Interesting Statistics on Board Usage....

[Guest]

As I wondering through the site I noticed that we haven't broken the recorded set in March on number of members logged onto STORM2K message board at one time. Its seem we keep getting more and more members - but can't surpass that mark. So I did some checking and for those who are good at statistics and you know who you are - please feel free to do calculations on these numbers.

Out of 383 members registered

136 Members have 0 posts
27 Members have 1 post
22 Members have 2 posts
7 Members have 3 posts
11 Members have 4 posts
3 Members have 5 posts
8 Members have 6 posts
3 Members have 7 posts
4 Members have 8 posts
5 Members have 9 posts
27 Members have 10-20 posts

Total 253 members have 20 or less posts - which leaves 130 members making 21 or more posts. Wonder what percentage that is? I know I have seen 23 or 24 logged on in the early evening hours - this record I hope will get broken when we get our first active storm?

What can we do to get more of the 253 people to post? Comments and suggestions welcome.

[JetMaxx]

253/ 383 = 66.1%....only 1 in 3 Storm2k members have 20 posts or more

[ColdFront77]

Out of those that have posted:

Members have 0 posts: 53.8%
Members have 1 post: 10.7%
Members have 2 posts: 8.7%
Members have 3 posts: 2.8%
Members have 4 posts: 4.3%
Members have 5 posts: 1.2%
Members have 6 posts: 3.2%
Members have 7 posts: 1.2%
Members have 8 posts: 1.6%
Members have 9 posts: 2.0%
Members have 10-20 posts: 10.7%

Out of 383 members, those that have over 20 posts: 33.9%

[wx247]

I think that is very typical of most sites... many register, but would rather read posts, etc. than post on a regular basis.

[GulfBreezer]

I agree Garrett, most people use these boards as information suppliers. The only real way to get them to post is just continue to show everyone who "just reads" how much fun we have and how close we have become. There was another thread talking about many people's general reluctance to open up and be friendly on a message board. Many people still have a fear of rejection. I hope they realize that this board IS NOT and WILL NEVER BE like that. Some people may have also been burned or made fun of on other boards and just choose to stay on the sidelines b/c of that.

Sandi

[ColdFront77]

I agree, Garrett and Sandi.

Makes those of us who are very close here on Storm2K all the more appreciative of those that look in on our very friendly discussions on the tropics, weather in general and off topic issues; even the occasional goings on in the Fun & Games forum... where all different words, town/cities and items in our room are being mentioned. As you said in another post, Garrett, there is after all quality in that forum.

[mf_dolphin]

For years I have lurked on several boards and not posted myself. I'm really not surprised by the numbers. We actually have a lot of active posting members if you look at some of the other boards.

[pojo]

I'm not surprised either. Many come just to meet and greet other people....like us. But some, I sadly say, just use it for the information....just for lurking.

[Guest]

Thi is a great topic ticka...............Plus i am a good example of someone who igned up here at storm2k back on D day at twc and didnt really start posting here untill late april or so...............More or less i imagine that i was doing what alot of the people who are members here are doing and thats just reading the post and getting a feel for the site........................Part of my reason for this was the bad experience i had back in the winter when some wise @$$ over at wwbb was doing a thread over there called twc post of the day and or week and i happen to find out one of them was mine because to be honest my maps stunk as does my spelling when i am in a hurry....................Which of course made me very weary of other sites and kept me from posting except of course wwbb for a short time because i let mr wise guy have it as well as a few others over there who thinks they are gods gift to weather forecasting......................Either way thats all behind now and i am a very happy member here at the "Best Site On The Net" Which of course is "STORM2K"!............. On a side note there is some very good people over there who i hope to see posting here one day when they have had enough of the flaming that goes on over there..................This goes for HM, HUFF, Weather53,Rdale, ETC................And thanks everyone here for making this the BEST SITE ON THE INTERNET!!!!!!!!:)

[Pro-Storm]

As always.....good topic ticka1 !! I don't always get to post on a daily basis....and I sure want to!!

