Changes To Post Count

[Realist]

With immediate effect posts that are made in the ' Hello I'm New' section of the forum will not count towards a members post tally.

 

[doug_amanda]

Why's that then?

If there was a don't like button I would use it.

 

[Realist]

Why's that then?

If there was a don't like button I would use it.

We get a large number of new users posting one word replies such as 'welcome' in this section in order to increase their post count to sell. I banned two this week. This move will hopefully stop that.

 

[doug_amanda]

Thanks,

Its just a shame some people are out to exploit the forum instead of using it for its intended purpose.

Cheers.

 

[marinemad73]

We get a large number of new users posting one word replies such as 'welcome' in this section in order to increase their post count to sell. I banned two this week. This move will hopefully stop that.

Can/will you increase the post count to sell as well ? Not sure what it is now but it must be quite low.

 

[liam0]

Hi, nice fish tank.

 

[marinemad73]

Hi, nice fish tank.

Who me ?...If so ta la !

 

[Matt@Epo]

Why's that then?

If there was a don't like button I would use it.

Post counts dont really mean anything to the users that are intending on using the forum as it should be. It seems the only time post counts are mentioned is if the member is gearing up to flood the forum with tank breakdown goods

Can/will you increase the post count to sell as well ? Not sure what it is now but it must be quite low.

That was doubled last night I believe. It was 25 and now its 50

 

[marinemad73]

Post counts dont really mean anything to the users that are intending on using the forum as it should be. It seems the only time post counts are mentioned is if the member is gearing up to flood the forum with tank breakdown goods



That was doubled last night I believe. It was 25 and now its 50

Ok Matt..makes sense...maybe you could look at people giving donations to the salty box for sales. Something like less than 100 gives a £5 donation. And the amount lowers with post count or time on the site.

 

[screwloose]

I don't understand why people get obsessed with post counts generally anyhow,


if your an active member, you soon reach the post count required for selling if you need it. So after that it doesn't really matter how many posts you have.

 

[screwloose]

Ahh Matt has put it better above

 

[Matt@Epo]

I don't understand why people get obsessed with post counts generally anyhow,


if your an active member, you soon reach the post count required for selling if you need it. So after that it doesn't really matter how many posts you have.

+1 :whistling:

 

[screwloose]

Premature as always you are

 

[marinemad73]

I am in agreement mostly but if I wanted to I could come on here post 50 times over 2/3 days then I am allowed to sell now that may not be a problem but if I was on here to scam genuine buyers then it is a problem. Not that you get a lot of scammers on here but you could.

 

[Matt@Epo]

Ok Matt..makes sense...maybe you could look at people giving donations to the salty box for sales. Something like less than 100 gives a £5 donation. And the amount lowers with post count or time on the site.

Thats something for the mod/admin team to discuss.

Maybe some revenue could be generated that way but for me I would like to see the forum content be a healthy mix of reefing discussion and for sale/wanted threads. The recent measures being adopted can only help move forward in that direction whereas in recent months i have noticed that the reefing discussion has taken a hit but the forum is still heavily used for sales.

If a member is prepared to pay a fee for selling goods prematurely it may help financially towards the forums running costs but it wont help the forum itself. The price to sell goods is 50 meaningful posts...its free. Join in with the forum, dont just join the forum to sell a pump.

 

[jd5000]

Hi .
I can understand why the post count is set at 50 especially for sellers,but as a recent newbie .i was encouraged to join the forum by a forum member at a LFS to look for bargains and to join in as everything is so expensive when your new .i took me ages to get to 25 posts as i knew nothing and other than asking what i now know where basic questions .
i mentioned a charge for sales in the forum improvement thread ,i really dont know how much it costs to run a forum ,but another forum i use used to raffle prizes for the upkeep of the forum prizes were donations from sponsers.
julie

 

[marinemad73]

Thats something for the mod/admin team to discuss.

Maybe some revenue could be generated that way but for me I would like to see the forum content be a healthy mix of reefing discussion and for sale/wanted threads. The recent measures being adopted can only help move forward in that direction whereas in recent months i have noticed that the reefing discussion has taken a hit but the forum is still heavily used for sales.

If a member is prepared to pay a fee for selling goods prematurely it may help financially towards the forums running costs but it wont help the forum itself. The price to sell goods is 50 meaningful posts...its free. Join in with the forum, dont just join the forum to sell a pump.

Fair play Matt...I just think it would stop people spamming the site to sell there goods on here. As Durkin says if you come on here to get your post count up to sell you will be removed.

If someone comes on and needs 50 posts and my have to give a donation I would think it would stop spamming. I also agree with Julie to a point but the best way round that is to tag on to a newbie that just a couple of months behind you and share the advice given to you by others , that would help the mods.

 

[Moneydownthecouch]

Premature as always you are

Some maturity please gentlemen :whistling:

 

[doug_amanda]

Post counts dont really mean anything to the users that are intending on using the forum as it should be. It seems the only time post counts are mentioned is if the member is gearing up to flood the forum with tank breakdown goods


I agree, Post counts may not mean a lot to regular or genuine users of the forum, But to new members seeking advice they are a useful guide as to whether the advice given is sound. Rightly or wrongly I would have trusted advice given by someone with a high post count over someone with a low one, particularly on controversial subjects.

 

[Matt@Epo]

Post counts dont really mean anything to the users that are intending on using the forum as it should be. It seems the only time post counts are mentioned is if the member is gearing up to flood the forum with tank breakdown goods


I agree, Post counts may not mean a lot to regular or genuine users of the forum, But to new members seeking advice they are a useful guide as to whether the advice given is sound. Rightly or wrongly I would have trusted advice given by someone with a high post count over someone with a low one, particularly on controversial subjects.

On face value I can see why this happens but it is a dangerous philosophy. Imagine a user who doesnt know a great deal but has said "hi" or "happy Birthday" 500 times.
There is a great thread from a couple of years ago on RC. The person starting it had a very low post count and was getting a lot of stick from the sps "gurus" on RC because he put a 400w halide over a 100 litre tank.
It was deemed that his low post count meant he knew nothing. After two pages of abuse other "founding" members of RC started to emerge out of the woodwork to warn the abusers that they shouldnt assume high post count = genius.
As it transpired the thread starter was a world renowned marine biologist with several books. He simply just didnt post a great deal.

The idea of a forum is to receive several opinions and to be better armed to make your own decision. Dont just take post count or even badge to mean that someone knows what they are talking about. I have first hand experience of this. Because I have a large tank it is assumed i know what i am talking about. A large tank just means I am stupid with money, nothing else.