Post Count: Goodbye!!!

[Luke]

Well, it doesn't have to be an image. I would just prefer "Gender: Male" or "Gender: Female" in text. Having an image would use more bandwith, but just having text would not use as much, right?

If it's a tiny image (and it is, from what I've seen), than it's practically negligible.

Nice outline of the new currency, Escapay. Hopefully now Pixar Fan can "keep track."

[ichabod]

OK seriously Luke, Escapay's banana scheme must by employed forthwith poste haste!

[Jules]

Luke, I think that little pic of our country of origin, that you proposed, would make a highly original and interesting alternative for the post count. Granted...it's not that useful, but it's interesting. I'm all for it.

PS: If you do go for it, make sure you have pics for every country, even for insignificant ones like mine.

[JamesDFarrow]

I like the "Flags" idea as well. It's interesting to see people from all over the world represented.

As for indicating one's gender that may not be such a good idea. Many people, especially parents, won't want their children, especially girls, advertising who they are on-line.

Some parents may not allow their children to visit anymore if they have to declare that info to the public.

Just my 2 cents.

James

[Loomis]

Because I only manage to post sporadically these days, my post count has ceased to be of any importance to me (although I was somewhere between 5000 and 6000 at the Time of Removal).

Another forum I visit (MiceChat) has an additional feature called 'Reputation', which I think encourages a better quality of post as well. Users can 'reward' another user by adding to their reputation is they like a certain post, or find it amusing or a worthwhile contribution to the community. On the flip side, users can also give negative reputation if they feel a post is detrimental to the community or simply stirring the pot of nastiness.

Perhaps it wouldn't be practical, but it is one of the nicer elements of the site.

Also, Gamespot has a "levels" system that goes up according to your usage. Users are encouraged to look beyond the forum, and their levels go up according to their other contributions (in their case, reviews; blogs; watching videos; joining guilds and reading reviews and so on).

At any rate, these are merely ideas I have seen in other places, illustrating that a system based on something other than post counts leads to a much more "community" oriented feel. While I don't care about the post counts either way, I think this will be a positive development in the UD community.

[myr_heille]

Famfamfam's flag icons could be fun for the flag idea! The icons are small and pretty, and, well, already made

Just a question about the post count: how will a new user know when he's allowed to have an icon? Will Escapay's banana count be used there too?

[Loomis]

Also noticed, that if you are dead keen to see your post count you can visit the Memberlist button above.

[JamesDFarrow]

Just to play devil's advocate I was also on a forum (spawn.com) that had the "reputation" thing but it didn't work at all. Certain groups (clics) would get together and just run each other's "Rep" up. So many people had millions and millions of points (represented by Hearts) that it no longer had any validity.

I don't see why we need points, post counts, whatever. If those are more important to people than just participating in threads for the love of Disney, etc... then they are here for the wrong reason.

Just another 2 cents.

James

[Ktrek]

I agree that it is better not having the post totals showing. However, I do think that new members no matter how many posts they have should be allowed to use an avatar. If someone like me comes along, who runs his own board, and has a lot of experience on message boards, I think they should be allowed an avatar without climbing to 50 posts. I mean what does it really matter? Is it costing bandwidth or something? Can't be that much. I host mine offsite so it costs the board nothing. Just my opinion of course.

Kevin

[AwallaceUNC]

As the member who had the most post counts (other than Luke), let me say that losing the count is fine with me. In a perfect world, people wouldn't become obsessed with them, but they do. Ultimately, they don't matter, so why keep them around if they cause problems? People who are truly offended by their absence might want to ask themselves why.

However, I do think that new members no matter how many posts they have should be allowed to use an avatar. If someone like me comes along, who runs his own board, and has a lot of experience on message boards, I think they should be allowed an avatar without climbing to 50 posts. I mean what does it really matter? Is it costing bandwidth or something? Can't be that much. I host mine offsite so it costs the board nothing. Just my opinion of course.

This site attracts a tremendous amount of traffic, so yes, bandwidth is an issue. Unfortunately, we can't arbitrarily make distinctions between each new sign-up as to who has had enough message board experience to be granted an avatar before 50 posts.

EDIT: Julian Carter - VERY cool avatar!

