Trader Told Me He Had A Larger Post Count?

[Nexus9]

Hi guys,

I have been negotaiting with a trader for a purchase, being concerned with the safety of the transaction I checked out to see how much of a contributor to the site they have been and saw that they had only made about 50 posts or so since early 2005 which of course made me suspicious.

Upon broaching this subject with the trader in question, he said that he had made over 10,000 posts and that it had then been reset to zero as there is some "post whoring" rule in place

Is this what has happened? And if so what is the point of this?

How is this of benefit to us buyers and to the sellers?

How can I check on their credentials, especially seeing as the trader rating doesn't count if they have only just started trading?

I mean with the dodgy traders we have had on here with the past, isn't this a safety concern for the users of this site, that over rides any other concern?

When I am considering transferring substantial amounts of money to someoneI don't know, I would like as much information as possible before doing so.

This thread .... http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/in...showtopic=65046 ... speaks for itself and I personally (as well as others I am sure) don't want to have a layer of protection removed before making a transaction with someone from this site.

If this is true that post counts get reset, then I feel that it is a poorly thought out reaction to something of little consequence to the big picture

[dongypro]

just pm him and u can see his post counts lol

[Nexus9]

just pm him and u can see his post counts lol

totally beside the point

shouldn't have to do that

[Sl!m]

Yeah, I had over 30,000 posts Chris..

http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/in...howtopic=121374

there was another discussion in the whorethread about it, and this was what was brought up, they basicaly said that no one would check post count to see check if they are dodgey or not

looks like we were right and ppl do.

[Shell]

well i don't know much about the whole reseting the postcount thing... only funky can answer that question

but a possible way to get around it if you just want to check his postcount and make sure he has a more than the 50 posts... is to click on his name - it should say his post count and then "most active in"

for example if you click on slim's it says 770 postcount

and then "most active in" MOVED and shows over 31,000 posts

[Sl!m]

I dont think we can see that Shell..

all I see is

770 postcount

Most Active in NSW

( 1773 posts / 5% of this member's active posts )

so my most active is still higher than my post count

[Slide]

Yeah, I had over 30,000 posts Chris..

http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/in...howtopic=121374

there was another discussion in the whorethread about it, and this was what was brought up, they basicaly said that no one would check post count to see check if they are dodgey or not

looks like we were right and ppl do.

Indeed

just pm him and u can see his post counts lol

That still only displays the reset post count.

People could say this to help with scams.

Which is what i were talking about in the other thread and why i asked for post counts back straight away.

[Nexus9]

Indeed

That still only displays the reset post count.

People could say this to help with scams.

Which is what i were talking about in the other thread and why i asked for post counts back straight away.

Exactly my point, I don't care where it is displayed only that is in some way accurate and accessible if being looked for.

[Beer Baron]

that is what the trader rating is for. i dont see how a post count make someone trustworthy?

i could post 100 posts a day in whoretowns and wasteland but it doesn't do anything for my credibility. use your discretion, look at join date, trader rating and maybe a quick scan of their most recent topics and/or posts. forget post count. and you will be free.

[Nexus9]

that is what the trader rating is for. i dont see how a post count make someone trustworthy?

i could post 100 posts a day in whoretowns and wasteland but it doesn't do anything for my credibility. use your discretion, look at join date, trader rating and maybe a quick scan of their most recent topics and/or posts. forget post count. and you will be free.

I see your point, but as I stated above, if someone has only just started trading then the trader count is next to useless.

In regards to credibility being governed by post count, you are correct it isn't. But what it does tell me, is that someone is an active participant of the community and that they are likely to be known by other long standing members who can verify their trustworthiness and in the event of dispute possibly tell me how to contact the person in question outside of these forums.

I do use my discretion and one of the major components of my discretion is how much of an active participant they are in this community, this in conjunction with the other verifications is what gives me the confidence to trade with another member. I really couldn't give a toss about post counts outside of trading safety concerns.

If it can't be demonstrated that there is a valid reason for the reset that over rides the concerns of members trading safety, then it should be left how it was.

The only reason that I can see, is that some mod/admin has a bee in their bonnet about post counts being used as some kind of e-wang measuring contest. Which I doubt is the reason people post anyway. I am also at pains to see how resetting the post counts discourages whoring, if anything it would encourage it IMHO.

As I said before I believe it is a poorly thought out reaction to something of little real concern. Cap it at 10K or something like that instead of resetting it.

My 2 cents

[R31Nismoid]

If you actually look @ the trader rating you can clearly see when the entries were made, and how far they date back.

Post count is not really a question.

Someone might have 11ty billion posts, but it doesnt mean that

1) They have ever been to a cruise

2) Someone has even seen this person

The trader rating system is there, there was a select number of people who had poist counts reset.

Under 10 people i believe.

If you are purchasing on post count, thats another bad idea if you ask me.

Hence the reason the Trader Rating system was initiated.

I might have 4 posts on this forum, but a trader rating of 15 positive.

Does that make me worse than a trader with 10,000 posts and a trader rating of 2 positive?

I think i know which id be more concerned about

[Nexus9]

If you actually look @ the trader rating you can clearly see when the entries were made, and how far they date back.

Post count is not really a question.

Someone might have 11ty billion posts, but it doesnt mean that

1) They have ever been to a cruise

2) Someone has even seen this person

The trader rating system is there, there was a select number of people who had poist counts reset.

