Let me start by saying that the comments below apply to many forums, not only to this forum.

It is said that statistics are like a bikini. It reveals a lot, but that which really matters it hides.

The Top 50 Forum Users statistics raise one or two questions when one takes a closer look.

These figures represent the number of posts by the specific member. 

The lifeblood of a forum like this is not the number of posts whereby members responded on threads, but the number of new topics initiated by members. That is part of the statistics in this instance that really matters and is hidden, akin to the bikini comment. That is also what generates responses or posts.

How about showing us new topic stats? 

Comparing the number of posts with the number of months of membership in relation to the number of new topics generated will also be very interesting. (pro-active /reactive)

Why do I raise this issue? No, not because I am grumpy, I would like to see more activity, and that is dependent on more new topics.

The other missing piece of info which will tell its own story is the age of participants. That simple figure can add a lot of insight into a response.

Many forums treat post count like a badge of honour and you get awarded a status for this. This can lead to post padding to improve one's standing. I don't like it, many do.

Another forum I am on has a "thanks" button. This illustrates how useful a member's contribution is and is a very good indicator of the value of their participation. This is a great indicator as it is the members that do the thanking.

On the new topics matter. I touched on this in a previous post and was berated for it. We have too much diverse subject matter under one thread title and the original intention of the post gets lost along the way. Posts get lost in the diverse details. What would help is to have definite sub-forums for members to place specific questions in and to get specific answers from.

The forum is also not set up in a way that one can readily access specific posts and or see who has responded to you posts though an easy to see indicator. I think that a better "library" setup for posts may encourage people more in that it will encourage more thought. This forum, as forums go is very cumbersome, there are better platforms that will make the forum more attractive for users and will attract people who make use of Google to search. Having more specific thread title will lead to better search engine responses and more visits to the site.

Being able to see new posts in date order will also be better and assist in following subject matter.

I am not sure that there have been any changes or improvements to the site since I have been a member. I think a fresh approach can get more members joining and more subject matter going. 

My above comments are not meant as critisisms but merely observations.

I think that Kanneman is on the right track, however most forum platforms have user statistic that will satisfy most if not all his concerns. A "simple" platform change could achieve this. Most will give, post count, latest post date, threads started, latest thread posted in. Also there will be trusted forum friends, your personal profile. They will also alert you as to has responded to any of your posts.

I expect that this post will be met with great resistance. However, if we keep doing, what we have always done, we will always get the same result.

What does the figures matter? The Forum is not a competition as far as I know. Much ado about nothing.

The way I see it is that the displaying of statistics, be it number of posts, number of topics, age of participants, sex (not how many times a week) will have an impact on increasing activity and new posts.

I wish I had the answer.

That sounds to me as a way exactly to stimulate a competitive admosphere on the forum. I think to just allow discussions naturally as at present, is quite enough.

Moenie oor getal warrie nie kom ons gesels net lekke saam

Bostoe wrote:

Moenie oor getal warrie nie kom ons gesels net lekke saam

Bostoe, die volgende het vir my stof tot nadenke gegee.

Enige bedryf is afhanklik van inkomste vir 'n voortbestaan. Waar geen ledegeld of toegang- of gebruiksfooie gehef word nie, maar uitsluitlik van adverteerders afhanklik is vir inkomste is advertensie blootstelling die bepalende faktor by die bepaling van advertensie tariewe.

As voorbeeld, kyk maar net na die prysgelde wat betrokke is by populêre sportsoorte, en vra jou dan af waar kom die inkomste daarvoor vandaan - televisie regte en advertensie fooie.

Indien daar bitter min ondersteuning by 'n sportsoort is, soos die onlangse geval by ons plaaslike mans hokkie, is adverteerders geneig om te onttrek, en ons almal weet wat die toekoms van so 'n sportsoort is op internasionale vlak.

Dieselfde beginsel geld vir internet forums waar geen ledefooie betrokke is nie.

Gaan kyk gerus hoeveel nuwe onderwerpe hierdie maand tot datum geplaas was, - die gemiddeld tot datum is EEN per dag, - verbeel jou jy was 'n adverteerder, en besluit dan self oor die toepaslikheid van jou opmerking. 

If I was a prospective advertiser on a forum then the number of "hits" by people searching the web will be more important than the number of new topics per day.

I agree with you. That is why advertisers monitor “hits” in order to make informed decisions.

However, without new topics there is nothing new for the advertiser’s target population to explore with the “hit” other than a “nothing new” experience.

