Post Count Requirement

[Fayble]

What is your take on having to obtain a certain post count before you can upload a signature or avatar as a new member?

I just recently joined a forum.. One of the first things I like to do as a new member is upload my sig and avy, but when I tried to do this I didn't have sufficient permission. I went to the support section and they said I must obtain a minimum amount of posts before I can do this. Being a new member is already overwhelming.. This just frustrates me! Not only do I feel lost being a new member talking to people Ive never met, but now with no sig or avy I feel invisible/insignificant. Although, I still post there it really annoyed meat the beginning. What is your take on minimum post requirements?

 

[Jazzy]

I ran into this same thing about a month ago. When I first join a new forum, I too, like to set up my avatar and signature. While it didn't make sense to me why I needed a certain amount of posts, I realize an avatar and signature doesn't make me ME. It's what I have to say and how I say it that's more important than 'looking good' by using an avatar and signature. That's just my two cents worth.

 

[Fayble]

That's true.. It just adds personality and depth, which makes foruming more fun IMO. But you're right, It's what you say not who says what!

 

[Nebulous]

One of the first things I like to do as a new member is upload my sig and avy, but when I tried to do this I didn't have sufficient permission.

I have ran into that myself a few times. Like you, the first thing I do is upload my avatar & signature and when I find that I cannot do that, I usually feel turned off and get a bad first impression of the forum. Of course it could be a great forum, but that's just the feeling I get.
What's the point in it? I mean, we allow members here to upload their avatar / signature immediately upon joining and its never caused any problems for us.

 

[Fayble]

I feel like it's all about the power.. They say they do it to "limit spam," but I feel like it does the exact opposite. Now people will post as fast as they can in order to get to the post count requirement!

 

[Capricorn]

i joined 1 forum few days ago and after i Joined there, i got massage at home page "please upload an avatar before posting otherwise u will get warning from Admins"

 

[Fayble]

Well that's a nice change of scenery! I don't really want to be forced to have an avatar either.. It should be a choice without strings attached. Not mandatory and no post count requirement.

 

[Evil Eye]

The one reason I can think of to stop people from using an avatar straight away would be if it had to be uploaded to the forum's server (not uncommon). Some people might decide to leave the forum before hitting the required amount of posts to have an avatar, if they'd been allowed to upload an avatar it'd just be wasting space on the server at that point. The same argument could be made for signatures as well, but they don't really tend to take as much space.