'What...' threads that do not contribute to discussion...

[Kardan]

I know this was brought back up in June, and numerous solutions were brought up, but the conversation just died and nothing was done.

Basically, certain threads on the forum can just be used as post count boosters essentially. The fact is, because they contribute absolutely no discussion value, they should not contribute to post count. Frankly, most spam threads have more discussion value in such threads.

Threads such as 'What are you listening to...', which consists literally of how many different songs can you name and whenever you post in there, you don't actually read what anyone else has put.

'What are you wearing...' which is just 72 pages of the word 'Jeans' or the occassional 'Nothing, LOL'

'What's the last thing you ate/drank', essentially, name as many foods you can.

And the absolutely killer, 'Post your random images'. I mean, really? Some old members might remember my Kristen Bell Appreciation Thread, literally 109 pages of just pictures of Kristen Bell. That was in spam, and at least the images had a theme.

Surely these threads should be moved into a sub forum where post counts don't count? I remember years back there was a discussion exactly like this on all the pointless forum games (Count to 1 million...), and they were put into a post-count-less forum.

The same should be done here, otherwise the amiount of pointless threads that can be created will just be silly, heck, I might aswell bring back TOKBAT.

[Chris]

This comes up time and time again but I don't see them ever being moved to spam. A lot of people who use these thread actually are interested in what other people listen to or watch, so moving them to spam would just allow people to derail the thread. A few months ago we did discuss a new section for these threads but ultimately decided that the threads are fine as they are and that a new section wouldn't stay active enough.

[Kardan]

This comes up time and time again but I don't see them ever being moved to spam. A lot of people who use these thread actually are interested in what other people listen to or watch, so moving them to spam would just allow people to derail the thread. A few months ago we did discuss a new section for these threads but ultimately decided that the threads are fine as they are and that a new section wouldn't stay active enough.

I'm not saying move them to spam, I'm saying create a sub-forum which simply does not increase post count. And how would a new section not be active enough?

[Chris]

I'm not saying move them to spam, I'm saying create a sub-forum which simply does not increase post count. And how would a new section not be active enough?

Yeah thats exactly what we talked about before. There are only a few of these threads around and all of them have been approved to stay in their respective sections. If it was the case that there was loads and loads of them posted all the time then that would perhaps warrant a new section, but at this time there really is no need for one.

Also if this were to happen, the current threads would have to stay in the forums that they are in. I'm sure you can imagine what everyone would say when they notice their post count has decreased quite dramatic. :p

[MKR&*42]

Tbh I think Mods are so quick to jump to "The sub-forum" will not be active enough. I remember a few months ago, a Food and Drink sub-forum was requested and that was denied because it would apparently clog up the forum too much :rolleyes: and it wasn't necessary = yet all the threads about it in Discuss Anything say more than enough about it not being a popular topic.
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Ok back onto the real thing.

What are you wearing should have been removed ages ago. I don't see for the life of me who would care about what clothes someone else is wearing unless that person wanted fashion tips for some reason.
Post any image. Is just silly really, I cannot believe post count is enabled in there.

I really don't see the harm in having another sub-forum for these type of threads with post count disabled. What are you listening to/Post random images/what did you last eat/what did you last buy/what are you wearing/what did you last watch can all immediately go in there to start with and I don't think it'd reduce activity in there at all tbh. I cannot see the harm in a trial run or something similar.

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Oh you brought up post count urgh. People would just have to adjust I suppose. Post count shouldn't really be rewarded for posting in a topic that is open to very little discussion, so it has every right to be removed really and people will simply have to learn that if post count ever was disabled in those threads.

[Kardan]

Yeah thats exactly what we talked about before. There are only a few of these threads around and all of them have been approved to stay in their respective sections. If it was the case that there was loads and loads of them posted all the time then that would perhaps warrant a new section, but at this time there really is no need for one.

Also if this were to happen, the current threads would have to stay in the forums that they are in. I'm sure you can imagine what everyone would say when they notice their post count has decreased quite dramatic. :p

I can see there being some debate for the music thread, but for the random image thread to count towards your post count is just silly really, how can that one be approved? What discussion value does it have?

