In the post header, right under date registered, there is a posts line, that displays the total number of posts.
Why is this line incremented each time I reply to a thread? Wouldn’t it make more sense to keep this number “fixed”, so you can see which post is more recent when comparing different threads (or something).
My question, I guess, is: is this a bug or a feature?
I don’t know the design decision behind it, but it has always been that way. I guess it’s easier because the system just has to plug in the current number.
Anyone know more detail?
Uh, doesn’t the timestamp on each post do that?
Naw, I know what he means. It’s kind of weird, when reading year-old (or longer, in the case of all those bumped threads from a couple of weeks ago) to see someone with 2487 posts say “Well, I know I’m just a newbie here, but …”
Didn’t you know, chique? 2487 posts is still a newbie. You don’t get to be a reg until you’ve got at least… (glances at post number) 4184 posts. 
I just think of the info on the left as being about the poster. His name is UncleBeer, he’s a moderator, he registered in May of 99, and has 5251 posts. This lets me know that he doesn’t get nearly enough to do in life, so I can take that into account when responding to him ;).
checks date registered
checks post count
does some quick math
That’ll be someplace around … 2004 
ok, got me. But wouldn’t it be kinda nifty to read an ancient post and be able to say “hey, this was posted when Uncle was still a newby!”
Naw. Nobody wants to read that old trash.