Post Whoring

Apologies if this isn't the right place for this thread but it seems most apt to post it here as the issue is most prevalent in this forum. And this is not a personal attack on any one poster so I apologies if anyone takes offense.

Post whoring is the term I use to describe a post which exists solely to bump up the posters post count. It's one that brings nothing to the table, offering no insight or chance for discussion and more often than not consists of nothing more than a single word followed by a youtube video or else an article/press release copy and pasted from another site. This opening post in The Neighbors thread is a perfect example of it. It also can be used to describe posts such where the poster throws up some generic one line such as "first episode is out now" or one where the post just copy and pastes in the link to some other site.

I'm aware that you could argue, in the case of The Neighbors thread for example that the poster did at least start a thread on the show but would it really have been too much hassle for the op to add in a little of their thoughts on the show. Would it really take that much time and effort to string together a few sentences on the show and make it look like your thread welcomes discussion of the show. This and this are examples from the main page of threads where the OP actually out a little effort into their post and it makes a world of difference. Open either of the latter threads and instantly as a poster I feel more inclined to contribute. The op invites discussion and offers something beyond a generic "this is new show, it look okay" and a video.

I started this thread with the plan of asking the mods to consider discussing changing the rules of the forum so that opening posts such as The Neighbors one would simply be deleted but that's perhaps a little too drastic. What would be great is that from now on that if you start a new thread for a show you had to put in a little bit of effort beyond simply copy and pasting that little bit of info you read on digital spy or imdb.

Mr E

I think you're being a bit harsh, Darko. I think merging the "announced-shows-but-still-3-years-away-from-air" threads has made a huge improvement to clutter in the forum, but when new shows have started, someone has to post about them (if only to draw attention to the fact that they exist).

I will say this, though.... I'm going to start deleting the 3am "OMG-its-out-now" posts. They irritate me greatly.

brian_t

Deleted User wrote: »

And this is not a personal attack on any one poster so I apologies if anyone takes offense.

Earlier today you raised this issue with Richard Dower in the "Beauty And The Beast Remake" thread.

It won't escape anyones notice that you have also used a post by Richard as an example of a Bad post.

I have no idea who Richard is but I think you are being a little unfair to single him out like this.

Mr E

Mr E wrote: »

I think you're being a bit harsh, Darko. I think merging the "announced-shows-but-still-3-years-away-from-air" threads has made a huge improvement to clutter in the forum, but when new shows have started, someone has to post about them (if only to draw attention to the fact that they exist).

I accept that someone needs to make the thread but at the same time, throwing up nothing more than a youtube video is just the poster being lazy. The Neighbors thread is the perfect example of it. The op had the thumbs down simple beside the thread and I'd imagine that alone put a number of people off giving the show a chance. I'd hate to think that I'd have missed the best new comedy of the year if I'd simply opened the thread and watched the youtube trailer attached.

Mr E wrote: »

I will say this, though.... I'm going to start deleting the 3am "OMG-its-out-now" posts. They irritate me greatly.

I had a paragraph about just that and a number of links to posts which simply the same poster going "omg the new eppy is out" but felt that it looked like I was attacking the one poster. Those posts really do my head in, they contribute absolutely nothing and the use of the word eppy makes me want to slap the poster.

brian_t

brian_t wrote: »

Earlier today you raised this issue with Richard Dower in the "Beauty And The Beast Remake" thread.

It won't escape anyones notice that you have also used a post by Richard as an example of a Bad post.

I have no idea who Richard is but I think you are being a little unfair to single him out like this.

It's not a personal attack on Richard and I'm not trying to single him out but he has made a habit of starting threads with nothing more than a youtube video and/or a link to an article. A lot of his posts offer nothing in the way of discussion or insight on his part, he's merely reposting someone elses feelings on the show.

JP Liz V1

Well I am one of the gulity culprits so as sometimes I will copy and paste a article with the source and not comment which myself I dont see as a problem as long as the article relates to the show or start a new thread about a show with a small description and teaser/promo trailer if available but what comments or views can really be said on new shows before a pilot is released and viewed, anyways apologies if this is bugging my fellow tv forum boardies will try and write detailed essays in future in my threads

JP Liz V1

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

Well I am one of the gulity culprits so as sometimes I will copy and paste a article with the source and not comment which myself I dont see as a problem as long as the article relates to the show or start a new thread about a show with a small description and teaser/promo trailer if available but what comments or views can really be said on new shows before a pilot is released and viewed, anyways apologies if this is bugging my fellow tv forum boardies will try and write detailed essays in future in my threads

Lot can be said about a show in development, look at the discussion on teh film board for any upcoming film to see how much can be said. No on expects indepth analysis but a line or two from the poster is all it takes. Even if it's to say, "this sounds pretty damn good and with the concept and cast it coudl be a real winner."

