Forum Numbers

[mortonbriar]

Just something I was musing...

Is there a point where a hobby forum like this reaches saturation with user numbers?

I have found recently that often when I go to give my 2 cents on a newly established thread, and then I see 4 or 5 pages of replies already, I can't usually bring myself to wade through them, and also figure that whatever 'unique' angle I had has probably already been covered.

Although I am essentially moaning about the site being a popular place, that is not actually my point...I am just wondering if you think there is a sweet spot for user numbers on a hobby forum? This is my only online social activity outside of emails so I have no other frame of reference...

 

[khiddy]

First!

But on a serious note, the turnover of active users has some effect on the discussion. Old timers drop off, new users pop in, so while there may be an optimum number of active users at any given point, the constituents forming that number will be in constant flux. And the new users will eventually become the old timers, passing on the collective knowledge. Or transform into the curmudgeonly gadflies of the board.

 

[BingBong]

First!

But on a serious note, the turnover of active users has some effect on the discussion. Old timers drop off, new users pop in, so while there may be an optimum number of active users at any given point, the constituents forming that number will be in constant flux. And the new users will eventually become the old timers, passing on the collective knowledge. Or transform into the curmudgeonly gadflies of the board.

I was a curmudgeon from the get go, only death awaits now. Late to the party.

 

[Servant King]

Is there a point where a hobby forum like this reaches saturation with user numbers?

Yes.

 

[wyfbane]

I never really pondered overpopulation on a hobby site. This is my only forum and I can often relate with the idea of coming late to a thread and not posting because 5-25 people have already posted my thoughts.

Interesting post. I guess I would say maybe. Might be a point where there are too many, but since our hobby is dwindling in real numbers, a robust population here is a nice respite from thinking about the doom on the horizon.

 

[mortonbriar]

Yes.

I had my suspicions.

 

[Hillcrest]

"...people have already posted my thoughts."

 

[wyfbane]

"...people have already posted my thoughts."

Its a site full of clairvoyants, I tell ya.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

Christmas is around the corner. We'll have a new crop of newbs coming in soon, trying to keep their Captain Black lit.

 

[Pipeandapencil]

I try and let all the people with real advice chime in first then make a joke toward the end.

 

[mortonbriar]

Its a site full of clairvoyants, I tell ya.

Well, pipe smokers are very perceptive...those big heads have to be good for something.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

If only we had a thread dedicated to new members introducing themselves, then we'd have a better sense of that . . .

 

[Hillcrest]

Its a site full of clairvoyants, I tell ya.

I knew that !

 

[Waning Embers]

only death awaits now.

Same boat brother.

 

[wyfbane]

If only we had a thread dedicated to new members introducing themselves, then we'd have a better sense of that . . .

As the (apparently) only non-clairvoyant i was quite surprised to see that thread had gone the way of the dodo.

I will admit i was pretty good about welcoming everyone I saw and therefore inadvertently aided in the site congestion that was cited as the reason it was clipped. Oops.

 

[Waning Embers]

Currently 34,522 members but likely less than half are regularly active.

 

[Snook]

I've felt this exact same sentiment and it's why I hardly post on here. I'm always "too late to the game" with new threads and feel my thoughts/input have probably already been covered.

As an aside: why are people constantly resurrecting years-old threads on here? Don't replies get disabled at a certain point? A minor gripe.

 

[dd57chevy]

Just something I was musing...

Is there a point where a hobby forum like this reaches saturation with user numbers?

I have found recently that often when I go to give my 2 cents on a newly established thread, and then I see 4 or 5 pages of replies already, I can't usually bring myself to wade through them, and also figure that whatever 'unique' angle I had has probably already been covered.

Although I am essentially moaning about the site being a popular place, that is not actually my point...I am just wondering if you think there is a sweet spot for user numbers on a hobby forum? This is my only online social activity outside of emails so I have no other frame of reference...

As I've only been a member for 2 1/2 yrs , I may not have a complete perspective , but I would tend to disagree with your assessment .

The instances of full throttle , full page of posts in , say , 15 minutes are rare . This only happens with a hot topic (the Sutliff/STG debacle , for example).

Please don't take this as a rebuke , but how often are you checking in ? If you only log on every 3 or 4 days , you will miss a lot .

 

[JoeW]

Its a site full of clairvoyants, I tell ya.

That's exactly what I said last week.

 

[mortonbriar]

As I've only been a member for 2 1/2 yrs , I may not have a complete perspective , but I would tend to disagree with your assessment .

The instances of full throttle , full page of posts in , say , 15 minutes are rare . This only happens with a hot topic (the Sutliff/STG debacle , for instance).

Please don't take this as a rebuke , but how often are you checking in ? If you only log on every 3 or 4 days , you will miss a lot .

I check it most days I think, but in a fairly casual browsing manner...I don't think my interaction time has changed that much over the years, other than I might have a month off completely if life is hectic.

I think checking in once a day is probably just not quite keeping up with the pace of the forum...