How are you counting # of total posts on the board?

The number on the intro page is 821868,
but my last post got numbered 902496.

Where are the missing posts?
Is this why searching is sometimes reported as “spotty”?
That’s like a 9% difference, after all.

Deleted threads by trolls, etc.

So, which number is the one these guys are trying for in this “post party” thread?

** Let’s take it to a million posts!**

They’re not trying for either number in that thread. Read the note by Lynn at the end.

Do you mean UncleBeer?

I think it would be ironic if the entire thread was deleted. Cruel, but ironic…

Don’t tempt me.

your humble TubaDiva
(itchy-fingered)Administrator

Aww, Tuba, you wouldn’t do it… you’re not cruel. You’re just a big, goofy sweetie-pie…

(I’m gonna get banned for this… :D)

Just erase the thread already. It’ part of the board’s main problem- too much chaff, covering the wheat and slowing everything down.

If the thread is erased, J. Noble will lose 1/3 of his posts at one go. That will teach him and others that it’s not the thing to do.

While you’re at it, have a standing policy of erasing everything on MPSIMS and the BBQpit every couple of weeks. That would keep the babblers from running amok. The babblers are so proud of their post counts that they would shape up in a hurry.

I love it when people start off modestly. Welcome aboard, Drum the Drum.

Thanks. :slight_smile:

Nope, I put a note on the Post Count Party thread that I was going to lock it and then delete it. I did. I deleted it after 24 hours. I’ll do the same for any thread like that I see. Personally, I’m ready for TubaDiva to delete the Million Posts thread too.

By the way, if I see a blatant post pad, I’ll sometimes delete it.

Lynn
Administrator
For the Straight Dope

Perhaps it would help to know that I may have been slightly sarcastic. It’s just that I don’t always use emoticons to explain myself.

Really, Coldy? Only slightly sarcastic?

You should give Coldfire the benefit of the doubt. If he says slightly, it could easily be true. He’s been a lot less sarcastic since he’s been a moderator.

The only number that should count is the post available to look at, which would be the lower number, the one on the top of the main menu page.

But my question is: are the old threads (with the broken links we hear about) included or excluded in that number?

Don’t bet the farm on that one, tshirts. More diplomatic, perhaps. Less sarcastic? Hardly.

They must be included, since they are accessed with the same parameter in the link, “threadid”.

Here’s this thread http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=47275
Here’s an old thread http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=100

Matter of fact, the difference between the two numbers may be nearly the number of “old” threads. If so, the deleted threads would not be very significant, but the counter on the main menu would be very far off, only counting the new threads.

I don’t know how to check that, however.

Only by examining each post by hand can we determine if it was the intention of the poster that the post “count” toward the overall post total listed on the upper right hand side of the main screen. Posts from known trolls shall not be included in the total. Obvious post-pads will also not count, unless the poster has an established record of “straight-ticket” posting (no previous posts to MPSIMS.) Other post-pads may count, if the post counting supervisory board (Lynn Bodoni, Ed Zotti, and John Corrado) determines by majority vote that the post in question is “pregnant” with hidden meaning.

:: running like hell ::

(I thought I posted this before, but it must be Deja Vu all over again)

And do you have a reason for your posts, hijack? Or should I simply delete them, as they seem to add nothing to the discussion? In other words, do you plan on contributing positively to this message board?

Lynn
Administrator
For the Straight Dope