Would it be such a bad idea to integrate a minimum word count in the discussion heavy boards?

Electro522·Nov 29, 2017·8 votes·2,968 views

For example, in Gameplay, we would set it to a 100 word count soft minimum. If the post is somewhere between 50 to 100 words, it would go to mods for review, and if it's something actually worth while, but didn't need the full 100 words, the mods could approve it. If it's something just like useless rage, they can deny it, and a notification would be sent to the user.

If the post ends up to be under 50 words, the system won't even let the user post it until they exceed the minimum. This would keep all of those threads with nothing but "title" in them and such from bogging down the system.

And, this would only be implemented in the boards that normally should have well thought out discussions, like Gameplay, SA&S, and even here on Discuss the Boards. Boards like M&G and C&C won't have this since a majority of their posts are meant to have minimal text.

14 Comments

MicbranNov 30, 20173 votes

what happens when this is implemented: Post title: Nerf Yasuo!!!1!1!1!!1!! post content: a a a a a a a a ... until 100 is reached.

Electro522Nov 30, 20171 votes

1: People downvote it to hell.

2: Someone bold enough actually reports the post, and mods remove.

or 3: A mod comes across it, and promptly removes it.

EDIT: Besides, how many of those posts do you actually believe will be made?

MicbranNov 30, 20171 votes

[{quoted}](name=Paleo Electro,realm=NA,application-id=6heBIhQc,discussion-id=KGPAlv1W,comment-id=00010000,timestamp=2017-11-30T02:39:36.093+0000)

1: People downvote it to hell.

2: Someone bold enough actually reports the post, and mods remove.

or 3: A mod comes across it, and promptly removes it.

EDIT: Besides, how many of those posts do you actually believe will be made?

Okay, that’s great and all, but that requires non-automatic action which makes your proposed system literally pointless.

As to answer your edit, if people want to write a nerf yasuo thread and not get it auto removed because they STRONGLY believe that yasuo is OP (even though they’re like a couple months late) then yeah, they’ll do it. It’s not like it’s that hard. Type a a, copy, paste until you feel like you have 100. Or they can just write their usual hate filled arguements and probably reach 100 words without actually adding anything substantial besides “fuck yasuo he’s a dumb champ and I got pubstomped”

oOBestEveNAOoNov 30, 20173 votes

I would actually vote no.

I know this comes as a shock. But I would. Sometimes a lot can be said with just a few words.

I would prefer a 14 page typed, single space, in depth essay for every thread on the boards. But its just my preference because I like to read. Some people find too verbose a topic not worth the time to read or understand. The key is finding an effective and efficient use of words to convey your specific point. Not too few or too many. Putting any arbitrary number cap on that can cause a topic to become less relatable or understandable as opposed to more.

Electro522Nov 30, 20171 votes

Just in this 1 comment, you have 112 words.

Is a 100 word soft limit, and a 50 word hard limit really too much to ask for?

oOBestEveNAOoNov 30, 20171 votes

[{quoted}](name=Paleo Electro,realm=NA,application-id=6heBIhQc,discussion-id=KGPAlv1W,comment-id=00020000,timestamp=2017-11-30T02:41:00.961+0000)

Just in this 1 comment, you have 112 words.

Is a 100 word soft limit, and a 50 word hard limit really too much to ask for?

It's not in my opinion. But I do not think the majority of the boards would agree. I would be quite happily surprised if that were the case and think the idea could be beneficial.

It's merely that I know there is also potential to silence some viable and important threads if this change were enacted and many people might object to lengthier content.

Not to mention the point Micbran brings up.

DuskDaUmbreonNov 29, 20172 votes

Great idea. Should stop the countless, pointless "nerf (x) posts".

Electro522Nov 29, 20173 votes

Just in gameplay, there were 9 threads made in the last 30 minutes. 1 of which doesn't even pertain to Gameplay, and 4 of which are well under my 100 soft word minimum.

I just want a way for people who actually put time into their threads to have a bit more visibility.

DuskDaUmbreonNov 29, 20171 votes

Oh. That's also a valid reason.

I just thought of it so that it'd stop virtual spam posts. But that's just as good.

ModAttysu The PoroNov 30, 20172 votes

I like this idea! Specifically in Gameplay, PB, and the Art sections might be great for this!

ChermorgNov 30, 20171 votes

sorry your response wasn't 100 words i must delete it

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Filler to get to 100 words

ChermorgNov 30, 20172 votes

I think this type of idea is great, however I really do doubt whether it's possible given the current boards software and architecture. That being said, this is already similar to our rules against spamming which prohibit most low-effort content - most content of <50 words will easily be considered low effort on boards meant for creative and constructive discussion such as Gameplay, S/A/S, Concepts/Creations, and even Player Behavior to an extent.

It is important to remember, however, that there is more to "constructive content" than just words. Someone could propose an idea quite succinctly in one sentence and fall afoul of a strict 50 word rule, but we may leave the post up if the post spurred good discussion in the comment. Sometimes a thread doesn't need to provide all the information, or even most of it. Sometimes a thread can serve its purpose simply by starting a discussion that would not have otherwise been started - and it doesn't take a certain amount of words to do that (well, you usually need at least 2-3, but).

Electro522Nov 30, 20171 votes

{quoted}

I think this type of idea is great, however I really do doubt whether it's possible given the current boards software and architecture. That being said, this is already similar to our rules against spamming which prohibit most low-effort content - most content of <50 words will easily be considered low effort on boards meant for creative and constructive discussion such as Gameplay, S/A/S, Concepts/Creations, and even Player Behavior to an extent.

Alright, but how about the numerous posts that come up with just "title" in the thread, or just useless rage. Are those not considered spam?

It is important to remember, however, that there is more to "constructive content" than just words. Someone could propose an idea quite succinctly in one sentence and fall afoul of a strict 50 word rule, but we may leave the post up if the post spurred good discussion in the comment. Sometimes a thread doesn't need to provide all the information, or even most of it. Sometimes a thread can serve its purpose simply by starting a discussion that would not have otherwise been started - and it doesn't take a certain amount of words to do that (well, you usually need at least 2-3, but).

Alright...you make a good point. So, how about that "soft limit" I proposed get moved down to 50 words, and any posts under that soft limit get sent to mods for review?

ChermorgNov 30, 20171 votes

The useless rage posts are generally considered spam depending what's actually in them. If they're just rage but no content, then it may be spam. That being said, we use the "report" feature on the boards to determine what we should take a look at - if someone reports a post for spam we review it and make a determination. If all posts of "x" criteria were reported, it could really impact our ability to judge if the community thinks its spam or not - it a post of less than 50 words gets reported to us but none of the community reported it, then we wouldn't normally delete it most likely (so long as it had spurred constructive discussion).

I think I get where you're going with your idea, but an "autoflag" feature isn't included in the current boards software, and I don't see any way to make it work as just a "flag" - it'd have to report the entire post.