Question: I've been a DU member for years, but I rarely post.

[flying_monkeys]

I read here, and spread what I read elsewhere but it seems to me that MANY here would prefer a post count of 1500 ITAs and fluff over 200 real answers to questions fielded while trying to determine a member's "validity" here as a poster.


I could be wrong - - But my Q for y'all is:


Should I go whore my post count over 1000 by playing in the Lounge, or do DU'ers run checks on the "content" (so to say) of peoples' posts when they run a count of less than 500? And, do they actually read them all?



Tomorrow, I won't be Black Friday shopping, so I have time to drive my post counts UP if need be - - but is that really necessary?


Thanks for your reply :)

[GOPBasher]

1. I never gave a crap about my post count.

Who cares about post counts? You're right, in order to know who really spends more time posting, we would need to look at the number and the content. I probably have 2000 posts of nothing but stupid, one-line, sarcastic comments about Republicans. That should collectively count as about 3 actually posts.

[seabeyond]

2. i dont check people out. i did it once after all this time here last week

and the guy got tombstoned. has to be real obvious to me, but no.... i dont care about numbers, i dont care if you post whore or if you dont, and obviously i answer regardless of numbers of post,... if i am interested or i have something to say,

[Berserker]

3. flying_monkeys

No one cares if your post count is 100 or 5000 All that matters is what you post. We don't run checks at least I have never heard of anyone doing it.
Yes your opinion counts even if it is number one we read them all.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

4. Ignore Those Who Consider Post Count To Mean Anything, As They Are Either Ignorant Or Have Too Weak

of a position to have debated your point appropriately.

Fact is, every single one of us had our first posts at one time. Were we any less liberal then?

Some of the best stuff on DU right now is from lower post count members, and some of the biggest division, ignorance and animosity can come from posters with far more. Of course, the opposite can be quite true as well.

Post count has not an iota to do with the quality of a post. The context of the post itself does. So ignore those who chastise you for it. Just know that as long as your posts are of sound quality and context in your opinion, then they will be read by many as being of sound quality. Those that think your post count has anything to do with that quality simply never had any stronger of an argument to throw back at you to begin with.

[AJ9000]

69. I think the post count total should be removed.

some may look at my relatively few postings and consider me a political neophyte. The reality is I have followed politics for 25 years.

don't judge people by the number of posts.

[slowry]

5. This is funny...

... I've been lurking here for some time myself and was just thinking of starting a new thread, but I haven't made the minimum number of required posts! :rofl:

[Nite Owl]

10. Welcome slowry!

:hi:

[Berserker]

13. Hi slowry

GOPBasher said it best. Welcome to DU.

[Kiouni]

30. Hey Slowry, Welcom!

[flying_monkeys]

41. Welcome, Slowry!

Maybe someday we will both have over 500 posts LOLOLOL

[Minnesota_Lib]

48. Self-deleted - responded to wrong post yet again

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

6. Post count, schmost count.

QUALITY! Now that's what's important.

[Nite Owl]

7. Just be yourself

It makes no difference if the post count is in the single digits or tens of thousands. Some people have the time and the desire to post a lot some don't. Some are serious, some lighthearted but whatever we are all here for the same reason to learn and to be able to inform others about truth. That is is all that really matters. Like any family there are many personalites and no one is better or worse. We need all of us. Life would be pretty boring if we all had to fit into a mold and come out the same. Gee we might as be, you know, republicans if that were the case!

[sweetheart]

8. respect

Vaya con dios. I wish you all that all the blessings of life gift you the best of luck,
that misfortune take another path, a million enlightenments in all people.

[LeighAnn]

9. 700 Club here you come!

That was a big thing for me, the 700 Club, couldn't wait to get there and slowed up on the posting majorly because I didn't want out! After that it was 1000, now what? It was always just for fun, though, the validity aspect never occurred to me.

[driver8]

11. The only time I look at post count is when a post sounds like it may have

been written by a freeper.

I do a lot of bullshitting in the lounge and have a high post count -- it doesn't mean anything.

[Kiouni]

32. I also start looking around

election season, when all the freepers are clicking away to get higher numbers and personally i like to read more consistent members posts then just those that join to rant around election times.