Diabhal Beag

Of all the gripes to have in the TV forum this has probably got be somewhere down the bottom. Once something posted relates to the thread that's fine IMO. In the case of Richard he just seems to like every TV show every made but there's no ill-will in his postings.

GT_TDI_150

I see what you mean
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Skid

Deleted User wrote: »

Lot can be said about a show in development, look at the discussion on teh film board for any upcoming film to see how much can be said. No on expects indepth analysis but a line or two from the poster is all it takes. Even if it's to say, "this sounds pretty damn good and with the concept and cast it coudl be a real winner."

No, "this sounds pretty damn good and with the concept and cast it coudl be a real winner." adds nothing to the Opening Post. If you insist on having an opinion added to each OP you will find meaningless statements like 'looks good' or 'can't wait for this one' which don't enrich anyone's lives. To be fair, the regular thread starters almost always add their opinions when there is a new trailer or an actual episode.

I think the balance is right at the moment, the 'shows in development thread' has cut down on the number of new threads in the main forum.

ejmaztec

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

Of all the gripes to have in the TV forum this has probably got be somewhere down the bottom. Once something posted relates to the thread that's fine IMO. In the case of Richard he just seems to like every TV show every made but there's no ill-will in his postings.

Apart from when he thinks a show or ten should be cancelled.:(


:pac:

Diabhal Beag

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

but there's no ill-will in his postings.

Pretty sure that there are dozens of examples of post of Richard gloating over how such and such a show is on the cusp of getting canceled. And if the show is given the boot he comes along to gloat about how he was right all along.

JP Liz V1

Richy needs to come on and defend himself for being a "whore"

ejmaztec

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

Richy needs to come on and defend himself for being a "whore"

You only said that to up your post count.:P

JP Liz V1

ejmaztec wrote: »

You only said that to up your post count.:P

Yep what a whore am I

Skid

Deleted User wrote: »

Pretty sure that there are dozens of examples of post of Richard gloating over how such and such a show is on the cusp of getting canceled. And if the show is given the boot he comes along to gloat about how he was right all along.

Richard is alright. The odd time I want to know about an obscure foreign TV show he has never let me down. It's good to know someone is keeping track of these new shows.

brian_t

Considering the number of shows that he keeps tabs on, it's a wonder he finds the time to post anything at all.

Skid

Skid wrote: »

Richard is alright. The odd time I want to know about an obscure foreign TV show he has never let me down. It's good to know someone is keeping track of these new shows.

I have no problem with Richard personally, just wish that at times he didn't spend so much time spouting rubbish about the ratings of shows he doesn't even watch and then gloating when certain shows are canceled.

Diabhal Beag

Deleted User wrote: »

Pretty sure that there are dozens of examples of post of Richard gloating over how such and such a show is on the cusp of getting canceled. And if the show is given the boot he comes along to gloat about how he was right all along.

I didn't want to say anything but he also has terrible taste in a lot of TV shows.

Skid

Deleted User wrote: »

I have no problem with Richard personally, just wish that at times he didn't spend so much time spouting rubbish about the ratings of shows he doesn't even watch and then gloating when certain shows are canceled.

You claim in the OP that this thread isn't personally directed at any poster. I have to say your subsequent posts show that this isn't the case.

Richard Dower

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

Well I am one of the gulity culprits so as sometimes I will copy and paste a article with the source and not comment which myself I dont see as a problem as long as the article relates to the show or start a new thread about a show with a small description and teaser/promo trailer if available but what comments or views can really be said on new shows before a pilot is released and viewed, anyways apologies if this is bugging my fellow tv forum boardies will try and write detailed essays in future in my threads

Why should you apologise?....you're offering a servive here for free!, to say that no effort goes into copy/pasting links and YT videos is nonsense!....the fact you've searched out a website, found the info, found the YT link and created a thread INTENDED to give people as heads up/inform them *IS* effort.

No one asked you to do all this....sure, but you like me enjoy doing it....it has nothing to do with post count or whoring. I wasn't gonna say a word on this thread....attack me all you want, but i am NOT having anyone have a go at Liz or make her feel in the wrong :mad:

Liz, you're one of the most inoffensive posters on Boards....so don't let anyone make you feel you have to apologise

Richard Dower

ejmaztec wrote: »

Apart from when he thinks a show or ten should be cancelled.:(


:pac:

Most of that is jest and winding people up...and Community fans are too easy!

