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I took the liberty of reopening the thread (with apologies to SBG) since I have something to add, and since I can use my super admin powers to do so. :p

This business of the post requirement for avatars comes up once in a while. When I read through this thread, it occurred to me that I was the same when I was a new member.

It's not that I felt the number should be changed, so much, as that I loved the site and wanted to show that I was part of it. I watched my own post count, and looked forward to getting to the 500 mark.

Of course, once I got there, I was very blasé about it (funny how that works!).

So I just wanted to add that even though it's very unlikely the requirement will ever change, and even though it is a minor issue, I really like the enthusiasm that leads members to ask about this. :)
 
Absolutely agree! I've been a Macrumours user since 2007 and visit the site daily and always comment in places I feel I have something to contribute/start my own threads. Despite that this will be my 420th post!

In my mind.. I think I've contributed enough to let me have my Avatar!

Wheres my Avatar!! :confused:
 
Look at it this way....

Before I had an avatar, people actually had to read my posts before they realized they were wasting their time reading my annoying junk.

Now, all they have to do is see my avatar and they know immediately to skip my posts! :eek::p

Wow, reading through this thread when I saw Frankenstein's monster that's exactly what I thought!! ;)

(Actually, I enjoy your posts quite alot.)
 
I've been a member since 08 and lurking for probably 10 years and I'm not up to 100 posts yet:) I think I'll live.
 
500? Who cares. It's 500. It's an arbitrary number.

Took me almost eight years to get 250 even. Big whoop.
 
2040

At my Current rate I'll be there on April 12th 2040. :eek:

But am i correct in thinking that if I become a paid member the avatar is available? It's something I've been meaning to get around to, MR is a good site and certainly should be paid for good work.
 
At my Current rate I'll be there on April 12th 2040. :eek:

But am i correct in thinking that if I become a paid member the avatar is available? It's something I've been meaning to get around to, MR is a good site and certainly should be paid for good work.

Sorry, no. Being a paid member doesn't give an avatar to anyone. The same rules still apply.

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At my Current rate I'll be there on April 12th 2040. :eek:

But am i correct in thinking that if I become a paid member the avatar is available? It's something I've been meaning to get around to, MR is a good site and certainly should be paid for good work.

Although it won't get you your avatar any sooner, becoming a paid member not only supports the Forum, but provides some nice perks (e.g. no ads!) and, obviously, I consider it a worthwhile contribution.:D
 
Well I think it's excessive, too. I hate having to scan for my nick in the waste of text threads are instead of just looking for my avatar.
 
Well I think it's excessive, too. I hate having to scan for my nick in the waste of text threads are instead of just looking for my avatar.

Here's what one of the administrators posted on this topic a couple of years ago, and I think his point remains true today, probably more so given the higher volume of posts/threads found in MacRumors.
500 is an arbitrary cutoff. As far as I know the number has never changed in the history of the site. But in one sense the avatar requirement has been lowered over time, simply because the opportunities for participation in discussions are much more numerous than in the past.

There were about 1520 new forum threads in the month that I joined MacRumors in 2002. In comparison, last month there were about 17300 new forum threads, i.e., over 10 times as many discussions going on at any given time. It's much easier for almost anyone to find conversations of interest. The 500-post requirement used to represent years of participation for most forum members, and now it sometimes represents only months of participation. Avatars identify the most active users, who once numbered in the dozens, and then in the hundreds. Now thousands of users have avatars and people earn them faster than before.

Meanwhile, all users can give themselves a profile picture that will appear on their user page.
 
So people like myself are basically disciplined for not spamming the board? Great :(

There's no discipline or punishment going on. As mentioned, avatars are rewarded to members who participate in the forums. Given the high volume of threads, its not too difficult to find some topics that interest you and interact.

Even if you average 10 posts a day, 5 days a week, you'll reach the threshold in under 3 months.
 
Well I consider an avatar as more then a perk. But I understand nothing will change. I should consider spamming more 8(

There is a difference between 'spamming' and frivolous posting and quality, meaningful discussion. The former will get the posts removed under the rules.
 
There's no discipline or punishment going on. As mentioned, avatars are rewarded to members who participate in the forums. Given the high volume of threads, its not too difficult to find some topics that interest you and interact.

Even if you average 10 posts a day, 5 days a week, you'll reach the threshold in under 3 months.

Easy said. As more of the high traffic areas are very much geared to the usa, it's not easy or even interesting to participate there.

I try to help in programming and take part in Mac centric discussions but I'm only at the half point after over 3 years.
 
So people like myself are basically disciplined for not spamming the board? Great :(

It is possible to reach 500 posts without spamming. It is possible to reach 500 posts by participating in discussions, and posting informative, interesting, and helpful comments.

To suggest that the only way to reach 500 posts is by spamming is, in my opinion, unfair to those who reached their 500 mark by making reasonable and helpful posts.
 
it's not easy or even interesting to participate there.
Perhaps, but then the avatar requirement that rewards participation shouldn't be considered discipline when you're not interested in the topics here at MacRumors.
 
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