According to a quick count, I was over a thousand posts and was here for over fourteen months before my first ban, a result of a flame war started by three people towards me that I foolishly responded to. The most "veteran" of those people had been here less than half the time I had been. The moderator called me a troll and banned me for a week, did nothing about any of the other people involved, and refused to explain their actions except with short, impolite responses.

It was a case of being *too* veteran, I think. If you are having a bad day dealing with the knuckleheads because you're used to discussing issues with the kind of people who used to make most of the posts here--the kind of people who could argue intelligently and in good faith--it really doesn't do you any good to have had pages and pages of polite and rational debate with the people who have green names if the people with blue names (or purple or whatever that color is) have no history with you.

EmperorDude:
Edit: Also I think your punishments are lessened by how much you contribute to the community and discussion here.

But that would be unfair to everyone else. Favouritism doesn't excuse poor behaviour.

Johnn Johnston:
Do you think that your post count or your time spent at the Escapist forums affects your treatment here?

I'd like to think that I can get away with a little more shit around here. ;-)

Honestly though, I wish they wouldn't display post counts and achievements because it only encourages participation on a level of quantity, instead of quality. People don't need incentives to add something constructive to a discussion. Trust me on this one.

Being around the forums longer definatly gains you renown within the community, and garners a bit more respect. Your avatar does become well known, like Khell or Rain, for example. I haven't yet seen any overt elitism in regards to post count.

meatloaf231:
I would say that the people who have been here longer seem to be less crazy, barring Khell.

Who said that? Gods DAMNIT voices in my head, do I have to poke you with a Q-Tip again!?

Anyhoo...

I'd say No, with conditions.
Think of the Escapist as a job. You're on probation for the first 3 months (or 120 posts or so) while we get a feel for you. If you survive this period by not appearing to be a troll or a spam-scam, then you're in. So really, us higher postcount members aren't treated better, but long-term lurkers are sorta treated worse, as they may have done the time, but it doesn't show unless you click their profile.

EDIT:

Omega 2521:
I've been here for awhile now and I feel like a real oddball since I've been here for almost 6 months now and my post count is well.... lacking. I'm on here usually once a day, I read alot of the better threads (Khell's stuff is my favorite to read), and I think about them but almost never post unless I really want to say something. If I had wanted to I could have gone gonzo but I guess I just decided not to.

Reminds me of proof that postcount doesn't matter for much. High postcount or not, I'm getting flack for my rants, beloved as they appear to be. And it don't make sense to me either... If the members enjoy it, if it stays civil, and if it's relegated to the off-topic area, what's the big deal? Now if I could raise an army of supporters to overthrow the current regime, we'd be talking... Although last I checked, the Escapist was in Australia, and they have cockroaches the size of my fist there. And it's GODSAWFUL hot there. Guess I'm stuck here in Canada.

LewsTherin:
Being around the forums longer definatly gains you renown within the community, and garners a bit more respect. Your avatar does become well known, like Khell or Rain, for example. I haven't yet seen any overt elitism in regards to post count.

Also helps in the case of Purple Rain, where his Av (at least for as long as I can account for) has never changed. You know the avatars well before you know the name, and if your avatar is both unique, fitting, and constant, you get recognized.

Personally, I never really look at who makes a post unless I feel the need to quote or refer to said poster's name. So, no, I'm not easily swayed and I say what I feel since I can form my own opinion on a subject. No, I don't feel it affects how you're treated around here, well, I don't pay attention to it, sorry to all you avid posters.

Khell_Sennet:
Although last I checked, the Escapist was in Australia, and they have cockroaches the size of my fist there. And it's GODSAWFUL hot there. Guess I'm stuck here in Canada.

I believe it's American. And yes, our cockroaches have been known to enslave small animals.

Khell_Sennet:

LewsTherin:
Being around the forums longer definatly gains you renown within the community, and garners a bit more respect. Your avatar does become well known, like Khell or Rain, for example. I haven't yet seen any overt elitism in regards to post count.

Also helps in the case of Purple Rain, where his Av (at least for as long as I can account for) has never changed. You know the avatars well before you know the name, and if your avatar is both unique, fitting, and constant, you get recognized.

I don't think I'll change mine. It suits and I've grown accustom to it. Galt I think has changed his 3 times. His newest grabbed me by supprise for not being Big Brother-y enough.