Also, there is a difference between a “hit” and a post. The one is a visit, whereas the other represents an input or a response.

Something else that crosses one’s mind - it is said that your perception is your reality. Judging by topics at times I get the impression that a very large percentage of members are long term campers, which I guess are on in years. ( I have less than 24 pay days to the 42 nd anniversary of my 38 birthday) 😃

Goeie vrae, en opinies.

My enigste kommentaar is die feit dat ek CP.com vergelyk met 'n "opponerende/kompeterende"????? soortgelyke webwerf, en man, dan staan CP.com sommer skouers hoog daarbo uit. Ek vind hulle geselsies (en ja, ek neem wel soms mee) uiters vervelig, en geensins in dieselfde trant en diepte as hierdie webwerf nie.

Vir my gaan dit ook nie oor die aantal kere wat lede antwoord nie, (alhoewel sommiges wel hul getalle aanjaag met 'n enkele "Welkom" hier en 'n "Dankie" daar) maar die onderwerpe (en natuurlik die tegniese dele 😁) interesseer my baie.

Doe so voort, sê ek!!

Ek dink die rede dat CP n lekker forum is  is omdat die gesprek toegelaat word om natuurlik te vloei.  As ek elke keer in die bek geruk word as ek van die oorspronklike onderwerp afwyk, dink ek nie ek sal op so n forum bly nie. Ek weet ek dien dit baie. En om oor statistiek bekommerd te wees, is Forumbestuur se taak. Maar soos baie onderwerpe het dit lekker gesprek uitegelok, so niks daarmee verkeerd nie.

Kanneman ek stem wat jy se maar as daar net n hand vol ouens wat saam praat bereik jy na n tyd dat jy nie meer weet wat om oor te gesels nie hoe meer in val en gesels hoe meer topic / drade spruit uit dit hoop ek maak sin ek was ook lank hier weg maar het besluit om net weer in te val en net te gesels 

Nico wrote:

Goeie vrae, en opinies.

My enigste kommentaar is die feit dat ek CP.com vergelyk met 'n "opponerende/kompeterende"????? soortgelyke webwerf, en man, dan staan CP.com sommer skouers hoog daarbo uit. Ek vind hulle geselsies (en ja, ek neem wel soms mee) uiters vervelig, en geensins in dieselfde trant en diepte as hierdie webwerf nie.

Vir my gaan dit ook nie oor die aantal kere wat lede antwoord nie, (alhoewel sommiges wel hul getalle aanjaag met 'n enkele "Welkom" hier en 'n "Dankie" daar) maar die onderwerpe (en natuurlik die tegniese dele 😁) interesseer my baie.

Doe so voort, sê ek!!

Ja hulle staan kop bo skouers uit solank jy nie die "opponerende/kompeterende"????? soortgelyke webwerf" op die naam noem nie of oor die tou trap nie want dan word jy geblok en gevloek deur die baas, jy moet ook in die regte taal terugvoering gee, , jy mag almal van CP vertel maar jy mag nie vertel van 'n ander forum nie, maar dis "OK" ?

Ek weet darem nie van die gevloek en uitskel nie.  Ek het al met "die baas" telefonies gesels e hy kom nie vir my soos die soort persoon voor nie.  'n Paar van my bydraes is al verwyder mar ek is nog nie uitgeskel daaroor nie.

Frederick Danie, moet nie bekomer nie want jy was nie deel van die gesprekke nie, daar gelaat.

Kanneman wrote:

I agree with you. That is why advertisers monitor “hits” in order to make informed decisions.

However, without new topics there is nothing new for the advertiser’s target population to explore with the “hit” other than a “nothing new” experience.

Also, there is a difference between a “hit” and a post. The one is a visit, whereas the other represents an input or a response.

Something else that crosses one’s mind - it is said that your perception is your reality. Judging by topics at times I get the impression that a very large percentage of members are long term campers, which I guess are on in years. ( I have less than 24 pay days to the 42 nd anniversary of my 38 birthday) 😃

 

I see this topic has had 397 views/hits until now. Be interesting to know how many views   are by :

- active members

- not active members

- ex members that "occasionally" visit the forum

- and non related people.

Fred wrote:

What does the figures matter? The Forum is not a competition as far as I know. Much ado about nothing.

True.  If the structure is more complex the chat part of the replies gets lost.   And I think its the chat side that makes it great.

So whatever the stats are I would advise just to ignore it and chat away. It is in any case just a number.