75,000 posts (and what makes a good poster, anyway?)

[Andrew]

Yes, it's milestone time again, as I've recently topped the 75,000 post mark.

As always, I want to thank the rest of the NLSC Team for all their help in maintaining the site, as I couldn't possibly do it alone. Of course, my thanks also go out to the community at large; this continues to be a fun project for me and since we revamped the site last year and switched to WordPress and our Forum-integrated Downloads section, it's been much easier and more enjoyable to maintain. The time will probably come when I have to slow down a bit or at least play catch up on posts after a few days, but I still anticipate being around for a while yet.

We've seen a lot of posters come and go over the years, leading us cranky veterans to grumble at times and long for bygone days, something that seems to happen in most online communities. The quality of posts and the posters themselves is something that comes up a lot, which leads me to ask...What makes a good Forum poster?

I'll post my thoughts after hearing a few of yours, as I think it'll be a fun and interesting question to ponder. Thanks again for the support!

[Jackal]

Congrats on the milestone & good job running the place.

On what makes a good poster, it varies for me. Some people don't really stand out and a lot of the people just seem to blend in to each other & I sort of just scan their posts without expecting much. There are a handful of posters posts I read regularly and entirely.

What makes them worthy of being read depends on the mood I'm in, sometimes I need a laugh so I read Shadow's posts or if I want a headache I read NovU's posts, so it really just depends on my mood on that day.

Regarding pining for days gone by, we'll always have that in a way. Every period has its ups & downs, every "generation" has good posters and bad...and then you have awesome ones like me. So yeah, we just have to live with that.

[Oznogrd]

congrats andrew. (after 75k...is the adulation old? )

I think the fact this thread only has 1 reply is terrifying.

As far as what makes a good poster? Humor and information and knowing when to use both seems to make it for me.

Not that in depth really.

[Jayson Silverio]

thanks for the effort and hard work you' done to this community
keep it up

[el badman]

Congrats Andrew, impressive stuff.
To me, a good poster will certainly depend on the section of the forum, but overall I think that it's simply just a good mix of insight, humor, maturity, curiosity and not taking oneself too seriously.

[JaoSming]

'grats!

If I knew what made a good poster, I'd do it

[The X]

Congrats on 75k. As I've said previously, if you're up here visiting your bro, let me know & we can catch up in city for a drink or two. I can even pull out arcane, Sit & badreligionau & make it more festive if necessary.

Anyways, what makes a good poster? I like level headed posters who have good wit. But like Jackal said, sometimes depends on your mood. So a good poster is somebody who posts on a wide variety of topics (not just dynasty or Celtics or 2K), doesn't get too sandy (vava), somebody who can put a coherent sentence together & some level of humour (whether wit or self-deprecating). Not a huge fan of openly going out to flame somebody because they put out an opinion (even if baseless or ignorant). I think there is a better way of handling those people to (hopefully) improve them as posters. Of course, I can understand when a poster needs to be flamed just because nothing gets through to them.

[rise]

Congrats Andrew!

[Lean]

A good poster only should have something explained in a brief and concise post, like this:

Also, congratulations on the milestone Mr. Begley.

[deihatein]

Congrats on the 75K!

[Andrew]

Thanks for the well wishes, everyone.

Interesting responses so far, a lot of good observations that I'd tend to agree with. I think my view is unavoidably affected by my position as someone who oversees a Forum, having the perspective of someone who likes to get involved in conversations but also has to handle troublesome posters and try to maintain some kind of order. Having said that, to me a good poster is someone who...

• Is knowledgable about a variety of topics, can contribute to discussions in multiple sections of the Forum and tends towards making thoughtful and/or worthwhile posts...actual contributions to the discussion, not just a quote and "I agree".
  
  
• Follows the rules and doesn't cause too much trouble, but can also ingratiate themselves with the community so that they know just how to push the limits of the rules to be entertaining and bring character to their posts. The "class wit", if you will.
  