Richard Dower

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

Richy needs to come on and defend himself for being a "whore"

TerrorFirmer

I have to say I find Richard great for bringing a lot of stuff that I'm interested in but wouldn't have yet noticed to my attention through this forum, I'd rather someone started a thread on said news with a link than not at all, it's actually a community service really - I've started a lot of shows I wouldn't have otherwise thanks to this forum and I do think Richard deserves a lot of credit for the tabs he keeps - he's doing the rarity of trying to keep everyone happy and he does a good job. Not that I don't like a bit of personal insight or opinion in a post either, but credit where credits due.

Skid

Skid wrote: »

You claim in the OP that this thread isn't personally directed at any poster. I have to say your subsequent posts show that this
isn't the case.

It's not an attack on Richard though he is guilty of much of what I spoke of in the first post. Also going into threads dedicated to shows and spouting rubbish about ratings is not appreciated by anyone especially when a show is canceled and he comes along to gloat. I have no problem with Richard, just wish though that he would watch a few more of the shows he starts threads on. Really is odd to see someone start so many threads about a show and then not actually watch them, Richard if you read this there's so many great shows on that are worth your 42 minutes a week over Vampire Diaries.

Richard Dower wrote: »

Why should you apologise?....you're offering a servive here for free!, to say that no effort goes into copy/pasting links and YT videos is nonsense!....the fact you've searched out a website, found the info, found the YT link and created a thread INTENDED to give people as heads up/inform them *IS* effort.

No one asked you to do all this....sure, but you like me enjoy doing it....it has nothing to do with post count or whoring. I wasn't gonna say a word on this thread....attack me all you want, but i am NOT having anyone have a go at Liz or make her feel in the wrong :mad:

Liz, you're one of the most inoffensive posters on Boards....so don't let anyone make you feel you have to apologise

No one should feel the need to apologise, Liz has became very good at linking to shows and offering her thoughts on them. And yes no one asked anyone to start a thread but this is a discussion site and if the opening post doesn't offer much to discuss then people aren't going to be interested in it. All I was suggesting is that people don't simply start a thread that's nothing more than a youtube link.

JP Liz V1

Richard Dower wrote: »

Why should you apologise?....you're offering a servive here for free!, to say that no effort goes into copy/pasting links and YT videos is nonsense!....the fact you've searched out a website, found the info, found the YT link and created a thread INTENDED to give people as heads up/inform them *IS* effort.

No one asked you to do all this....sure, but you like me enjoy doing it....it has nothing to do with post count or whoring. I wasn't gonna say a word on this thread....attack me all you want, but i am NOT having anyone have a go at Liz or make her feel in the wrong :mad:

Liz, you're one of the most inoffensive posters on Boards....so don't let anyone make you feel you have to apologise

Thank you my fellow whore for defending me

tvnutz

I think Richard is a great contributor to this forum,no doubt.

That being said, I can see where Darko is coming from. I never post in a thread of a show I don't watch,never! It makes no sense.

However you have some people posting things in threads of shows they don't actually watch and it can be annoying,especially if its about ratings or bad reviews.

A poster comes into a thread and says, oh the ratings are shocking, its going to be cancelled, or, oh word is on other forums this season has been rubbish or this episode was shocking, then when asked what did the poster think themselves, you get the response of "oh I don't actually watch it, just based on what I'm reading.

I'm sorry but that is nonsense, and that is I think what Darko is talkin about, if you don't watch or follow a show then I don't see the reason to post in the thread. If you do want to give info about premiere dates or casting or whatever,then maybe there should be a seperate thread for those things for all general shows.

Also Starring LeVar Burton

I wasn't going to say anything, because you know, it's the internet and no one listens anyway, but then I thought f**k it, I'll throw my opinion in the ring.

As someone who has been around this forum for several years I don't think the problem is the posting of articles or ratings talk (I know most people around here couldn't care less, but RichardDower isn't the only one interested in ratings - I happen to find them fascinating), the real problem with this forum, is how judgmental some of the posters here are nowadays. God forbid someone new stumbles along and begins a thread on a show which already has an existing thread (they're usually a noob, no need to make them feel like sh*t).
Everyone needs to chill the f**k out and we can go back to the good old days and people go back to slagging Richard over his poor taste in TV shows and that he's clearly a 16 year old girl (at least that was good fun), not the fact he posts links or whatever.
I haven't been posting as much around this forum over the past several months not because I'm deterred by ratings talk and people posting youtube vids, but because of the general lack of comraderie recently (used to be much more a sense of community back in the day)...
Stop with the bitching and lets go back to the roots of what once was a great forum.

cian68

so Richard isn't a 16 year old girl?

