## Poll: How Posts are Counted

Post by Jason Toddman » Fri Apr 04, 2014 9:52 pm

I have noticed recently that post counts of certain members seem wildly inflated.
Granted, some of my own posts are pure fluff too, but compared to the next couple of people behind me in the post count, my percentage of fluff is quite small. Most of their posts come from the Games and Roleplays section alone (much of which has nothing to do with TUGs) and are generally pretty brief and show little or no effort. The average word count of their posts is also generally pretty low.
It seems unfair to me that a hard-working writer's story (or installment/chapter) running to several thousand words and hours of effort counts no more in the post count than a simple, almost brainless post like: I love bacon and eggs. That simple comment being the entire post. It is an actual example, and one of hundreds from the same writer of equal brevity and lack of point (or wit).
So I wonder if there should be either a replacement to the current system or a supplement to it (assuming either is possible, I haven't asked Zanev about it yet) which rewards more those who write Tugs stories (and those who comment upon them) than those who rack up 1 more in their post count just simply posting a few idle (and totally uninteresting ) words in the Last person to Post in this thread Wins thread that requires no time, effort, creativity or thought.
I suggest a new system should count only stories, comments to stories, and posts in such relevant forums as Tugs Talk, Jump In the Fire, and General Chat. Posts in Games and Roleplays on the other hand would no longer be added to a person's post count (though the forum itself would otherwise not be changed).
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
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### Re: Poll: How Posts are Counted

Post by skybird137 » Fri Apr 04, 2014 11:27 pm

It does seem that certain people make posts just for the purpose of increasing their score.
It can irk on occasions when you write a three thousand word edition of a story which ends up at one hundred thousand words long, but if the score was what I cared about, then maybe I wouldn't be writing stories.
If they so desperately need to have their egos inflated by a post score, left them have it.
Calling Fifty Shades of Grey a Bondage Story is like calling Titanic an Iceberg Movie...
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### Re: Poll: How Posts are Counted

Post by FelixSH » Sat Apr 05, 2014 4:28 am

People here care about their post count? To be honest, I´m baffled by this. It´s not like it means anything. I think people here should be respected according to their behaviour, not according to how often they post.
I´m with skybird:

> If they so desperately need to have their egos inflated by a post score, left them have it.

### Re: Poll: How Posts are Counted

Post by Jason Toddman » Sat Apr 05, 2014 6:15 am

> skybird137 wrote:It does seem that certain people make posts just for the purpose of increasing their score.

Yes. Not sure why it bugs me, but it does.
It just seems to me there ought to be a system here that rewards real writing more than it does empty-headed BS like some of the stuff I see here!
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

### Re: Poll: How Posts are Counted

Post by FelixSH » Sat Apr 05, 2014 6:38 am

I think for that a "Like"-button would be more useful. This might also help with the lack of feedback. Someone who doesn´t want to post an answer for whatever reason to a story could just click the button.

### Re: Poll: How Posts are Counted

Post by Jason Toddman » Sat Apr 05, 2014 7:48 am

I think that idea was discussed before in a different thread a year or two ago under Suggestions and Comments. I think the concept itself has some merit, but if I recall correctly Zanev said it was not possible to install such a system here.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

### Re: Poll: How Posts are Counted

Post by xtc » Sat Apr 05, 2014 10:06 am

I looked at my figures recently and was embarrassed to notice that, although the majority of my posts were on the "Fictional Tugs" section, the most active topic was "The Last Person . . ." I'd be perfectly happy to have my post count reduced by 7.6% so that it didn't look like I was obsessed with brainless trivia. (Hang on, does that include the post count as well?)
We intellectuals need to protect our dignity.
Boxer shorts are cool,
but little speedos rule!
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### Re: Poll: How Posts are Counted

Post by Jason Toddman » Sat Apr 05, 2014 10:52 am

My own frivolous percentage is probably higher than that; maybe 15% or even possibly up to 20%.
But some of the others in the top 10 have way more than 50% that can be so counted. you know which ones i am thinking of I am sure. It just seems wrong to me that people who mostly write such inane (and uninteresting) fluff get more distinction with higher post counts than do other, harder-working and more serious writers who stick to more serious subjects. And post count is the sole criterion of 'rank' - and the two of these are really the only marks of 'distinction' this site offers.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

### Re: Poll: How Posts are Counted

Post by Kyle » Sat Apr 05, 2014 2:54 pm

Is it really an issue? Are there prizes for having the most posts?