  
• Has a good sense of humour, as well as a good sense of timing when it comes to jokes and having a "proper" discussion/conversation; not trying to be funny in every post, picking and choosing their spots, knowing their audience...just being themselves and not trying too hard.
  
  
• Can make their point without using cheap tactics like ad hominems, overuse of Internet slang that turns the debate into mudslinging ("LOL You really think that? LMFAO SMH"), twisting around someone's words by taking them wildly out of context and putting words in the other person's mouth...basically, if you can discuss things in a more mature manner than they do in Australian parliament, you're off to a good start. More talk about the posts themselves rather than the poster, except where the poster brings it upon themselves.
  
  
• Doesn't make things personal or let disagreements in one topic spill over into others. You can usually tell when it's become personal, because ten people will express a point of view but the opposing reply will focus on just one other person's post, generally consisting of the things I mentioned in the previous point. You can probably guarantee that the differing point of view/disagreement will be brought up in just about every other thread those two posters are involved in, no matter whether or not they're related.
  
  
• Is not an attention whore.
  
  
• Lavishes praise and gifts upon the Forum administration...OK, OK, not really, I'll settle for the stuff above.

So...someone with a good amount of intelligence, wit, humour and maturity, who likes to get involved in all sorts of discussions, is generally well-behaved but knows how to dance the line without being a headache, doesn't take things too seriously or personally but can still post with enthusiasm. That's the kind of poster I like to see join and remain within our ranks.

[Stress Fracture]

Almost 10 years of

Congrats to this, Andrew. To tell you the truth, I've enjoyed my stay here. Such a cool admin.

[benji]

75,000? Let me know when you get to 11196

A good poster for me isn't too gaudy. Something I'd like to look at each day. Or can at least ignore. Depends on the quality how much space I'd want to give it. I do kinda like blank walls though.

[shadowgrin]

I can't believe Jackal used me in the same sentence as NovU. Consider handcuff Fridays and ass ramming Tuesdays canceled forever mister.
You're still welcome for nipple Wednesdays.

Thanks for the well wishes, everyone.

Interesting responses so far, a lot of good observations that I'd tend to agree with. I think my view is unavoidably affected by my position as someone who oversees a Forum, having the perspective of someone who likes to get involved in conversations but also has to handle troublesome posters and try to maintain some kind of order. Having said that, to me a good poster is someone who...

• Is knowledgable about a variety of topics, can contribute to discussions in multiple sections of the Forum and tends towards making thoughtful and/or worthwhile posts...actual contributions to the discussion, not just a quote and "I agree".
  
  
• Follows the rules and doesn't cause too much trouble, but can also ingratiate themselves with the community so that they know just how to push the limits of the rules to be entertaining and bring character to their posts. The "class wit", if you will.
  
  
• Has a good sense of humour, as well as a good sense of timing when it comes to jokes and having a "proper" discussion/conversation; not trying to be funny in every post, picking and choosing their spots, knowing their audience...just being themselves and not trying too hard.
  
  
• Can make their point without using cheap tactics like ad hominems, overuse of Internet slang that turns the debate into mudslinging ("LOL You really think that? LMFAO SMH"), twisting around someone's words by taking them wildly out of context and putting words in the other person's mouth...basically, if you can discuss things in a more mature manner than they do in Australian parliament, you're off to a good start. More talk about the posts themselves rather than the poster, except where the poster brings it upon themselves.
  
  
• Doesn't make things personal or let disagreements in one topic spill over into others. You can usually tell when it's become personal, because ten people will express a point of view but the opposing reply will focus on just one other person's post, generally consisting of the things I mentioned in the previous point. You can probably guarantee that the differing point of view/disagreement will be brought up in just about every other thread those two posters are involved in, no matter whether or not they're related.
  
  
• Is not an attention whore.
  
  
• Lavishes praise and gifts upon the Forum administration...OK, OK, not really, I'll settle for the stuff above.

