Quote Originally Posted by cessna152towser View Post
OK, if I haven't had time to look at the newbie posts for a few days, I admit I have occasionally been guilty of copying and pasting my standard welcome, but its the thought that counts and the Newbie probably neither knows nor cares whether the welcome was individually typed or was copied and pasted, the important thing is to maximise the number of welcomes a new member receives. Where I have something in common, like an ancestral name or they live in a place I know I would add an extra line or two of individual conversation and would check back to see whether it gets replied to by the OP. I'd never considered whether or not posting on these threads affected my overall post count.
Well said Alex. ...and with that said turns out that Greg is right...It's Off Topic and the Celebration Zone that don't add to post counts.

And coming from someone who's job includes announcing rank ups - who cares if it adds to the post count. I think its polite and yes, necessary to make new members feel welcome.

Phil - I'll be sending your steak knives out as soon as the post holiday mail has settled down.