# posts increments: bug or feature? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 2, 2001, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posts-increments-bug-or-feature/70942 "2001-07-02T09:59:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![puk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ea5d25/32.png) [@puk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puk)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2001, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posts-increments-bug-or-feature/70942/1 "2001-07-02T09:59:34Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![BooBoo316](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e0b2c6/32.png) [@BooBoo316](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BooBoo316)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2001, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posts-increments-bug-or-feature/70942/2 "2001-07-02T10:08:58Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2001, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posts-increments-bug-or-feature/70942/3 "2001-07-02T11:53:14Z")
> [@](#): > > … so you can see which post is more recent when comparing different threads (or something). Uh, doesn’t the _timestamp_ on each post do that? ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2001, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posts-increments-bug-or-feature/70942/4 "2001-07-02T15:32:17Z")
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 …” ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2001, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posts-increments-bug-or-feature/70942/5 "2001-07-02T17:47:50Z")
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. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2001, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posts-increments-bug-or-feature/70942/6 "2001-07-03T02:43:44Z")
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 ;). ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2001, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posts-increments-bug-or-feature/70942/7 "2001-07-03T07:39:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chronos \* > \*\*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. 😉 \*\* _checks date registered_ _checks post count_ _does some quick math_ That’ll be someplace around … 2004 ☹ ---
**Author:** ![puk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ea5d25/32.png) [@puk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puk)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2001, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posts-increments-bug-or-feature/70942/8 "2001-07-03T08:04:36Z")
> [@](#): > > _UncleBeer_\*\* > Uh, doesn’t the timestamp on each post do that? > \*\* 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!” ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2001, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posts-increments-bug-or-feature/70942/9 "2001-07-03T16:35:15Z")
> [@](#): > > … “hey, this was posted when Uncle was still a newby!” Naw. Nobody wants to read that old trash.