Star Posting - What is it? Why do people do it? How do we stop it?

[MasBYUgal]

I wanted to post here, because I think in the summer the org can be full of star posters.  I've noticed a lot of star posts lately all over the boards.  I've seen many posts like "Like I agree" or "ditto" or "pretty sticks to all" or "I don't like ________"!

I understand that once in awhile you simply want to voice your opinions, but I just want to urge all members to be conscious about what they are posting.  Sure you might agree, but explain why.  If you're just posting a simple "me too ..." it can wait for a little more discussion or you can explain a bit more.  I find those posts so pointless and they really don't do anything to add to the discussion.

[trickyiu]

I wanted to post here, because I think in the summer the org can be full of star posters.  I've noticed a lot of star posts lately all over the boards.  I've seen many posts like "Like I agree" or "ditto" or "pretty sticks to all" or "I don't like ________"!

I understand that once in awhile you simply want to voice your opinions, but I just want to urge all members to be conscious about what they are posting.  Sure you might agree, but explain why.  If you're just posting a simple "me too ..." it can wait for a little more discussion or you can explain a bit more.  I find those posts so pointless and they really don't do anything to add to the discussion.

I agree with you on this one Melissa.  I find it annoying when new members sign up and post 1,000 times on the first day and they don't say anything important.  I know everyone has great things to say so voice your opinions I would love to hear them!!   

[PrettyTownSpinster]

I completely understand.

What really urks me is when I post a very meaningful post about a certain matter (usually in the relationship threads) and I would really like to here feedback about it and then some one comes in and posts something like "Luke and Lorelai forever!!!!" and the posts follow like that so that with in a matter of minutes my deep meaningful post is several pages back to be found by no one

I know that the intention is not a star post (well maybe it is) but thats what it ends up being and the star post pattern gets repeated

[MasBYUgal]

We all recognize the problem and I'm sure we all can think of a handful of offenders.  I guess my biggest question is how to 'let them know' nicely and let them realize how annoying it is.  Not to name names, but I found someone who joined in early june and this member already has almost 3000 posts!  The only reason I checked their profile was because this was one of the 'top offenders' I've seen.  I think a lot of it is related to maturity and understanding of the boards ... but I don't know.  It's just been getting on my  nerves, but I didn't feel like saying anything about it.   Any ideas?

[conradv]

I agree!























..... just kidding... lol

Sometimes I catch myself doing it as everyone does.  I try to keep it at a minimum.  As was stated before, there are really only a handful of posters who post silliness on a consistent basis.   And most of the time the posts are without punctuation, a rhyme or a reason.  I tend to skip over them automatically now.

[MasBYUgal]

LOL!  I do my best to ignore them too, I guess I just needed a place to vent and this was it.  I know that we are all guilty of doing it once and while, and that's fine.  I think part of the reasoning, is that some of the 'newer members' want to post everywhere just to fit in and stuff.  Yet, I don't know if they realize that by doing those simple posts, it's the quickest way to almost get blacklisted.  I don't mean to sound that mean, but I hate to admit that once I see that some of those chronic star posters  have posted, I just ignore that thread completely.  In fact, I have missed some content, when I noticed that the last poster was the same as the last time I checked, then to find out they have just kept adding their 'one-liners' to the convo and there really was something meaningful - inbetween ... somewhere.

[Sooks]

I've been noticing this a LOT lately and I think, as Melissa said above, that perhaps it's the summer time?! I just wanted to come and let people know that I am reminding people (gently) not to star post and that it is one of the (few) rules we have here on the ORG. I don't think that's a bad thing. As long as it's done nicely. Sometimes, I don't think people even realize they are doing it...and yes, other times, people are very aware they are doing it. I think that with summer is a time when people come around because of boredom, also because their 'friends' are here. I think Heidi has plans for posting some updated and new rules for the forum, so hopefully that will help. Otherwise...gentle reminders might help a bit. I know how frustrating and annoying it can be...and I don't think that those types of posts should count to a person's total, but there's no way that the site could ever tell what type of post you are making. I guess I just wanted to come and say - I competely understand, Melissa! I hope that it problems gets under control! I think it's a simple respect thing that people should just follow the forum rules, like you would when you got o someone house.

