Maybe this will help limit post padding too while allowing true general truck questions to count.
Can we have a "Jokes & Humurous" forum instead where posts won't count? There are some questions in General Discussion that really belong here & should count toward post totals - where else would we post things like "XL or XLT". "Computer On/Off". "Hello & Question", "New Gallery", "Motorcraft Oil Filters", accidents or posts about problem repairs/mechanics - these wouldn't fit in other forums & they really are legit posts/questions. Seems that any post which asks a "where do I find" or introduces a new product/gallery or asks for opinions on something should be considered as important & valid posts.
Another possibility is an actual "Off Topic " Forum - many of us here like to talk about family or their jobs or hobbies & I agree that doesn't necessarily have to count toward post totals but as long as a post is about our truck it should count. Then everyone is happy & you can streamline the forum posts & bring back the search engine! In fact, can I moderate the General Discussion Forum? I'd be happy to move non-truck posts to the "Off Topic" area & allow us to keep the General Forum truck related! Oh Please Steve - please - huh, Steve - huh? You know I'm a faithful General Discussion member since I don't really have specific questions that I can post in the other forums! Please Steve?? <-------looking at you with pleading eyes!

 

Well according to the sticky this forum doesn't count. Doesn't seem like a bad idea either.

 

This IS the off-topic forum, it is a forum where anything and everything (within the site rules of course) that cannot be discussed in another topical F150-related forum on this site can be and should be posted. Joke are fine. Gallery announcements are fine. Computer discussions are fine.

However, what has been happening is some people are using (and abusing) this forum to post idiotic and pointless messages simply to see their post count go up. It's pretty easy to see examples of this on the first page alone.

The end result has been a lot of clutter in this forum and an increased message count. Banter is good, it is what helps tie this community together. Pointless messages simply to bump a post count are ridiculous and discouraged...thus the removal of post counting in this forum.

I would also encourage people to try out instant messenger software, like ICQ or AOL's IM. They are a good way to continue the "conversations" that begin here in a more real-time manner.

Steve

 

AMEN

 

.....I use this forum the most since I don't have posts that "fit" in other forums & therefore I won't clutter them w/the wrong kind of post. For me it means my post count will never change & childish as it may seem I do want to keep post counts just as much as the search feature. There are many truck related topics that won't fit in other forums & should count as vaild posts & receive "credit" & now they won't. I just see a new trend toward people turning to other forums to post unrelated topics & that will cause the problem to spread throughout the entire site.
If there was a "jokes & trivia" type forum that didn't count then all the clutter from here could go there & we could continue to use this for bona fide questions/comments & that should cut way down on the problem you're now trying to fix. Trust me Steve - it will just be a matter of time before other forums fall prey to post padding - people will respond with an "I agree" or "I disagree" just to accumulate posts. I think it can be attributed to our basic "competitive" nature. Can't we at least try a jokes forum for say 2 weeks & see how it goes? I'm willing to bet that you'll see a dramatic decrease in post padding here & a far more organized General Discussion Forum that is more useful as a source for info - the way it used to be way back when. Won't you please consdier this? I'm even willing to stop adding to the post count during the "trial" & if it seems to be working we can always add post counting back here & leave it out of the jokes forum. Isn't it worth a try at least? Please?

 

Cowlady,

Just so you know, you "lost" a post in your count. Your spark plug question would have been appropriate in Engines.


Steve,

Glad to see you're so dedicated. As far as I'm concerned make it a pay site! A small fee from a few thousand people would provide more money for your server needs, and hopefully the trolls would go away, even if it was just $5 or something.

I know you won't, but when the April Fools joke was sprung I was ready to break out my VISA!

 

Cowlady - I see were your coming from, but if you think about it most truck related questions can fit in at least 1 forum. They are kinda broad.

But it would not be bad to have a 'General Discussion - truck' where posts count, and then a 'General Discussion - anything but trucks' were posts don't count and it also periodically deletes older threads, say 30 days or more.

 

What does it matter what your posting count is.
That's not what this site is about. I have been able to fix several problems on my truck myself due to this site, and I could care less what my post count is.

I agree with signmaster.

 

the only real solution is to eliminate post counts across the board. This will eliminate the competition and then the unnecessary posts.

We all know who the regulars are, do we need a little number beside our names to prove this?

 

I'll have to agree with last few posts. What "mature' person really cares how many posts he or she has? When I first came across this site I thought it was great to chat with people with the same interests, learn several things, and maybe share a few ideas. Lately it's been a pain in the a$$ trying to read the posts with all the crap padding the forums. Of course we have to get off topic every now and then but come on already! That's the trouble with free stuff...there's always someone being a pig.

If I have to pay, well, so be it! Can I pay in Canadian dollars though? ;-)


(I'm just begging to be flamed, huh?)

 

Yes the regulars would keep coming back if this wasa paysite but new members would never sign up and this site would cease to grow.

I've been here long enought to remember getting excited about hitting the 1000 member mark and the old UBB format, I'm sure there are many more by now and would liek this site to continue to grow

 

There are almost 20,000 here now.
I would have never thought i would see that.

 

Well, look who the cat dragged in!