[Jamastiene]

12. Nope, 'tis not the quantity of posts, but the quality that counts.

Post as you deem fit. If you feel like saying something, say it. If it's something that people like, love, or hate, they will say so. That's usually how it works. Remember, thread titles (the subject line) may get people to click. That always helps.

[porphyrian]

14. As long as you're following the DU rules, it doesn't matter what people think about what you say.

We need enough variance in opinion to keep our ideas from stagnating and ourselves from becoming intellectually lazy. You may have thought of something no one else has, or you may just remind the right person about it at the right time. Nobody knows, so your opinion is no more or less valuable than anyone else's here. Don't feel like you can't post here yet, it's not an exclusive club within a club(despite the efforts of some).

[Journeyman]

15. When I read something intelligent and literate, I'll search their history . . .

to see if they're someone I want to look for in the future. There are a few people I do that for, keep in my "buddy list" and periodically look to see what they've posted. That's one of the few uses I put "search" to on a regular basis. For the most part, I rarely read beyond the first half-dozen posts or so, or glance down the thread directory to see if a subject stands out or one of my favoreds has posted, but mostly I avoid the threads if a subject doesn't inspire the first few writers. I find there are too many really good commenters on the web, and the truly gifted have their own blogs or contribute to specific sites, and with time at such a premium I'd rather husband it cautiously.

So in answer to your question, for me it's what you say, not how often.

[littlebit]

16. I am the same way.

I have been here for almost a year but I rarely post. Sometimes I just don't know what to say.

[AnnInLa]

56. littlebit....just say what you think

you'll be surprised that so many people think as you do!

Welcome to DU and join the fun.

[TahitiNut]

17. It's QUALITY, not quantity.

... and I walk the walk, since absolutely every one of my 40,859 posts has been a precious gem of erudition, incisiveness, and genius. :dunce:

[lutefisk]

67. Ah...TahitiNut: That rare combination of quantity and quality!

I'm not kidding. But there might have been a few stinkers in that 40,859+ posts body of work. :yourock: :applause:

[TahitiNut]

70. (blush) Thanks. I needed that.

I've allowed myself to be provoked too often, I'm afraid. The last 35 hours have not been my finest.

:applause: Your generosity is truly appreciated.

[Stephanie]

18. What are you talking about?

[kevinmc]

19. My Post Count is low, Been here a long time ......

I don't see the big deal. I look at the heading of a post .... if it's something new and catches my curiosity I look at the posting. I also use my ignore function, which trims out the BS.

[seabeyond]

20. gotta say flying monkey, you do a lousy job at post whoring

not even replying on your own thread. could have made at least 15 points anyway.. lol lol. gonna take you forever to get to a thousand. one post per thread you create.

[Gormy Cuss]

22. Best response in the thread! n/t

[flying_monkeys]

40. LOLOL It just doesn't come naturally to post one liners saying

"thank you for posting!"


I'll try to work at it :)


Oh, and Thank you for replying to my thread LOLOLOL

[seabeyond]

50. bah hahahahaha

you are welcome. see easy. oh, and i am somewhere in the 20k's, wink. natural enough for me

just sayin

[puerco-bellies]

21. I'll throw in my 2 cents (and my 999th post) and say..

Your post count does not give any weight to your post content. It is the content that counts.

[Nicole]

23. I never look at post count until someone mentions it.

I wish date joined was displayed instead of numbers of posts.

[alittlelark]

24. The flying_monkeys seems to have abandoned it's post

funny how that happens. Monkeys just seem to fly out of *'s.............



Oh, a shiny thing... it's pretty... it shines.


Yeah.

[flying_monkeys]

42. Not abandoned :)

I went to bed and worked earlier so I just got on now :)


Thank you for replying to my thread :)

[hfojvt]

25. Hey, we are twins. That makes 4 in the family.

That I know of.

First, however. Do not be dissing the lounge. It is just as possible to have a series discussion or flamewar there as it is here, and many posts here in GD or GDP are no more than one or two lines, like "he's a racist crackhead" in a Michael Richards thread (and oh boy, there's a timeless, deep philosophical topic (if a celebrity falls on camera is there anyway to avoid hearing it and hearing it and hearing it?))

