Do people dismiss new/low post members?

[nyarlathotepsama]

I'd say take every post on face value and ignore the person posting it. People you've just met can make very valid points and people you've known for years can say incredibly stupid things. It is basically human nature to tribe up and that sort of tribal thinking isn't anything to be embarrassed of, especially if you seek to make a change, we all do it in one way or anything. Just let people's posts speak for themselves and you'll correct that behavior on your own.

Note: My post count is low because I only post on things that interest me. I read thousands of pages of forum posts sure but I rarely have anything to say. Maybe I need to take steps to correct that myself or maybe not.

 

[FPLOON]

I don't know... I can't imagine myself having that kind of mindset to those that are either new to the forums, in particular, or the fact that they have low post counts... It's like overpraising the users that have been in the forums longer than others and/or have MASSIVE post counts[footnote]that my or may not have something to do with the user groups they're affiliated with, now that I think about it...[/footnote], for example, because I just can't do that either ironically or unironically[footnote]unless it's some kind of forum game, I guess...[/footnote]...

Then again, I never gave two shits about post counts and/or forum join dates to actually subconsciously want to dismiss or overpraise anyone in that kind of manner... However, unless I actually truly care about the topic in said thread to read every single post in question and you're one of those users who breaks their long replies up into various [little] parts to tackle individually to the point that you created an unintentional pattern in terms of how the whole singular post in question is shown, don't expect me to lurk over it in a reading fashion... I know it's not targeted at me, per se, but still...

 

[CymbaIine]

This will probably be dismissed but the last time I joined a new message board I got outright ignored because people said I was clearly an ex-member who had been banned. There wasn't a particular ex-member they had in mind (it was a massive board) it was just that apparently my formatting and general style wasn't newbie enough. Using paragraph breaks and terms like "OP" blacklisted me. I pointed out that I had been a member of other message boards but I wasn't to be trusted.

 

[Darks63]

Your not the only one with that bias dude so don't worry. I personalty don't trust new users either unless they really show that they are not just sock puppet flame bearers or character players by being good contributors to the community.

So what is your definition of "good contributor to the community"? 'Cause i've been here for a while now and i really only drop a few posts in forums every now and again... Don't even get quoted very often anymore so i always feel like i drift by in silence.

As for the topic at hand: Maybe a little bit, although i always make a habit of staying out of the forums about major shit storms. The only time i was actually quite annoyed by the influx of new profiles that came and went like a class 5 tornado was during March Mayhem, i think. The Quinnspiracy and Gamergate shit just isn't something i'm gonna take part in and the feminism debates are a huge reason why i hardly ever get into the forums anymore. Point being that i don't really venture where the transient beings are most of the time so i try to pay attention to people's arguments, although... no avatar bothers me a hell of a lot more than low post counts.

Being here 6 months without starting drama is a good start. Not being a jerk and being able to gel with the community as whole. Joining a few user groups and building your friends list. All of that stuff shows that your likely to be around for awhile and your not just a fly by night troublemaker.

 

[GundamSentinel]

Not really, I rarely even notice people's post count.

If anything, I more often dismiss people with ludicrously high post counts. I get the feeling (probably unjustly) that those people often get looked up to here and as a consequence they get confirmed in their opinions more often than they should. People need criticism, and people who express themselves a lot need it even more.

 

[Colour Scientist]

I have lots of experience with things going over my head.

Nothing goes over my head. My reflexes are too fast, I would catch it.

OP: I don't think I dismiss members based on their post count but rather judge the content of their posts and possibly their join date. I'm also a bit distrustful of people who just have the default avatar, I imagine that it's always the same person who happens to have wildly inconsistent opinions.

For example, I'd be a bit wary of a user with 200 posts who only joined during the Quinntroversy and if a majority of their posts were only in threads relating to that topic (particularly if they have a Vivian James avatar XD).

Some of my favourite posters still have relatively low post counts.

