Low participation

[ibe98765]

It seems that there are maybe 10-15 or so people who post regularly here. Where is everyone else? How can we get more people to participate? Any ideas?

[Guest ThunderRiver]

Well, here is the trade-off...More regulation and forum rules == less people desire to post/participate in discussion. Also, a large number of users around here are either too busy to devoute time into this forum or are focusing on something more crucial in their life. There is of course nothing wrong with that.However, from a good point of view, we don't need a lot of people to participate for this forum to be prosperous. We only need good threads and sincere reply in posts; in another words, more is not always better.

[Jeber]

And it is vacation time in the U.S., which means many people are away from their computers for a while. Lots of reasons for slowdowns now and then. You'll notice a surge right after an issue of the newsletter comes out. Lasts for a day or two, then back to normal. Trust me, this forum is a lot more active than some I've checked out recently. If you want to see a forum near death, visit the ElderGeeks forum. And I mean no disrespect, I like his site a lot. But the forum just hasn't caught on yet. And the attitude of the members here is second to none. My job as a mod is so easy here. Sometimes I forget I am one. No flames, hardly any misposted questions. And the ultimate thing that makes this forum stand apart...the owner, Scot, actually posts, and fairly often at that. Everybody's involved, and that's very rare.OK, enough of my opinion.

[Prelude76]

It seems that there are maybe 10-15 or so people who post regularly here.  Where is everyone else?

they're all in Antarctica with the penguins

[Guest LilBambi]

Jeber, I agree wholeheartedly! This is one of the best forums on the Internet!

[quint]

Have been to many forums, and - proportionately - it's the same everywhere: there are just regular poster's and not so regular poster's. Over at PCQ&A, there is one gentleman who has amassed over 22,000 posts (last time I looked), the next closest to him, has less than half that number. There's one thing I have to say, if I may - it's not the sheer number of poster's, but the quality of the posts, and the integrity of those who make them.

[SonicDragon]

And it is vacation time in the U.S., which means many people are away from their computers for a while.

Yup, that would include me :)I think the forum has a good amount of members to be confortable. We get to know eachother better. But, i wouldn't mind seeing our forum grow Just recomend it to friends, people that are having computer problems, etc. That should at least get us started.The thing about it is, everyone has a forum size they like best. I used to frequent the nonags.com forums, but they got too small. Not enough going on. So i had been keeping my eye out for a new forum for a while, and i found this place It's comfortable for me right now. Some days, when i have a lot of time, i wish there were more posts, but other days, i can barely keep up.Thanks to everyone for making this such a great forum!

[Big Jeff]

I used to frequent the nonags.com forums, but they got too small. Not enough going on.

That's because those forums are dominated by a clique of about a dozen or so long time members that aren't very tolerant/accepting of newcomers. And they're heavy handed with moderation as well. I'm a paid lifetime member of nonags plus but I haven't posted there in over a year.

[zox]

I don't know what are you talking about??I can barely keep up with all the posts :)

[greengeek]

Same here. I expect some people will be cleaning the bugs out of their systems too.

[Jeber]

cleaning the bugs out of their systems

Don't miss them dust bunnies!

[Guest LilBambi]

Jeber,What happened to your hat! LOL!Cute avatars everyone! They are all so cool!

[ibe98765]

I agree that quality is important. There is nothing more annoying than those forums where the goal is to amass the highest post counts, so some clowns fill up the forum space with posts like "thank you", "I agree", "I disagree", etc. But having more bloodlines in the mix contributes more variety of questions, solutions and experiences.It would be interesting to see a statistic of who is posting, how much, when, etc. Is this something that can be added somewhere?

[Big Jeff]

ibe98765,From any page, click on "Members" in the upper right of the page. That'll take you to the Member List where you can sort the list any number of ways using the choices in the pick lists. For example, to show the top 50 posters, choose "Search All Available" Showing "All Members" by "Total Posts" in "Descending Order" with "50" results per page. You are 22nd on the list.Some other stats--Of 1698 members listed:45 have 100 or more posts103 have 25 or more posts162 have 10 or more posts489 have 2 or more postsabout 780 have at least 1 postEdited to add-- these numbers are pretty consistent with numbers I see at many different forums, large and small. Especially the last one; about 60% of memberships never post.

[Jeber]

Does it strike anyone else as ironic that everyone who has posted an opinion in this thread is one of the 45 who have over 100 posts? Guess that proves the theory.

[Guest LilBambi]

LOL! Good one Jeber!

[SonicDragon]

clowns fill up the forum space with posts like "thank you"

Is that really a waste? I always thought i was just being nice.

