[NewShooter]

Why does a forum need post counts? I know most forums have it but I've seen a few that dont and they seem to get along just as well. I believe the post counts are the reason for a lot of worthless posts. If the mods really need it then why not make it only accessible to the mods?

Just my opinion. Thanks.

[Mal H]

I looked into that. Apparently, it's not possible to do without post counts on a vbulletin system. FWIW, I agree with you.

[Bruce333]

Ah! But it is possible to remove the post count from the user info in each post.

Another Forum I'm on has done this in vBulletin.

http://www.handgunforum.net/showthread.php?t=9028

The individuals post count is still available in their profile, just doesn't show up in each thread post. Don't know if the Admin there tweaked it himself of if it is a feature of vBulletin.

They are using the same version of vBulletin as THR, just a different style.

[Mal H]

Ah, but that's not a vbulletin based board. Is it possible? Of course, but it requires a hack instead of simply turning off a feature (which it should be instead of hard coded into the template). The board leader over there may have done just that since he said he modified a script.

[trueblue1776]

I kinda like it, it let's me know who is a regular contributor to the THR community. Not that I'm claiming any of my posts have done anybody any good, I can talk war(fish)stories with the best of them :o.

[Roadwild17]

I think it adds an element of returability to the person. If someone can make 5-15K post and not be run off, they they probably have a clue.

[Car Knocker]

I'm indifferent to post count. I realize that a high count doesn't imply wisdom or experience, nor does a low count imply lack of either. All post count indicates is the number of posts, good, bad or indifferent.

[fletcher]

I kinda like it, it let's me know who is a regular contributor to the THR community.

I agree. It also helps me decide how much I should weight advice I receive. If a couple of people who have been here forever say one thing, and 20 others who are new say something different, I'd probably believe the first two a little more.

[trueblue1776]

I reckon... you know a lot about... cyberspace? You ever come across anything... like deleting post counts?

Easy, I've already looked into it for myself.

Right on... right on.

[Novus Collectus]

Sometimes a very low post count reveals an anti here to troll or to trick some of us into saying something stupid so they can link to that thread and say "see the nutjobs they are".

Sometimes a very low post count makes some newbie get attacked or flamed as a possible anti for asking some naive or uneducated question and a new or potential gun owner gets run off as a result.

While I hate when I see the second, I see the presence of a post count as more good than bad because when I take time to notice the low post count I am more reserved and carefull in my response just in case they are an anti who is trolling.

[Bruce333]

The board leader over there may have done just that since he said he modified a script.That's the way I read his comment too.

Hacked it.

[js]

Originally Posted by Mal H

Ah, but that's not a vbulletin based board. Is it possible? Of course, but it requires a hack instead of simply turning off a feature (which it should be instead of hard coded into the template). The board leader over there may have done just that since he said he modified a script.


My forum is a vbulletin based forum. I commented out the area in the postbit template to make the post counts invisible. It's extremely easy to do. Post counts can still been seen when looking at a members profile, just not in the general forum areas. (Threads and Posts)

Long story short... I hacked it. :)

I personally see no use in advertised post counts, I'd rather have member ranks. AKA, "Junior Member", "Member", "Senior Member" or whatever. I've had problems in the past with forum members posting nonsense just to get their post counts higher.

[Mal H]

"My forum is a vbulletin based forum."

So it is, so it is. I looked at the bottom of the screen and didn't see the usual vb stuff, but it's in deep blue on a black background.

[Wheeler44]

I like post counts. If someone has been here 1 month and has 300 posts it says , to me, that they haven't been shootin' much. at least this month.

[GoRon]

I personally see no use in advertised post counts, I'd rather have member ranks. AKA, "Junior Member", "Member", "Senior Member" or whatever. I've had problems in the past with forum members posting nonsense just to get their post counts higher

What do you know, you only have 79 posts :neener:

I don't care about post counts either but the join date is a nice clue as to who has been around awhile and not trolling.

How would you assign greater member status other than post count?

[sm]

I'd just as soon not have post counts, member rankings, Moderator names in bold, no color for member status, be they staff, admin, mods or anything.
No aviatars and limit sig lines, including, font, color and such.

This works great on other software other than vB I have messed with and been behind the scenes with.

Homepage for instance just has "Staff" , so anyone clicking that sub-forum gets that Mod notified and others.

Alleviates folks hitting a username over to the side, and one that has not checked in for a month and getting "This place is awful, I tried to get a mod to help me and they never got back to me".

Folks are not intimidated by Bold, and Staff, can be 'normal' in postings as others don't tense up, get offensive when they post.

We use a generic "Staff" and "hey folks, moving this over to such-n-such forum.
"Staff" denotes someone with the buttons and levers is doing some duties.

We use generic "Staff" for "knock it off knuckleheads" and folks understand to get back in line.

One place only has one viewable forum to the public.
It allows new folks to read , and see what the forum is all about.
It is kept such, for "attracting" and "promoting" Mission Statement.
To read more, you have to register.
To read the dirty jokes, and Legal & Political, you have to be approved, as it is private unless allowed entrance.

Another, all private. One can see some of homepage, click on Mission statements, some FAQs, but one has to register and one is checked out so to speak.

We are finding the quality of Private fora is much better than Public.
One reason we beta tested public, and then went private.
Society taught us how to treat folks.

[.cheese.]

I wish we didn't have them.

Makes me feel like I post too much crap and spend too much time here. lol

[Balog]

No aviatars and limit sig lines, including, font, color and such.

Oh God yes. I hate the bright red 3 inch tall letters in some peoples sigs. If they post more than one the thread is twice as long to scroll through.

[tyme]

I'd kindof like #-of-posts replaced with posts-per-day

I like post counts. If someone has been here 1 month and has 300 posts it says , to me, that they haven't been shootin' much. at least this month.
Post count is correlated a lot more to whether the person's lifestyle involves computers/websurfing than whether they don't go to the range very often. There are some very prolific posters who also shoot a lot.

[sm]

I cheat.

Laptop and dial up just a short hop from where shooting.
Sometimes I can be on the back porch and plinking at the same time, other times I actually have to walk a bit more to access laptop.

There have been times I am surprised a piece of broken clay has not come through a monitor and landed on some folks' keyboards.
:)

Larry Ashcraft if you will notice , always gets on the left - ejected hulls/brass do not hit him when I shoot and shuck or gun ejects.

:D