 

[Gunner 51]

I suppose it depends on the thread mostly. If I see a member with a very low post count like someone with less than a fifty posts and on a controversial thread -I unintentionally think "sock puppet" to myself.

While I read what it is they say and make my mind up after that, I still think I'm terribly prejudiced.

But then again, I've been here a while and tend to keep schtum on most topics - because ultimately, most things aren't worth working oneself up into a lather. Even the controversies ranging from Jack Thompson to this whole sexism in gaming stuff which kinda appeared from nowhere.

Whatever happened to live and let live, eh?

 

[dragonmith]

Well, I lurk (and long before that all I did was watch ZP without an account). I hope if in the event of me posting it's (its'? its?) taken with some respect, but I'm otherwise content to lurk.


Oh yeah, and my avatar has never worked on this site, so whitey Mc black cap remains.

EDIT: ok, turns out it just wanted to fuck with me. Nevermind, works now.

 

[maxben]

When so many of them joined in this crisis, I have a natural reaction to dismiss them. I think it's only natural to believe that some of them are going to be a) Double accounts of people who were banned b) Part of an astroturf campaign c) Have a personal vendetta. Especially when ALL their posts and threads are about the crisis.

 

[Shinsei-J]

I don't dismiss them personally, it's the low post count guys who bring a fresh perspective. If I have any kind of bias it's that I might skim over some of the prolific posters comments sometimes because I feel I already know what they're going to say.

Maybe it's time i got one of those animated gif avatars like every other fancypants landmark!
Perhaps then the Escapist sempais will notice me...

It doesn't help...
Uguu~

 

[Dr. Crawver]

For the most part, no. However, I do tend to be suspicious of people who have only been here for a day or two, yet already have over 100 or so posts. Seems like their interest just lies in massive debates and shitstorms, and that is someone I really don't care to associate with or really pay much heed to. But I guess that's an opposite to what is being asked here.

So no, not really. A low post count doesn't dismiss anyone as far as I'm concerned. I mean hell, we all had low post counts at one time!

Huh, that's an interesting viewpoint that I'd never considered. I normally see those sorts of people and think (hope) that they'll stick around and be good additions to the community. I do however usually stay generally clear of huge shitstorm threads after they reach critical mass, so I might just notice them in some off off topic discussion out of the blue, and could be their only post out of the storm.

And on the we all had low post counts, I can actually still remember when I started out. I wanted to prove myself, to actually make myself a valuable member of the community. I never actually expected anyone to take me seriously for like the first month. Seems like I've always had this bias, even when it was me.

 

[Dr. Crawver]

I am guilty of this. The only defense I can make for myself is that, well... I've been here a long time. I can't count how many times I have seen new members flood in the moment a big controversy hits only to wash away with it as soon as it's over. Many of these people don't really understand the forum environment and tend to spread a lot of unpleasantness. Obviously this is not the case for everyone and is the very same elitist mentality that gets us mocked on other sites consistently. Ironically, this site seems to have become a bastion more than once for the very people that mocked it (especially now).

I try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, but do admit that I have a much shorter attention span/tolerance for newer posters. I don't think older posters are inherently more valuable than they are... it's just that I know a lot of people around whose opinions (which often differ from my own) I value.

If the great and powerful Fappy shares in my bias too, then maybe it's not so bad.

In all seriousness though I think I stick around on this site in part because of the elitism. We don't seem to be fond of whenever those shitstorms rear their ugly heads.

 

[Ten Foot Bunny]

I have lots of experience with things going over my head.

Nothing goes over my head. My reflexes are too fast, I would catch it.

Lucky!! I'm tall and have no reflexes, so things just hit me in the head and bounce merrily away while I writhe in agony on the floor. Can I borrows the reflexmobile?