[azskyman]

For the most part...if you take any group, whether it be PTA, the Jaycees, Habitat for Humanity, or Skywarn, the majority of the most active participants are in the minority of membership. A small percentage of people are heavily involved...and many jump in when a particular spark fires them up. That doesn't make them less important...it's just what they do.

I, for one, spend a good hour on Storm2k most days..sometimes more. That's 1/24th of my life right now...and for many people...there are either limitations on that time or other interests meet their needs and are a priority.

From 1983 to 1997, I was even more heavily involved in amateur weather study. Of the 3,700 people we had as members at the most active time...less than 400 were always there and involved. Of those, we never had more than 125 attend a national meeting, even when we brought together top name weather folks in the best weather towns in the country.

Still...overall...most of those 3,700 liked where they fit in the big picture...because we sustained it for 14 years. And those people, unlike Storm2k (so far), had to pay $9 to $24 a year to remain active.

So...I would say, this group is MORE active than many its size...and I'd match up the percentage of those with marginal activity or more against any other weather site around.

And that brings an ovation to the leadership. And at least a tip of the hat to that bunch of you who rattle the keys regularly.

[WidreMann]

It is hard, though, to join into a close-knit group. I am having that problem on another forum that I have been lurking at for more than a year. The group is very large but they have so much history and they know each other so well that I don't think I could just jump in the discussion without feeling the odd one out.

[David]

I'd like to see alot more people post, but some people who signed up probably don't even remember this site, and we really can't help it.

Just my .02..

[Guest]

Well David one thing the Admins can and do is email people to remind them of the site........... I think i actually got one of the emails about not posting back in March or early april...............LOL..........Imagine that me mr 7000+ posts getting one of them emails..........

[ColdFront77]

Great point, David and Harry. I wouldn't think it would be a bad idea if mods. and members could somehow contact those that haven't posted. Registering here to become a member and then not remembering that they joined happens.

I basically did this, only for the fact that I was so busy posting at TWC.

[weatherlover427]

I am a late bloomer myself. I started out very slowly due to my participation on WxChat, plus other web sites that I frequent. Now I have a middle of the road 4 digit post count. I got snapped back into reality, though; when that announcement was posted about the server space, pruning of the games forum, etc. That thread taught me that I was posting too many one liners, which annoyed some people. Now I am working on that.

[mf_dolphin]

Your'e doing a great job Joshua! Nothing wrong with being a late bloomer either. Remember you're probably in the top 5 percent of the posters! That's pretty good by me!

[Miss Mary]

I've also lurked on other boards and rarely posted there. A few log me out, even if I didn't log out so you have to dig for your password just to post. And if you were a lurker to begin with, you just keep lurking and reading. That's been my case anyway (not here, of course!).

Now what can we do about the members that have 0 posts or just a few. I say it would be very nice to send a personal note to each and every one of them, encouraging them to post and get to know us! Not a form letter type email. I'd be willing to take 10 or more names. 20 would be fine with me. I'm on vacation June 21-28, so anytime after then I could do that. I know I sit up and take notice when I get a personal email from someone. And I also like typing (see my past wordy posts here, LOL!). Well, think about it Marshall!

[j]

It is hard, though, to join into a close-knit group. I am having that problem on another forum that I have been lurking at for more than a year. The group is very large but they have so much history and they know each other so well that I don't think I could just jump in the discussion without feeling the odd one out.

I'll second that remark. I for one, post in spurts, directly proportional to my work load since I post at work. When I'm in the flow, and have been active, posting is easy for me, but if even a few days go by, it seems as though the topics I was following are lost and I've got to take the time to get involved in brand new ones. I would suspect that this phenom is common amongst the sporadic posters such as myself. Is there an answer? No... I don't think so. This board is doing fine, and as many have said, the "small" percentage of high volume posters is a common trait on any board.

[streetsoldier]

Compared to some other posters in these Forums, I'm rather spare...but I have little reticence about jumping in with both feet, as you are also (some painfully) aware.

It's not "quantity" that is important, but "quality"...if you care to gauge my posts and responses by that lofty height...