# Displaying the Post Counts and Locations of "Guests" **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 17, 2009, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/displaying-the-post-counts-and-locations-of-guests/500049 "2009-06-17T09:58:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/displaying-the-post-counts-and-locations-of-guests/500049/1 "2009-06-17T09:58:46Z")
I’ve sung this song before, but it’s been a couple of months and I feel a gentle reminder is in order. Hiding the Post Count and Location of users registered as “Guests” serves to reduce the functionality of the board for _everyone_, and, as there is no benefit to hiding that information, it would seem to be an uncontroversially good idea to display it. It’s a small matter, but nonetheless a frustrating one: it’s been the better part of a year, shouldn’t we have been able to fix this sort of thing by now? Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/displaying-the-post-counts-and-locations-of-guests/500049/2 "2009-06-17T11:22:19Z")
> [@VarlosZ](#): > > I’ve sung this song before, but it’s been a couple of months and I feel a gentle reminder is in order. The song was re-released [three weeks ago](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=518751) to muted critical acclaim from its target audience. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/displaying-the-post-counts-and-locations-of-guests/500049/3 "2009-06-17T14:57:48Z")
Yawn. Still don’t care where you are or how many posts you have. Or anyone else for that matter. How does it actually help? ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/displaying-the-post-counts-and-locations-of-guests/500049/4 "2009-06-17T15:00:51Z")
As a guest, I don’t particularly want my location/post count displayed. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/displaying-the-post-counts-and-locations-of-guests/500049/5 "2009-06-17T16:01:07Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > As a guest, I don’t particularly want my location/post count displayed. As a guest, you should realize that you wouldn’t even be allowed to post here at all until recently. Also, you are allowed to leave your location field blank. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/96bed5/32.png) [@Cat\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Jones)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/displaying-the-post-counts-and-locations-of-guests/500049/6 "2009-06-17T16:14:05Z")
I do feel that knowing the poster’s location is handy - post number less so as our join date is still shown that can serve as a useful guide. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/displaying-the-post-counts-and-locations-of-guests/500049/7 "2009-06-17T16:23:55Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > As a guest, you should realize that you wouldn’t even be allowed to post here at all until recently. Also, you are allowed to leave your location field blank. I posted here back when it was still pay to post, which you could have seen by checking my join date rather than getting snarky. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/displaying-the-post-counts-and-locations-of-guests/500049/8 "2009-06-17T17:03:40Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I posted here back when it was still pay to post, which you could have seen by checking my join date rather than getting snarky. Yeah, I remember the two times that you quit and were never coming back. Anyway, the reason that I said “you should realize that” is because I knew that you should have realized it. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/displaying-the-post-counts-and-locations-of-guests/500049/9 "2009-06-17T17:11:09Z")
Let’s not agree to disagree here, please. If you have a problem with one another you need to take it somewhere else. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/displaying-the-post-counts-and-locations-of-guests/500049/10 "2009-06-17T17:13:07Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Yeah, I remember the two times that you quit and were never coming back. Anyway, the reason that I said “you should realize that” is because I knew that you should have realized it. :rolleyes: If you want to cheapshot me, do it in the pit. I’ll be up here doing a happy dance because locations and post counts are not displayed for guests. Edit: Did not see Tuba’s post prior to posting this. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/displaying-the-post-counts-and-locations-of-guests/500049/11 "2009-06-17T21:40:15Z")
> [@Lanzy](#): > > Yawn. > > Still don’t care where you are or how many posts you have. Or anyone else for that matter. > > How does it actually help? I posted this a while back: "Can we please have the post count and location for ‘Guests’ turned back on? Having it turned off reduces the functionality of the board for _everyone else_, not the Guests. Knowing post counts helps us to better understand posts by putting them in context. For example, if I see a post that is uncustomarily hostile or snarky for the SDMB, the first thing I do is look at the post count – if the person in question only has a few hundred posts, then I know that he’s probably just not quite familiar with the mores of the board yet; on the other hand, if the person has a few \*thousand \*posts, then chances are the poster either has a personal problem with the target of his snark, or is simply a jerk. And if, for some reason, TPTB don’t buy the concept of post counts being useful things, then they’re still nice to have as simple curiosities, which alone should be sufficient justification for them in the absence of a really compelling argument for their deactivation." Look, this is a standard feature on the internet. Necessary or not, people \*like \*to have that information displayed. While it’s impressive that you’ve been able to rise above such trivialities, most people occasionally want to know post counts and locations. > [@Oakminster](#): > > As a guest, I don’t particularly want my location/post count displayed. Why not? More importantly, would you concede that you’re in the minority? **TubaDiva** , any opinion on my request? ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/displaying-the-post-counts-and-locations-of-guests/500049/12 "2009-06-17T21:50:35Z")
