All,

I am seriously considering setting up General so that posts will not increment a members post count. Before doing this I would like to see what everyone thinks. Are you for or against this? I am interested in hearing reasons on either side. Thanks.

--jeremy

I am for this in fact which I stated in another poll that a member has started.

I don't think making it retro-active is necessary but if put in place, it would start the day you put this rule in place.

I think it would cut down on the totally nosense type threads and it would not confuse the members who do look at a members post count to determine how knowledgeable they are, etc. I can truly say if we have post counts, it should only be counted on behalf if they contributed to an actual constructive post or thread. Not that there aren't any constructive threads in General but I can't see many arguing that most here are just silly most of the time.

My two cents..

-trickykid

I am for this. With threads around that cover such diverse non-Linux and non-help oriented topics as Koalas, I don't see that these should be counted on one's post-couter. I see General as a place to get to know the other members better, and to discuss random rubbish, and as such shouldn't count. Did that make sense? It's too early here: 02:30am.

Yeah, me too... gotta weigh in on the side of no-karma-for-chatter. In order to not disenfranchise thousands of the contributing community I would really like to see there be a start date on it though. There are plenty of users that bash away at XFree problems and kernel compiles and Snort rulesets that would be more then a little miffed to see their post count drop.

Cheers,

Finegan

I would think that it is unfortunate that this would need to be considered, but if you feel it is appropriate - go for it.

Yep - I'm happy for this to be implemented (even retro-actively) - hopefully improve the quality of some of the threads in General - recently, some of them have took a nose dive......... the sooner the better

I don't really see the point in a post count at all. It doesn't matter to me if a person answering my question has 20,000 posts or 20 as long as their post is helpful.
IMHO, you could just do away with the post count altogether(or just put it in the user's profile).

Jeremy this topic has already been posted you should have added to that one the search thing works Will the mod please have the threads merged..(just kiding)

I thing that postes in general shouldn't count I'm willing to give up 108 of my posts.
It looks like I started some changes with my thread. (that must make it my most useful thread)

sounds reasonable

When will this start?

I have an even better idea, in my opinion: Eliminate the display of post count completely and replace it with a voting system. If a forum participant has found someone's advise to be particularly insightful and useful, they can vote for the person's competence. Of course, if the person gives a canned response that is technically incorrect, not applicable to the mentioned situation, or not well thought in general, the participant can vote against the person's competence.

I know this will probably take some coding, but I think this is the solution everyone's really been searching for.

Not displaying the post count is a possibility. A karma/voting system is just too open to abuse and is as apt to feed a troll as it is to stop him.

--jeremy

I don't think the post count or titles should be displayed, except possibly in a user's profile. They're essentially meaninless and seem to be abused. The only titles displayed should be, IMHO, moderator, contributor, and root. Nothing else really means anything, and if people are really posting to increase their post count, then they will no longer have a reason to post meaningless drivel.

Duh...
I'm the guy that first suggested it.
And "General" makes up for ±67% of my posts.....
Swing that axe , Jeremy!

Do it, jeremy.