[MasBYUgal]

I think it's a simple respect thing that people should just follow the forum rules, like you would when you got o someone house.

I just wanted to say that I really like this point.  I just wish more would follow the rules and such.  I skim through the boards and when I see so many short/fairly pointless posts ... it just frustrates me and I don't even want to mention it b/c it seems to be so prolific!  I also lose interest in the boards with this short posts and when I go to the ones I like, I just get tired.

So how to make a larger campaign of awareness?!  Ideas?

[PrettyTownSpinster]

I found someone who joined in early june and this member already has almost 3000 posts!  The only reason I checked their profile was because this was one of the 'top offenders' I've seen.  I think a lot of it is related to maturity and understanding of the boards ... but I don't know.  It's just been getting on my  nerves, but I didn't feel like saying anything about it.   Any ideas?

Oh my gosh.  I cannot believe that post count. I joined in January and I don't even have half of that. 
I agree with the maturity issue.  There are some younger members ere that are mature enough to handle posting great responses (you can see some good examples of this in the Sprees thread...which I just love to read)

As far as ideas are concerned.  I think the best this is to let them know that what they are doing is star posting and direct them to relevant thread and instruct them to read those thread because the members and mods on this board look down on star posters.  When that is stated it seems to really wake them up.  Like Melissa has said, it seems like they want to fit in.  When they are told that what they are doing is actually aggravating the members of the board the reevaluate there posts.  Well it seems to work for a while at least

[gilmorefriend]

We all recognize the problem and I'm sure we all can think of a handful of offenders. I guess my biggest question is how to 'let them know' nicely and let them realize how annoying it is. Not to name names, but I found someone who joined in early june and this member already has almost 3000 posts! The only reason I checked their profile was because this was one of the 'top offenders' I've seen. I think a lot of it is related to maturity and understanding of the boards ... but I don't know. It's just been getting on my nerves, but I didn't feel like saying anything about it. Any ideas?

Okay, I know for a fact that you are talking about me! I post a lot! I usually post in fun and games if you look at my profile. People do not post long much there. I am not used to long posts. I can get across what I am trying to say with a short post! I am usually on here between 5 and 8 hours a day! Also, my keyboard does not work well , so have the time I have to rewrite the whole thing. Also, I am not a fast typer. Sometimes, there ae 3 posts before I finish one long one! I will try to make them longer, but I am on when I am on! I post a lot! So, it does not matter how long I've been here. It matters how long in hours I have posted! I do not care about stars! Also, I am like 500 off 3,000!

[lalaliz2005]

So I'm not the only one who's getting aggrevated by this, huh? I know I do a lot of games, but I try to only play if I know what they are talking about. People who say "who?" or "what?" or "nsi/nhi" to every post is so annoying. It takes away from the game. It seems like certain people are posting on every board they can and it's one short question. Take the Great8Mandate board. One question was something to the extent of "so what are we trying to do? 8 episodes or 13?" The question was answered quickly but then the poster of the question posted: "so 13 episodes?" Is that not star posting? 

Thought so

Another thing: the Rate Signature thread. I have been on there once or twice whenever I get a new sig, but some of those people are posting every other post. That's ridiculous! Once someone says they like your sig and/or gives you a *prettystick* don't go back unless you have something new! I see the same couple of names over and over and over. Am I the only one annoyed by this?

[gilmorefriend]

Are you talking about me again? I have not posted on the hit or flop boards since you told me to stop!  Once in awhile post. But, only if I know what the movie is or song or whatever!

