Post Count and Joined Date removal

[jimmalenko]

Well, the powers that be have decided that the actions of a few have spolit it for the rest. Post Count and Joined Date are insignificant and are not a true reflection of a user's competence in any area of this site IMO. For those who took pride in these things, I am sorry.

For those who need to vent and want someone to blame, flame away.

[indolikaa]

This doesn't solve anything, Jim.


Yelling and screaming can be very effective, but it won't be here. We need to find a way to bring them back, not bitch about how they were taken away.

I'm not really concerned about post counts, but I think Join Date does count for something. I'd rather focus on keeping the Off-Topic forum viable; that's a much bigger loss than either of these will ever be.

[jimmalenko]

This doesn't solve anything, Jim.


Yelling and screaming can be very effective, but it won't be here. We need to find a way to bring them back, not bitch about how they were taken away.

I'm not really concerned about post counts, but I think Join Date does count for something. I'd rather focus on keeping the Off-Topic forum viable; that's a much bigger loss than either of these will ever be.

I think you missed the point, Indo.

It is me admitting I did wrong.

I don't have any good ideas for how or why these could or should be re-instated.

[VideoTechMan]

I just viewed and discovered what happened as far as the post counts went....I wouldnt mind seeing the 'Date Joined' again, but the post count doesnt matter to me at all. Besides, we're all human and all have something to contribute here, not based on a number and who's better than the other post-count wise and whether you have 10K posts or just 1. I think the removal of the post count was for the best, and a good decision and will eliminate competition among everyone here.

Gotta be more watchful next time to not anger the gods

VTM

[Capmaster]

That's so true Indo. I've been trying to do things to keep OT open since the whole closing issue came up. And I've been getting it from all quarters among the OT regulars.

One camp says anything goes ..leave us alone. Another camp says to get tougher ...it's almost there. Then we have a few that seem intent in sabotaging any attempt to keep the OT open. Then we have the fourth group that can't see past their beer glass long enough to identify what we're trying to do, so they're "taking their ball and leaving the game". It's like juggling pissed off cats (avatar notwithstanding ). To those who find it necessary to pitch a fit and leave, fine. We're better off without you

But, like I have said, and always will say, I don't whine and I'm not complaining. I'll do what I can and if it isn't enough, then it wasn't enough, and OT will close for good. We work with what we have and we deal with it. All we can do is give OT the best chance of staying open and if that isn't enough, then it wasn't meant to stay open. Only the members can keep it open. The mods can't do it alone without cooperation.

[Roundabout]

I think there is a good reason to have the join date, it reminds me of just how long I've been hanging around here, trying to help. It also gives newer ones an idea that if someone responds that has been here a while, they're more likely to get a serious answer from someone that has spent the time here. I can't really think of a good reason why the join date should have been removed, it's not the same as the post count.

Even my bank (BofA) puts how long I've been a customer on my checks (the preprinted ones that I buy from them) and y'know, it makes me more likely to stay with them because it tells people that I write a check to that I've had this account a while (actually since 1986) and the check is more likely than not to be good (not a guarantee, but reassuring for them). The same applies to my credit cards, and probably yours too. Most of them have a date of when you joined.

There's nothing wrong with having join date on the forum, but if someone was abusing the post count I can understand why it's been removed. I notice on other forums like SLYCK, they have changed it to say "1000+ posts" and it stops there. That's enough to let someone know you've been around a while without encouraging PW'ing (now a verb, soon to be included in the OED ).

My vote, if I had one, is to bring back the join dates and just change anyone with over 1000 posts to 1000+.

[gitreel]

As far as I am concerned, my post count could have been reset to zero, and I wouldn't have cared.

I think abolishing the post count is a wonderful idea.

[VideoTechMan]

I think there is a good reason to have the join date, it reminds me of just how long I've been hanging around here, trying to help. It also gives newer ones an idea that if someone responds that has been here a while, they're more likely to get a serious answer from someone that has spent the time here. I can't really think of a good reason why the join date should have been removed, it's not the same as the post count.


There's nothing wrong with having join date on the forum, but if someone was abusing the post count I can understand why it's been removed. I notice on other forums like SLYCK, they have changed it to say "1000+ posts" and it stops there. That's enough to let someone know you've been around a while without encouraging PW'ing (now a verb, soon to be included in the OED ).

My vote, if I had one, is to bring back the join dates and just change anyone with over 1000 posts to 1000+.

I agree Round. Ive been looking over some of the older posts that are now locked, and all I have been seeing is 'im gonna get xxxx posts by next week' and things like that. Its ridiculous .

A help forum is what its supposed to be: to help people with video problems and advice to get the best out of whatever equipment they have. I do concur that the idea of the date you have joined can help someone who is new, so when they ask a question someone who has experience and knowlegde can answer in the best way possible, and know that you can rely on them for a more correct or workable solution to whatever problems come up.

