[Julie Steiner]

To really pad your star count, avoid critiquing poems, since those posts will disappear from your total when the workshop boards get pruned. Instead, devote yourself to perpetuating arguments in General Talk (which last forever in more ways than one).

The "Whoops, double posted" technique is also very popular among the site's veterans. You hardly ever see a newbie doing it.

[E. Shaun Russell]

From what I understand, pruning doesn't affect your post count, though I can't say for certain whether the same is true of your star count.

But to follow Julie's advice, the "nevermind" technique is equally effective for getting those all-important stars.

[Julie Steiner]

Ah, you're right, Shaun--grasshopper has only 228 extant posts, but 1598 in her post total. And four stars. I stand corrected.

[Edited to say: But avoid critiquing poems, anyway. They require too much time and thought, and will only slow you down. Ad astra per aspera, my as-.]

[Jayne Osborn]

Ah, Shaun, those ''Nevermind" posts always get me. It's sometimes hard to determine whether they mean "I've changed my mind about what I was going to say" or, as I occasionally suspect,... they're in response to the post immediately preceding, and really mean something like, "Oh, do shut up! You're being an idiot."

(Don't anyone dare post "Nevermind" straight after this, right? )

Jayne

[Maryann Corbett]

For the utterly boring, pedantic, and technically correct answer, check my post number 7 on this thread.

(But be sure to read the humorous posts while you're there.)

[Charlotte Innes]

Who would have thought this would turn into a fun thread?! Good laughter for a Monday morning.

Jeanne, as I recall, the star system explanation is buried somewhere in Appendix #666 of the Eratosphere rulebook. I believe it had not only to do with the number of your posts, but the quality of your posts--which is decided nightly by some cabal of moderators somewhere. So it's a little nebulous...

Jayne and Bill, aren't you part of that cabal. What do you talk about? Are you hiding something?

Julie, Shaun, just saw your comments. Hilarious! I'll be "neverminding" a lot from now on.

And thanks, Maryann! The voice of reason (and secret cabalist?).

Charlotte

[Michael Cantor]

Maryann is almost correct. Post 9 on the same thread is the absolute truth. Would I lie about stars? That's almost as bad as ignoring a no simultaneous subscription request.

[Jeanne G]

As juicy as that explanation is, Michael, it still lacks the flash of Bill's secret orgies by solstice moonlight. All in Bill's vivid poetic imagination? I suppose only admin knows for sure...and they could well be, um, busier than we think.

Jeanne

[Rick Mullin]

I used to work around the corner from the Italian restaurant where Michael Moore ate lunch. It was easy to spot Michael Douglas at the Russian Tea Room the next block over. I have all the major network news anchors of the 80s and 90s under my belt. And once I saw Woody Allen.

Rick

[ross hamilton hill]

Rick, I once had a drink with Mick Jagger, top that!!!