[Chris]

Tbh I think Mods are so quick to jump to "The sub-forum" will not be active enough. I remember a few months ago, a Food and Drink sub-forum was requested and that was denied because it would apparently clog up the forum too much :rolleyes: and it wasn't necessary = yet all the threads about it in Discuss Anything say more than enough about it not being a popular topic.
-
Ok back onto the real thing.

What are you wearing should have been removed ages ago. I don't see for the life of me who would care about what clothes someone else is wearing unless that person wanted fashion tips for some reason.
Post any image. Is just silly really, I cannot believe post count is enabled in there.

I really don't see the harm in having another sub-forum for these type of threads with post count disabled. What are you listening to/Post random images/what did you last eat/what did you last buy/what are you wearing/what did you last watch can all immediately go in there to start with and I don't think it'd reduce activity in there at all tbh. I cannot see the harm in a trial run or something similar.

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Oh you brought up post count urgh. People would just have to adjust I suppose. Post count shouldn't really be rewarded for posting in a topic that is open to very little discussion, so it has every right to be removed really and people will simply have to learn that if post count ever was disabled in those threads.

The problem with the food forum is that it can be active one minute and dead the next. Thats why all good topics are best kept to discuss anything.

Honestly I don't know why everyone is so uptight about post count. At the end of the day it is just a number.

I can see there being some debate for the music thread, but for the random image thread to count towards your post count is just silly really, how can that one be approved? What discussion value does it have?

That one I do agree with but forum management agreed with it at the time of creation.

[Kardan]

The problem with the food forum is that it can be active one minute and dead the next. Thats why all good topics are best kept to discuss anything.

Honestly I don't know why everyone is so uptight about post count. At the end of the day it is just a number.



That one I do agree with but forum management agreed with it at the time of creation.

But post count is seen as a status symbol on the forum, hence why post count is accounted for in reputation.

And do forum management realise they can reverse their decisions? The only thread I'd keep is the music thread, only because of the amount of posts made and it would change people's post count drastically.

[MKR&*42]

The problem with the food forum is that it can be active one minute and dead the next. Thats why all good topics are best kept to discuss anything.

Honestly I don't know why everyone is so uptight about post count. At the end of the day it is just a number.

I honestly don't believe food and drink goes through "stages" of being active then inactive. I could go through Discuss Anything and count how many threads have been on food and drink and tell you how many have been posted in each month for the past 6 months if you'd like? If there is a clear pattern it's dead at one point then active another, I will drop my point about it.

I don't see the huge fuss about people losing post count at all, it is just a number but once you attain certain numbers - (e.g. 20,000) you gain more benefits to your account than previously, and if that was based largely upon someone simply posting an image it just doesn't seem very fair at all. If people did whine about post count being disabled in that thread, I would tell them where to shove it.

[Chris]

But post count is seen as a status symbol on the forum, hence why post count is accounted for in reputation.

And do forum management realise they can reverse their decisions? The only thread I'd keep is the music thread, only because of the amount of posts made and it would change people's post count drastically.

I'm sure Martin is very aware he can change it These threads have been there for years (Well the music and tv one has) and aren't doing anyone any harm. As long as we dont have loads of them floating around then I don't see any issues with having the occasional ones at all. If you were to go to another fansite and compare it you would find that the quality of their threads is 10x worse than here.

I honestly don't believe food and drink goes through "stages" of being active then inactive. I could go through Discuss Anything and count how many threads have been on food and drink and tell you how many have been posted in each month for the past 6 months if you'd like? If there is a clear pattern it's dead at one point then active another, I will drop my point about it.

Go for it!

I don't see the huge fuss about people losing post count at all, it is just a number but once you attain certain numbers - (e.g. 20,000) you gain more benefits to your account than previously, and if that was based largely upon someone simply posting an image it just doesn't seem very fair at all. If people did whine about post count being disabled in that thread, I would tell them where to shove it.

Well everyone is going to have their opinions on it aren't they? You can't please everybody but you can try and please the majority.