Postbit information.

[Cierra]

What information do you include in your forums postbit (the information/statistics that comes above or besides a post)?

Besides the usual username, avatar, and user title I have included:

• Posts:
• Threads:
• Likes Received: x in x posts
• Likes Given: x likes
• Joined: x/x/xxxx
• Reputation:
• Country Flag:
• Gender:
• Points:

 

[Reverse Flash]

Post/topic amount, join date, and warning level.

 

[Geoffrey]

Post count, join date, member # (sometimes I hide this).

Other things I've had have been awards/special icons, location, real name (helpful for roleplay forums or forums where people aren't likely to use a real name username), favorite x (related to niche), etc.

Warn levels/logs are in post bit, but only visible to staff.

I prefer shorter post bits, otherwise it can stretch out a post and even a one line post can take up a large part of the page.

 

[pandaa]

Post count, join date, member # (sometimes I hide this).

Other things I've had have been awards/special icons, location, real name (helpful for roleplay forums or forums where people aren't likely to use a real name username), favorite x (related to niche), etc.

Warn levels/logs are in post bit, but only visible to staff.

I prefer shorter post bits, otherwise it can stretch out a post and even a one line post can take up a large part of the page.

I feel the same way. I've even gone as far as removing a lot of the information from the postbit. For example, I personally don't see a need for the location to be in the postbit. If someone wants to find out details like that, they can always head over to that person's profile.

 

[Cosmic]

I usually like to keep it minimal: posts, reputation, and that's about it (unless the forum idea requires something else, like cash). Otherwise, I think it can get too complex.

 

[Geoffrey]

Post count, join date, member # (sometimes I hide this).

Other things I've had have been awards/special icons, location, real name (helpful for roleplay forums or forums where people aren't likely to use a real name username), favorite x (related to niche), etc.

Warn levels/logs are in post bit, but only visible to staff.

I prefer shorter post bits, otherwise it can stretch out a post and even a one line post can take up a large part of the page.

I feel the same way. I've even gone as far as removing a lot of the information from the postbit. For example, I personally don't see a need for the location to be in the postbit. If someone wants to find out details like that, they can always head over to that person's profile.

I think location can be useful in some instances, perhaps on a forum where the idea isn't to build a community and you aren't like to remember where a specific person is from after looking it up or asking the first time (like a support/resource forum that have people coming and leaving a lot). In general though, I agree that location has lost its value in the postbit.

I'm also fond of having the rule in place that says your signature shouldn't stretch the post any more than your post bit. So if you make a one line post, your signature shouldn't leave empty space at the bottom of your post bit. It's hard to enforce (because avatars and unanswered profile fields) but I think it's good "unofficial rule" and can be a good way to quickly determine if a signature is too large. It's honestly more of a pet peeve than a rule, I guess.

 

[Migi]

Interesting takes. When my forum was still around, I enabled all fields (default and custom) to be visible on the post bits. Added to medals and gifts all displayed, the post bits surely became a long one. Back then I didn't receive any complains about the length.

Reading your posts and visiting more forums lately, I do realize that many forums do it differently. This seems to be more as a style or personal preference than something set in stone. Having a unique post bits can even be a special attraction. I've been to a forum where the post bits only has 3 fields and written vertically (as in columns) with small-sized medals below it. Simple and clean. It also gives space for members to have bigger avatars, which makes their post bits look awesome. But another forum has quite many profile fields, from members' "race" and favorite stuffs. Both forums are about manga/anime.

I think there's no final verdict about length of post bits. As long as it's tidy, well-organized, and contain valid stuffs, you can add anything there.

 

[Geoffrey]

Interesting takes. When my forum was still around, I enabled all fields (default and custom) to be visible on the post bits. Added to medals and gifts all displayed, the post bits surely became a long one. Back then I didn't receive any complains about the length.

Reading your posts and visiting more forums lately, I do realize that many forums do it differently. This seems to be more as a style or personal preference than something set in stone. Having a unique post bits can even be a special attraction. I've been to a forum where the post bits only has 3 fields and written vertically (as in columns) with small-sized medals below it. Simple and clean. It also gives space for members to have bigger avatars, which makes their post bits look awesome. But another forum has quite many profile fields, from members' "race" and favorite stuffs. Both forums are about manga/anime.

I think there's no final verdict about length of post bits. As long as it's tidy, well-organized, and contain valid stuffs, you can add anything there.