### Re: Poll: How Posts are Counted

Post by xtc » Sat Apr 05, 2014 3:43 pm

Yes, there are.
We don't write on this site for pecuniary advantage but our "Titles" reflect either a competition win or (here it comes) our number of posts. If the entirely of one of someone's posts is "1+1 =2" it counts for just as much as, say, one of Sarobah's carefully thought out and superbly written episodes.
Boxer shorts are cool,
but little speedos rule!
More by the same author: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=22729

### Re: Poll: How Posts are Counted

Post by Kyle » Sun Apr 06, 2014 10:18 am

People really worry about these titles? I barely even notice.

### Re: Poll: How Posts are Counted

Post by Jason Toddman » Sun Apr 06, 2014 10:31 am

> Kyle wrote:People really worry about these titles? I barely even notice.

Which is probably why you have a reasonably sane post count. But some people seem to go crazy. just check this:
http://www.tieupgames.net/memberlist.ph ... memberlist
Of course, maybe i do squawk too much about it considering I'm the one leading the way!
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

### Re: Poll: How Posts are Counted

Post by skybird137 » Sun Apr 06, 2014 10:43 am

It's a pity you can't award titles or take them away. Ones like 'Bondage roleplayer' or 'Frivolous poster' or 'Pain in the Post' or maybe even 'Good writer' (KP for example)
Calling Fifty Shades of Grey a Bondage Story is like calling Titanic an Iceberg Movie...
http://skybird137.deviantart.com

### Re: Poll: How Posts are Counted

Post by Jay Feely » Sun Apr 06, 2014 11:56 am

I do not worry about my post count because for 3 months June to August I be in China where this site is blocked and people can pass me during that break for me on this site. This year happens to be June 13th to August 13th.
You will have to subdue me to restrain me. I been a bad boy so make sure you torture me too with anything but pain.

### Re: Poll: How Posts are Counted

Post by chadmc90 » Sun Apr 06, 2014 2:34 pm

I didn't vote because my answer wasn't in the poll, but my solution would be to weight the amount of words in each post to the contribution to your score. For example, if your post has 2 words in it, it would add 2 to your score. But if you post says, say, 100 words, add 100 points. Then determine the goal values for titling people. For example, 1 - 1000 points will be for the "Kidnapped" rank, and when you get to 1001, you increase a rank.
Now I don't know how phpBB is implemented so I don't know how difficult of a task this will be. But this would be more fair than the current, although this one could have flaws as well.
Check out my latest story A Cowboy's Dream!
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### Re: Poll: How Posts are Counted

Post by Jason Toddman » Sun Apr 06, 2014 3:11 pm

I thought iof something roughly similar, but don't think there would be a practical way to implement such an idea to this site. I think counting by words would be a pretty unwieldy process in any case; that's why i didn't suggest it.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

### Re: Poll: How Posts are Counted

Post by Kyle » Sun Apr 06, 2014 3:18 pm

> Jason Toddman wrote:

> > Kyle wrote:People really worry about these titles? I barely even notice.

> Which is probably why you have a reasonably sane post count. But some people seem to go crazy. just check this:
> memberlist.php?mode=&sk=d&sd=d#memberlist
> Of course, maybe i do squawk too much about it considering I'm the one leading the way!

You are a mod too, so you will have a lot of posts.
I actually thought I had a lot of posts.

### Re: Poll: How Posts are Counted

Post by Chris12 » Sun Apr 06, 2014 10:19 pm

Do people really get distinction from their post count?
If its more distinction from more involved posters is what you want then why not give them a tittle? Most people now have something like kidnapper or bondage master but XTC for example has ancient skald. So why not give valued members to option of titling themselves?

### Re: Poll: How Posts are Counted

Post by Jason Toddman » Sun Apr 06, 2014 10:30 pm

> Chris12 wrote:Do people really get distinction from their post count?
> If its more distinction from more involved posters is what you want then why not give them a tittle? Most people now have something like kidnapper or bondage master but XTC for example has ancient skald. So why not give valued members to option of titling themselves?

