Post Totals?

We have a "BBQ" forum on our boards where our users can relax and post anything they want. Usually it degenerates into 500+ post threads that are nothing more than word associations, etc. which really have nothing to do with the sport.

And then there are the obligitory "post padding" --threads where people just post smilies, one word, etc. in attempts to increase their post count.

So I'm wondering if anyone would have interest in a hack that I made which would allow an Admin to modify a forum and put "Posts count to post total? Y/N" in the control panel. Then you'd check to see if the forum "counts" the posts, and if it does then increment the counter. Otherwise leave it alone.

Does this sound like a good solution? I think it may encourage users to post more on the "actual" forums than the BBQ.

yeah i get alot of those 1 one word/smiley kind of posts ever since i setup 2 members only forums like a Joke & Humours forum (hilarious stuff gets posted which results in several LOL smiley replies)

but what exactly does the hack you have do ?

It checks to see if the forum in question has that option turned off. If it is off, then it skips the line that says "UPDATE user SET posts = posts + 1 WHERE userid = $userid". (newreply and newthread.php)

And there's a modification to the forum table (allowpostcounting), and then a simple addition in the control panel for that forum.

It's pretty easy, but came about from the "post padding" and the like, where people get 2000 posts added to their count in a day.

I think it would be a worthwhile hack. Especially among the competitive ones. If we could limit the general chat forums it would be nice.

Sounds useful! I, however, as a forums owner...likely would not use it.

I couldn't care less about post-padding...assuming it's not totally out of hand. I've seen the BaseballBoards BBQ Board - and it is out of hand...totally nuts.

SitePoint.com has been okay...definetly huge threads, but usually heated debates with each post being about 5 paragraphs. (yes, I am responsible...I admit it)

On my site, however, I could care less as long as it doesn't get in the way of the discussion as a whole.

People will always want to boost their post counts...conciously, sub-counciously...or somewhere in between where they simply go around looking to answer a question...unavoidable...just a matter of pride, I suppose. I think we all feel good having a high number of posts, or not so good having a low number.

We shouldn't, but we do.

I visit alot of boards that I know have a serious problem with "post padding". I see people with 1000+ posts, and every single one that I read of theirs was just reply quote, that SOMETIMES had a smiley, sometimes not even that.
But I don't think I would use this as a forum owner.
What would be nice though, would be something where other users good disqualify a reply, meaning if X users click on an icon on the reply it doesn't count in the users post count. Don't think that would be possible, but it would be cool

oh, and there is NOTHING wrong with wanting to boost your post count, as long as the post is something substantial

I'm sure its possible...but I don't want that kind of "power" in the user's hands.

Hey, if it gets out of hand, then bring in a new policy that totally meaningless posts will be removed without notice. For larger boards, of course, a hack may very well be necessary.

exactly, not that I think I will ever have a big board, a hack would still be nice. If my idea was available, I'd just set the number of users required to remove a post to something high, like 15-20

actually, something much simpler would be along the lines of 5 users click a "veto" link on the post. Once 5 users have "vetoed" a post, an email is sent to the admin and/or mod of that forum, or something is showed in the CP, which contains the URL to the thread, and the users who "vetoed" it, possibly making them fill in a reason for the veto would help, but I think most people wouldn't bother
that way it doesn't actually get removed until an admin/mod sees it