So um...This is an idea for the forum. The word count feature is simple...it counts how many words you have posted (on forum only?). In addition to that, you could also add an average words per post thing, which would be displayed under the forum posts and the word count. The idea of this is that it shows appreciation for the users whom tend to write more thought-out comments, or debate users. These user, due to their type of comments, would have a higher words/post ratio. While typical users whom only write small comments would...suffer . I'm hoping that this will raise appreciation for the users whom actually put some amount of effort into their posts, and encourage users to write more than 5+ words per post.
Another version of this could work for comments too. Those whom are on top of the leader boards, due to spam rating+ one word comments would have extremely low word/comment ratio. Therefore, it would work to help the mods find out whom has been comment spaming, and would provide as evidence.
Why not? AG is looking for originality, which is why we dont have the game achievements, and have AP instead. This idea is new, and as far as I know, different. And, as previously stated, it would add a bit more recognition to the thoughtful posters.
And to put things into some degree of perspective...Users do have the ability to spam rate/comments on games, no? Those who want to take advantage of it will. However, they are easy to pick out and do not affect the group as a whole. This same idea and principles should/would fall into place if the word count+ features were enabled. I mean, I don't think too many spammers would be interested in actually putting enough effort into a forum post to make it lenghty, even if it is to their benefit. You don't see them writing game reviews, and they would help them a lot more in the long run compared to spam rating.
Asherlee asks the right question, methinks. It's a solution looking for a problem. Spamming for AP is a fairly innocuous situation, not necessarily a problem. If anything it's a distraction to prevent the younger users here from more malicious activities.
While the multiplier sounds cool, I can't imagine what it would take to actually implement it, not to mention the volume of drivel that could result. If we're going to have spammers, let's keep their comments nice and short.
A soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of colored ribbon.