LordSmurf is one of those people, as with BJ_M and several others. Whenever I read other's post, I always ignore the post count because its irrelevant to what I want to read. People have to remember, we were all new at some point, even those who govern the site.

I know moderating is a hard, uneasy job. I used to manage a group at one time (MSN Groups) and when issues come up with members, you have a different perspective on how to handle it compared to those who just post on a regular basis. Its hard work and often unthankful.

I also respect Baldrick's decision and the mods who work hard to keep this place fun (and sane) to visit. I personally thank you.

VTM

[Guest]

This is ******* stupid.Why is everyone geting so anal? I'm gonna be lurking for awhile, but tappering off in my posts.This is getting to be un-fun. Why does the man care about post count brags in the OT when redwing,disgusting post go rampant? i think i will be chillin in the polotick OT should this forum go down.Peace out!!

[Roundabout]

VTM,

Thanks, and I also agree with what you said. I've noticed you also are here to try and help people out with their problems, and that's the only reason why I stick around. It makes me feel good if I'm able to help someone solve a problem, this is what a community is supposed to be about.

I've started topics a few times in OT, but mostly I've tried to stay away from anything that could be considered PW, and stayed out of flame wars.

Most of what I post is in regards to people's problem with Sony equipment, and from time to time, with routers and eMule, since this is something I can actually talk about with some small degree of knowledge.

The OT is a diversion, something to do when there's nothing too interesting in the other forums. I only made the suggestion about changing the post count to 1000+ to placate those to whom it matters, without allowing or encouraging them to go crazy, it just becomes a minor statistic at that point.

I think reason should carry the day, and I made a moderate suggestion that may or may not be noticed by the big B, and if not, so be it. It won't have any effect on whether I stay around or not, I stay because I enjoy the banter and reading the different topics and the replies. I'm not planning on leaving any time soon.

I like everyone here, I have no beef with anyone (even George, who jumped on me a while back over nothing) and I see it as just interesting interaction that more or less reflects the different personalities we see in real life every day.

[rallynavvie]

Actually I made use of the post count and join date in combination. If a person had a bizillion posts and hadn't been here very long I'd pass their posts off as BS PWing and not take them very seriously.

Personally I would like to see join date reinstated. I don't give a rat's ass about post count though. That would solve the problem regarding counting or not counting posts in certain forums as well. I feel my rants in a certain other forum here will keep mey reputation

[Roundabout]

Well, that's four votes so far in this thread for bringing back the join date. I have a feeling a lot of others feel the same way. The join date is useful.

If there's ever a poll on it, that has my vote.
Really no good reason for it to have been removed in the first place IMHO. It has nothing to do with being/not being a PW.

Not my decision, though.

[lordsmurf]

Having post count and join date made it easy to spot shill memberships (ala Naked Geek) and for us to know that somebody is brand new (just joined!) and needs a certain kind of help (or needs to be reminded of the rules).

Having it was valuable, in the video forum. In OT, not so much.

[Capmaster]

Post counts and join dates are still accessible using the profile button, should the need arise. It takes an extra mouse click, but I don't see that as a big issue.

[northcat_8]

Cap...I resent the "behind their beer" comment. My beer is in a can...not a glass But I am 6'2" or so, so I can see over top of it

Quite frankly I could careless about the post count and/or the topics of conversation...apparently I am one of the few members who can actually not click a topic I don't care to read or scroll past the ramblings of a member I don't particularly care to hear from

The post count was alright when it was just a by product of time spent here. But when some folks set about just trying to run their post count up through the ceiling and the focus was the post count rather than adding anything positive or negative to the conversation that is just a retarded. The least they could do would be to hijack the thread.

The join date was nice but not necessary, I have been here long enough that I scan posts and listen to people by avatar. As long as I have that to go by I'm happy.

I think the main problem is that the mods and Baldrick have tried to be too nice and too diplomatic about things and everyone should be damn happy about the patience that has been extended by the powers that be. And all should be very happy that Northcat was not extended a moderatorship...I can be an *******, and I have been told by more than one person, including family, that I am the most cold hearted son of a bitch they had ever met.

I say **** em cap. Lock them down, kick them out, ban them. If I am one of the offending members **** it, ban me too, I deserve it. If the powers that be, don't want to be the bad guy, make me a mod for a day, tell me who you all want banned, I'll do it, I have no problem with people hating me, that doesn't bother me in the slightest. I know you probably don't give a shit who likes you either so go for it, the only way to clean up a bar is to bust some heads until the other patrons fall in line or pay the price just like all the other slow learners.

[mastersmurfie]

IMO post count should make no difference whatsoever.

The date that a member joined is a different story.

