The BST forum seems like a really good idea. HOWEVER, the 50 "Quality Post" requirement for posting there seems less-than-optimal.
First, I think that the idea of requiring Quality Posts is great. You don't want folks doing lots of "me too" posts meeting the requirement. As I see those "me too" posts just kludging up the forums, I try very hard to avoid them. But if one avoids them, it takes a VERY LONG time to generate many Quality posts. I suggest too long!
Further, the requirement of 50 Quality posts just seems excessive. Perhaps somewhere around 25 is more of a "sweet spot?"
Under the current paradigm, someone who wishes to be able to post in the BST forum is stuck with the following options:
- Do a bunch of Low-Quality "me too" posts that will probably not be called out as disqualifying, but will degrade the value of the forums, OR
- Take several years to accumulate the required minimum of occasional truly Quality posts.
The current guidelines incentive the first approach. But the more conscientious folks using the second approach lose out (and the community loses out on their virtuous participation in the BST forums for too long).
FWIW, another forum that I have frequently used for many years has a 25 post minimum and it seems to work adequately.
First, I think that the idea of requiring Quality Posts is great. You don't want folks doing lots of "me too" posts meeting the requirement. As I see those "me too" posts just kludging up the forums, I try very hard to avoid them. But if one avoids them, it takes a VERY LONG time to generate many Quality posts. I suggest too long!
Further, the requirement of 50 Quality posts just seems excessive. Perhaps somewhere around 25 is more of a "sweet spot?"
Under the current paradigm, someone who wishes to be able to post in the BST forum is stuck with the following options:
- Do a bunch of Low-Quality "me too" posts that will probably not be called out as disqualifying, but will degrade the value of the forums, OR
- Take several years to accumulate the required minimum of occasional truly Quality posts.
The current guidelines incentive the first approach. But the more conscientious folks using the second approach lose out (and the community loses out on their virtuous participation in the BST forums for too long).
FWIW, another forum that I have frequently used for many years has a 25 post minimum and it seems to work adequately.