The Psychology Behind The Number Of Posts

[crokett]

Wait a minute... you mean having a high post count doesn;t make you an expert????

[Black wallnut]

What I find truely amazing is that someone with around 500 posts just recently read for the first time George's "congratulations on your purchase" copy/ paste post!

It just IMHO goes to show that some have way more time to post than others and since I have not read every new post since about the 5th month this board was opened really have little idea on just how usefull someone else's posts are. Methinks it just is not my job to judge. Many times I will only reply if I have a different opinion on a given subject. I see little point in the +1 and yeah what he said posts to inflate my already inflated post count.

Looking through the posters in this topic remind me that there are a bunch of folks that have been around since the beginning and have not amassed large post counts. Then there are those that have a moderate post count (like mine) that have contributed enormously to the subject mater of this forum. ie KWGeorge, Gmack, Loring (well his count is kinda high) etc.

My thought is that there are better methods of deciding validity than post count; plus there is always those subjects where there is more than one correct way! Such as "which type of router is best for table use". Me and LarryG have debated that ? on many occasion and even though I disagree with him I don't think newbies should hold his high post count against him!

Guess I'd better go eat some breakfast 'cause now I'm getting windbagish!

[leehljp]

My puny post count, compared to my join date, tells you everything you need to know about me... Anything I say must be important!
<snip>
In reality, I have looked at my post count here, and was surprised it is as low as it is. Though I haven't been a regular for years, so maybe some of my posts fell away. But it really doesn't matter.

Back last winter when there was a change over of forum software, many people's post count got mixed up. Some people lost a few (or a hundred or so), some gained a few (or a hundred or so). Lee Styron lost a few hundred and so did Loring. I gained a couple of hundred I think. No big deal, but it did happen to many. I think you lost a few too because I thought you contributed quite and more than your current count lists.

[Thom2]

... Guess I'd better go eat some breakfast ...

Post Toasties?????

+1 to my post count

the scary part is, this one was probably more helpful than some of the other's I've made


now for my opinion on post counts ....

I personally put very little value in them, like many others, I look at the join date, the # of posts, as well as the overall tone that the user uses in their posts.

I myself don't post nearly as often as I'd like to, and it's probably for a reason that will seem stupid to most. I'm very self-critical of my lack of grammar skills and my inability to express myself thru written (typed in this case) word. Quite frankly, there's times that I go back and read my previous posts and wish I'd just kept my mouth shut because I come across like a babbling idiot (like now???). I just lack the ability to express myself in a way that I'm comfortable with.

Now on the other hand, put a post/word count in the chat room and WATCH OUT! I'm an overflowing wealth of useless information in that environment

[Stytooner]

Thom, expressing yourself in written form is so easy, even a Caveman could do it.
Ug! Ug? Ug. (Ug, ug.)
See what I mean?

[gsmittle]

I have such a drab, wretched life that my post count is the only thing keeping me going...

#499...

g

[DUD]

I lost some numbers in the changeover, but I don't post for the numbers, I post mostly for the companionship. I don't get out much, and don't do an awful lot. The woodworking I do is mostly for the home and it is used so I know that at least some of my effort in wood is good. I post a bunch of jokes, cause I think laughter is the greatest medicine. I am on a lot of medication and stay on the computer a lot more than I watch TV. Some of My posts may not make sense, don't worry about it, if I had waited a while before I posted it, I probably would not have posted. Another post for me. Wow over 1900 posts, man, wow. Bill

[Mrs. Wallnut]

I would have to say that I agree with DUD. I don't have to many friends that live around me that do not work or have busier days than I do (kids doing sports). But to me this a rather large extended family that I like to keep in touch with and sometimes this is the only place to get a good laugh at someones jokes (DUD) or see what someone is doing in the shop, sometimes that is the only form of talking with someone or seeing how someone is doing that I get. Spending every day with a 9 month old is fun but sometimes it is nice to have a place where adults can discuss things is nice to have.

PLUS THE OTHER REASON IS..........I HAVE NO LIFE!!!!!!!

[cwsmith]

I try to check the forum everyday, read whatever is of interest to me and if I feel there is something that I can offer, I'll post. I do on occasion look at my post count, so it does have some meaning with regard to participation. While I generally don't like to post anything for the sake of just posting, I do know that I'm all too often a bit long-winded and surely everything that I post isn't necesarily appreciated or read with interest. So, for me the post count simply means some effort toward participation and I certainlly take away far more than I could ever put back.

CWS

[backpacker85]

I too have lurked for quite some time, and just recently registered. I was in the process of posting some info I on a few NIB BT3100's I found (and I will still do this in the "Bargain" forum), but I figured what better thread to post #1 (besides, I can double my post count in a few seconds in the Bargain forum.

[crokett]

there's times that I go back and read my previous posts and wish I'd just kept my mouth shut because I come across like a babbling idiot (like now???)

Isn't that pretty much every post? Sorry. couldn't resist - it was a slowpitch softball just hanging out there.

Anyway, a good number of my posts are in this topic not because I don't have anything more important to say but because somebody else has usually already answered a question by the time I get to it. Also the coffee pot is the big reason I come here. I can get information anywhere. What I have here are friends. Heck I know more about some of you whom I've never met than some of the guys I work with.