The thing with the veterans, I enjoy reading Khell's rants and I know Necrowanson is a sociopath, but then, some of the new members fit right in like a square shaped peg into a square hole. I also enjoy reading Decoy's strange outlooks on the game industry amoung others. Though I do have respect for the people with a bear mug next to their avatar. That sort of means they were here before Yahtzee and the epademic.

PurpleRain:
The thing with the veterans, I enjoy reading Khell's rants and I know Necrowanson is a sociopath, but then, some of the new members fit right in like a square shaped peg into a square hole. I also enjoy reading Decoy's strange outlooks on the game industry amoung others. Though I do have respect for the people with a bear mug next to their avatar. That sort of means they were here before Yahtzee and the epidemic.

This is a little disconcerting for people like me, though. As if it isn't obvious enough by my join date, I kind of have to wonder who else among the more notable faces looks at people like me with our later joinings and post-Yahtzeepocolyptic avatars, and wonder if some measure of the pre-Yahtztopian respect will ever transfer to late bloomers like myself.

Oh, and it makes me question my earlier post, which is to say that I likely offer up a lot of respect to PurpleRain if a lot of my concept of vet. Considering this is the only opinion of it's type, and I'm already taking it as fact.

Proof enough as to the iconic nature of PurpleRain, and probably proof as good as any that I'm a tool. =P

NewClassic:
Proof enough as to the iconic nature of PurpleRain, and probably proof as good as any that I'm a tool. =P

Wha? After taking notice of the 'I Bet He's Cockney' thread, I really enjoy your posts. You're one of thos square shaped pegs.

The people I'm talking about generally post threads made a thousand times before, spam, post in wrong forums, personal Sheep for yahtzee, etc. These people I don't respect and give the Escapist a bad name.

PurpleRain:

NewClassic:
Proof enough as to the iconic nature of PurpleRain, and probably proof as good as any that I'm a tool. =P

Wha? After taking notice of the 'I Bet He's Cockney' thread, I really enjoy your posts. You're one of those square shaped pegs.

The people I'm talking about generally post threads made a thousand times before, spam, post in wrong forums, personal sheep for Yahtzee, etc. These people I don't respect and give the Escapist a bad name.

Hence the I'm a tool, thing. Evidence was quite clear that you probably meant those types, but I went and assumed. Tool-like behavior at it's finest.

But you're right, there are a sickeningly increasing number of those types even as of late that I've been here.

Although, I kinda have to question how substancial my posts can really be if they're shooting up in number so fast, compared to most other forums where I usually break a hundred only after a year or more. Ah well.

Your time here matters a little, the longer you're here the more you know. Somebdy screwing up will 10000+ posts and joined 1987 is unlikey.

Edit: Do y'all think of me as a veteran?

Knight Templar:
Your time here matters a little, the longer you're here the more you know. Somebdy screwing up will 10000+ posts and joined 1987 is unlikey.

Edit: Do y'all think of me as a veteran?

Yeah. You were around here when I started. Nearly.

I think it might slightly change the way users look at you, and maybe they don't even realize it. But I know that when someone posts I look at the post count and usually think, "Hell, this guy knows what he's talkin' about." So, yes, I could even say that I look at people a little differently if their post count is high/low.(even though mine's very low.) I usually try to watch what I write because I know some user's might not look at my post the same way they'd look at a higher numbered poster.

I usually just skim threads until I recognize an avatar or see an inflated post count before reading.

Khell_Sennet:

I'd say No, with conditions.
Think of the Escapist as a job. You're on probation for the first 3 months (or 120 posts or so) while we get a feel for you. If you survive this period by not appearing to be a troll or a spam-scam, then you're in. So really, us higher postcount members aren't treated better, but long-term lurkers are sorta treated worse, as they may have done the time, but it doesn't show unless you click their profile.

Yeah i'd say its kind of like that, but also a bit like the longer you've been here, chances are you've learnt a lot more about what to do, not to get to personal in arguments etc. It's like a job because the more time you spend here the better you get at it, its not really a preferential thing.

On a side note, if your relatively new sometimes you can entirely miss 'Veterans'. It was only a few days or so ago that I actually read one of Khell's (in?)famous rants and realised what everyone had been talking about. It just seemed that I'd missed the threads before. And yes they are quite good, if somewhat crazy.

