Poll: 6000 posts and counting: what is your opinion on milestone threads?

[JoJo]

Good evening Escapists, this is my 6000th post amongst you fine people and so I thought it's a perfect time to get a bit of community input on a current trend I'm sure you've all noticed, milestone threads. So, are these threads a valued part of building a community spirit around the forums or simply circlejerks amongst those who are well-established?

Plainly I'd be a hypocrite if I condemned milestone threads outright but it feel likes there's been quite a few recently, still they can be good fun, especially when it's someone you know. I'd rather have too many than too little, after-all they can easily be avoided by the thread title if you really don't want to see them.

I'll turn it over to you guys now, what do you think?

 

[Marter]

They're fun and I have no problem with them.

I'd prefer if it was only significant ones, though, and that there's an actual point to them instead of just "Hey, look at me. I did a thing like posting on this site a whole bunch!"

 

[smithy_2045]

I consider them to be free post count.

 

[Lucem712]

I enjoy them, especially when they're friends.
Jojo, Bastards for life, hommie.
Though, I like what Taco did with his favourite avatar thread. So, if/when I ever post one, I'd probably make it a dual topic on my post count (Or maybe anniversary of my stay) and another topic.

 

[Andrewtheeviscerator]

I don't mid them and really are they that much of a bother anyways, most end up dying off after the first two days. Although it should probably be kept to significant numbers, like 5000 (if you get the neo badge), 10 000, and so on. I mean I'm getting pretty close to 1000 but i wouldn't make a thread about it (also I'm pretty sure most people don't recognize me around here so it would be even less of a deal.)

 

[Imthatguy]

SEIG HEIL COMMANDER JOJO!

Spoiler: We will follow you to the death in the Franchise Wars!

We will follow you to the death in the Franchise Wars!

 

[PsychicTaco115]

Post what the people want!

I always like reading about people and their little congratulations section, it always makes me feel somewhat nostalgic (somehow...)

 

[Soviet Heavy]

I'd prefer if they stuck to certain milestones.

The Memestone (Over 9000)
The Quintuple Digits
20000
30000
and so on.

 

[Lionsfan]

I think they're a tad ego-inflating, but whatevs. If we can have 10,000 threads on sexism, drowning, games are art, circumcision, etc. etc., then a milestone thread is welcome

 

[Andy Shandy]

I enjoy them, most of the time they are positive threads as well, which can sometimes make a nice change to some of the argumentative and just plain odd threads.

Anyway, congrats JoJo! And someday, I may reach some high amount of posts =P

 

[DugMachine]

5000
10000
15000
20000
etc etc

I mean I just hit 2000 today but I ain't gonna brag about it or nothing other than a "oh look at what I did" in whatever post that got me there.

 

[CAPTCHA]

So, are these threads a valued part of building a community spirit around the forums or simply circlejerks amongst those who are well-established?

Well, it's a bit of both really. Forums only survive thanks to what the community puts into into them, so it stands to reason that those with the greatest imput should be recognised for their contributions. But at the same time it can come across as egotistical and slip into the realm of being self-mastubatory. I'm not talking about the individual here so much but for the community as a whole and I've yet to visit a forum community that doesn't believe itself to be smarter than the average bear; but I guess that's just common nature for any group of people. That line can be crossed into being exclusionary however as people become snobbish and newcomers are alienated and forced to 'prove' themselves, even if only to themselves.

Take Daystar's birthday a week or so back where someone was suggesting 'Daystar Day' - how is that sort of thing going to look to a newcomer when Daystar's appearing in the community spotlight, 1 out of 10 threads is talking him up as some sort of messiah and Daystar himself is traveling the forums kissing babys for publicity? Well, I personaly find that sort of activity grotesque, but a newcomer is going to see it in a different light. Instead of seeing a forum where they they can share their thoughts, opinions and contribute, they are instead going to feel insignificant and futile. That sort of thing should not be rewarded.

So to sum up, yes these people are deserving of some gratitude for their imput and being cornerstones of the community, but as soon as they begin to wallow in their actions they are taking the first stept in corrupting the very thing the are celebrating; no longer giving to the community but taking from it.

 

[FalloutJack]

They can be funny. I know I made mine worth actually looking at.

 

[SlaveNumber23]

I don't see the point in them and most of the time they only serve the purpose of ego stroking rather than providing any interesting or worthwhile discussion.

 

[Spambot 3000]

Useless and serve no purpose other than the creator expecting praise to be handed to them for talking on the Internet (unless something is added for discussion value). Not that that's neccessarily a bad thing mind you - it can often break the tiring trend of threads appearing about sexism or stuff equally controversial. It also gives users an opportunity to dick around and have fun. But if the more 'intrnt is supr srs bsnss' users complain about them, well, I can see why.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

So, are these threads a valued part of building a community spirit around the forums or simply circlejerks amongst those who are well-established?

Well, it's a bit of both really. Forums only survive thanks to what the community puts into into them, so it stands to reason that those with the greatest imput should be recognised for their contributions. But at the same time it can come across as egotistical and slip into the realm of being self-mastubatory. I'm not talking about the individual here so much but for the community as a whole and I've yet to visit a forum community that doesn't believe itself to be smarter than the average bear; but I guess that's just common nature for any group of people. That line can be crossed into being exclusionary however as people become snobbish and newcomers are alienated and forced to 'prove' themselves, even if only to themselves.

Take Daystar's birthday a week or so back where someone was suggesting 'Daystar Day' - how is that sort of thing going to look to a newcomer when Daystar's appearing in the community spotlight, 1 out of 10 threads is talking him up as some sort of messiah and Daystar himself is traveling the forums kissing babys for publicity? Well, I personaly find that sort of activity grotesque, but a newcomer is going to see it in a different light. Instead of seeing a forum where they they can share their thoughts, opinions and contribute, they are instead going to feel insignificant and futile. That sort of thing should not be rewarded.

So to sum up, yes these people are deserving of some gratitude for their imput and being cornerstones of the community, but as soon as they begin to wallow in their actions they are taking the first stept in corrupting the very thing the are celebrating; no longer giving to the community but taking from it.

I'm not allowed to kiss babies any more, they try and take advantage of me.

OT: Eh, I don't mind them, but I don't think I'll be doing any for the foreseeable future.

I did a 10k thread because those ten thousand posts were all forum posts, but since I started the Brovengers, my post rate has sky-rocketed and I don't consider hitting 20k any kind of achievement.

 

[Yopaz]

I don't particularly like them, but as with every other thread I don't like I don't see a reason to hate on them. Let people post these threads, it can turn into a fun thread for a lot of people, but meh, it's not my cup of tea. Can I ignore these threads or do they haunt me and make me post an angry response in them? No. No thread does this.

 

[Ed130 The Vanguard]

I'm still undecided as to whether I should do a 20k thread or not.

I don't think I'm that well recognized, so I may not bother. [small]Afterall, I'm no Daystar [/small]

Hey, several posters (including myself) have avatars you created.

Don't sell yourself short.

 

[Pinkamena]

I like them. Especially if it's someone I know, but as people have stated, they should be kept to the "big" ones. 10k, 20k, etc.

 

[Sassafrass]

They were fun but now, with one showing up pretty much once a week, they've just gotten boring and annoying.