I think the new trend for shorter/smaller postbits is part of the minimalist design trend/movement making everything simpler and removing unnecessary pieces across the board. I, for one, love it.

 

[Reddyash]

My forum has most of the things like Joined Date, Messages, Likes Received, Trophy Points, Gender, Location and Credits. After reading the posts in this thread I feel post bit should be as short as possible, because if a user wants to know more about the member then he/she can always go to the profile page.
Also a lengthy post bit will occupy more space, if a member posts one line reply/answer then it will occupy more space as the post bit is longer.

I think joined date, messages, likes received, reputation and credits are the only ones which should be allowed in post bit. Once again it totally depends on the forum owner or administrator to decide.

 

[Ash]

When I had my general discussion forum I had the posts, reputation, awards, userbar and group userbars in the postbit. It was horizontal so had a lot of space for those things

 

[Migi]

When I had my general discussion forum I had the posts, reputation, awards, userbar and group userbars in the postbit. It was horizontal so had a lot of space for those things

With horizontal bars, too many profile fields can lead the postbit width too big that it becomes too long to reach the post. Usually due to avatars. But I personally like horizontal bars, looks especially beautiful to display medals or other awesome details related to our profiles. It also gives space for details like reputation or ranks to have more width than vertical columns, giving chance to make it more fun and customized. Not saying that vertical columns can't do this, but it can be a possible solution to signature stretching post area like what Geoffrey said above.

 

[Scorpio]

On my previous community I had:

- Posts (This is the total threads and posts count merged together)
- Location
- Reputation

I believe keeping it minimal helps to de-clutter the forums and having all information like timezone, skype, twitter can get a but crowded, though it should be shown on the users profile page.

Also I believe sharing warning levels, ban status and sanctions against the user is not quite a good idea though agree with notices regarding false exchanges, phishing and malicious links being shown on a users profile to warn others of "Dangerous" content.

 

[Cierra]

On my previous community I had:

- Posts (This is the total threads and posts count merged together)
- Location
- Reputation

I believe keeping it minimal helps to de-clutter the forums and having all information like timezone, skype, twitter can get a but crowded, though it should be shown on the users profile page.

Also I believe sharing warning levels, ban status and sanctions against the user is not quite a good idea though agree with notices regarding false exchanges, phishing and malicious links being shown on a users profile to warn others of "Dangerous" content.

I show ban reasons on profiles and signatures through a plugin, but that's about it. It works for my community.

 

[Geoffrey]

On my previous community I had:

- Posts (This is the total threads and posts count merged together)
- Location
- Reputation

I believe keeping it minimal helps to de-clutter the forums and having all information like timezone, skype, twitter can get a but crowded, though it should be shown on the users profile page.

Also I believe sharing warning levels, ban status and sanctions against the user is not quite a good idea though agree with notices regarding false exchanges, phishing and malicious links being shown on a users profile to warn others of "Dangerous" content.

I show ban reasons on profiles and signatures through a plugin, but that's about it. It works for my community.

You show ban reasons to all members or just staff?

 

[Cierra]

On my previous community I had:

- Posts (This is the total threads and posts count merged together)
- Location
- Reputation

I believe keeping it minimal helps to de-clutter the forums and having all information like timezone, skype, twitter can get a but crowded, though it should be shown on the users profile page.

Also I believe sharing warning levels, ban status and sanctions against the user is not quite a good idea though agree with notices regarding false exchanges, phishing and malicious links being shown on a users profile to warn others of "Dangerous" content.

I show ban reasons on profiles and signatures through a plugin, but that's about it. It works for my community.

You show ban reasons to all members or just staff?

Ban reasons show for everyone.

Not very good quality, but here is an example:

Profile:

Signature:

 

[VirusZero]

On my site we have, aside from avatar, username and usertitle:
- Their online/offline status (next to their username).
- A link to that user's "About Me" page on our wiki (the link is visible to members only and the whole section on the wiki is members only too).
- Post count (includes number of topics too).
- Joined date.
- Reputation level (visible to all members).
- Warning level (visible only to staff and that user).

 

[Migi]

Ban reasons show for everyone.

Not very good quality, but here is an example:

Profile:

Signature:

Interesting approach. Moderation, including warning/ban reasons are usually considered sensitive content so they are usually hidden somewhere, visible to at least staff members. What made you feel that it is okay to share such information to the community? Has there been any situation where this becomes/raises a problem at the forum?

 

[MasterA]

I have posts, location, forum cash, reputation, user title and user rank images.