Second, yes I do check content if I suspect a person is a troll, but I am not going to say what content just to make it harder for trolls to fake it.

Third, are you implying that I have posted alot of fluff just because I have 10,000+ posts in the same time you have only 200? Because I resemble that remark.

[BelgianMadCow]

26. I use registration date and post content and user profile to discern trolls

post count really doesn't say much to me.

Mind you, I also try to give low post non-starred newbies the benefit of the doubt. I was one not that long ago, and the DU warm welcome is a very good trait imho.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

64. Me too. It's hardly a new tactic for freeps to rack up big numbers. In fact, I think it's easy for

them, since we DU'ers so much more smart, ethical and fun over here than at you know where.

The vast majority of us DU'ers would be pained by posting undercover at FR. However, we are the fun, smart, nice alternative for freeps and many enthusiastically jump on board, ostensibly to do their undercover work kind of like Haggard going to gay bars to "convert" the sinners.


So, post numbers is probably the most specious metric. Content, though. That's the tell. MKJ

[orleans]

27. it's true--i look at post counts--and profiles--but not always, and

for various reasons (which i'm too tired to think of offhand)

i say this, in part, because most of the responses have been "no, no, i don't look at post count; i look at what is being said" (okay, so i'm paraphrasing)

as far as the lounge goes: i hung out in there for a long time (if memory serves correctly). it became my hideaway of sorts--it was a fun vacation from everything else. i haven't been back there for a long time but i was thinking about it today--on this holiday--to see what was going on. still, i didn't.

so i would say go into the lounge and play for awhile--you might have a good time.

post counts don't always matter. neither do profiles. not always. not even most of the time. (she said as she yawned and thought: "hum...i wonder what my post count is up to? maybe i'll check.")

[Raine]

28. It took me a long time to

get a thousand posts even though I have been here for ages, life seemed to get easier around here after I hit the magical number of 1000.:D I didn't just post nonsense though I just kept doggedly after it and let that 1000 build up in their own sweet time. B-)

[TheBaldyMan]

29. Post count is secondary to the quality of your post, some might differ

in this opinion but I have seen lot of daft posts from people with 1000+ post counts. It isn't a guarantee that the poster has any credibility.

You'll probably find a that the post count creeps up any way, think of it as hardwood versus softwood. One takes an age longer to mature but is far more solid and substantial.

[Kiouni]

31. You don't have a journal

If you have a journal you tend to post more, so I wouldn't say its all fluff.

[flying_monkeys]

44. Thank you - - I'll look into that.

Is a journal sorta like a blog on DU?

[Kiouni]

66. yes, but it

simply contains posts that you want to be held onto for a while. next to peoples names there are several links such as member info and such one of them is a journal if they have one.

[Kindigger]

33. Seems like

everytime I find an interesting article to post, by the time I copy it I find four other peeps have already posted it.

[elocs]

34. At first when I started it seemed like everybody had 1000+ posts

which encompassed a range of attitudes and opinions. The only time I checked out somebody's posts is when that person was accused by others of being a troll or a freeper. Apparently the accusers did not check out the previous posts because the poster in question seemed ok to me. There can be a narrow range of opinions or ideas which if your opinion falls outside of them can cause others to accuse you of being a troll or a freeper even if it clearly falls within the rules. Your post count will naturally increase if you become engaged in the conversations. It does not have to be a dissertation or something with deep meaning, just your opinion.

[AnnInLa]

57. dragndust....everyone has that problem!!

[The Straight Story]

35. My wife always said my post count was too little. Or something was....

hell, I must have had too much eggnog. Oh well, back to making my post count more well endowed :)

[Toots]

36. There are some here that would post every paragragh you wrote seperately

Your post could have been five separate posts all under your OP, I have seen several members do this a lot...My opinion is just post your opinions and stories and let be what will...

[flying_monkeys]

45. 5 separate posts, eh? I'll never be able to do that LOL

I've responded now to a few posts and already I feel like I am post whoring LOLOL

I guess I'll just let the numbers accrue naturally...


Thank you for your response :)

[DocSavage]

37. Tough decision

Do you need help picking out wall paper or paint color for the bathroom too?

