Wit.

Shucks, I'm humbled that I'm on your list. Why who knows, with the enormous power we wield here on the Café, our liberal cabal may be able to move the country slightly to the left of Attila the Hun.

But more likely, we'll end up with Romney or Obama.

I prefer to call myself a right nut wingjob.

The thing about the 50 post count is that it just doesn't work. Here's what happens: some kid gets here, finds out that there's a secret section, and assumes there's gold there. So the kid looks around to see how to make some quick posts. Typically, they end up here, participate enthusiastically, then figure out that the posts here don't count, and then go to someplace like the Workers forum and start threads asking about where to start in "The Royal Road". (The obvious answer is page 72.) Then he finally gets into the secret section, gets bored, and runs off to the cooler Ellusionist and Theory 11 forums.

I remember one time (actually, it's happened more than once) some kid coming here and going back through a couple of weeks of threads and added his two cents wherever he thought he might have something to say. I got up that morning, grabbed my coffee, logged into the Café and saw all those red mugs and I thought, "cool! Lot's of new stuff to read this morning", only to find out that every single mug represented a dead thread in which we were all talked out.

Anyway, as was explained to me (though I already knew it), there are other forums in which the posts don't count, such as the buy and sell forum. And it does indeed make sense, I suppose, to not count every "one deck of Black Tigers, slightly used, will trade for mint-condition Death Cobra deck or something just as cool" thread.

But even then, where's the harm?

The spirit of the rule, as I understand it, is that posting a lot about things other than magic shouldn't raise your post count to that magical 50. If that's not the case, then it would mean something like this: posting non-magical stuff makes someone a lesser member of the community. But I just don't see why this is so. Sure, this is a magic forum. But if you take time to post in the "looking out for our own" forum, are you not being a friend and a brother magician to fellow magicians in need? Are you not a magician helping magicians? (BTW: I have only 42 posts in that forum, and 10 of those deal with my own situation, so I'm not saying I'm Mr Helpful.)

Like a lot of things at the Café, I think there were some good ideas put into place that outlived their usefulness as the member expanded to nearly 50,000. It's not that I think these things were poorly thought out or sloppily implemented. They've just outlived their usefulness. The 50 post rule has outlived its usefulness. Too many kids have wasted too much bandwidth because of that rule. But back when Steve didn't even know whether the Café would get off the ground, it was a good idea. It still might be a good idea if the forum had a few hundred members.

If I were a gambling man, I wouldn't bet against you.

Or am I a left nut wingjob?

One things for sure: one can't be a true centrist in this regard, or one would have difficult walking.

It does my heart good to see others who remember high school literature.

Bingo! And that is the message it sends, detrimentally. Weigh it however you will, it is a negative, elitist, faulty message. And that is why, after a few minutes of thinking about it last night, I decided to join your camp here, Jeff.

I don't know.

I think if you want a Magic website, there is a case to be made for showing some bias (and the count is not much of a ding) towards Magic input.

As a frequent poster in "New Arrivals" I "get" the feeling that my posts there are dismissed but it doesn't seem to bother me much.

I think it could be said that it was nice of the Staff to include a few places to meet and talk about things other than Magic but it is in their purview to count the post they deem most relevant to the focus of the site.

I wouldn't have a problem with them deciding that all posts should count but it is their choice.

Actually, the count seems unimportant.

-Mary Mowder

Perhaps you are a wingy nutjob.

If you can't walk, fly.

His secret is out!

Click here to view attached image.

I always thought the beauty of the NVMS forum was that it encouraged the left-wing nut jobs to refrain from posting their shrieking screeds all over the rest of TMC. (The way they inject their radicalib diatribes into musical concerts, art exhibitions, and everything else.) Your mileage may vary. I enjoy reading them, so that's why I come here.

I'm with Laurie on raising the threshold to 200. But after that, why not count 'em all? Being in this bottomless pit with no chance to make it to another level is kinda depressing, don't ya' think???

And while we are at it, how 'bout some more levels? Sort of a light at the end of the tunnel. "Grand Mufti" comes to mind...

I care less and less about the Café everyday. Postcount/schmocount



The time I spent on the Café a year ago has been transfered over to reddit.

Actually, that would be the best solution. We all get to 200, and the counting stops. I like it!

How about each post in a non-included section removes one post from your count, but you still have access to the secret stuff if you went over 50. Then we can have negative counts.

Just a thought, someone run with it.

Next thing you know they'll be wanting that horrible Karma point system as well.

Does this section require a minimum post count to see? If not I would love to reset my post count to zero and maintain that status here.

Ahhh, a breath of fresh air.. You must know of the reddit. For the record, I think "karma" over there is the stupidest thing ever.


As far as post count, I remember the day I thought the good stuff was in secret sessions, only to be...left wanting. I check workers, gambling spot, and here-thats enough for me. I cant add much to the workers, and in terms of gambling I really only try to help others who are where I was a few short years ago.

Yep that's why I insist that members only use red Bikes. I've been busted.