Richard Dower

cian68 wrote: »

so Richard isn't a 16 year old girl?

phasers

I don't mind Richard starting threads on new shows, if there's interest then the thread will generate its own discussion, if not it will sink down to oblivion. Same with YT videos.

The 'new episode out' posts are a bit annoying though.

Richard Dower

phasers wrote: »

I don't mind Richard starting threads on new shows, if there's interest then the thread will generate its own discussion, if not it will sink down to oblivion. Same with YT videos.

The 'new episode out' posts are a bit annoying though.

it's a reasonable complaint, mentioned by others...so i'll cut down on that, but i do bump finales and such, like i did with strike back and as i'll do with boss come next friday.

it's to remind and heads up people really. people have raised other issues and i have read over the thread, i have done my part to clean up threads by alerting mods and merging threads etc.

Richard Dower

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

I didn't want to say anything but he also has terrible taste in a lot of TV shows.

i love abc family!....i won't deny it ...one thing i'll pat myself on the back for was i pushed and hipped people to the channel. i doubt anyone even heard of abc family here before i came to the tv forum.

i have varied tastes, the forum has opened my eyes to some quality programming. and while it dosen't seem like it i have drastically cut my tv watching in the last year,

Diabhal Beag

Richard Dower wrote: »

i have varied tastes, the forum has opened my eyes to some quality programming.

Same. I've gotten into some good/****e stuff through here and you're the driving force for the threads that nobody else starts so keep at it.

pixelburp

Richard Dower wrote: »

Most of that is jest and winding people up...and Community fans are too easy!

Trolling by another name really; I wasn't going to get involved in this thread, but I read this & felt compelled. That kind of nonsense is trolling, it's the very definition of the action & calling it 'jesting' doesn't really change the result.

More than most other media and particularly in this day & age, TV is a medium of user choice - if you don't like it, don't watch, change the channel. So if you don't watch it, then don't feel the need to post in its thread & try to wind people up; it's not clever or cheeky & going by your supposed profile age I'd expect more maturity than that; I've certainly seen bans / warnings handed out for much less.

don ramo

Boards.ie TV Forum Charter wrote: »

Regurgitating news from other websites is encouraged in certain circumstances, but you must then CONTRIBUTE to the thread (and that doesn't mean putting a or an "I agree" comment at the end of the post). This is primarily a discussion forum, not a news forum.

i do find it annoying having to click links to other sites to find information on a new show, i will always give my opinion of what i think of any new show i talk about when i start a new thread, and then provide a link that will have a lot more information for those that like me are interested in it, but i do believe this is a discussion forum and 3 links in an opening post in a new show thread is not generating a discussion, its the 3-4 post afterwards that do that,

shows will eventually get new threads, after-all the place is full of TV addicts, i barely have enough time with all the shows that i watch due to this ****ing forum, but its not richards fault he has so much more spare time than the rest of us, he a drug kingpin, and like all kingpins you dont dabble in your own supply,

we all have a laugh at richard and hes a good sport for it, but he does contribute a lot to the forum, but as long as he stick to the charter ill have a laugh with him about the fact he continuously talks about lost even though hes never seen it, and the fact the man couldn't crate a poll to save his life:p:D:D:D


also could we change the thread title to the Richard Dower Roasting Thread:D

ixoy

pixelburp wrote: »

Trolling by another name really; I wasn't going to get involved in this thread, but I read this & felt compelled. That kind of nonsense is trolling, it's the very definition of the action & calling it 'jesting' doesn't really change the result.

+1,000,000. This happened not just in the "Community" thread but also on the Stargate forum for "Stargate: Universe". It's not just that it's trolling - it's downright rude and obnoxious. Civility and respect in these circumstances cost nothing and help contribute to better forums.

Technocentral

This is my 2,085th post.

ejmaztec

Technocentral wrote: »

This is my 2,085th post.

Noob.

Technocentral

ejmaztec wrote: »

Noob.

I was been ironic, Poindexter.

JP Liz V1

Technocentral wrote: »

This is my 2,085th post.

Whore

juan.kerr

Is this thread at attempt at post whoring?

Icarus Wings

Technocentral wrote: »

This is my 2,085th post.

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

Whore

;):D

juan.kerr

Technocentral wrote: »

I was been ironic, Poindexter.

Relax there, Cyril.

