Who should have the most posts on a forum?

Discussion in 'Managing Your Online Community' started by Tom, Aug 23, 2009.

  1. Tom

    Tom Regular Member

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    Which rank of users should have the most posts on a forum? Moderators, administrators, members, etc?
     
  2. Nick

    Nick Regular Member

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    Normally I would assume that moderators (or any staff member) have the most posts, but that isn't always the case. In my opinion, it is the most dedicated members that have the highest post count. It just so happens that these dedicated members eventually end up becoming moderators.

    On my forum, all but three of the top ten posters are/were moderators.

    I think some people would say that the Administrator(s) should have the most posts, but I disagree. Maybe in the forum's nascent stages, yes, but as the site grows and develops, the Administrator might take more and more time off, delegating responsibilities to fellow staff members. I used to always have the highest post count on my forum, but now I only have the third highest... and I'm over 600 posts behind the #2 poster.
     
  3. Dave

    Dave Regular Member

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    I agree the most dedicated would be the highest usually ....just depends on who posts the most..lol lol...
     
  4. cheat-master30

    cheat-master30 Grand Master

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    I'd just say it's whoever posts most who ends up with the most posts. There isn't specifically a 'this kind of member should post only this much' guideline... I mean, most forums I go have a moderator or administrator with the highest post count. For example, I myself posted near to 50 000 posts, but that's simply because I enjoy posting on said forum and don't visit any other forums about the topic (or I post too much, I'm always high on the post count list of any forum I visit, and high on the commenter list of any blog I happen to visit). vBulletin.com's got a good example too... look at Steve's post count... over 100 000 posts over time. By far the highest on the entire forum over there, but I wouldn't say it's a good or bad thing.

    So basically, I think it doesn't matter who has the most posts. It can be a normal user (I remember a forum with multiple people at the top rank... over 40 000 posts...). If so, you're going to have quite an easy ride to big board status if multiple such people have joined. It could be an administrator or moderator... same, good thing. Best to have staff that post regularly and are active than hardly visit at all in my opinion.
     
  5. Gibbs

    Gibbs Novice

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    I agree. I have the most posts on both boards that I admin, but other members are catching up quickly. My Head Mod and Moderators are all respectable people from our community, and they actually have fewer posts then anyone! But each post that they do post is worth 50 others.

    So, some people will post alot (like myself) and others will just post 1 long post that is worth more.
     
  6. Tom

    Tom Regular Member

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    I always thought that members should have the highest post count. Administrators having the highest post count can be a turn off for potential members and give off the "this forum is inactive" implication.

    On forums I administrate, I do have the highest post count, or one of the highest, but am not the only posters. Then come the "post whores" and other people.
     
  7. torque

    torque Regular Member

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    admins/moderators and the most active members.
     
  8. FullMetalBabe

    FullMetalBabe Zealot

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    Actually, I have the second most posts in Pisoga Forum, it brings out the 'Wow' factor rather the 'this community is dead'.

    For a person not knowledgeable in forum communities [which is what you would expect in some niche's], post count is something that can make you go 'Wow, these people post a lot.' which goes to them getting interested, registering, and they would notice the activity of your forum right away.

    Now, for people like us who are more knowledgeable, we pretty much perceive at times that when staff has [might have] higher post count means that the community is highly inactive and they try to constantly post, but you guys know how deceiving that can be [AdminAddict Forum - Members List] :P

    Either way, I really think that it pretty much doesn't matter, though, I do not know why, but the users make 'competitions' with each other to get the most posts, specially if the user with most post is the staff.

    All my opinion! :peace:
    :ghost:
     
  9. torque

    torque Regular Member

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    wow i didn't realise how much i was posting on here! time to stop i think.... alright i lie i cant help it
     
  10. 50calray

    50calray Grand Master

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    Just wanted to post up and see what my post count for AA was :D

    Seriously though, I would suspect Admin and Mod would have the highest post count in the beginning. This could change once you start getting some serious members.
     
  11. BabyDesigner

    BabyDesigner Adept

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    I wouldnt expect Admin to have the highest, but they should at least have a number of posts. This is my case anyway, Im usually too busy working on the hidden stuff for my forum rather than posting.
    My moderstaors have the highest posts, then behind them, very closely behind them, I have a few dedicated posters :)

    And Im MORE than happy with that!
     
  12. Soliloquy

    Soliloquy Regular Member

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    On a nascent forum I'm sure the admins and mods will have the most posts; on older, established forums hopefully the members will.
     

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