Post Padder and annoying things elimiator option

[scott_d]

I just a a strike of genius. Every one, when they post, there would be a little button, prolly next to "profile" and what not, that could say "Vote". You could click this button if you thought that the post was padding (i just read like, 10 posts from the same person which were clearly padding) and the votes would get tallied. After so many votes, the user would come under review of the moderators so they can figure out what this person is doing and put an end to the pointless posts and generally annoying behavior of post padders.
Just an idea i had, sounds pretty cool to me...

[homer15]

i would be embarrased because of my high pad to post ratio.

[Force Flow]

Lol!

You may want to note that this would probably include the GD and war forum.

I'm sure that everyone here has padded their posts at one time or another (and no, I am by no means exluding myself )

[reboot]

Nope, never have. It seems I have enough to say, without posting just to add meaningless numbers.

[Force Flow]

34+42+865+90+321+55+78+32+11+27+542



Sorry, couldn't resist making this useless post.

[homer15]

where the heck is my vote button...

[scott_d]

THIS is what im talking about!! pretty sure force would get a coupple of votes for that one

[Force Flow]

No, really...

I did that purposely to make a point about the subject matter.

btw, you would also have to think about people voting for the heck of it because of...I dunno... bad advice or something, and a user may bear a grudge for whatever reason (either from RL or the VR world). The system wouldn't be totally foolproof.

For example, you could vote on this post by saying "Force Flow was padding here". I don't see it as padding since I thought I just brought up a valid point about this system. Others...well... may think it is padding. This is what I'm talking about. The poster may feel they are contributing something and engaging in the conversation, while someone else may think they are just streching to fill some space.

It's really a judgement call thing. People may sometimes make mistakes and someone may be unjustly ejected because of that though this kind of unrestricted system.

So there's another bit of my 2 cents in the bucket.

[homer15]

i think this whole idea is dumb, and asking about stuff like this might get the mods to eliminating post counts. it's just a number, and if it got to the point where we had to report people whom we thought were "padding" then post counts would be taken away so that there would be no reason to pad.

[Force Flow]

I have a feeling this is going around in a circle...

[homer15]

but i'm agreeing with you, force.

[scott_d]

ok...so maybe it was a dumb idea..
I just REALLY REALLY HATE people who post crap like
"Good site" and "yep, thats it"
I just cringe when i see it....makes me want to hurt something badly

[Cricket]

Don't worry...the mods do notice and keep track of folks who appear to be blatant post padders.

Cricket

[wolfie]

YEP

[seanc1930]

i think this is kind of a meaningless topic I have made posts that others would probably find meaningless ( i sometimes even do =)) and i really couldn't care less about how many posts i have, i mean really its just a number and i know i tend to rant somtimes but i don't think its anything to get worked up about

BTW i think this is one of the best forums on the net and all of the people i have talked to have been nothing but helpful and friendly and thats what it should be about, not numbers and titles

[Nuclear Krusader]

Also, removing post count could also very well lead to padding, since the reasoning would be: "Well, there is no count system so why should I refrain from posting meaningless posts?"

I agree with Cricket: the mods do a fine job of removing the padding posts and warning padders to stop doing that. If we don't see those warnings that is because the mods, out of courtesy, do so via PM at first. Only when the padder keeps doing it or when there are grave transgressions to the forum rules they do step in a thread and issue official warnings there.

So, I don't think this suggestion would serve any useful purpose really, and it would be nocive since it would promote the vigilantism among the forum members.

Just my thoughts.


**Edit: typos**

[lil Jimmie]

Yes the Mods do notice the padders, but often the padder will not notice or ignor the warnings.
I agree with you Scott it gets old real fast when reading some of the crap that gets posted in order to increase the users post count. This is why I added the last five words to my sig.

[reboot]

If we notice "blatant" post padding, the user's post count is adjusted accordingly.
Usually nobody even notices (except us mods)

[homer15]

Originally posted by reboot If we notice "blatant" post padding, the user's post count is adjusted accordingly. Usually nobody even notices (except us mods)

that must be why, even though i feel like i've posted billions of times in the appropriate sections of the forum, i have yet to reach 2000.

[sdkfz]

only padding I do is the what I feel is an obligatory "thank you this worked" I do not PM it because I want others to know that the thread is dead as far as I am concerned and more importantly the help worked.

[Nuclear Krusader]

That is courtesy and not padding. I do so myself too.

[Force Flow]

I'm sure everyone does, whenever they had a problem that was resolved.

It's kind of rude/impolite just to leave people hanging after they've helped someone out.

Just for the record, I've hardly seen any padding here. So, either the members here are good about that or the mods are doing a good job. Probably both.

[reboot]

It's both, and that's our story, and we're sticking to it.

[KHT]

I don`t know but I`ll pad my count by saying that personally I take more stock in what a poster has to say relevant to the thread subject rather than the number of posts under his\her name which I view as more of an ego thing anyway.

BTW...are sentences that long legal here?..

[M. A. Dockter]

Like 'boot said, if we notice post padding we'll beat them at their own game and reduce their post count. Next time it happens I'm thinking of changing it to a negitive number just to see how the forum software reacts.

[reboot]

Heh, and then when I hit -65536, does the database crash?

[i3OSS]

If the post padders post are annoying, you should delete them, or have a minimum word count to submit the reply.

[Lord Prism]

I'm mostly concerned with learning about how to get problems fixed and getting more out of my system. I have found that sometimes I have had experience that might be able to help another Mech-er with their problem - I'm glad to help when I can. When I can, I enjoy trying to find out how to help somebody out when I don't have direct experience on a issue.

I believe being polite and thanking folks for responses and following-up on how the issue ended up is not padding - it is showing gratitude.

Over the years that I've been here, I come to find out that the post count isn't as important as the post-er - that is to say, a knowledgable and helpful response to a Mech-er's request for assistance can come from anybody whether they have 15 posts or 1100 posts.

I've seen new Mech-ers join the community who had significantly less posts than A LOT of other Mech-ers but whose experience and advice was significantly higher than current members. (Usually, their post count increases exponentially).

I wouldn't say this Vote idea is Dumb (that's rude IMHO). I don't know that a Vote is needed or will work. For example: It drives me crazy when people try to get on the elevator I'm on BEFORE I get off the elevator First - sometimes we just gruel through the things that drive us crazy when there isn't a Best way to fix it.

I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!

[Penguin]

I personally thingk that the whole avatar thing thing should just be eliminated. I think that your user name is plenty of self individualism.

[Sixpack]

Very well put Lord Prism. I agree 100%.