things might be better left as they are until the time comes when it is obvious to most members that some action should be taken.

So much freedom, openness and warmth in OT make it a place to want to hang out at times.

Like that displayed in the link above your post?

After reading the link I now see what Caniffe meant by abusing the system

I think I better go back to my original position on this thread.

I'll leave this this up to the Dragon to decide (as if I had a say anyway ). Most of the comments in this thread speak volumes.

See you all in other threads - with or without "prestige" attached to the post.

After reading the link I now see what Caniffe meant by abusing the system

I think I better go back to my original position on this thread.

I'll leave this this up to the Dragon to decide (as if I had a say anyway ). Most of the comments in this thread speak volumes.

See you all in other threads - with or without "prestige" attached to the post.

Yep I agree with mo here and after reading the link I can see why the rating system sucks.

Like that displayed in the link above your post?

Sorry momaw I've blurted out too much in the past on my feelings on this.

Yes nice try......but this is about post counts.....not rating systems

One at a time please

So much freedom, openness and warmth in OT make it a place to want to hang out at times. OT has all these by virtue of the contributions of members posts. Acknowledgement of that contribution seems necessary, even if contributors don’t need the post count, at least it is acknowledgement.

Like that displayed in the link above your post?

Yes momaw exactly like the link above Aquas post

I for one am proud to have been involved in that banter with members that I have felt commraderie with before that point..during that point and now even way after that point..

We were online buddies then ..and we have developed to be friends in the true sense of the word.

Every single person in those few pages still talk to eachother and in some cases have met eachother or are about to afford that ultimate respect towards eachother

You see momaw that was all motivated because it was perceived to have been done in spite...nasty word that spite..and we all know what perceptions of spite can lead to.....

Its got nothing to do with the ease with which the star rating system may have been manipulated or abused...it was how the star rating system was being used as another weapon of spite.

You see momaw.....as intense as things got in those few hours......

we never dobbed on eachother.....we never held grudges.....we were mates in some cases falling out...but soon got over it and got on with it.....and today... every single person in that link...are STILL mates

That!!!!!........is what the General and Miscellanous Off Topic is all about

if you think its just a place to crack fart jokes..maybe its not for you...maybe there are other websites

btw......I justed voted NO

You want to know what it really is ?

Its not the post counts that everyone is scrambling for

Its the T-Shirts