The question is simple. Should the general chat thread add to post count? Due to the informal and frequent nature of posting in there about anything and everything, it's more a chatroom than a thread in itself. Do you think it should add to post count or not? Vote and maybe state your opinion while you're at it. Poll lasts for 2 weeks.
It's a shame that measures such as this have to taken when some posts in the thread are meaningful and not random, nonsensical 'sentences'.
Overall, I'd have to say that it shouldn't count. The things said in the General Chat Thread anren't usually meaningful, although sometimes they are. I'd say do it, although post count doesn't really matter that much anyway.
Yes, post count should stay. It's a fact of life that people will exploit their post count, as people will do with anything. It's prevalent on nearly every forum. Taking away the post count will only give them the incentive to make their own threads, making more work for moderators. Post count is exactly just that. If people seriously feel the need to increase their post count for whatever reason, then so be it. We don't need to take something away just because a select few decide to exploit their post counts. And as it was said before. Once the RP Chat launches, hopefully most people will redirect there.
I vote yes, It's a chat for talking in general. I kn ow the argument is that the post made in the thread have "no value",but who's say any post at all has any real value to it. This post I'm making has no value. If you remove post count from the general chat I foresee a decline in its use and possibly more "useless" threads popping up.
I think the topic is about the general chat thread contributing to post counts, not getting rid of the post count. EDIT: Actually, Pixel raised a good point. What's to stop people from creating similar threads, like the "How was your day" thread.
...And your point is? If General Chat is decided to not be contributing to post count, then post count would be removed, or the thread locked altogether no? I'm not talking about removing post count altogether... just for GCT.
I think GCT should add to post count. My reasons copy-pasted from the Off-Topic Section thread. It's just that I spend most of my time in the GCT because that's where a large number of members spend a lot of their time. There, they typically go to vent their stress are share their stories and experiences because that's just what happens to be on their mind at the time. I love being there to share in their joy and jubilation. I love being there to lend them a shoulder to cry on should they require it, and to offer encouraging words and hugs to those who are down. I love being their to share in their jokes and laughter, and to brighten everyone's day with pony-related images, even if only slightly. Now you are to tell me that these posts will no longer count as far as the board is concerned? I do not post simply for the sake of raising my post count, but the post count does help me to feel as if I'm contributing something, anything, to this community. I have never made a single spam post, and only occasionally double posted by accident, which I have always quickly combined the new with the old and deleted the new. Yes, I do like to see myself with a high post count, but there's nothing intrinsically wrong with that. All my posts have been on topic, relevant, and relatively helpful in nature. So I spend 80% of my time here in the GCT. That's where most of the people go and I enjoy being there for my friends. I'd consider stopping simply for the general principal of the forum essentially telling me my posts are worthless because they're not in a specified thread. But no, I wouldn't stop. I like to think I'm not that petty. But like pixel said, it may not make me stop, but it will make others stop. And if it makes others stop, then there will be less people around to talk to and share experiences with. And if there are less people around, there's less incentive for me to post. This whole idea simply rubs me entirely the wrong way and I'm afraid I wholeheartedly disapprove. If post count really doesn't matter, then why even have this debate in the first place? Like Mike said, people who want to exploit post count will. If you remove the addition to post count from the GCT, they will just move elsewhere, and the ones left getting no post count will be those who actually have things to say rather than just spam.
I agree that it should count towards our post count. While yes, a few members choose to post nothing but nonsensical garbage, over-all I've had some very meaningful conversations in there. I also agree with Mike. Once the RP chat opens, hopefully that'll vacuum out the RPing and junk. And one thing I've noticed about specific forums (such as us with FiM), is that there's really only so much talking about that you can do before you feel the need to just talk as people with those around you. And yes, that's why we have the General Discussion sub-forum, but there's absolutely no denying that the General Chat Thread is the main place people go to do just that. By making it not count towards your post count, it'd only work towards discouraging people from posting. I don't know about other people, but to me personally it kinda feels like a little slap in the face. "Posting here is bad and you should feel bad" kinda mentality. That thread isn't just a bunch of crazed people running around like headless chickens or 4chan goers. I've grown closer to many people through that thread, and have I'd hate to see it be treated like a red headed step child. I know that I've taken many of my problems to the thread, and have received so much love and support. I've also given love and support to other people's problems. Traffic to the thread would decrease with no post count, and I really feel that we'd get more threads popping up specific to those problems and just general topics brought up.
