The Psychology of Forums: Post Counts & Rep Points

[Daffy Duck]

Back in 2002, I started a video game web site and forum. Over time the forum grew to become very popular. It was the most visited for its genre. I was an active administrator and found very helpful moderators, some of which I'm still friends with even today.

I never added any "reputation" feature to my forum, but I noticed another trend in certain members. Some of them were very protective about their post counts. Despite most of the members claiming they came to the forum because they enjoyed the people and the information that was shared, a few of them would threaten to leave if their post count was removed or tampered with.

One time the whole forum got reset, so everyone's posts were back down to 0, and some members who "loved the place and the people here" decided to leave. When asked, they said it was because their post count was reset. It didn't matter if everyone knew them anyway. It didn't matter if their old posts were still available to view. They cared this much about their post count, that magical number on the screen, above everything else!

And on other forums, people treat their reputation level the same way. It doesn't seem to matter to them that they already have a reputation in the minds of members -- they're more focused on what the forum says their reputation is. To demonstrate this, I recently asked everyone to give me negative reputation points. I thought it would be funny to see a bunch of red marks on my screen for once.

So why do you think this is?

In the past I thought of two possible reasons.

1. Members become proud of their post counts, in the same way a child may become proud of their baseball trophies in their bedroom. The trophies are meant to represent the true prize (the winning season) -- they're not the prize itself, but they might attach their self-worth to the trophy regardless.

So by taking away the post counts (the trophy), they feel like it was all a lost. In my opinion, they lost sight of what really matters.

2. A better reason, though one I'm not sure I agree with, is that post counts let new members know who can be "respected" more. I can agree with this to some extent, because active members are often better members, but this isn't always true. Especially in forums dealing with teenagers, members with large post counts are sometimes just very SPAMMY, where they'll reply to a bunch of topics all the time, but not really add much value to the conversation.

What do you all think? Any other reasons?

[skinnyninja]

Yep...I am part of a different forum where they just implemented a "karma" system, and now it is sort of like an addiction to watch your karma number go up, and so you run around trying to make helpful posts.

I am not so sure this is the way to use a forum in a healthy manner. If it becomes an addiction and you start using the forum more than what will really benefit you, then these "karma systems" can turn into a bad thing.

Just my opinion based on what I have seen recently elsewhere....

[suddentwist]

Interesting. I think that I would have to agree more so with your second point. I mean, if I look at myself, I just recently joined this forum and I'm only at 6 or 7 posts, I'm not sure. To me, my post count really doesn't matter. I joined the forum because it was recommended to me by a friend and it deals with that which I like to talk and write about. I joined because I thought it would inspire me. I reply because I'm interested - therefore I mainly stick to Social & Relationships because I find that area of life most fascinating.

That's besides the point though - what I wanted to say is that I DO look at how many posts people have. I don't necessarily think that a high post count makes their opinion count more, but it shows how long they've been on here for. And most people with a high post count do put a lot of effort into their replies, or at least it seems like it. I think that overall, a lot of people tend to pay more attention to post by people with a high post count than to a Junior member like myself, for example.

[James81]

I always viewed my post count as a badge of how much time I waste on the net and have made several offers in several forums to donate my post count to anybody who wants them. Obviously, this never happens, but still I hate having a post count simply because it's a blatant reminder that I waste too much time on forums.

But I also know that I am in the minority on that one. I don't care so much about rep points either. I enjoy the rep comments moreso than the actual number of points.

Speaking of post counts, I've noticed that Angela hasn't been posting recently (and since I tend to enjoy her posts, I noticed after a couple of days that something was...missing). Upon inspection of her profile, I noticed her post count is 11,110 and I figure she must be one of those people who go Ga-Ga over certain numbers and get hung up on it.

So this is a post if she's lurking to abandon such silly notions and post more nuggets of wisdom for us. If you're out there, Angela, just know that every second you waste on your 11:11 synchronicity is one second you waste towards reaching new, even cooler synchronicity at an even higher post count. (i.e. badger badger badger)

[Daffy Duck]

Originally Posted by skinnyninja

Yep...I am part of a different forum where they just implemented a "karma" system, and now it is sort of like an addiction to watch your karma number go up, and so you run around trying to make helpful posts.

Ah, that's interesting. It reminds me of the Booyah iPhone app, which gives you "achievement points" for doing good things in real life.

I'm actually not against this idea. If it motivates people to achieve more, than heck, make a game out of it! But I hope the focus is on achieving more in "real life" -- not just racking up some digital scoreboard.

Originally Posted by James81

ISo this is a post if she's lurking to abandon such silly notions and post more nuggets of wisdom for us. If you're out there, Angela, just know that every second you waste on your 11:11 synchronicity is one second you waste towards reaching new, even cooler synchronicity at an even higher post count. (i.e. badger badger badger)

LOL

When I decided to take a forum break, I noticed I was somewhat close to 2,000 posts. So I posted a bit more and quit at 2,000 for a few weeks or so... I don't remember exactly. I wouldn't say I was going LaDy GaGa over my post count, but it was a funny little game to stop at an even number like that. I was going to stop regardless.

Angela took a break at 10,000 posts. I think she's just doing the same thing and used 11,110 to do it.

Originally Posted by suddentwist

it shows how long they've been on here for.

Good point. The "join date" is shown above the post count, and it shows how long ago someone joined, but it doesn't exactly tell you how much time they spend here.

I've seen other forums that show stats like, "You've been here for 2 days, 11 hours, 24 minutes."

Big brother!

[YourHumbleNarrator]

I like having a high post count. It's a mark of pride, assuming my time on a forum has been well-spent. However, I don't value it above all else. I'd even start back at square one if I thought up a better, cooler SN. Whatever I'd lose by switching I could easily gain back.

Many of the people you're talking about seem to cling to anything which sets them apart from the rest and when it's taken from them it's like a part of their identity has been lost. In short, they have fragile egos. A forum is better off without them, even if there will always be a few.

[cacheborn]

Okay for me the post count gives an idea as to how long this guy/girl has been around. It does not change the way I interact with them. That depends on what they put in their posts and how they put it.

I did not know about rep points for a long time. When I received some points I came to know about it. Then I started giving them back. Again it depends on you how much importance you want to attach to it. at the moment, I look at it as a small gift which I freely give to people for a post I like or as a way to say thanks. It creates a good feeling.

[Daffy Duck]

Testing 1, 2, 3.

Edit: Hmm. It seems posts keep getting deleted somehow. This one seems to work. Anyway, thanks all for the replies so far. This is an interesting subject to me, as an ex-forum admin.