I was thinking even just hiding it from where the Join date/postcount/contact info is displayed with every post. But still allowing the system to track it. (But I'm not familiar with the system that may be too much or more work, and I'd like to keep the amount of "work" associated to a Minimum)

For me it seems to be that after 10k is when post cout became truly irrelavent (no more watching it for all the zeros like you do with the odometer). IMO (but it effects even more people) the gear system is more than enough, and after reaching that 1,101 is plenty of posts were there is little doubt you area regular, even though some take extended breaks.

Chis, my reasoning is this; some of the posts about post counts come across as basically flaming, however instead of engaging discussions about it or having to make the choice to report the post (there are a few unquoted I easily could have) my thought was simply to remove the source fo the problem. And those that know us out side of NAM know that many of us lead busy lives, and hangout on NAM while we're on the commputer, for fun and sharing of the community.

 

Drew, I do understand where you're coming but look at the numbers.

Copied from the NAM home page;
Members: 32,625
Threads: 89,621
Posts: 1,395,241

How many have complained about post counts out of that many members? Having Mark spend his resources over a NUMBER still isn't going to change how people interact with others.

 

So, delete the posts and warn the members.
Post counts (and the display thereof) are not the source of the problem. The source of the problem is members who are petty, insecure, jealous, and resentful. Take away the post counts, and they'll find something else trivial to latch onto and be divisive about.

 

Good suggestion but I would go one step further and still up the threshold numbers for each gear to reflect the age of the board.

If you did that, I "think" suddenly you would see an entire different view of post counts and people. For example, some ppl who rarely post in OT might suddenly find themselve in a much higher gear than the OT posters.

I disagree simply because those numbers do not reflect reality.

While the home page does say 32,625 members, do a pull on all members and it comes up with 30361.

Now do a pull on all members who have never posted a single thing ... and many of them are from 2002/2003. Guess how many?

15400 Zero posters. That means one half of all registered people have not spoken a single word.

Now look at all poster who posted less than 10 posts and that number is 23600.

Whoa, now there is really 6761 people who have invested some thoughts into posting and the threshold for 1st gear. Second gear starts at 51 post so do a pull of 50 or less and you get 3168 users.

I think that 3168 number is far more realistic of the number of real users.

As of this minute, there are 272 members on and 843 guests, a 3:1 ratio. Interesting.

I would suggest combining was Edge said (eliminating the OT post counts) and raising the thresholds for each gear.

 

+1 & +1

I would like to say that I want my post count to stay visible & be true. One day I might achieve a mondo post count & I want it visible. I hope people realize that hiding post count is a double edged sword because if someone asks a really basic, "duh" type of question & their post count is low most people around here tend to take the time to answer them in a helpful manner but if the same newb question is asked again & again & we have no way to know the person is a newb the answers will be a bit more.... well... UGH, come on you should have know that & not so helpful

 

Would it be possible to have like the birthday option, where it could be set in the user CP to be displayed or hidden?

 

Just a note on this - if you hit that board (i.e. hit any forum page/post) and aren't logged in, then you're viewed as a guest. The 'guests' variable is incremented. Once you logged in, the 'Members' variable is incremented and the 'Guests' is NOT incremented. I believe that after 5 minutes of inactivity (or another value, possibly set in the admin of the forums) it then decrements the 'Guests' variable.

Hoiwever, even then, the numbers aren't that much different.. assuming all the guests logged on (highly unlikely) within the last 5 minutes, you're still looking at a 1:571 ratio.

But, I digress.

Cheers!
Me.

 

Informative information and thanks for taking the time to look it up. So we have a extremely smaller number of real time users, but the fact remains it's still less than a handful who have complained about the post count. Is this worth the resources that Mark needs to spend to make the changes worth it?

Personally, number counts mean nothing to me, what's being written is, regardless of what level they're at.