Before I say anything, I do not want the forums games to count toward post count. But, a well thought out post in there, interacting with other users in an ongoing and fun way does not count as a post. I'm okay with this. However, I go into GC and say, for example, "I just woke up." and I get a post added to my count as an acceptable post in there?
That isn't much different than all the "I agree" and "I disagree" posts that other threads get. Besides, the GTC wouldn't have gotten as big as it is if we only ever posted small tiddlybits like that. Yes, I'll admit, I've made posts in there that are nothing more than "I'm tired. I did nothing today. Why am I tired?" But I've also made thoughtful posts that contribute to the current topic. GTC is just like every other thread on this forum, it just moves faster.
This is reminding me of the reputation system 'discussions'... If post count went away completely in all threads and there was no post count under anyone's name, would we still post? Are we here just to see a number go up? I would think we are all better people than that.
Is that the only reason I post? Of course not; that's a silly thing to say. But are you suggesting I shouldn't be allowed to feel proud of what I've done on this forum? My post count is a constant reminder to me of what I've done and said to and for others across the forum. When I see the count go up, it means to me that I've interacted with, and possibly helped, another poster. This warm feeling of pride it gives me encourages me to be more active and try to interact with more people. Is the post count itself the most important thing? Not at all, but removing it would discourage me and somewhat rob me of that small sense of accomplishment. It's not the count itself, but rather what it represents to me every time I look at it. You seem to be taking a stance of "either post count is all you care about, or you don't care about it at all," which could not be farther from reality.
I vote no. If people only post in the GCT to increase post count, there is no point for it even to exist. Isn't the EP IRC forming soon anyways? We don't need the GCT any more. Once the RP chat comes along, the functionality of the GCT will go down by a -lot-. If it still exists when the IRC is enabled... It's Set! Genei Jin! Wait a sec... 'Worthless posts...' Is that why you guys are voting yes? Because a frickin' number doesn't go up whenever you post something intelligent or not? If you have something meaningful to say about something, make a thread about it (So long as it's a subject that isn't a depression thread). That 'meaningful' stuff will just get lost in 4 seconds flat in the GCT anyways. So if you're worried that 'your posts won't matter' make a thread about it instead of posting it some place where it will get lost in 57259842789524698 responses over the course of 7 minutes.
Even when the chat rolls out, I'd still like to have GCT remain for the sake of mobile devices as most are unable to work with most chat clients.
I agree with greyOne's solution: Hide post count. I completely disagree with Saikyo's solution of closing the GCT altogether. Completely. Wholeheartedly. Without any doubt.
Post count doesn't matter anyway. But some users abuse the chat to increase their own count for some reason, feeling that it increases your value as a member when it obviously does not :I I vote that it shouldn't count.
So clearly post count means nothing to you. If that's so, what's the problem with keeping things as they are? The current system hurts nobody, so I don't see why there's even a need to change anything in the first place. Also, when's the last time you went to the GCT? It's never anywhere near as busy as you're trying to make it sound. Typically like 6 posts every half hour or so. And I've made perfectly clear that post count is not the driving force behind my activity. Does that mean I can't still enjoy it? If it doesn't matter to you, then why not let me enjoy my post count? That way, both sides should be content. If you don't care about post count, why does it bother you that some of us rather like the prospect. Sure it doesn't really mean anything, but why should that mean some of us can't enjoy it? It's not like spam is a major problem to begin with. Sent from my DROID3 using Tapatalk 2
