As we already have postcounts up, would it be possible to get an “accumulated post” count, such as RBI’s in baseball. That is, if I start a thread and get 10 responses, I have an actual post count of 1 a(assuming I didn’t reply) and an accumulated count of 10. Could we do it? It would be another thing for dopers to brag about! (And we’re so starved for things to compete over!)
~Dan (respectfully obeying the new autmation and not using my sig)
You just made the case for dropping the counts entirely.
And also drop starting dates.
That would make it harder for people to try to use their post count to claim “respectibility” when they don’t really have any.
I’ve never seen them used benignly, except in the “Whoopee! I got a round number!” threads.
Those, while fun, would quickly be replaced with “It’s my birthday!” threads, which they are identical to.
Show_Biz said:
I would have agreed with you, right up until last week when a fake MysterEcks showed up. Tuba zapped it very quickly, but for a short period of time it was out posting…and the only way to tell the difference was by post count and registration dates. So while I’ll agree attaching any particular significance to these numbers is silly, they do serve a purpose.
There’s always the Profile number to identify people.
You don’t even have to push it. Pass the mouse over it and the number appears in the status line of your browser.
Yeah, but you’d have to have a master list at your elbow, so as to be able to compare the numbers. “Let’s see now, here’s a post by MisterEcks, but it’s profile number 1234, let’s check the master list now, ah ha! the REAL MisterEcks is profile number 5523, this must be a sock puppet!”
So you’re sitting there doing research instead of reading the post.
But I agree, there are already enough tiny little pissing contests going on over post count and seniority–why give people something else to be puffed up about? (About which up to be puffed? Up about which to be puffed? There’s never a bibliophage around when you need one.)
“Ha ha, 642 people posted to my thread on favorite sexual positions, and only 2 people posted to your thread on favorite Bible verses! I win! Neener neener.”
And an even more seriously appalling prospect loomed, as soon as I turned around and took another swallow of coffee.
We have many marvelous, talented, funny, smart posters who NEVER START THREADS. All their numbers would be in the low zeros. Newbies coming in would think, “Gee, what a loser.”
I dunno about you, but it grinds my guts to think of somebody looking at Triskadecamus or Tomndebb and thinking, “Loser.”
Even Arnold hardly ever starts threads.