I had an opinion once but it shrank without surgery. 🙂 Seriously, it’s not my opinion that matters here. If/when policy changes I’ll gladly implement it. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/displaying-the-post-counts-and-locations-of-guests/500049/13 "2009-06-17T22:05:13Z")
I see. Who would make that particular policy decision, and how should I go about presenting my request to that person? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/displaying-the-post-counts-and-locations-of-guests/500049/14 "2009-06-17T22:24:52Z")
> [@VarlosZ](#): > > Why not? More importantly, would you concede that you’re in the minority? From what I’ve seen, quite a few posters kayfabe their locations anyway, myself included. My location is listed as “Surefall Glade, Antonica” or some variant thereof…it was a starting location for half-elf druids in Everquest. That isn’t really useful information to anyone. Post count is just another way of waving one’s cyber-penis. I see no value added. Dunno about minority or not. Haven’t done any surveys on the subject. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/displaying-the-post-counts-and-locations-of-guests/500049/15 "2009-06-17T22:42:42Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > From what I’ve seen, quite a few posters kayfabe their locations anyway, myself included. My location is listed as “Surefall Glade, Antonica” or some variant thereof…it was a starting location for half-elf druids in Everquest. That isn’t really useful information to anyone. Either people use it display their location, which is useful information, or people use it for a joke of some sort, in which case it’s still useful as an opportunity to display wit. > [@](#): > > Post count is just another way of waving one’s cyber-penis. No, not just. I don’t particularly care whether my post count is displayed, per se, but I do care about seeing others’ because it helps to put posts in context (and also just for curiosity’s sake). > [@](#): > > Dunno about minority or not. Haven’t done any surveys on the subject. I’ve had this discussion a few times now. Some people say that it doesn’t matter to them either way, but you’re the first poster I’ve seen who is actively opposed to the notion. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/displaying-the-post-counts-and-locations-of-guests/500049/16 "2009-06-17T23:16:48Z")
> [@VarlosZ](#): > > I’ve had this discussion a few times now. Some people say that it doesn’t matter to them either way, but you’re the first poster I’ve seen who is actively opposed to the notion. I agree. People mostly either don’t care or would prefer to have it listed. It’s supposed to be one of the “benefits” of membership. You can see a Guest’s post count by viewing their profile if you’re really that curious but it’s probably not worth it to you. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/displaying-the-post-counts-and-locations-of-guests/500049/17 "2009-06-18T13:45:11Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > As a guest, I don’t particularly want my location/post count displayed. As a Guest, you don’t have any say in the matter. If TPTB will ever do what their paying customers are asking for, they will get it. Guests will (rightly) have to live with it. This has been brought up so many times, I find it hard to believe it’s not a decision that was made a long time ago and whoever made it refuses to budge. It’s beyond silly not to do it, especially if the Charter Members and Members want it. Based on the regularity of these threads, I think a quick vote would be a landslide. Until you pay up, **Oakminster** , like the rest of us Guests, you post at the whim of the SDMB. I post in these threads only to remind myself why I don’t pay to post. TPTB are so anti-customer driven, it’s pathetic. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/displaying-the-post-counts-and-locations-of-guests/500049/18 "2009-06-18T14:23:45Z")
> [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > As a Guest, you don’t have any say in the matter. Dunno about that. TPTB seem to be ambivalent about whether people subscribe or not. Paying members are not treated any differently by the mods, they just get a couple of whistles and bells on the screen. In theory, non-paying guests generate at least as much income for the board via ad views. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/displaying-the-post-counts-and-locations-of-guests/500049/19 "2009-06-18T14:33:11Z")
I couldn’t find it but recently the PTB, it was either **Tuba** or **Zotti** , said that they’d prefer that people subscribe. This should be obvious on the face of it because anyone who cares can block ads. Adblocking is the default on some popular browsers. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/displaying-the-post-counts-and-locations-of-guests/500049/20 "2009-06-18T15:00:50Z")
[Here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=11211149&postcount=139) it is. Subscriptions are preferred but it’s not like it’s a huge deal. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/displaying-the-post-counts-and-locations-of-guests/500049.md?page=2)