-Aaron

[Ktrek]

Unfortunately, we can't arbitrarily make distinctions between each new sign-up as to who has had enough message board experience to be granted an avatar before 50 posts.

-Aaron

Excuse me Aaron but this seems like a silly response. I run a message board and we get members joining regularly but the only ones who ever use avatars are people who have experience on message boards. Those who have not, do not even know what one is, let alone how, or where to put it. So, in other words, if a person can actually figure out how to get an avatar it's quite obvious he knows what he is doing and knows his way around message boards. I just think it's an unnecessary rule and rather than encourage posting could have just the opposite effect. And I say that will all due respect.

Kevin

[Escapay]

In the past, we've had new members simply do 50 fluff posts, get an avatar, and never return. We've had to ban a few who openly said, "Once I get my avatar, I'm out of here". It's a waste of bandwidth, a waste of posts, and a waste of anyone's time if they come here simply to get an avatar and not bother doing anything else.

Avatars are privileges, not rights, and Luke decided that after 50 meaningful posts (hard to really distinguish, but many newbies know of this rule once they realize they can't get an avatar after post #1), a "reward" is the allowance of an avatar.

Several times other members have suggested raising the post count (to 100, 150, even 1000), but a high post-count to get an avatar would give more incentive to fluff posts for an avatar, and would hardly bring about worthwhile discussions.

UD attracts a slightly younger clientele than a classic Hollywood messageboard, and most often, we'll see a thread in Feedback Forum asking how to get an avatar, usually from a young newbie, and Luke or someone else always has to remind them to read the Forum FAQ and understand the rules about posting.

Escapay

[Ktrek]

But I guess I am of the opinion Escapay that if avatars are allowed from day one then fluff posts will not be an issue because then a newbie does not have to post so hard to get one. I not only run a message board but have moderated on several board and am a member on many others and this is the first time I have ever seen rewarding done with avatars. On my board you can get rid of the stupid Google ads by having over 500 posts or by donating $5.00. That is the only rewards we have. I would actually prefer that every member have an avatar because it is so much easier to identify a poster by his avatar than it is looking at his handle. Again, just my opinion.

Kevin

[AwallaceUNC]

But I guess I am of the opinion Escapay that if avatars are allowed from day one then fluff posts will not be an issue

But bandwidth still would be... we used to have the that system but have found that this one works better.

I not only run a message board but have moderated on several board and am a member on many other

I undestand that you have a lot of experience and I'm actually happy to welcome someone with some MB know-how to the site, but please also understand that Luke has a lot of experience in that department too. UD has been around for many years and is a very popular website. As has been said before, what works for one website doesn't always work for another. I think maybe if you could take some time to get to know our little community here better, you might understand the reasoning behind our decisions. At the very least, if you could wait a little while before critiquing so many of our policies, it would ease tensions with what looks to be a promising new member.

-Aaron

[Ktrek]

At the very least, if you could wait a little while before critiquing so many of our policies, it would ease tensions with what looks to be a promising new member.

-Aaron

Aaron,

I certainly don't mean in any way to cause tension but if I'm not mistaken this is called the "Feedback" forum and I was just providing my feedback and nothing more intended. Now if you perceived my posts as hostile or threatening I apologize because that was not my intention. I have always tried to be open to suggestions or criticism and I guess I just take it for granted that others are too. Sorry!

Kevin

[Big Disney Fan]

Why were the post counts deleted anyway?

[Atlantica]

Have our number of posts statement under our avatar gone? Or is that just me being stupid?? Im not bothered, just wondered why the change! Thanks to anyone who answers xxxxxxx

[NarniaDis]

Why were the post counts deleted anyway?

Simply because they arent nessisary

[JamesDFarrow]

See here:

http://www.ultimatedisney.com/forum/vie ... hp?t=17780

James

[castleinthesky]

But I guess I am of the opinion Escapay that if avatars are allowed from day one then fluff posts will not be an issue

That may be on reason for the fluffy posts, but there are certainly more reasons. Certain posters with over fifty posts, use fluffy posts to up their post count. They want to have more posts than most other members and become more "revered". These members sometimes post short, irreverent, and sometimes unecessary topics and posts, just to raise post counts. These arn't the "fun" topics like "What did you eat yesterday", but other topics that are disguised. They also sometimes post multiple times in a row, to up their post count. I hope without post count, certain members will settle down.