Length of Posts Accounted For

[Kriemedean]

I was wondering if there might be a "ranking" system for post length as well as the amount of posts, either by total amount of characters (letters and spacing and such) or by average amount. You could have categories: One-Worder, Chat-Speaker, One-Liners, Leafletters, Handbillers, Pamphleteers, Flyer-Posters, Paragraphers (yes, I'm not very creative at naming), Scene-Maker, Chapter-Writer, Short-Storyteller, Novellettee, Novelist, Saga/Series Master, and whatever else is out there to add. I like quality over quantity, but it is still fun to push to do better in every way. I still have a habit of challenging myself to write more than what the last person did and it would make it that much more fun to be titled a Novellaphile under my name.

Also like to add that for those hosts that would like to know, it could help them, though I don't know how it would average out with OOC when people might be discussing the story in shorter posts.

[AlexSilverX]

That would be a pretty sweet idea actually, I hope they get around to working on something like that.

[Strude]

Considering WTF is a site that has tried to get away from the promotion and focus of post length superiority. I feel this isn't something that would benefit the site and the core members, I think it would remove from the efforts of creating a different mindset.

WTF doesn't promote not using word counts either, it simply sits on a middle ground (you can choose to promote it yourself in your own game [set specific post length rules], but other than self promoting your preferences in your own game the site as a whole doesn't place a serious focus on it) and a lot of our feature (specifically speak game ratings) are designed to focus on experience and skill base that isn't solely revolved around the idea of post length. Which in my opinion was and continues to be something I like about the site, and I personally would not want to see "post length" discrimination become a focus on this site like so many other board.

Post length and the focus of post length is the reason I personally left many boards such as Gaia and Menewsha and other such boards. I know many members are from those board, and I don't care either way, I just don't want that mindset becoming a focus of this board. I like that WTF focuses on skill base (and skills beyond the silly concept of written length).

[Kriemedean]

Post length isn't a sign of superiority, but it something that people are good at while constant attendance might not be. Strengths and weaknesses everyone has. There have been times though where I couldn't get on multiple times every day and could only post one large writing bit; not anymore but for those that would like that on their "RP resume," so to speak, it could be there for them. (I would like to know who the core members are though, lol.) It would be something that could be ignored or used, non-invasive or beneficial, depending on the individuals. It's not anymore mandatory than ratings.

The features on WTF are great and length should not be the sole focus. This is simply something for people to consider that want to consider it. It's not meant to force others to acknowledge it. People will use "post length discrimination" if it is something important to them and, from what I've seen, do already by making rules about post length. I can see how people might not give others a chance if that's all they weigh, but if that's their prerogative, then that's them and they would simply miss out.

Both sides should be allowed to decide what they are willing to exchange or chance, just like offering up characters profiles, which personally are a pain in my butt because sometimes that information doesn't transfer into the RP like it should or they use pictures rather than descriptions. Either way, if they want a picture, I'll give it, if I really want to roleplay the game. If as a host I don't care if someone has it on their profile, it's something I just gloss over when checking them out. If singing skills becomes the thing people think they require to have for an RP, then I'll have to get some singing lessons from rumxcoke when I wanna play an RP like that.

[Strude]

Yes, and they can continue to put it in their rules/requirements.

But that aside and more importantly I just don't think we need to promote post length. It is something WTF has always avoided, we don't focus on it and, as I said before, that was and continues to be something that keeps me on the site. I like that WTF isn't about post length, I like that it doesn't support this ridiculous trend in the RP community.

I don't care if people make it a rule/requirement to join their game. I just don't think we need an entire feature and titles dedicated to post length. Mostly because some of us don't focus on, dedicate ourselves to writing long posts and it just feel like being on Gaia again and struggling with the stupid "literacy level/label" crap . . . which on Gaia wasn't mandatory, but it became such a huge trend that without it you don't get very far.

I don't want that for this community. I don't want a fun thing to become a focus driving force on this community.

This is just "advance literate" "elite" "semi-lit" all fancied up.

I know I feel very strongly about this. But I've been on this site since it started and I really don't want to community to become like the places I left.

Players can have their preference and continue to choose their players for their games based on their preferences. I just don't want an entire feature revolved about supporting this one preference, this one trend in the community. I keep saying it, but I like that it isn't a thing on WTF.

[Kriemedean]

I'm not saying for the SITE to promote or focus on length, but to give others the option to know. I think the reason why Menewsha (I've never been on Gaia) fails on post length is that the SITE rewarded people with points or whatever. That would be a promotion, but that is not what I am saying. Their feature was not even informational at all, just so people could buy trinkets for their avatars, which thankfully is not on this site. The attitude of the site's shadowy overloads (*wink* kidding...don't hurt me, please) is also different by comparison, because it doesn't sell limited-edition avatar clothes or stray into anything but that of writing.

It would only be a feature, just like all the others on here; there to use for those that want to. They could have continued to put in rules/requirements how long the host wanted someone to have been a member of the site and number of posts made, but they didn't. Someone can easily go to count all the posts to see how much someone frequents the site, but thankfully a feature was made that just tells how many, off to the side as not to bother those that don't care to notice it. The same can be done for post length and there for those that want to use. I don't even care if it has titles; I just thought that would be entertaining (much like "Not-So-Secretly Kinky" when your post count comes to 69).

I don't ever want to force someone to use it and I certainly don't want you to have a repeat bad experience. I just want that to be something others can use if they wish to, aimed at another strength and not to decorate a little tiny person next to posts. I love that this site can cater to people, even for the picture trend. It's available to those that want, but it doesn't mean that every single user will avoid descriptions. Adult is there for people that want it, but that doesn't mean that it will decay into porn like for other sites. Hidden and locked, two features I have never seen before but love, are here too, but it's not dreadfully overused, if that could ever happen. Orphaned characters, while not a feature I like (How can anyone abandon their babies?!), it also there for people.

I don't mind the opposition honestly, because to me it's already helped to show off the bugs of other sites involving post length. Rating posts and rating RPs, and exclusion of quotes and OOC, would also do well to prevent mindless blathering. Averaging it would fix it up even more because eventually they would get tired of trying to keep the count and it will plateau into their real numbers. Individuals will figure out what post lengths are believable and likely to produce good work. One of my RP buddies has noticed that they tend to have more to work with and write more themselves when the other person tries to increase the meat of their posts. Again, I don't want it promoted like on Menewsha; I just want the option and titles wouldn't matter.

[Kriemedean]

Also, perhaps an option for noting that a thread is a chapter thread, where (after all posts are made) it is organized into chapters by the host in novel fashion. It allows viewers to read it like a book, but also does not count toward the average character/word count for length.

[Strude]

Also, perhaps an option for noting that a thread is a chapter thread, where (after all posts are made) it is organized into chapters by the host in novel fashion. It allows viewers to read it like a book, but also does not count toward the average character/word count for length.

People can setup their games as chapter based game . . .

[Kriemedean]

I know. I'm doing that with a friend by editing our posts together into a single post-chapter, but, if length count is setup, I don't want to have my chapters considered toward only my account, because it's mine AND other people's posts. It would give me an unfairly long average without giving credit to the other RPer involved.

[Strude]

Well regardless my opinion, if we're doing a vote, is a very strong "no, please don't".

I really dislike the trend.

[Kriemedean]

I understand, believe me, LOL.