[MasBYUgal]

We all recognize the problem and I'm sure we all can think of a handful of offenders. I guess my biggest question is how to 'let them know' nicely and let them realize how annoying it is. Not to name names, but I found someone who joined in early june and this member already has almost 3000 posts! The only reason I checked their profile was because this was one of the 'top offenders' I've seen. I think a lot of it is related to maturity and understanding of the boards ... but I don't know. It's just been getting on my nerves, but I didn't feel like saying anything about it. Any ideas?

Okay, I know for a fact that you are talking about me! I post a lot! I usually post in fun and games if you look at my profile. People do not post long much there. I am not used to long posts. I can get across what I am trying to say with a short post! I am usually on here between 5 and 8 hours a day! Also, my keyboard does not work well , so have the time I have to rewrite the whole thing. Also, I am not a fast typer. Sometimes, there ae 3 posts before I finish one long one! I will try to make them longer, but I am on when I am on! I post a lot! So, it does not matter how long I've been here. It matters how long in hours I have posted! I do not care about stars! Also, I am like 500 off 3,000!

I will admit that you are one of the posters I had in mind.  I never even look at the game thread, so that doesn't even apply.  The majority of the posts I've seen have been in the general thread and most of them have been 1-liners.  The concept of a star post, isn't about the fact that one wants stars, but the content or lack-there-of in the posts.  I've seen many post that are like Yes, you're right on the Q&A thread or a simple, I like that too in some of the other threads.  We value content in posts around here and it's nice to see some genuine thought behind some posts. I'm sorry that your keyboard doesn't work well and that you don't type that fast, but everyone  has various computer issues.  If nothing has really happened in a thread, give it some time ... a simple short post basically agreeing to the same thing that has been discussed really isn't vital and it really doesn't do much to enhance or continue the conversation.  Try to comment to all of the 'above' posters and topics and get to know others a bit better before just jumping in.  I do understand that once in awhile a simple 3-5 line post is necessary, but not every single post.  Basically don't just post to post.

[gilmorefriend]

Okay! Sorry! I will try to make this and all of my other posts longer. In the general disscussion, I will try to make more than 2 line posts. Umm... I can not think of  anything else to write. I also will try to put more detail in my posts.

[mela489]

Well I would like to comment on the lot of this....

for one, I am extreamly adimint about star posting....it annoys the *anything* out of me.  People want content, and they don't like scaning down reading post that say, "hi" "hey" "hows your day"  "I completly agree"  "isn't ___ so hot!"  they just take up space and boost post counts.

someone mentioned how sometimes when you go to post there will be three new replies...yes that happens...it used to happen a LOT...but this way, just read what the person wrote, and put your comments to it....or if your prefer, just post and then 'modify' your post with comments from the previous 3 posters.  Sometimes it can be annoying, but really its fun, because people are there and you are all able to have a very indepth conversation...unlike you posting and 5 days later someone else posts.

someone else mentioned something about the fun and games thread....I think we have too many and there keeps being more...the REALLY annoying ones are the ones with 1 word responces....hangman I LOVE and its fun...but that really would boost your post cound if you are on it all the time, because you are only posting 1 letter at a time....thats why if only 2 or 3 people are there at a time, we would do multiple letters at a time...and we would also have conversations going through it.

well...this has always been a problem and probably always will be, but if people just TRY to make longer, and more in-debth posts, it would make it lot easier.

Okay! Sorry! I will try to make this and all of my other posts longer. In the general disscussion, I will try to make more than 2 line posts. Umm... I can not think of  anything else to write. I also will try to put more detail in my posts.

haha see....new reply to my post.  lol, and thats for trying!   try to make them have meaing too, when you go to start doing your longer posts...because that would be annoying if you can't expand on what you are saying and write out lyrics to a song backwards.....haha, yes, I know you'd never do that, nor anyone...but I was trying to be funny, you probably understand what i'm trying to say though..if not, sorry for this last part going on and on. lol