I have been here for almost a year and a half, and I have 444 (now 445) posts.

I have done (what I think is) my share of posting in the OT forum, and for a while wanted to "up" my post count to be "up there" and considered a "Postwhore" (because I thought it might give me status here...)

The join date might serve to be a better status symbol than the number of posts, garning respect from "newbies" (which we all were at one time)

Post counts and join dates are still accessible using the profile button, should the need arise. It takes an extra mouse click, but I don't see that as a big issue.

Capmaster, while this is true, if "JoeBlow" (joined 9/1/2004) tells me to burn my DVD with TMPGEnc and "Roundabout" (joined 7/27/2003) says I need to use Nero to burn, which one would I tend to listen to?

mastersmurfie

[jimmalenko]

I thought the AUP backed the mods to stop any behaviour that is deemed to be detrimental to the forum with the introduction of the warning system. Why not just utilise this ? If someone is whoring, why not tell them to cut it out or they'll get a card or be banned ?

[Capmaster]

I know moderating is a hard, uneasy job. I used to manage a group at one time (MSN Groups) and when issues come up with members, you have a different perspective on how to handle it compared to those who just post on a regular basis. Its hard work and often unthankful.

I also respect Baldrick's decision and the mods who work hard to keep this place fun (and sane) to visit. I personally thank you.

VTM

I've gotta buy you a beer or two some day.

Thank you VTM

Northcat,
Good to know the "hitman" is available

[Ripper2860]

I don't care about POST Counts and frankly, Date Joined is no big deal to me either (although I think it can be useful).

Here's my issue ...

This used to be a Blue Jeans, and Leather Jacket kinda place and frankly now it's a Dockers and Button-down. I don't like "Business Casual" and I don't come here to have discussions with my associates -- I come here to hang-out and have fun with friends.

The atmosphere of this place is dramaticaly different. It's evolving from a hang out, have a beer and shoot the shit, fun spot to a casual meeting while we have a quick cup of coffee place. It's become a friggin Cyber Starbucks, for God's sake. It's now the office watercooler.

I guess Baldricks trash was my treasure and what it is becoming is less and less like a place I want to be. I know some of you will say "Well, ****-off then" and to you I would say -- maybe I will. Yet I continue to check-in hoping that somewhere in the near future, the OT will once again swing back a little towards the fun and devil-may-care place that this place once was. Sure it's still fun -- in a go over to the bosses house for a cook-out kinda way

Hey -- it's not my website and it's not my forum. Maybe it will be viewed as complaining, but I see it as communicating. I am sure I am not the only one feeling this way. I am greatful to Baldrick and the Mods for the time and effort put into providing a place that has been an infinite source of knowledge as well as an inifinite source of fun and friends.

I know it's nothing personal -- just business!

[gitreel]

The way to weed out the complaints is obviously to charge.

If it was reasonable, I would pay.

[Faustus]

I really have a had time seeing the changes as tha drastic to the overall OT section. The changes made were to put a stop to trends of the recent past (meaning last 6 months or so) or to keep the forum from being trashed up to to point of becoming unreadable and unapprochable.

Swing back? Not even needed. Once the complaint generated over the past few week die down I hope everyone will realize that OT never has really gone away, its path was diverted away from chaos.

But hey if you really enjoy talking in code and about porn and stuff I think that describes about 90% of the forums on the net so not all is lost. But I always kinda viewed VCDDVDVIDEOhelp as better then that.

Heck I could point to the best porn related forum right now.... except for the fact that its invite only.

[Ripper2860]

I agree that there are some things that needed to get sorted out. The code stuff sucked. The Post Count race sucked. No porn is needed.

I just hope that we do not go too far to one extreme. Where everyone is forced to conform and we end-up with homogenous post which are precise and to the point and sickly polite. You know -- like Yoda's.

------------------------------------

Best Porn -- invite only, huh. Well where the hell is my invite ???

[Capmaster]

I agree that there are some things that needed to get sorted out. The code stuff sucked. The Post Count race sucked. No porn is needed.

I just hope that we do not go to far to one extreme. Where everyone is forced to conform and we end-up with homogenous post which are precise and to the point and scikly polite. You know -- like Yoda's.

------------------------------------

Best Porn -- invite ony, huh. Well where the hell is my invite ???

I don't think that's going to happen Ripper. We're not trying to convert OT into a button-down sewing circle. I don't think anyone wants that ...really. I wouldn't BS you about that.

We can have a casual place without some of the insane stuff we've seen. We can keep the spirit of Off Topic without going to either extreme. And the ones that can't, like Flaystus said, have a wealth of sites out there to choose from ...that don't even have "legitimate" On-Topic sections to distract someone. They can go nuts there, and nobody will stop them. But I wouldn't want to hang at some of those sites, personally