 

I was recently guilty of having something to say about post counts in the "Black out fans rejoice" thread. Someone who had a post count of 1 had something very negative to say, and I came down on them about it defensively, suggesting it was a bad way to start on NAM. I've always loved the Mini community for it's helpfulness and fun nature, and I just snapped at all the negativity coming my way. I guess I just need thicker skin sometimes.
In response to my criticism, this individual responded in kind that I haven't posted much for someone that's been on here since June of 2003 (MCO days!), to which I basically responded that I'm someone that only posts when I feel I have something positive to offer to the general community.

Anyhow, it may help anyone reading to see a specific example of the post count issue directly. Just bear in mind my issue was not anyone's post count, but the negativity. I'd like to think I'm not that petty.

 

At this point I got 9 err..... 10.

Wish I could touch type.

 

+1

 

+1

 

Heh, heh, heh

 

Being a new member and posting a lot just shows that I spend too much time on here. note to self - get a life

After 6th gear the post count becomes redundant IMHO. It simply ceases to matter, though I still like to be able to see it. Moving the gear thresholds would make it worse for those who have an issue with post counts as human nature dictates that people will try and attain targets in the majority of cases.

I suppose the alternative would be to implement some form of points system where less points are gained for use of OT topics and 1st Gear than for the more serious subjects. This however, would still have the same issue and is likley to result in a raft of spurious posts in serious threads that would cause more issues than a mere post count thing as those who post in these threads would most likely not be best pleased.

OT could of course be removed which may solve the problem, however this would reduce the appeal of NAM to some (me included) and may well result in a detrimental effect on the usage of the board. Fun is part of the MINI experience and I personally find OT fun and funny.

I don't post in 1st gen as I don't have one and never have, I don't race or enter competitions and as I am in the UK the vendor areas are of limited interest as I can't get the products anyway. So should OT be removed the non US based members will disappear too I think, thus reducing the diversity that makes NAM what it is.

Some people will always decide to get into a bun fight on a forum such as this, the only way to stop it is to remove the ability to do so, in which case there is no point.

Cheers
Scott

 

Someone needs a hobbie


j/k


i know when i had a desk job i was on NAM all day at work. now that i work out side im only on every once in awhile.

 

Truth should never be hidden.

The biggest problem of only showing gears is that post count is a bit like ebay feedback. It is a credibility factor, and especially in the marketplace forums where sometimes people will just sign up to sell a car or something it is important to know whether you are dealing with an established, respected member of the community or some clown at a used car lot pushing a flood car on the forums. true, real post counts are very important and should not be secret under ANY circumstances

 

I try to offer quality information to other NAM members and use my post costs as a barometer to measure the count of the times I have offered assistance. Although i'm sure a good portion of my posts are in the Off-Topic area

 

I hit 8k posts, it's just a personal goal of mine to help others and the post count just grows during my pursuit.

 

you are soo correct

 

I just wanted to say that I have considered this issue from all points of view and firmly believe that I have just upped my post count.

 

I feel like I'm sick People judge me by the size of my post Count...

 

It's not the size of your post count number it's how well you use it (them).

Wait till you hear the complaints if you change the threshold on the number of posts for 'gear levels' and force 'down shifts'.

 

I'm no veteran, but I'd like to offer my 2 cents.

Personallt, I like the idea of raising the gear requirement. Making 6th gear 10k sounds good to me.

I also like the idea of excluding OT posts in the post count. Chowsie makes a very good point - most responses are 5 words or less. "How many posts" is like an Instant messaging chat room. I like the idea of not including OT posts, but I don't know how others would react to it.....

Thirdly, like everyone has already said, its quality not quantity. When I first joined, many of my posts were only a few sentances long. At the time I didn't realize what I was doing. Now, I pay attention to my posts, making sure that people can benefit from the replies.

I'm done now, but I'm in for a change to the post count.

 

ok well even minus OT I'm still looking at well over 6k posts, many carrying multiple paragraphs. Hmmmm maybe I would have been better going over to OT and just ranting about those who feel the need to make post count "something"

 

Hey

Just noticed my post count doesn't change after a new post. How about that.

Charles :-)

I was wrong - it did change???