You can't reach double Gonzo (or just Gone Gonzo) while being a Troll, being annoying and have poor spelling (or something similar). This means that if someone has over 1000 posts you can guarantee that these people are well mannered members of the community who you can trust to obey the rules.

Newer uses don't have that guarantee seal next to their names, so you cannot always trust them. That isn't to say that you have to become Gonzo to become a trusted part of the Community. Everyone holds Gigantor up as the reviewing king and I think he has around 400 posts.

On a side note: PurpleRain and MGG=Reviews joined up on the same day and I would say that both are equally famous in the hidden Veteran circles that we don't let you join until you have exactly 1000 posts. Being famous is not always of sign of being a good member of the Escapist society. Remember that.

Hey, I'm not exactly famous, and my post-count is double-gonzo+... it all depends on what you say. Generally, I find that, while the 'veterans' usually get the most support in a debate, the new guy will also get support if their argument is well thought out and in accordance with someone else's opinion.

Simply put, I'd say that Escapist memebers do show some favouritism, but this doesn't mean the new guy doesn't get a chance.

I thought that it was pretty much agreed that post count and intelligence directly correlate?

But really, veteran is just a title that people tack on themselves because they think they deserve recognition for 'being there'.

People with high post counts have learned how not to get perma-banned. The hard way or otherwise. While they are potentially just as bad as everyone else, you know they are at least capable of behaving. New posters are a crap shoot, it can go either way.

PurpleRain:

The only reason I said 'slightly' is because I tend to think of the regulars as more of 'friend' terms. Internet friends that is; I'm not one of those sad people that zones out from the real world and...*cough* I'll stop talking now.

I don't zone out.
"Hey, wanna come over and eat ice cream?"
"Uh... yeah, but I'm kind of busy."
"Busy doing what?"
"Well I need to catch up with this RP..."
"Can't you do that later?"
"But I was invited to it especially by a friend of mine! And I just sent a message to someone who's profile says they're still online so-"
"Fine. I'll eat all the ice cream."
"Aww..."

But yeah, to provide something relevant, I think I ought to be considered an Escapist Veteran. As in people learning to spell my name. It's wrong like, 40% of the time! C'mon people!
Nah, I'm just kidding around. To actually provide something relevant, I tend to look at people's Joined date before their post count. I have deep respect for lurkers, and you can never trust post counts in this RP heavy world.

Larenxis:

PurpleRain:

The only reason I said 'slightly' is because I tend to think of the regulars as more of 'friend' terms. Internet friends that is; I'm not one of those sad people that zones out from the real world and...*cough* I'll stop talking now.

I don't zone out.
"Hey, wanna come over and eat ice cream?"
"Uh... yeah, but I'm kind of busy."
"Busy doing what?"
"Well I need to catch up with this RP..."
"Can't you do that later?"
"But I was invited to it especially by a friend of mine! And I just sent a message to someone who's profile says they're still online so-"
"Fine. I'll eat all the ice cream."
"Aww..."

But yeah, to provide something relevant, I think I ought to be considered an Escapist Veteran. As in people learning to spell my name. It's wrong like, 40% of the time! C'mon people!
Nah, I'm just kidding around. To actually provide something relevant, I tend to look at people's Joined date before their post count. I have deep respect for lurkers, and you can never trust post counts in this RP heavy world.

Noooo! Not all the ice cream! Say it isn't so!

I don't think it's relevant at all.

You do get a feel for the regulars here, and the number of posts you have made is always a way of being certain who has been around and posted long enough to be above and beyond trolling or just trying to get the first Zero Punctuation post.

Your posts do in fact count though, I don't care if it is your tenth post or your 3000th post if it is longer than three words and intelligent I'll take it for what it is.

One of the reasons the escapist forums (I post on Warcry a little bit too and I notice it there as well) is as nice as it is is that you are not called a N00b for having less than 500 posts.

I found that the Escapist community tends to base you more so on the content of your posts then your post count or joining date. Although to have gone gonzo (Which I'm close to doing, yay me) seems to act like a quality seal. A kind of guarantee that your posts are not completely full of crap.

To be honest, I'm not sure what most people here think of me. It's kind of like when I walk past people speaking in a language I don't understand. I immediately assume they are talking about me, and are angry. So very angry.

