Avatars and post counts

Sparrowhawk · March 30, 2003, 02:30

Question for MarkG and DanQ:

As a long time registered user of Apolyton who is not a frequent poster, I question the logic of having a 500 post minimum for users to be able to have a custom avatar. What is the reason for using Post #'s rather then length of time to determine whether someone can have a custom avatar?

I have seen much spam, mostly in off topic, but elsewhere as well, an many pcr's as a result, so I assume you do not what people deliberatly raising their post counts by spamming, yet you give incentives to new users to quickly get to 500 posts in this way.

A quick check of my profile will show that I only have 200+ post in almost 4 years of being a member of the Apolyton community, yet in order to change this feature I must somehow post another 300 posts?

Please explain this concept to me, or if there is no rationale beyond not wanting to let a new user change their avatar, perhaps it could be changed to be based upon length of membership, or a combination of the two...earliest of two events.

Just a suggested improvement.

Sparrowhawk

Skanky Burns · March 30, 2003, 03:17

Why should someone be able to get a custom avatar if they register but only return to use their login after a year or two?

If your not posting that often, does it matter that you don't have a custom avatar. Honestly, 500 posts is quite easy to get if you are even mildly interested in any of the games this site covers, or even games that Apolyton doesn't cover (other games forum).

notyoueither · March 30, 2003, 03:50

Time in should give the same priviledge as 500 posts on topic, IMHO.

There are many thoughtful people who post from time to time on topic, but who don't get to 500. Mostly they read. When they post, it is quality.

Jon Shafer · March 30, 2003, 04:08

If you're around long enough, it's fine. It's not like someone is going to be waiting around for 3 years with bated breath, anxiously counting down just so they can get their custom avatar at Apolyton.

ixnay · March 30, 2003, 04:40

Used to be that the rule was "1 year or 500 posts". So I got a custom avatar at first but was stuck with it after that rule was changed. I have no idea why it was changed in the first place.

Static Universe · March 30, 2003, 05:19

I don't think one year is short enough. I don't think 500 is too many, either.

Skanky Burns · March 30, 2003, 06:13

Well, I guess a year isn't too short a time to weed out most of the newbies that won't stick around or contribute. Still, 500 posts is not much to get.

See Trip - he gets that many every day!

Jon Shafer · March 30, 2003, 06:30

Bah, that's only because I've either been very active and/or the founder of 3 Apolyton Demo Games.

A more casual poster who just talks strategy or other more general Civ 3 topics won't necessary rack up the posts at the same rate that I do. It's more of a lifestyle anyways, and takes much scheduling. The average poster just can't hold up under such pressure.

Skanky Burns · March 30, 2003, 06:48

Urban Ranger · March 30, 2003, 06:51

Quote:

Originally posted by ixnay
Used to be that the rule was "1 year or 500 posts". So I got a custom avatar at first but was stuck with it after that rule was changed. I have no idea why it was changed in the first place.

I think that was a good rule. Dan and Markos should bring it back.

Bugs ****ing Bunny · March 30, 2003, 06:55

Quote:

Originally posted by Sparrowhawk

I have seen much spam, mostly in off topic, but elsewhere as well, an many pcr's as a result, so I assume you do not what people deliberatly raising their post counts by spamming, yet you give incentives to new users to quickly get to 500 posts in this way.

Spamming the OT will achieve nothing, as posts there do not increase a user's post count.

FrustratedPoet · March 30, 2003, 07:15

Actually for people who make 'quality' long posts in either the game forums, or the stories forums, it can take them ages to reach 500 posts. It's only us 'one-line-post' spammers and DemoGamers who can get there in a couple of months.

The one year rule sounds like it was sensible and fair. I can't imagine why it would have been discontinued.

spartak · March 30, 2003, 07:24

I think it was a hack and then it got lost in an upgrade. Probably too much effort to reinstate the hack - especially if Markos and Dasn plan on keeping the software uptodate.

Rasbelin · March 30, 2003, 07:27

DG people...