Under 10 people i believe.

If you are purchasing on post count, thats another bad idea if you ask me.

Hence the reason the Trader Rating system was initiated.

I might have 4 posts on this forum, but a trader rating of 15 positive.

m

Does that make me worse than a trader with 10,000 posts and a trader rating of 2 positive?

I think i know which id be more concerned about

And if they don't have a trader rating?

Once again the point I am making seems to be missed!

It is but one layer of verification among many that I look at when deciding whether or not to trade. You all seem to be under the miscomprehension that it is the only thing that we look at, which is not the case.

The more ways we have of verifying the better. If you want to strip away one of those layers for no discernable reason other than petty mindedness then at least please tell us the reasoning behind it.

Please demonstrate how resetting the post counts is more important than members trading safety?

[eMsta]

just do a search and see how often the person contributes.....

[R31Nismoid]

And if they don't have a trader rating?

Although thats not the point of why you started this thread... Unless you wanna say the particular person you are talking about?

Buying over the internet/forum/whatever is a simple case of buyer beware.

Always has, always will despite many arguments to the contrary.

If you are going to use a Post Count from an Internet forum as a validation point for a private sale, i think you are not really heeding a buyer beware scenario at all. 3

I would never look @ a post count and even consider it as a point.

I would look @ the Trader Rating and use that... in addition, if interstate, i would get a moderator or club level committee member to have a look for me in person where possible... or other methods that ensure i dont pay for goods until they arrive

Again, the Trader Rating system was brought in place, and the Bad Trader listing created.

SAU has gone beyond what most internet forums would normally do to try ensure safe and legitimate transactions.

I can see what your saying, but IMO (this is not SAU's position) post counts dont aid in buyer safety one iota.

[Nexus9]

Although thats not the point of why you started this thread... Unless you wanna say the particular person you are talking about?

Buying over the internet/forum/whatever is a simple case of buyer beware.

Always has, always will despite many arguments to the contrary.

If you are going to use a Post Count from an Internet forum as a validation point for a private sale, i think you are not really heeding a buyer beware scenario at all. 3

I would never look @ a post count and even consider it as a point.

I would look @ the Trader Rating and use that... in addition, if interstate, i would get a moderator or club level committee member to have a look for me in person where possible... or other methods that ensure i dont pay for goods until they arrive

Again, the Trader Rating system was brought in place, and the Bad Trader listing created.

SAU has gone beyond what most internet forums would normally do to try ensure safe and legitimate transactions.

I can see what your saying, but IMO (this is not SAU's position) post counts dont aid in buyer safety one iota.

Thank you for your offer for me to "out" the person I am referring to in a public forum without their consent, I will however decline on this offer and have instead passed the name on to a moderator that I trust to check it out for me.

I am well aware that any thing in commerce is buyer beware, but anything that can limit that risk, perceived or real, regardless of whether or not everybody uses it, surely is a good thing.

I understand that you are perplexed as to why this is an issue as it is not a safety feature that you consider or hold any value to. Fine thats great.

I however, and after a few conversations I have had today with other members do find it of value. And no I am not referring to the postwhores that the reset affects.

Yes I do believe that SAU does better than some other forums to ensure safe and legitimate transactions, but as to why it has been arbitrarily decided to strip away one of those protections I have no idea. Do we just sit on our laurels and say "meh ... it's good enough" or do we try to make it better for everybody, even we don't use it personally.

I don't conduct a transaction based soley on post counts, that would be ludicrous.

As I have stated previously and looks like I need to say it again, it is part of the process I and others take to decide whether to conduct business. Yes I look at their trader rating, yes I look at the join date, yes I look to see if they are a member of one of the SAU clubs around the country, yes I look at their post count, yes I look back to see their contributions etc etc.

Even at the end of all this process there is absolutely no guarantee that there won't be a problem with the transaction, but at least I can go into it forewarned with as much information as I can gather.

As of yet I have still to hear one cognizant argument as to why resetting post counts is more important than members trading safety. Just because you don't use it as a verification process yourself doesn't mean that it therefore has no value to anybody else.

[R31Nismoid]

Well it cant be one of too many users, considering not many had thiers reset...

Anyway, Admin have already answered the question about the post count reset, so i wouldnt expect them to have to provide an answer each time someone asks

whoops missed belgarion and predator... pva's a mod

the whole reason you guys got reverted to lower postcounts is due to a "anti-postwhoring script" mishap... so rather than fix the 5 or 6 that got done by the script I just changed the rest to match

In any case, in a couple of days I'll have fixord the anti postwhoring script, and I'll fix up your post counts then if you still want me to... although having a high postcount is disadvantageous when the script kicks in.

that is.. well... only Jar's and Kamikaze's postcounts were reset to 0 intentionally as a joke earlier today.

Nice to see all you postwhores get your collective panties in a bunch tho

[Beer Baron]

c'mon guys it's a non-issue. the reset has only affected a handfull of postwhores. i think only 1 of them is a trader and i'm sure he/she has a trader rating and has probably already clocked up more posts than the average SAU member. the join date and trader rating and content of the users posts/topics is important. 99% of members on SAU have their post counts accurately displayed.

[PranK]

Oh, this was Shan, he broked the post count and I forgot to do the recount... I'll do it know.

All it means is the trader is a whore!

[PranK]

Check his post count now. Recount has been done.

[Sl!m]

cool thanks prankeh