Now that's a thought. Maybe a monthly poll or a contest or something. Well, we tried the contest already and didn't get many takers, but a poll might work. Or some other way to determine worthiness could be worked out. Anyway, that would all be up to zanev of course.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

### Re: Poll: How Posts are Counted

Post by skybird137 » Sun Apr 06, 2014 11:32 pm

People like KPpresents deserve a special title after the contributions that they have made to the board.
The problem with the contests is that when you are used to writing a long story, five hundred words is equivalent to a short prologue or epilogue. Perhaps you should have a system where people can be nominated by readers.
Calling Fifty Shades of Grey a Bondage Story is like calling Titanic an Iceberg Movie...
http://skybird137.deviantart.com

### Re: Poll: How Posts are Counted

Post by Jason Toddman » Sun Apr 06, 2014 11:34 pm

> skybird137 wrote:Perhaps you should have a system where people can be nominated by readers.

That's more or less what I was thinking of with the poll, but yes nominations would have to come first.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

### Re: Poll: How Posts are Counted

Post by xtc » Mon Apr 07, 2014 1:22 am

I have suggested that there be a "Hall of Fame" - not just the moribund one from Canuck100 that has not been addressed since 2009 - to which members could nominate individual works. With sensible moderation to ensure that "single interest" considerations did not predominate, it would give not only recognition to our better writers but also a resource for newer members.
To chose to contrasting contributors:
Sarobah, whose plotting, grammatical constructions and wit are an example to anyone who wants to write consensual M/F stories
Bondgefreak, whose prolific output has won him a loyal following for hi rather less consensual M/M tales
Such writers deserve special recognition and readers might appreciate having somewhere that held such examples of the genre.
Boxer shorts are cool,
but little speedos rule!
More by the same author: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=22729

### Re: Poll: How Posts are Counted

Post by Chris12 » Mon Apr 07, 2014 6:28 am

I'd say you deserve such a mention as well.

### Re: Poll: How Posts are Counted

Post by Jason Toddman » Mon Apr 07, 2014 6:33 am

So do you, Chris. Your English (particularly your spelling of certain words) might not be perfect, but there's something about the small flaws that actually made your stories even more fun to read - at least, to me.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

### Re: Poll: How Posts are Counted

Post by xtc » Mon Apr 07, 2014 7:02 am

> Chris12 wrote:I'd say you deserve such a mention as well.

Thank you, Chris, but it wasn't my place to say so; and that might be a problem with my suggestion because Jason Toddman would certainly warrant a place (or several places) but, as a moderator, might be in an awkward position if he had the job of nominating candidates.
Sorry, Jason, I seem to have hijacked your thread but I'd really like such a repository on this board.
Boxer shorts are cool,
but little speedos rule!
More by the same author: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=22729

### Re: Poll: How Posts are Counted

Post by chadmc90 » Mon Apr 07, 2014 7:23 am

I always wandered why the current Hall of Fame section was never updated. I do agree that a Hall of Fame that is nominated by readers would be an awesome addition to the site. There should be rules, however, that should limit stories that can be nominated. Not necessary on actual content but more like status of completion. I feel a story must be finished to be eligible for this Hall of Fame.
Check out my latest story A Cowboy's Dream!
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### Re: Poll: How Posts are Counted

Post by xtc » Mon Apr 07, 2014 7:59 am

I agree. Is anybody else interested in this suggestion?
Boxer shorts are cool,
but little speedos rule!
More by the same author: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=22729

### Re: Poll: How Posts are Counted

Post by skybird137 » Mon Apr 07, 2014 8:04 am

I think that having a Hall of Fame system is a very good idea.

### Re: Poll: How Posts are Counted

Post by chadmc90 » Mon Apr 07, 2014 9:04 am

One other rule that should be considered is WHEN you hold Hall of fame elections. Do you hold them once a year or once a month? Also, There should be an award system in place like with the story contest. One obvious is awarding the author a distinctive title, which is what this topic is all about.
Check out my latest story A Cowboy's Dream!
Feedback highly appreciated! Feel free to Private Message me if you prefer to not post on the public forum!

### Re: Poll: How Posts are Counted

Post by skybird137 » Mon Apr 07, 2014 9:14 am

I would have thought that I quiet would to the moderators would be sufficient for a story to be checked out for a place in the hall of fame.
Calling Fifty Shades of Grey a Bondage Story is like calling Titanic an Iceberg Movie...
http://skybird137.deviantart.com