Richard Dower

ixoy wrote: »

+1,000,000. This happened not just in the "Community" thread but also on the Stargate forum for "Stargate: Universe". It's not just that it's trolling - it's downright rude and obnoxious. Civility and respect in these circumstances cost nothing and help contribute to better forums.

Difference is there...i watched every ep. of SGU, i commented on every ep. and reviewed. I was almost always positive about the show itself....but i posted ratings and said it be axed long before others could handle the truth.

It got axed, i was right....SGU fans were in denial and lashed out, i wasn't trolling there i was quoting facts.

Sorry if it upset folks but i got real

don ramo

Richard Dower wrote: »

Difference is there...i watched every ep. of SGU, i commented on every ep. and reviewed. I was almost always positive about the show itself....but i posted ratings and said it be axed long before others could handle the truth.

It got axed, i was right....SGU fans were in denial and lashed out, i wasn't trolling there i was quoting facts.

Sorry if it upset folks but i got real

yeah but you said itd be canceled in season 1, your always gonna be right, eventually :D

we all knew the writing was on the wall we just chose not to bother reading it,

pixelburp

Richard Dower wrote: »

Difference is there...i watched every ep. of SGU, i commented on every ep. and reviewed. I was almost always positive about the show itself....but i posted ratings and said it be axed long before others could handle the truth.

It got axed, i was right....SGU fans were in denial and lashed out, i wasn't trolling there i was quoting facts.

Sorry if it upset folks but i got real

Not everybody's as obsessed with the numbers as you are - and frankly I don't get the obsession with whether a show lives or dies: is it not enough to simply enjoy it while it lasts? Ramming home threats of cancellation or whatever isn't being part of the discussion either, it's walking into the middle of a party you may not have been part of to start with, and telling everyone the beer's probably going to run out soon; so yeah, a little bit trollish.

Tristram

pixelburp wrote: »

Not everybody's as obsessed with the numbers as you are - and frankly I don't get the obsession with whether a show lives or dies: is it not enough to simply enjoy it while it lasts? Ramming home threats of cancellation or whatever isn't being part of the discussion either, it's walking into the middle of a party you may not have been part of to start with, and telling everyone the beer's probably going to run out soon; so yeah, a little bit trollish.

Found this habit infuriating. I expected the show to be cancelled but didn't want to be reading predictions of doom where people were supposed to be discussing episodes. I don't understand the gloating at all.

grimm2005

pixelburp wrote: »

Not everybody's as obsessed with the numbers as you are - and frankly I don't get the obsession with whether a show lives or dies: is it not enough to simply enjoy it while it lasts? Ramming home threats of cancellation or whatever isn't being part of the discussion either, it's walking into the middle of a party you may not have been part of to start with, and telling everyone the beer's probably going to run out soon; so yeah, a little bit trollish.

I'd tend to agree with this. I'd be lieing if I said I contributed much, if at all to this forum but I do enjoy reading about shows and storylines, story predictions etc. and just peoples opinions on the show itself. But the one thing that I find incredibly uninteresting and that doesn't really contribute discussion about a tv show itself is ratings. Knowing how many people aged 18 - 35 in the US have watched an episode of a show doesn't imo have much of a place in a thread discussing the quality and content of the latest episode of a tv show.

I do understand that the major driving force behind whether a tv show gets renewed or cancelled is the US is ratings but I think it's a bit early to start talking about that after the first or second episode. Sure, if it's about halfway through the first season and a show is reported to be highly likely to be cancelled a quick mention of that can't hurt but in depth ratings of every episode is a bit overkill if you ask me. I could be wrong and there may be more people interested in these ratings but from what I can see that doesn't appear to be the case.

That's not to say Richard doesn't contribute to the forum, he has a lot of posts, many of which are what he thinks of the show etc. and he contributes a whole lot more than I do but its just the ratings talk that gets a bit much sometimes!

phasers

I enjoy the ratings stuff, it's interesting imo. What I don't enjoy are posts like:

Community. Will. Be. Axed.

and

I TOLD YOU SO!!

There's discussion and then there's spite.

Just ban him from the Community thread and everything will be fine :cool:

ixoy

Richard Dower wrote: »

It got axed, i was right....SGU fans were in denial and lashed out, i wasn't trolling there i was quoting facts.

No it was the insistence on constantly bringing it up. Imagine having a chat with somebody about an episode and a third party walking up and going "IT'S GOING TO BE AXED!" It disrupts the flow of the conversation away from the topic on hand (which was the episode itself).

Best idea really is just to give you a special ratings thread in certain forums that you can post away to - people can then read it at their leisure without it being intrusive.