"The Post Count causes ELITISM and should be done away with! " Do you agree?

[Basement Cat]

This subject came up in R&P and was also discussed more thoroughly in the Thread: A thread to complain about the small issues of the escapist forums.

While most people liked having the Post Count or seemed to be indifferent to the matter a few people--prepare to be shocked, this was in R&P--were vehemently opposed continuing the use of the Post Count. Their argument was that it led to long time Escapists building "cliques" and contributed to a sense of exclusivity for members who weren't part of the "In Crowd".

And they said it also lead to "Elitism". The basic argument for this being that long time posters sometimes made derogatory remarks to those who hadn't been around for three to five years like they themselves.

Upon reflection I could understand their point though I said I myself had never run into that sort of thing. One poster mentioned that it was mostly brought up between certain individuals, but it still got under his skin.

I like the Post Count. Even though I'm not big on playing games with Achievements (Dragon Age: Origins is the only one that I can think of off the top of my head that I've ever played that had them. ***sigh*** So I play PC RPG's and a lot of Hidden Object games and don't even own a console. Cope, all right?) I do enjoy watching my post count slowly climb as if I were earning XP or something. It's the small things, you know...

I also like the Post Count because it gives me a feel for some of the other Escapists. That may sound odd, it just being a counter, but as the recent Thread: What's YOUR reputation on the Escapist? showed most of us don't have any reputation that we are aware of. Just as the "Date Joined" tells us how long somebody's been a member (not counting time spent lurkering prior to joining) the Post Count contributes to a member's...I dunno...identity? Contribution, perhaps?

I am seriously hoping that this Thread doesn't somehow result in the Post Count being eliminated. I don't think that I am nearly in the minority for liking the Post Count.

What are your thoughts on the matter, my fellow Escapists?

 

[Aris Khandr]

Cliques will form anyway. Post count or not, when a newcomer sees Daystar and Fappy discussing their divorce in several threads and other forum members being in on the joke, they're going to feel that they're missing something. We'll always talk and joke more freely with the people we interact with every day. Post counts have nothing to do with it. Registration dates have nothing to do with it. It's a matter of socialising with people frequently. Hiding these things won't make anyone more included, because the regulars are known by name and avatar, not post count.

 

[Dags90]

Cliques will form anyway. Post count or not, when a newcomer sees Daystar and Fappy discussing their divorce in several threads and other forum members being in on the joke, they're going to feel that they're missing something. We'll always talk and joke more freely with the people we interact with every day. Post counts have nothing to do with it. Registration dates have nothing to do with it. It's a matter of socialising with people frequently. Hiding these things won't make anyone more included, because the regulars are known by name and avatar, not post count.

The obvious solution is to get rid of ALL identifying markers. No avatars, no user names, nothing. You can be a new person in every thread!

Edit: Except Tyra. Tyra is here to stay.

 

[tippy2k2]

No, removing the post count is stupid

...I suppose I should say more

This argument was just done in the PubClub forum and one member (who I hope doesn't mind me stealing his argument Source: User JoJo ) made a fantastic argument:

Take some of the people who are best known around the forum: Daystar Clarion, Caramel Frappe, Fappy, Aylaine... yes they all have high post counts but crucially not the highest. There are people who have equally high post counts like TheDoctor445, Irridium, Herzog, Soviet Heavy, Avouleance2nd, Sporky111, SeanTheSheep who are certainly known but not on the same level as these guys.

Why?

Because those who are super-well known have reached that level because as CounterAttack said, they are known for what one does, whether that be funny, having a cute avatar, insightful or just plain friendly. When it comes down to it, in most cases people aren't well-known because of their high post counts, they are well known because they post a lot which in turn leads to a high post count.

Now maybe I'm mis-reading his argument (feel free to correct me JoJo if I am) but as stated: Cliques will build no matter what. People don't remember the high count posters because they have a high count; they remember them and follow them because they made a difference (for good like Caramel or for evil like Zeel).

Also: Anyone with a high post count/earlier start date that is degrading others for having low amounts doesn't belong here. I would love to see an actual example of this because I'm guessing people making that argument don't last long enough to have a high post count.

 

[Luftwaffles]

I cant hear you over how above average my penis post count is.

Go back to IRCs and go play on your console you peasant

 

[Basement Cat]

You think removing the post count will prevent elitism? As an elitist I gotta tell you, we're more adaptable than that you weak "less than 500" guttersnipe.

Hey! I resemble that remark, you millennial snob!

Edit: Except Tyra. Tyra is here to stay.

Nope. In the case of such a clean sweep Tyra goes, too. I would insist!. Nobody is taking my Cthulhu away from me!

.
.
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***SIGH!!!***
DON'T YOU JUST FEEL THE LOVE???