So...someone with a good amount of intelligence, wit, humour and maturity, who likes to get involved in all sorts of discussions, is generally well-behaved but knows how to dance the line without being a headache, doesn't take things too seriously or personally but can still post with enthusiasm. That's the kind of poster I like to see join and remain within our ranks.

I agree and congrats.

[benji]

Dammit, this is a better version than in the 90's jerseys thread. At least I GOT THERE FIRST!

[Patr1ck]

Congrats on the 75 g's. I check the new posts everyday and I did not see this thread show up until today.

I think a good poster establishes an identity within the community while blending with it as well. This poster can clearly state their point(s) of view, is polite, follows rules, bonds with other posters, knows how to balance humor and serious posts, does not frequently post a small phrased response or one line of text or attempts to derail an intelligent thread.

[NovU]

You are the BEST ADMIN next to Jae, Jao, and Pdub .

Congrats on your new milestone.

if I want a headache I read NovU's posts

Take some tylenol, it helps really.

[Andrew]

I agree

Well played, sir. Well played.

[Jackal]

Having said that, to me a good poster is someone who...

• Is knowledgable about a variety of topics, can contribute to discussions in multiple sections of the Forum and tends towards making thoughtful and/or worthwhile posts...actual contributions to the discussion, not just a quote and "I agree".
  
  
• Follows the rules and doesn't cause too much trouble, but can also ingratiate themselves with the community so that they know just how to push the limits of the rules to be entertaining and bring character to their posts. The "class wit", if you will.
  
  
• Has a good sense of humour, as well as a good sense of timing when it comes to jokes and having a "proper" discussion/conversation; not trying to be funny in every post, picking and choosing their spots, knowing their audience...just being themselves and not trying too hard.
  
  
• Can make their point without using cheap tactics like ad hominems, overuse of Internet slang that turns the debate into mudslinging ("LOL You really think that? LMFAO SMH"), twisting around someone's words by taking them wildly out of context and putting words in the other person's mouth...basically, if you can discuss things in a more mature manner than they do in Australian parliament, you're off to a good start. More talk about the posts themselves rather than the poster, except where the poster brings it upon themselves.
  
  
• Doesn't make things personal or let disagreements in one topic spill over into others. You can usually tell when it's become personal, because ten people will express a point of view but the opposing reply will focus on just one other person's post, generally consisting of the things I mentioned in the previous point. You can probably guarantee that the differing point of view/disagreement will be brought up in just about every other thread those two posters are involved in, no matter whether or not they're related.
  
  
• Is not an attention whore.
  
  
• Lavishes praise and gifts upon the Forum administration...OK, OK, not really, I'll settle for the stuff above.

So...someone with a good amount of intelligence, wit, humour and maturity, who likes to get involved in all sorts of discussions, is generally well-behaved but knows how to dance the line without being a headache, doesn't take things too seriously or personally but can still post with enthusiasm. That's the kind of poster I like to see join and remain within our ranks.

You know Shadow is the only one for me.

[Nick]

Congratulations on spamming the forums, Andrew. Jeez.

Just kidding. For what it's worth, you're my favourite forum admin ever. (even though this is the only forum i post at, but still). Seriously though you're an absolute pro. Good jerb.

I think it's simple what makes a good poster:
- Friendly / Personable
- Insightful
- Concise
- Funny / Witty / Imaginative
- Expressive
- Individuality / Personality

^ that's what i like to read anyway. If it's too long, too boring, too generic, too robotic, too dry, too arrogant, too self-obsessed, too ignorant, or too straight up retarded, then i just skip over it.

[Its_asdf]

What makes a good poster:

-Knowing whether it will shock or whether it will freeze

Only criteria for me.

[Andrew]

Thanks Nick. Fine use of the smileys there, too.

What makes a good poster:

-Knowing whether it will shock or whether it will freeze

Only criteria for me.

That does make me reconsider my criteria.



Quite the conundrum.

[Nick]

[Its_asdf]

I'll just post what Nick posted in gif form:

[Andrew]

Since Sub-Zero won round one and has drawn first blood in round two, I'm going to have to place myself in the "freeze" camp.