None the less, I think the current rule of 500 posts is just good. If you want a custom avatar instantly, you can always go to CGN or Gamecatcher.

Solver · March 30, 2003, 07:39

I would agree that 1 year or maybe 2years should be added, to praise long-time members who don't post every time they open a thread

.

spartak · March 30, 2003, 08:01

Quote:

Originally posted by Solver
I would agree that 1 year or maybe 2years should be added, to praise long-time members who don't post every time they open a thread

.

Dauphin · March 30, 2003, 08:05

Quote:

Originally posted by FrustratedPoet
Actually for people who make 'quality' long posts in either the game forums, or the stories forums, it can take them ages to reach 500 posts. It's only us 'one-line-post' spammers and DemoGamers who can get there in a couple of months.

The worst people don't even post a line, they post single emoticon response. I'm not looking at Taz or Skanky in this thread, oooooh no.

spartak · March 30, 2003, 08:11

Good.

A well placed smilie is worth a 1000 words anyway...

Dauphin · March 30, 2003, 08:21

I agree.

I was told off by Gamecatcher admins for (only on one occasion) posting a single smilie repsonse. The thread was full of inane nonsense, so I posted an emoticon of a sheep skipping. I thought it was funnier than saying. "This thread is surreal".

DrSpike · March 30, 2003, 08:30

Certainly the time rule has merit, and if Mark/Dan didn't remove it for a reason perhaps it will make a return.

Maybe it's on the to-do list.

Chris 62 · March 30, 2003, 10:49

It should be allowed for anyone, post count number is anal.

badams52 · March 30, 2003, 11:12

Quote:

Originally posted by Skanky Burns
Well, I guess a year isn't too short a time to weed out most of the newbies that won't stick around or contribute. Still, 500 posts is not much to get.

While 500 doesn't sound like much, it could take many over a year if they only post once a day.

Often when I'm looking at threads, what I want to say has been said and rather than spamming a "me too," I might just not say anything. But if my only goal was to get that custom avatar, then a quote with a "

" is all that's needed.

Sometimes I also feel guilty if I'm dominating a thread, i.e. showing up every 2 or 3 posts, so I might also refrain in that respect as well.

But in a way, the 500 PC avatar is good since it encourages posting, and the more who post, the move opinions you get. While I have seen some (names withheld to protect the guilty) try and post some 250 messages in 2 days in the forums that "count" just to get a custom avatar, I think the vast majority of posters here generally don't spam just for the sake of custom avatars.

And in a similar way, the same could be said for the Apolyton 100. But in this case, the encouragement is more likely to result in spamming with the number of posts needed....

BTW, would you rather see a verbose response like mine or a quick smiley post? And I'm not buying that picture is worth a 1000 words crap. Don't get me wrong, I think a well placed smiley or image can add a lot to a thread while giving the poster much desired feedback, but worth 1000 words? The only way I'd want to see 1000 words in a post is if you could prove the meaning of life. And even then...

(a well placed

or

after this post would be funny as well

)

badams52 · March 30, 2003, 11:15

Quote:

Originally posted by Chris 62
It should be allowed for anyone, post count number is anal.

On that note, I know some other sites that have it as low as 50. For some people, that's just a day's worth of work.

VetLegion · March 30, 2003, 11:41

Ah, so thats why I wasnt able to put up a custom avatar

I remember it was a rule about 500 posts or some period, so I tried and was pretty puzzled why nothing happened. I got no error message from the forum script either.

Since this was changed, it would be a good idea to put a response page to the upload page, so the user knows why he was rejected. I thought something was wrong with my Opera.

I should have known better, it is the best browser in the multiverse

VetLegion · March 30, 2003, 11:44

Jaysus badams52, it is so freaky of you to use my avatar *shudder*

I thought I was seeing double for a second there

Btw., it would be cool feature to see how many people are using which generic avatar too.

Alex · March 30, 2003, 12:17

I don't care about post counts or custom avatars. Since I got the ability to change my avatar to a custom one, I only did it twice. I know of people who have changed their avatars once a week...