I definately look at postcount when I'm talking to someone.. I don't judge them per se (although my postcount is getting up there, I haven't really been posting here that long, I just post A LOT), but I definately do notice a high or low postcount, and tend to try and avoid getting into fights with people with high post counts, whereas I might stand up a bit more strongly when opposed to someone with a very small postcount

Some people argued with me over my reviews and when I looked at their postcount it was the first post they ever made. I found it a bit hard to take them seriously. But I don't really judge anyone based on it, almost anyone here seems capable of leading an intelligent conversation regardless of how many times they actually did it.

I've been here about 8 months, but I haven't posted that much in relation to other people who have been here about the same amount of time.

That being said, I do feel as if I'm in a 'senior' group here at the Escapist. Whether that affects people's reactions to my posts or not, I just don't know. As for my own behavior, I take more posting style into account. If I know a person's posting style, I can make a valid judgment on whether or not their opinions are worthy.

For example, you could have 10,000 posts all in l33t and I wouldn't give you the time of day. Whereas if you're still relatively new and post insightful and quirky comments, I'll dig and may even add you as a friend.

Yeah, sorta.

I'm one of the most recently joining 'Gone Gonzo's' around, and I have to tell you, I suddenly got a lot more respect from the general community with the high post count.

I suppose it's not because your post count commands respect, but because you have left your own footprint in the community because of the posts, and the name sticks in other people's minds (Such as PurpleRain, UltraJoe, Anarchemitis, Saskwach etc.)

However, this is not the case for some people, though.

For example, some non-Gone Gonzo's have stuck their names in my head (Khedive Rex, Armitage Shanks, NewClassic, MGG=REVIEWS etc.).

That's all I have to say. But the high post count seriously helps.

I kind of see it like a big town hall meeting. I'm more likely to agree with the well-to-do businessman who I just moved in next to than the crazy hobo who yelled at me when I was at the 7/11. I've learned who I should pay attention to, who to ignore, and who to not screw with. However, I haven't seen any of the major players get banned. White collar crime does exist, it's just more hush-hush, you're more likely to actually see the town drunk get hauled away. Wow, that was a weird metaphor.

That said, I'm glad I joined the Escapist forums. Even if all the intelligent people are weird and all the normal people are stupid.

(Please don't hurt me)

Larenxis:
But yeah, to provide something relevant, I think I ought to be considered an Escapist Veteran. As in people learning to spell my name. It's wrong like, 40% of the time! C'mon people!

I might put an unwanted 'e' in your name: Larenexis. I try not to, but when I say your name in my head, 'Lar-En-Ex-Is'. But generally I try not to.

Fire Daemon:
On a side note: PurpleRain and MGG=Reviews joined up on the same day and I would say that both are equally famous in the hidden Veteran circles that we don't let you join until you have exactly 1000 posts. Being famous is not always of sign of being a good member of the Escapist society. Remember that.

Wow, I never noticed that. Maybe there's some kind of twisted connection here?

PurpleRain:

The thing with the veterans, I enjoy reading Khell's rants and I know Necrowanson is a sociopath, but then, some of the new members fit right in like a square shaped peg into a square hole. I also enjoy reading Decoy's strange outlooks on the game industry amoung others. Though I do have respect for the people with a bear mug next to their avatar. That sort of means they were here before Yahtzee and the epademic.

Note to self: Must find angle that's unique to me.
Hmm, maybe deep philosophical debate?

PurpleRain:
I might put an unwanted 'e' in your name: Larenexis. I try not to, but when I say your name in my head, 'Lar-En-Ex-Is'. But generally I try not to.

(Sorry to derail the thread even further)It's Lair-Enk-Sis.
And WlknCntrdiction, I'm sorry, but I will always connect you to you talking about your ex-girlfriend. I think I just attach people to whatever the first thread they start is. Or the first one I read rather, I'm not going to check.

PurpleRain:

I might put an unwanted 'e' in your name: Larenexis. I try not to, but when I say your name in my head, 'Lar-En-Ex-Is'. But generally I try not to.

When I first saw that name I looked at it for exactly ten seconds, then decided that it was now "larynx" as far as I was concerned. Your name is purple ninja and Ultra Joe is called DkKnight. If I don't like people's names, I give them new ones.