That's because those forums are dominated by a clique of about a dozen or so long time members that aren't very tolerant/accepting of newcomers.

Not only that, but, i also felt that all of the problems posted there were very obscure...very strange problems. I still love the site though. Lots of good software. What is nice about those forums is that if there is a broken link, if u post it, they usually fix it pretty fast. Or, at least they used to. I haven't been there for a long time either.

[Jeber]

Absolutely agree with you there, SonicDragon. "Thank you" will never be considered a waste of a post in this forum. I'd even be willing to see it more often, though our members are really good about being grateful for help rendered.

[Guest LilBambi]

SonicDragon, I agree with Jeber 100%Courtesy and kindness is a wonderful thing and would never be looked down on as an unnecessary or waste of a post We do have a great group of members here on the SFNL Forums!

[ibe98765]

SonicDragon, I agree with Jeber 100%Courtesy and kindness is a wonderful thing and would never be looked down on as an unnecessary or waste of a post  We do have a great group of members here on the SFNL Forums!

I'm not going to argue anything about being courteous. I'll usually add a thanks to my last post summarizing how or what helped, rather than post a no content "thank you". But I think that you can safely assume that everyone is grateful for any help that is offered. You could also send a PM to the person you want to thank if they've gone above and beyond your expectations...

[Jeber]

Honestly, ibe98765, I know what you're trying to say. I myself raised the issue with the mods one time about post counts and wasted little postings. But I got corrected, and in the same spirit of respectful disagreement, I'll beg to differ with you one this one point. I like public acknowledgements of thanks. It sets a good tone for the forums, and gives public credit where credit is due. Thanking someone in private is fine, but thanking them publically is better, I feel. It's like those gold stars some kids got in school for good work. Everybody else knows who did good. It takes two minutes and a couple hundred electrons to post a "thank you" in a forum...and you may have just made that person's day. I see other forums where people cuss each other out because "that wasn't the right answer", or "you're an idiot for believing that". That kind of garbage just brings everybody down and discourages further posting. Know-it-alls seldom get thanked, because they usually belittle the person they're helping...and who wants to say "thanks for making me feel like a fool"? So in SFNL forums, we've decided to be civil, polite and grateful. Not bad attitudes, in my book. And once in a while, I'll even say thanks to a know-it-all...just to let them know they failed to make me feel like a fool. It must really frustrate them to be thanked instead of argued with. So I guess I'd suggest just scrolling past the "LOL's, You're right's, the I agree's"...they're just conversation. But pay attention to the "thank you's"...that person may offer the help you'll need some day.

[Arena2045]

....I agree.......Sorry, I just couldn't help myself.

[Jeber]

Nice avatar, Arena. Is that one of your new ones?

[havnblast]

I don't expect things to pick up for at least 2 months yet, harvest is in full swing around here, the hunting seasons are coming up, bow season opens this Friday can't wait. I must admit tho, this summer, one really could see the difference. I don't remember last summer being as quiet as this one was.

[Jeber]

I'm guessing you mean on the web generally, eh Kelly?...since this forum wasn't around last summer.

[rolanaj]

I recall saying thank you not all that long ago to the people in the linux thread, I added as a new post because I had not asked for help but had received the help just from reading some of the threads already posted. I like this forum a lot and have found it more helpfull than most of the other ones I belong to. I know I come here first and it has a lot to do with the attitude of the people here.So thanks again everyone

[SonicDragon]

I'm guessing you mean on the web generally, eh Kelly?...since this forum wasn't around last summer.

I'm able to be here the most during the summer. More free time on my hands. Not long now untill that stops though :D:)

[eksimba]

I visit these forums pretty much every day, but I seldom post. I usually pop in, scan for items that might interest me, do some follow-up, scan some more, and by that time I have to get back to work. Occasionally there is a topic I feel I can contribute to, but most of the time somebody else has already beaten me to it.Overall, I feel this is a great place to find good and timely information; I just wish I had more time to contribute my part to the community. I bet there are a lot of others like me out there, too.Cheers

[Jeber]

Well, eksimba, you at least found 59 other times to contribute...not too shabby. We welcome posters, visitors, lurkers...anyone at all. Stop by anytime you get the chance. We're always glad to see 'ya.

[dicknite]

Does it strike anyone else as ironic that everyone who has posted an opinion in this thread is one of the 45 who have over 100 posts?  Guess that proves the theory. 

Not anymore! Rolanaj, Eksimba and I ruined your theory! Although it was a good theory - and we are in the low percentile of responders to this thread...I like to think my posts have quality while lacking in quantity - it does seem though, that when I post, the thread usually dies soon thereafter! Maybe that should be a hint to me? d|:^)Dick