[Sina]

Originally Posted by Vlad

As mentioned in the announcement, they are still viewable in people's profiles under "statistics".

We have had a lot of problems with bullying of newbies, this is a test measure to see if removing the info from the immediate view will help that. We are not the only forum having difficulty with long timers / established members not acting as kindly to newcomers as we'd like them to, this measure seems to help a bit in the long run.

I truly think this is a good idea. I feel bad for new members sometimes. I hope we can see a difference now!

[Sina]

Originally Posted by Nyria

But you see, that could be a bit of a problem. Because A post count doesn't tell you if the posts were of substance or not.
There are lots of people who just get their post number up by posting everywhere 'nice bag' or playing games in the board game section. That big number doesn't mean they have more knowlegde than say someone who lurks but only posts when they have something of substance to say.
(not to say 'nice bag isn;t legit -- I'm talking about those who JUST do it for a number boost).
And there shouldn't be a hierarchy as someone else mentioned - this is a chat forum for Pete's sake.

I do appreciate though that we can still see the number somewhere.
This will be especially helpful when I see someone on eBay say 'TPF' member and then I come here and see they've been a member for 2 days with 1 post.

Totally agree!

[Baby Boo]

i agree and disagree ( haha not htat my opinion counts) but anyway.. i think its good if ppl are being bullied.. but also when i see someone with very low posts i sometimes am wary- for expmple in the authenticate this thread somone with one post i assume is askin about thier own eBay thread.. if that makes sense.

[Echoes]

Some points.

A low post count on any board does not mean the poster is not knowledgeble or experienced in the subject at hand. They may be highly knowledgeable, but just new to the board. By the same token, a high post count does not always relate to knowledge and credibility. Post counts only tell how many times they've posted, not how many times they've been right or wrong. On many boards, I've seen people with hundreds of posts to their credit, but most of them are nothing but chitchat, nothing helpful at all.

Regarding the authentication threads, we have to remember that 'yeahs' or 'nays' are only the opinions of posters based on their own personal experience. Unless the poster is an employee or representative of the desginer label in question, there is nothing official about their 'yeah' or 'nay'.



Question for Admin: Can a post rank icon be displayed based on post count without displaying the post count itself? Or would that still cause the same issues?

[aquablueness]

Originally Posted by Ellie Mae

PURSEMONKEY>>>OMG.. "MONKEY SEE, MONKEY BUY"... that is TOO PERFECT!

LOL, that's SOOO funny.

Anyways, Vlad, or whoever thought of this idea, SO SMART! Newbies need to be treated equally and not regarded as just newbies. We were all newbies once and probably felt a little outcasted, but made our way to become known.

[lovelygarments]

I don't agree with this. When I see someone making a comment, I always glance over at their post numbers and the "member since ...." so that I can see how long they have been a member, and if they are an active contributor to the PF. I know that some people have a huge number of posts, but at least I know that they have been around for a while. The other day, a PF member was having a problem with an online seller (also a PF member), and was asking for help. All of a sudden someone with four or five posts and a new member was making comments about this online seller - her observations were not of a "newbie" at all. Her comments were quite in depth. WTH? Her explanation was that she was a member of some other boards and she kind of knew this seller by reputation, and that she had been watching our board, or something like that. If two PF members are having a dispute over something, it just raises eyebrows when a "newbie" then interjects a detailed comment. That is just an example of how helpful the post count and the date joined is. I'm sorry that some people have not rec'd a warm welcome on TPF. I have always warmly welcomed any newcomer, except in the above example. I remember when I first joined, I tread lightly. I was in awe of the knowledge of the PF members. I didn't ever think that I would be able to authenticate a bag! But with the help and knowledge of the many members here, I can hold my own, and when I can't, I still come here for help and guidance.

[helium]

Originally Posted by lovelygarments

All of a sudden someone with four or five posts and a new member was making comments about this online seller - her observations were not of a "newbie" at all. Her comments were quite in depth. WTH? Her explanation was that she was a member of some other boards and she kind of knew this seller by reputation, and that she had been watching our board, or something like that. If two PF members are having a dispute over something, it just raises eyebrows when a "newbie" then interjects a detailed comment. That is just an example of how helpful the post count and the date joined is.

Originally Posted by Kallie Girl

I have to say that I do look at this info sometimes to get an idea of how valid a person's post is or if someone seems to be a troll, etc.

And I think these are the two exact reasons why post counts are being disabled. Lovelygarments, I think I know what thread you're talking about or at least I can think of a few examples in the eBay thread, but the fact is some of them may very well have been lurkers and it's not fair for us call them out on something we can't prove. I know these stories sound so suspicious and it's easier for us to be wary but the fact is aside from how odd the story sounds, neither contradictions nor proof exists for us to be wary. Falling back on the fact that their post count is surprisingly low as a way of judging whether their post is valid or not does not seem like hard proof to me of their suspiciousness, nor is it very nice of us to do so. Of course, just for the record, there has been at least one person who was painfully obvious as to who she was (the seller of the defect bag who kept hawking her bag as perfect) but in the end we did find some proof of her identity.