 

[fuzz]

I haven't been on this forum long but I haven't noticed any real cliques or elitism. There are well known members who seem to get along well with each other, but it's not an exclusionary thing. I used to post on another forum where all the oldest members were friends and actually trying to engage with them was rather futile. That forum is now dying and they can't seem to figure out why. That doesn't seem to happen here. As for post count, I don't think it matters. It's what you post not how often that alters peoples perception of you. Post count just gives an indication of how active a member has been since they joined the forum. So no, I don't see any reason it should be removed, it isn't hurting anybody.

 

[Andy Shandy]

I must say I've never seen or experienced any elitism when it comes to post count. But then again, you mentioned R&P, so if it goes on there, why not just remove it on posts in R&P?

Personally, I'd like to see post count kept just because it's a neat little thing to see, especially if you hit a "milestone amount" =P

 

[Fappy]

I cant hear you over how above average my penis post count is.

Go back to IRCs and go play on your console you peasant

You have 14k penises?! Damn, that's 3,000 more penises than me! What's your secret?

 

[Berithil]

Elitism will come regardless of post count or join dates. Besides, I like the post count, for the same reason as TopazFusion. It's a good indicator of how active a user is.

Besides, I think that argument would be better directed towards join dates rather than post count...

Though, tbh, I haven't really noticed a whole lot of elitism or cliques. However, your example is from R&P, which I tend to stay away from.

 

[Sassafrass]

Do what you want with it, cliques are and will always form here as long as user groups are around. Post count is just the by product of those things happening.

Also, I just read that thread in R&P, couldn't see any posts about it. I must be blind.

 

[unoleian]

Elitism and flaunting forum rules has nothing to do with post counts and ranks. It has more to do with tenure and community recognition. An uptick in post count means little to nothing in regards to people developing that sort of behavior that often leads to their own eventual ban.

I'm pretty much just talking in general terms, not necessarily about this forum. I don't spend enough time here any more to have much opinion on who's who around here, but it's a trend I've noticed in communities over the years. Visible post count or no, it's more a person's personal post volume (I mean strictly how often they post) and their own ideas of their reputation in the community that often contributes to elitist, sometimes abusive, and occasionally and cliquish behavior. Hiding that number does nothing to change that.

 

[Kolby Jack]

Anyone with a lower post-count than me is just a newbie. Nobody should listen to them, freakin' new guys.

Also, anyone with a higher post-count than me is a no-life snob. Nobody should listen to them, freakin' know-it-alls. That includes all the forum mods, and Daystar Clarion. ESPECIALLY Daystar Clarion.

End of line.

 

[geK0]

Cliques will form anyway. Post count or not, when a newcomer sees Daystar and Fappy discussing their divorce in several threads and other forum members being in on the joke, they're going to feel that they're missing something. We'll always talk and joke more freely with the people we interact with every day. Post counts have nothing to do with it. Registration dates have nothing to do with it. It's a matter of socialising with people frequently. Hiding these things won't make anyone more included, because the regulars are known by name and avatar, not post count.

The obvious solution is to get rid of ALL identifying markers. No avatars, no user names, nothing. You can be a new person in every thread!

Edit: Except Tyra. Tyra is here to stay.

Your avatar still enrages me..........


OT: I frequently see 15k+ posts from people I don't recognize, so apparently it's not a problem with every frequent poster.

 

[newfoundsky]

I'm living proof that post count does not matter. I've been here two years, and just broke 500. I do, however, NOTICE posts by people like Fappy (whose name makes me smile) more. I do not know why though. Maybe they just post more?

 

[dyre]

I've seen post count = penis size dickheads on other forums, but that's really not a source of elitism on this site. A lot of people have a lot of posts; some of them just make more memorable ones.

 

[Lionsfan]

I've seen a few people complain about post counts, mostly how we should disable them for forum games, but I dunno. I never really paid attention to someone elses post count when in a discussion.

 

[Dangit2019]

I've never seen anyone act elitist on the basis of their post count, mainly because people don't usually brag about how much time they spend on the site no matter how much they like it. Large post counts usually just mean that the person didn't have a lot to do for about a year (see Matthew94, TopazFusion) and they'll freely admit that. It's not something that's usually used to act like your better than others.

 

[Basement Cat]

Do what you want with it, cliques are and will always form here as long as user groups are around. Post count is just the by product of those things happening.

Also, I just read that thread in R&P, couldn't see any posts about it. I must be blind.

WHAT?!?

***checks thread***

OOOPS!!!

It must have been on a different thread. Since I don't remember which one I just edited it out.. I checked my post history and found the correct Thread.

[small]I'm so embarrassed.[/small]