How come PRSI posts don’t count towards profile post numbers?

[TheAppleFairy]

Out of curiosity, what percentage of traffic/post/likes come from PRSI? Has any breakdown been completed?

 

[annk]

So why are private forum posts counted but not say the gaming forum?

I'm assuming that this has to do with discussions specific to the PRSI section's purpose and existence. I don't think I've been involved in (or at least remember) any discussions of this kind about other forum sections, but I'll check and get back to you. It's an interesting question.

I'm back.

Counting or non-counting posts is our tiny nudge to encourage users to participate or not participate where it matters to us, to align with the purpose of the site and to lessen the headaches of moderating troublesome non-Apple-related areas. The private forum is for users who have a strong interest in the MacRumors community, making it Apple related.

 

[tobefirst ⚽️]

All of the words you're saying mean that some posts are worth more than others. Why do you have trouble just saying exactly that?

 

[ericgtr12]

All of the words you're saying mean that some posts are worth more than others. Why do you have trouble just saying exactly that?

^ This. Again, I don't see how anyone can take it any other way.

Throughout this thread we've heard that we shouldn't worry about post counts from staff. Yet they took the deliberate action of imposing a limitation on just that - post counts - in a forum they routinely criticize as a necessary evil.

You do get the irony, right?

 

[annk]

All of the words you're saying mean that some posts are worth more than others. Why do you have trouble just saying exactly that?

^ This. Again, I don't see how anyone can take it any other way.

Throughout this thread we've heard that we shouldn't worry about post counts from staff. Yet they took the deliberate action of imposing a limitation on just that - post counts - in a forum they routinely criticize as a necessary evil.

You do get the irony, right?

You guys are confusing two things here.

First of all, and most importantly in my opinion:

Given that the comments in a thread are within the rules, it's the participants in any forum discussion, regardless of which section or thread, who are the true judges of whether or not comments there are of worth. This has nothing whatsoever to do with post counts. While violations in the PRSI section sometimes frustrate me, I am very much in favor of anything that sets the stage for interested parties to come together in good discussion. When the stars align, that's what the PRSI section is.

Secondly:

On any forum, the site owner and his staff decide on the site profile and direction. This is a tech forum, but the decision was made to provide sections outside of the tech world because 1) users wanted them, and 2) by creating non-tech sections that users want, those topics that are not related to tech won't bleed over to the other sections. I know not everyone believes that that bleeding occurs, but please - let's just agree to disagree here rather than beating a dead horse. Give me the benefit of doubt, based on my years of experience here.

Now: when a particular site decides it wants to promote tech discussions more than other types of discussions, that's up to them. The site owner here wants to maintain a mostly-tech profile. One way for us to do that is to decide that posts will "count" in some sections and not others. In my opinion, that makes sense.

I put "count" in quotes because there is more than one way to define count. In this case, it means numerical count, not a reflection of how worthwhile, thoughtful etc the post content is. So yes, some sections matter more to us because they are in line with the chosen site profile. But that is not a reflection on quality of post content.

Finally:

Some users might not like that posts they make in some sections don't give them a higher post count. My assumption (and I specifically use the word assumption, because I can't speak for how others think) is that users who want their (for example) political posts to count in a post count system, and therefore reflect their participation, will be happier posting about politics on a site where politics is the site profile.

I greatly appreciate users who are passionate enough to take the time to discuss how this site works. Disagreeing is hard work for both parties! I only ask that you not make assumptions about how I or anyone else on the staff thinks.

 

[tobefirst ⚽️]

You clearly feel that political posts that don't count toward a total post count = an attitude by the site owner and administrators that those posts are "devalued" in some way. That's your assumption and opinion, which of course you're entitled to. We however are trying to tell you that that's not the way we see it.

Now: when a particular site decides it wants to promote tech discussions more than other types of discussions, that's up to them ... One way for us to do that is to decide that posts will "count" in some sections and not others.

At a gas station, whether they call it a cash discount or a credit card surcharge, the result is the same.

I am not arguing at all the quality, which is subjective, of posts as a measure of value. I understand that. I am arguing that some posts, regardless of content, are objectively worth more than others based on where they are located in the forum structure.

Frankly, I'm tired of arguing it.

 

[ericgtr12]

At a gas station, whether they call it a cash discount or a credit card surcharge, the result is the same.

I am not arguing at all the quality, which is subjective, of posts as a measure of value. I understand that. I am arguing that some posts, regardless of content, are objectively worth more than others based on where they are located in the forum structure.

Frankly, I'm tired of arguing it.

Agreed, we're sort of spinning our wheels at this point. I will just say that the action of not counting them does exist for a reason. We're all just debating on whether or not it devalues those in said forum and I'll concede that it is subjective.

 

[cube]

Some threads in other subforums can be more toxic than PRSI.