Also judging a person's posts as valid or whether they're a troll or not is not determined by post count. I could choose to be a troll on here unintentionally stirring up drama right this moment by going to the Relationships forum and typing up a ludicrous story about how I found out my boyfriend is actually a woman today and oh wait no he's not, wait i'm not sure, wait he's a woman, and supposedly, since my post count is over 1000 this story is more valid. Trolls come in all shapes and sizes and all sorts of post counts, I can think of one very famous one who has over 400 posts.

I guess my point is if the member is a troll or is on here for undesirable reasons it would be obvious, post count or not, and just because someone has a high post count does not mean they are incapable of being a troll and incapable of being undesirable (see, maybe, Speedy). A post count is not a valid way to judge validity of posts and yet it is being used as so, so I think it's for the better that it's gone.

[Prada Psycho]

With regard to the "Authenticate This" threads, I seriously have issues with eliminating the membership date in particular and probaby the post count, too. I've seen too many new people show up on the Prada thread in particular claiming to work for Prada or having some sort of knowledge only to watch them say that fake bags are authentic.

I know as a buyer that I heavily rely on the senior tPF members on the other Authenticate This threads when I step out of the Prada world. I'd be thoroughly **ssed off if someone with an inflated ego and no history of authenticating on tPF to back up their opinions steered me into spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on a fake bag. I've seen that happen on other sub-forums before and it's frightening. It's not just opinion on those threads. It's someone's MONEY.

There's got to be some middle ground here. Maybe a few more moderators to rid the problem forums of the bullies and keep the trolls/spammers in check.

This just seems like an extreme case of throwing the baby out with the bath water...

[thatgurl]

Originally Posted by ValleyO

ITA- I don't care for this at all. I think the intention is good but when I answer a question I like to know how much information is needed by the poster. On the flip side when I ask a question I also like to know how "established" the repliers are to make sure that I'm getting reliable information.

I've let this sit overnight & I feel the same.

Especially when it comes to the *bay forum & the AT threads. I'd like to know who I am getting advice from. Sure, there are some names I recognize & a lot of times I may recognize the signature or avatar. However, when someone changes either of those things, I feel as if I'm lost again. Sometimes on an AT thread, if one persons answers the AT question no one else does. If I'm in my "home" AT thread, I know who I want my answers from. However, if I am venturing out into another line, I don't know who the most knowledgeable authenticators are.

I understand why this info has been removed for now. I'm sorry it had to be this way. I can say that there are only a few senior members who have had a sharp tongue.......er..........fingers that I have seen. The rest of them are splendid

I will say, overall, this has to be the most welcoming bunch of forum members I've encountered.

[lovelygarments]

PradaPsycho, I value and respect your opinion greatly, and I appreciate all of the effort and time that you have put into the Prada Authenticate This Thread.

In regard to a thread that involves two PF members, I still am highly suspicious of a newbie coming down hard on one side or the other. I must respectfully disagree with you on this point.

I would certainly put less weight on a newbie's comments in a heated matter between two PF members, and I would want to know how long they had been a member. That's just me.

We do agree on wanting to see the posts in the "Authenticate This" threads.

JMO, and I'm glad that we both have the opportunity to share our opinions. :)

[Dawn]

thanks for the question - i missed the announcement too.

i don't think disabling post count or the membership month/year are a big deal. if it helps the forum run more smoothly for the mods and admins, great. it may mean an extra click or two for us, but i'm fine with that.

[finzup]

Originally Posted by boxermom

Maybe rather than taking the post count and join date off for everyone, the people who are doing the bullying can be warned and after a certain # of offenses, they are penalized in some way. Just a thought.

I couldn't agree more -- why not just warn/ban the offending members rather than take away a feature that many of us find useful?

[LOREBUNDE]

I miss the thread count too but at least it's there if we really need to see it - it's not like it was taken away completely. It only takes a second to look up someones count.

[Diesel&Coco]

Originally Posted by finzup

I couldn't agree more -- why not just warn/ban the offending members rather than take away a feature that many of us find useful?

+1!

I feel weird and discombobulated without those two little things on the side of everyone's posts!

[tadpolenyc]

Originally Posted by finzup

I couldn't agree more -- why not just warn/ban the offending members rather than take away a feature that many of us find useful?

i agree. while i appreciate the measures that are being taken to make new members feel welcome, i also find the post count and join dates helpful. i use them as a gauge to determine whether or not i'm getting reliable information from more seasoned members.