Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
#53360 01/21/02 08:09 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline OP
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
The board is so slow, I thought it might liven things us a bit to speculate about our statistics. Can anybody think of a way of getting a rough idea of how many of the almost three thousand registered members even lurk during a given weeK?
Can you make a reasonable approximation of the number who at least read posts regularly?
Of those, how many make initial posts.?
And how many wait until someone else starts a thread, and then change the topic?




#53361 01/21/02 08:27 PM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
This is very interesting, Dr Bill, and I have no idea if it's possible or not to approximate these things. We'll have to count on our technical advisors.

One thing Faldage has noticed and pointed out to me is that the newcomers who stay are usually ones whose first post is a contribution to a discussion already in progress. Those who post a question in Q&A are as often as not one-time apparitions (Faldage, correct me if I'm wrong and I know you will!).


#53362 01/21/02 08:39 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
newcomers who stay are usually ones whose first post is a contribution to a discussion already in progress. Those who post a question in Q&A are as often as not one-time apparitions

That was an early observation based on a small sample. I have since seen a significant number of exceptions; I'm not sure if there is still a good statistical correlation.


#53363 01/21/02 09:12 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline OP
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
One of the things I like best about AWADtalk is the speed with which inquiries are answered. In many of the word sites you are lucky if you get a reply within a week, which discourages me from participating there.
I tried asking a question in Take Our Word For It, and after several days got reply their mail box had been full, try again some time.


#53364 01/21/02 09:42 PM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,636
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,636
I guess that goes to show you what a special place we have here, Dr. Bill. I remember that my first post was to open a thread in Miscellany asking for help in naming a jewelry store. If I remember correctly, I lurked for a while before signing in and posting. What I would like to see happen in the next few weeks would be that all who are registered and lurking speak up and introduce themselves. I suggest this thread would be the proper place for it. How about it, people? I ,for one, would love to make your acquaintance.


#53365 01/21/02 10:10 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline OP
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
I can understand the members who are not fluent in English hesitating to post, even though they ought not fear being ridiculed. But it surprises me to have some obviously bright people PM me because they were timid about posting. I would welcome many more posts from the timid ones.
I have wondered why some of our Asiatic members no longer post.


#53366 01/21/02 10:31 PM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,891
B
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
B
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,891
Lurking??? How do we know people are lurking? I always thought that the total members was only the total number who have registered to date - which has really nothing to do with how many actually participate.


#53367 01/21/02 10:37 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline OP
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
As I said, a few have PM'd me, a few have said so in subsequent posts. I just can't understand why so many people would have gone to the trouble to register, and never post. We have had many, many dropouts, who never gave us a clue why they left. It would be a lot more fun if we had more people participating. New ideas, that's what we need.


#53368 01/22/02 12:40 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 96
D
journeyman
Offline
journeyman
D
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 96
I really like this site,although it took a year for me to post after registering! that was because i forgot that i had registered , forgot about the site , -the lot ! but now i have re-discovered it i enjoy it a lot but at times it can be a little intellectually intimidating , there are a lot of very intelligent ,professional people on this site , and at times i feel a little bit dumb,so i just read, iam pretty new to the world of computers , i dont know how to do links or anything at all really. I came to this site because i love words , books and language- i've not been disappointed,it is a charming place and not being techno-minded i am filled with wonder at the ability to have a world wide conversation on the nature of chip butties!. Also amazed to discover that Rhubarb Commando is less than 20 miles away , small world eh?
I dont really see what you could change, anyway , i'm off to neck some scran i'm lee marvin'

cheers

the Duncster


the Duncster
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439
W
wow Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439
i enjoy it a lot but at times it can be a little intellectually intimidating , there are a lot of very intelligent ,professional people on this site , and at times i feel a little bit dumb,

I can speak for myself only ... if I'd let feeling "dumb" keep me from posting, or the odd remark ruffle my sensitivities I never would have gotten past "Stranger" designation!
It took me awhile to catch on to link posting and using the little emoticons ... ... but Private Messages to long-timers on the board got me sorted out in no time which is miraculous considering I am pretty much cyber-impared!

Sooo, to you Duncan, and all the folks who are timid about posting ... just start running down that wharf and LEAP IN!
The water's fine!
And, do not hesitate to send a PM to me and I'll help with any (basics) that I can, and try to refer you to the more savvy if I do not have an answer for you.

C'mon, You are only a Stranger once, regardless of the title you're sporting.
Aloha
wow




Page 1 of 2 1 2

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,580
Members9,187
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
Karin, JeffMackwood, artguitar, Jim_W, Rdbuffalo
9,187 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 763 guests, and 0 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
wofahulicodoc 10,713
tsuwm 10,542
LukeJavan8 9,931
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5