post counts

[Dobber]

The post-counter should indicate wether a user is able to give senseful answers or if he is just guessing. This functions is disturbed by the posts in the Webmaster's Inn.

But that is not my opinion. I think the postcounter should be removed completely.

Angryminer

This is one of the lamest statements I have ever read!

The post counter in no way could ever indicate the quality of advice being given. Even if the post counter was a true representation of a person's activity in the help forums!
I have seen forums that had no off-topic sections at all and all the members were active in helping people with the game. For example Member "A" has 723 posts and Member "B" has 351 posts. Member "A" doesn't really know very much about the game, but has posted on every thread on the board 2 or 3 times giving marginal advice(most of which is not beneficial at all). Member "B" is very knowledgeable of the game and gives useful advice that requires no further explanation.
Now in this case who gives the sensible advice, high count or low count? And keep in mind that there has been no spammong in an off-topic board.

Post counts never indicate who is capable of giving sensible answers. And in this day and time, I do not think people even take the counts into consideration when determining if advice is good or not.

[Moryarity]

I agree with that...when I asled my first question, I opened a thread and hoped, that someone would aswer...and then I did, what was suggested as as a solution and it helped....I guess every player can decide very fast, which one gives good advises and which one only give general answers, not really usefull....I guess few look on the post count, when general problems are concerned...but if you want to solve a probleme by a PM, I would also look, who gave me good advise till now and how many post does that person have...just to decide, whom I should send a PM I would took both charakteristics into consideration, so post counts are not useless..

[RoadRunner]

I don't understand the problem you have with disabling the post cont for off topics. This board is about games, and off-topic is an additional service. So, I think it is fair if the posts in the off topic section are not counted - just because they are off topic.

Also, I do not think that Angryminer's argument (number of posts as an indicator of the reliability of a poster) is "lame". In most (not in all) cases, the post count can be a good indicator - and I see no other possibilty to create another indicator (I know that some boards allow a rating of a post or poster, but that is often falsified by others who give poor ratings just because they do not like someone).

BTW this is not the only board where off topics posts are not counted... :wink:

[Webmaster]

i made the decision ... and yes it degrades the offtopic board a bit to an offtopic board.

but nobody is kicked out ... by deactivating the award of a rising post count within the offtopic section. the people posting here are doing this because they enjoy being here and like posting here.

and the post count isn't really a big deal ... sometimes there must be decisions made for sake of the many

[RoadRunner]

I am not sure if you know the fate of offtopics in other Sunflower boards, Elvain. There were offtopic sections in the old Anno 1602 and TechnoMage boards, and they were closed due to the work involved for monitoring these sections (at least that was the official statement). There was an offtopic section at the Anno 1503 board, and it was closed for the same reason, if I am not mistaken. AFAIK (I am not active at the Anno 1503 board) the post counter was resetted to zero at least once due to spamming at the board. So, post counting is an issue - and that is also visible from the reaction here.

Personally, I do not care how many posts someone has or how many I have. After some time, you can imagine how he or she got them. :wink: But for some members, the post number is very essential, and in some cases (not only at this board), I have the impression that certain posts were only made to push up the posting number... I feel much more comfortable if I know that my offtopic posts do not count, as I do not have to ask me everytime if an offtopic post is really necessary or not.

And now, remember the topic about integrating the upcoming Paraworld board here: If that becomes reality, there would be much more members here, and a lot of more offtopics which have to be monitored and moderated. Sunflowers cannot afford several persons who check this board permanently every day - that would cost extra money. In case there would be another board for Paraworld, the situation for us would be even worse: All efforts will be laid to the new board, and the offtopic section here would probably be closed. You see what I mean? I prefer an offtopic section with no post counting - that is much better than no offtopic at all. :wink:

[RoadRunner]

Can you only have fun if the post counter gets up? :wink:

[Webmaster]

@elvain
will you accept the majorities wish of your vote?
i will do it!

how long is the poll open?

[Frieden]

... I have also heard that after this many very nice people left Anno 1503 forums. I think I can believe to the one who told me that.
...


This (http://www.anno1503.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?forumid=20) is the off-topic section oft the 1503 board.

It doesn't seem to be emty to me :wink:

And, for examle this thread (http://www.anno1503.com/forum/showthread.php?postid=481299#post481299) contains 1980 sides today :eek: :eek:

[Webmaster]

we led the community decide, but maybe we must change this again, if the paraworld sections starts ... we will see and involve !

but hey other boards are far more resctrective than this here and i am far more patient than other webmasters, i guess

[Dobber]

This (http://www.anno1503.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?forumid=20) is the off-topic section oft the 1503 board.


That is not exactly the off-topic section of the 1503 board. It is as much of an off-topic section as they have now.It is the RPG section of their board, originally created for forum users to roleplay in. It is called Annopolis, If you notice they have restricted chat to 2 or 3 threads. You cannot start a thread just to discuss whatever topic you want, you must discuss along with whatever other discussion is going on in that thread. I norder to start a thread in that section you must register with Annopolis City Hall and state what occupation you are bringing to the community, and then you may start a thread opening your business for the purpose of roleplay. There was at one time no chat threads there. When Sunflowers "CLOSED" the off-topic section at the 1503 site, the Moderators of the RPG section eventually allowed the different language groups to start a chat thread there. They then combined all but the German into the International chat thread and had just the 2 chat threads there. The one you linked to is the German chat thread and is fairly active. On the other hand if you check out the International chat thread, you will find very minor activity. If you check out the game help forums you will notice a small amount of activity most of which is German. I have been a member of that community for 2 years and it was once a thriving community, but when they closed the off-topic forums 18-20 months ago there were great numbers of people that left. I know, I was there.

And if you really get down to it, considering they have 71,946 members there, the handful of active posters is minimal.