CommodoreLXIV, on 14 November 2012 - 01:44 PM, said:
Why can't there be a forum category solely for useless posts? I admire you're trying to keep order, but I feel a little restricted in what I can say. Also, 3.
In using the word "useless" we mean posts that have no interesting content for any other reader. Examples include "Me too" and "Nice screenshot", etc., etc.
If you think about it, those are really not anything more than muttering to one's self. Nobody gets any value out of reading those.
So why bother being all huffy about them? Because too many new members were showing up who only wanted to download things (usually a lot of things) who also had no intention of sharing anything in return... no posts, no models, nada.
Why should we pay for bandwidth and storage for people who only take?
Why should guys who share the models they make continue to do so if nobody gives anything back (e.g., interesting things to read)?
It made no sense... so some years ago (after being burned by an expensive bandwidth surcharge) the admins here discussed the issues and decided to set up download limits; What we learned very quickly is people who only want to take stuff will post twenty "Nice Screenshot" after twenty different images, just to get around the download restrictions. That was the incentive for creating a no tolerance policy for useless posts: try and game the system w/ B.S. and you're out for good. And long time members will notice such posts and inform the admins.
The last adjustment was the decision to lift the download limits to anybody who (1) made a $20 donation or (2) has been a stellar contribution to the board in other ways.
The end result is we monitor what new members post to ensure we're not being taken advantage of. As post counts increase, so does the amount you can download. The shy, silent type? Donate $20. Make and upload useful models -- basically share yourself and we'll share back. We're all willing to pay the expenses for that.