 

[Fappy]

I am guilty of this. The only defense I can make for myself is that, well... I've been here a long time. I can't count how many times I have seen new members flood in the moment a big controversy hits only to wash away with it as soon as it's over. Many of these people don't really understand the forum environment and tend to spread a lot of unpleasantness. Obviously this is not the case for everyone and is the very same elitist mentality that gets us mocked on other sites consistently. Ironically, this site seems to have become a bastion more than once for the very people that mocked it (especially now).

I try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, but do admit that I have a much shorter attention span/tolerance for newer posters. I don't think older posters are inherently more valuable than they are... it's just that I know a lot of people around whose opinions (which often differ from my own) I value.

If the great and powerful Fappy shares in my bias too, then maybe it's not so bad.

In all seriousness though I think I stick around on this site in part because of the elitism. We don't seem to be fond of whenever those shitstorms rear their ugly heads.

We're good about not getting overtly vitriolic regarding the shitstorms, sure, but we still fall victim to the flavor of the month debate just like everyone else does. I barely post outside the RP forums primarily because of this fact. Too much politics and not enough actual games.

 

[Dr. Crawver]

Personally I believe people should pay more attention to those with low post counts, but I might not be completely unbiased on this stance.

That's more impressive, that you've been here for over 2 years, and this is the second topic you've ever decided to comment on. You are one master lurker.

 

[Jandau]

People with higher post counts are less likely to have joined up just to cause trouble and troll. Someone who's been around for at least a few months and has a few hundred posts to his name likely isn't just here to talk shit or a ban would have found him already. Also, it means the person's had time to acclimate to the forums, learn the flow of conversation here and in general how things are done here.

While I don't outright dismiss new members, I'll definitely take any comments from a 4k+ poster more seriously than someone with 6 posts who joined last week.

 

[Dr. Crawver]

I was considering starting a thread on this topic.

I guess I'm not the only who's noticed all the new members and it's probably just pure coincidence that most of them are pushing the same views.

It's not coincidence. A lot of them have been exiled from various sites in which they were making the same argument and congregated here. It's not the first time it's happened.

I was totally being sarcastic. Sometimes my sarcasm doesn't translate well.

That went right over my head XD

Text is hard sometimes!

It's all good. I understand, because I have lots of experience with things going over my head.

Your reflexes aren't fast enough. You should be able to catch them.

-Edit-
Dammit, ninja'd by Colour Scientist. Pesky sleep thwarts me again.

 

[ObsidianJones_v1legacy]

I have lots of experience with things going over my head.

Nothing goes over my head. My reflexes are too fast, I would catch it.

Lucky!! I'm tall and have no reflexes, so things just hit me in the head and bounce merrily away while I writhe in agony on the floor. Can I borrows the reflexmobile?

Totally thinking Colour is doing a bit from Guardians of the Galaxy there.

You probably know this. I might be a git now.

I've always found that it wasn't the post count... I kind of think it's the avatar. The blank face, ball cap thing seems to keep a lot of people at bay. I'm so very clever and I barely get any praise.

... Was that hint subtle enough for the Escapist Public?

 

[Dr. Crawver]

Yeah, I'm pretty bad at this. I usually only read post from people I know, meaning, I've seen you post enough... or you just have a really cool avatar. Those under a thousand posts or have a pretty lame avatar, will not be remembered by Elfgore.

And what do you think of walruses that are also doctors? :3

 

[Dr. Crawver]

This will probably be dismissed but the last time I joined a new message board I got outright ignored because people said I was clearly an ex-member who had been banned. There wasn't a particular ex-member they had in mind (it was a massive board) it was just that apparently my formatting and general style wasn't newbie enough. Using paragraph breaks and terms like "OP" blacklisted me. I pointed out that I had been a member of other message boards but I wasn't to be trusted.

I doubt you'll be dismissed for things like that here. I mean, most of us I believe were parts of other boards first. We all drift here in the end, and we like it when newer members actually write well though opinions. I just struggle with those who are newer and don't really add much/I vehemently disagree with, especially when written in an inflammatory manner.