Top Poster of the Month - Update April 2023

[Mel O'Drama]

And now it looks like I'm permanently blocked from entering the the top-poster-of-month list (shades of ESC).

Not permanently, Willie. Just until 2025.


It was all explained back in Post #10.

Going forward there will be one change which will see each member reach the top and then out of the game for that calendar year. This will mean we will have 12 TPOTM each calendar year to add more variety.

Is it because I'm always too flamboyant about my victories?

And definitely not. Your flamboyance is very much appreciated.

Incidentally, it looks like RandallAdams has vanished into thin air.

With that username and avatar it was inevitable.

 

[Willie Oleson]

Just until 2025.

In the year twenty-o twenty-five, if tellytalk is still alive

It seems I misunderstood. I thought we were only excluded from the next month's TPO(t)M list.
Btw, in case it gets extremely quiet, someone could win with only one or two posts.

Not that any of this matters to me greatly - nor does my post count, even though I can't shake off the feeling that I lost a couple of hundred since I wasn't that far behind DallasFanForever - but it's ....well, something I noticed.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

It seems I misunderstood. I thought we were only excluded from the next month's TPO(t)M list.

We did do it this way for a time so it's perfectly understandable that you'd think this might still be the case.

Btw, in case it gets extremely quiet, someone could win with only one or two posts.

We began it the current way earlier in 2023 and it was interesting to see that as the year went on people were coming onto the TPOTM board with a relatively low number of posts. Part of the thinking with the change is that it's nice to see a broader variety of members' names and avatars showcased on the home screen.

I can't shake off the feeling that I lost a couple of hundred since I wasn't that far behind DallasFanForever - but it's ....well, something I noticed.

While I'm sure it's not impossible I can't think of any reason why this would have happened from our end. There's certainly been nothing done that should affect your post count this way.

If there's anything you've noticed that you can pinpoint, let me know and we can look into it.

 

[Crimson]

It was all explained back in Post #10.

Well that explains the what but now I'm curious about the why. What's the point of a Top Poster of the Month if it's not actually the Top Poster of the Month because 11 other people have already been excluded? As someone who generally posts judiciously to stay off the TPOTM, is there prestige or cash prize that I am unaware of?

EDIT: Damn, and now I'm on the list. No more posting for 2 days.

 

[Willie Oleson]

is there prestige or cash prize that I am unaware of?

I think Mel O'Drama explained it this way:

it's nice to see a broader variety of members' names and avatars showcased on the home screen

And I agree, it makes for a nice change from the more regular posters

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Well that explains the what but now I'm curious about the why.

I think Mel O'Drama explained it this way:

And I agree, it makes for a nice change from the more regular posters

Yes, that's pretty much it. The main reason was that the team felt it would bring variety and have different members featuring on the TPOTM board. We could include every member every month, but it becomes a bit too predictable, as shown by looking back at Posts 1 and 10 of this thread (from before we changed things).

I do take Crimson's point that it's not a strictly accurate representation of our top posters, but we were aiming to strike a balance and give some less chatty posters their chance as well.

Damn, and now I'm on the list. No more posting for 2 days.

If it helps, any member who wishes can have their post count "hidden" from the TPOTM board so they don't appear there regardless. A number of members prefer it this way (I've taken myself off the board this year as I've had more than my share of appearances there).

If this appeals to anyone, just let one of the team know and it will be done.

 

[Monzo]

I always find it sad that forum members who contribute a lot and post a lot are not on the Top Posters of the Month list on the forum homepage for the rest of the year, but at the same time I understand not wanting to only present the same members, although I find it more difficult with each passing month of the year, as people who discover the forum or return after a long time might think that not much is happening here anymore. The edited Top Posters list gives the impression that there are far fewer active members here than is actually the case.

What I used to like about the old Top Posters of the Month list was that you knew who was actually here. It has happened to me several times that I looked at the list and thought that a certain member who is not on the current list must have already been Top Poster of the Month this year, but when I look at this person's profile I discover that he/she has not been here for many days or even weeks.

 

[Crimson]

although I find it more difficult with each passing month of the year, as people who discover the forum or return after a long time might think that not much is happening here anymore. The edited Top Posters list gives the impression that there are far fewer active members here than is actually the case.

I was wondering that too. By December, the Top poster is going to have 15 posts.

We could include every member every month, but it becomes a bit too predictable, as shown by looking back at Posts 1 and 10 of this thread

Seems a bit like holding a race but disqualifying the fastest participants, but file that under mild curiosity rather than objection. Other than keeping myself off the list, I barely notice it. And to that point ...

If it helps, any member who wishes can have their post count "hidden" from the TPOTM board so they don't appear there regardless.

Yes, please exclude me. I'm always slightly displeased to see myself on the list.

 

[CeeCee72]

I guess I must have been top poster one month this year because I'm not in the list now - didn't even notice.

I kinda like the one time per year rule though. There are those (like me) who are in here so much and reply to so many threads (sometimes with just comic type comments that don't add to the discussion) that without that limitation it would always be the same seven or eight of us in contention. Someone else seeing their name on that list might actually be encouraged to participate more.

 

[Barbara Fan]

I would stick to the one top poster / month and names eliminated for rest of year

I actually rarely look at the list as it doesnt matter a jot to me, i dont care if someone posts once or 400 times, its quality not quantity that counts

 

[Willie Oleson]

I'm always slightly displeased to see myself on the list.

I always love to see you on the list because it makes me think "look at that shameless post-count competitor".

 

[Mel O'Drama]

What I used to like about the old Top Posters of the Month list was that you knew who was actually here.

I understand what you mean about it being a gauge. The good thing, though, is it isn't the only way of seeing who is here.

Above the TPOTM board on the home page are the Members Online and Latest Posts boxes, both of which show recent activity from members. Likewise, next to each forum on the home page is that forum's latest post and the name of the member who made it. All of these combined give a good idea of which members are active on the site.

I guess I must have been top poster one month this year because I'm not in the list now - didn't even notice.

You were indeed, CeeCee.

Here are 2024's top posters so far:


January - Barbara Fan
February - Snarky Oracle
March - James from London
April - Willie Oleson
May - Jock Ewing Fan
June - CeeCee72
July - Frank Underwood

I kinda like the one time per year rule though. There are those (like me) who are in here so much and reply to so many threads (sometimes with just comic type comments that don't add to the discussion) that without that limitation it would always be the same seven or eight of us in contention. Someone else seeing their name on that list might actually be encouraged to participate more.

Thanks. I'm glad you can see why we ended up running it this way.

Accurate as it may have been, running it without any limitations got pretty repetitive as it was mostly the same members in much the same order each and every month.

Seems a bit like holding a race but disqualifying the fastest participants, but file that under mild curiosity rather than objection.

Think of it as a relay race where the baton is passed. Or a virtual beauty pageant. It's run as a kind of knockout but in reverse, so that the winner of each month steps aside.

Yes, please exclude me. I'm always slightly displeased to see myself on the list.

That's absolutely fine. I've taken your name off the list.