[City of Mills]

38. We joined around the same time

I beat you by maybe a week, and we both have low post counts. It's all good, some of us just have less to say :)

[flying_monkeys]

43. I must say, it feels really odd to me

to be responding to my thread since it was just to solicit opinions. It feels weird to me to post in response to others' opinions... But I am trying! I may catch up to your number soon LOLOLOL

Thanks for replying :)

[Name removed]

39. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[angry_chuck]

46. he who speaks least says the most

[Generic Other]

47. I don't really care how many posts you have

if you say something worthwhile, that is what determines "validity."

That said, I have been accused of being a freeper and a troll more the last month than I ever have my entire time on DU, and I post all the time. I haven't quite figured out why.

[Minnesota_Lib]

49. I'm just replying to boost my post count....thanks for the opportunity.

Seriously, I hope the post counters here are far and few between. I have been here mostly lurking since late 2002 and have started one or two new identities after hiatuses when I forgot my password. I really wasn't concerned with losing my existing post counts.

As to quality over quantity, well in that case my current post count would be around 20 or so. I mostly like to throw in a humorous (at least to me) aside now and then. I hang out here for the most part to keep up with current affairs and read some of the outstanding ideas, observations and opinions of my much smarter and articulate fellow DU'ers. I could trash this ID and restart at zero posts tomorrow and I would not give it a second thought. :)

[Blue_Tires]

51. do whatever you want

you can have fun in the lounge, GD, LBN, or any of the other topic forums

[catmandu57]

52. The consensus is quality over quantity

I've got to agree there, sometimes it's better to use your eyes and ears instead of your mouth, or, in this case fingers.
I must admit that I did check someone yesterday with only four posts to their credit, because of the content though, not the number.
I do use that if someone has less than a certain number, I don't believe that person is with us anymore they weren't very good at subterfuge.
Whenever you feel like jumping in do it, and don't worry about post count. :hi:

[liberal N proud]

53. Quality over Quantity

It is the quality of your input that will override the quantity.

If you don't have anything to add to the post and don't feel like chiming in, there is nothing wrong with a low count

[LWolf]

54. You should spend your posts

on thoughtful, meaningful discussion of issues. You won't get many responses, so you won't have to worry about padding the post count, lol.

If you aren't nattering on about what's on the tv, what the party power brokers are saying, or why your particular favorite ought to be nominated in '08, few will even click on your posts. Your post count is safe.

[AnnInLa]

55. It doesn't matter about post counts or

checking people out.

Just let 'em fly and see what happens. You will feel satisfied if one person reads your post.

This is the Extreme Readers' Digest edition of partisan thought, rough and tumble style. You get used to it.

[retread]

58. You have a star. n/t

[JackBeck]

59. The Lounge loves whores. Have fun.

I'm a big fan of the Lounge. It's not all fluff in there.

[Vinca]

60. Has it ever occurred to you that some of us might be natural

blabbermouths? I haven't a clue what my post count is. Sheesh.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

61. None of it is necessary if your posts aren't flamebait or trashing of Democrats.

[baby_mouse]

62. self delete

peh

[Cleita]

63. You don't need to go to the lounge to build up posts.

If you read a post that you like, tell the poster that, or add your two cents. It helps keep the post on top for others to read as well.

On edit: Also posters who have gone to the trouble to research and write an in depth post appreciate getting feedback on their efforts.

[Subdivisions]

65. I lurked regularly for a couple months before I made a single

post and once I knew I had the right feel for it and once I knew this was a place where I could participate in discussions that actually meant something and didn't die after 3 responses, I decided to dive right in as if I had been here from the jump.

I've had a couple of upsetting checks by other members and someone had a problem with my more centric views on illegal immigration, but not everyone is going to like what you have to say and not everyone will agree with your position. You just have to be mature and be yourself and, above all else, respect others' opinions and if you do that, you will be respected in return even if you state an unpopular position.

[KT2000]

68. Personally, I do look at

post counts.
I think people should pay more attention to people with lower post counts so they will feel welcome and post more.
We could use more input.
It amazes me that there are thousands registered here and relatively few actually post.

:hi: