Another look at "active users" at SDMB

[Zeldar]

@kunilou

It was way back on April 7, 1999.

@AuntiePam

My number is 2058 (forgot the join date already, sometime in 1999).

I looked and found this:

AuntiePam
Charter Member
Last Activity: Yesterday 10:47 PM
Total Posts: 15,480
Posts Per Day: 3.44
Join Date: 08-05-1999

@RollOutTheBarrel

11 people (including myself) registered on May 1st, 2005, with member numbers from 52693 to 52703.

@BlankSlate

Including me (Blank Slate #75852) 33 joined on 4-13-2008

@Panurge

Join date: 7-30-2007
Range: 68848-68880 (33 members)

@Starving_Artist

Including me, 36 posters joined on 12-27-03.

@Gyrate

I joined November 13, 2000. Of the other 17 people that joined that day, only two made it more than a year and none past 2003.

Thanks to all of you for the details. We’re beginning to get a good picture of how many have stayed and how many never intended to. I suspect that with a sample of maybe 100 Dopers (including some of the more recent ones) we might have a good grasp on the Active Member issue.

Those who have read that linked-to thread in the OP with the “Calling Zeldar” title may be aware that the Admins and Mods may have access to the big picture numbers with simple queries. But whether they have an accurate breakdown of the per day join rates, or the per day survival rates, is an issue I’m hoping one or more of them will share with us.

Meanwhile, we can continue building up some data and doing our own research! At the very least it’s some fun to see how many are curious about the concept.

Thanks, Everybody!

[Sparky812]

1.) 08-31-1999
2.) I am the only active member
3.) 22 members joined on August 31, 1999.

Here is the data:

Range 2335-2356

nessie - 04-28-2000 7:05 PM - 6 posts
cake - 04-28-2000 7:05 PM - 0 posts
**# 00: The Fool - **04-28-2000 07:05 PM - 94 posts
**OtisAbi - **04-28-2000 07:05 PM - 1 post
SEAL6 - 04-28-2000 07:05 PM - 1 post
**Dopester - **04-28-2000 07:05 PM - 3 posts
Toby Threadgill - 04-28-2000 07:05 PM - 0 posts
Action Jackson - 07-31-2000 02:31 PM - 30 posts
dirt_sleeze - 04-28-2000 07:05 PM - 0 posts
dyester - 04-28-2000 07:05 PM - 2 posts
**allychick **- 04-28-2000 07:05 PM -2 posts
Geenius - 11-14-2005 07:28 PM - 158 posts
**Charmeleon - **04-28-2000 07:05 PM - 0 posts
**TheoremHead - **04-28-2000 07:05 PM - 1 post
**lilly - **04-28-2000 07:05 PM - 1 post
**zamtheman **- 04-28-2000 07:05 PM - 0 posts
skishe - 04-28-2000 07:05 PM - 0 posts
**millsy **- 04-28-2000 07:05 PM - 4 posts
drasaid - 11-28-2001 09:04 PM - 8 posts
realm505 - 07-18-2000 01:45 AM - 108 posts
Never Know - 04-28-2000 07:05 PM - 2 posts

IIRC, the last activity date 04-28-2000 does not reflect any of the users actual last action but some administrative change on that date.

[Zyanthia]

Join date 09/01/2009

 **ID**       **User Name**                    **Last Activity**
88527  bham4ua                     09-01-2009  03:25 AM
88528  tatzaana                    09-01-2009  04:14 AM
88529  Palmer Eldritch             No last activity given
**88530  LAV25                       11-25-2011  09:15 PM**
88531  lealealea                   09-04-2009  12:58 AM
88532  tusntuk2                    09-01-2009  11:52 AM
88533  kjon                        09-01-2009  11:16 AM
88534  sweetsinglemomdotcom        09-03-2009  10:39 AM
88535  Aquilla                     No last activity given
**88536  Zyanthia                    11-28-2011  09:09 AM**
88537  thrushblossom               09-01-2009  08:43 PM
88538  vaha130                     09-24-2009  06:44 PM
88539  slaagheap                   09-04-2009  07:33 PM
88540  lawl                        09-01-2009  08:38 PM
**88541  DaveBfd                     11-26-2011  01:23 AM**
**88542  Disgruntled Penguin         11-27-2011  05:45 PM**
88543  ijkl514                     09-01-2009  11:58 PM

4 out of 17 still active for an activity rate of 23.5% still active with the possibility that we have 2 more active, since I can’t see a last active date on them.

[Eureka]

Eureka–user # 2661, Join Date 9/24/1999

12 users joined. I’m still active, and one person’s date of last activity was in October (two months ago). None of the other ten are still active, many never posted anything.

[Zeldar]

@Sparky812

1.) 08-31-1999
2.) I am the only active member
3.) 22 members joined on August 31, 1999.

IIRC, the last activity date 04-28-2000 does not reflect any of the users actual last action but some administrative change on that date.

It would appear from your list that a few (I counted 4) survived whatever “administrative change” that was. It does point to the possibility that other such disruptions to the sequential numbering may be a factor elsewhere.

@Zyanthia

Join date 09/01/2009
4 out of 17 still active for an activity rate of 23.5% still active with the possibility that we have 2 more active, since I can’t see a last active date on them.

Nicely done listing!

@Eureka

Eureka–user # 2661, Join Date 9/24/1999

Thanks, all.

[Half_Man_Half_Wit]

My join date is 6-14-2007, user-no: 67227; the first to join on that date has user-no 67214, the last 67241.

Active posters from that day are:
MsPumpkin, user-no 67221, last activity 08-15-2011;
Galwegian, user-no 67222, last activity 11-28-2011;
The Walking Dud, user-no 67229, last activity 11-22-2011; and
Moriarty, user-no 67241, last activity 11-19-2011.

Happy data-mining!

[Zeldar]

Here’s a sort on Join Date for those who have posted in this thread:

Post Number       Post Date/Time
UserName          Join Date
=========================================

  #24             Yesterday, 02:55 PM  
TubaDiva          Join Date: 03-10-1999   

  #33             Yesterday, 07:48 PM  
kunilou           Join Date: April 7, 1999

  #15             Yesterday, 04:30 AM  
JBDivmstr         Join Date: 6/14/1999 

  #7              Yesterday, 12:42 AM  
Joey P            Join Date: 6/15/1999 

  #34             Yesterday, 07:51 PM  
AuntiePam         Join Date: 08-05-1999 
    
  #42             Today, 07:42 AM  
Sparky812         Join Date: 08-31-1999

  #44             Today, 09:01 AM  
Eureka            Join Date: 9/24/1999

  #10             Yesterday, 01:19 AM  
Rhythmdvl         Join Date: 10-13-1999  

  #25             Yesterday, 03:04 PM  
Clothahump        Join Date: 05-24-2000    

  #5              Yesterday, 12:27 AM  
Tamex             Join Date: 7/19/2000  

  #40             Today, 06:59 AM  
Gyrate            Join Date: November 13, 2000  

  #26             Yesterday, 03:13 PM  
malkavia          Join Date: 11-17-2000 

  #12             Yesterday, 03:53 AM  
Cazzle            Join Date: 28th of December 2000
Cazzle            Join Date: 12-27-2000   
  #14     Yesterday, 04:17 AM  
Cazzle    It was 28th in my time zone when I joined 

  #21             Yesterday, 10:02 AM  
amarone           Join Date: 3-30-2001 

  #2              11-26-2011, 01:57 AM  
Cicero            Join Date: 2nd April 2001

  #27             Yesterday, 03:18 PM  
Omega Glory       Join Date: 4/20/2001

  #16             Yesterday, 05:32 AM  
don't ask         Join Date: 31st of May 2001

  #3              11-26-2011, 02:13 AM  
Nametag           Join Date:  04/13/2002

  #1              11-26-2011, 01:01 AM  
Zeldar            Join Date:  06-18-2003  

  #38             Today, 06:32 AM  
Starving Artist   Join Date:  12-27-03   

  #29             Yesterday, 06:20 PM  
DfrntBreign       Join Date: Feb. 21, 2004    

  #35             Yesterday, 10:31 PM  
RollOutTheBarrel  Join Date: May 1st, 2005

  #28             Yesterday, 03:19 PM  
steronz           Join Date: Feb 21, 2007

  #46             Today, 09:57 AM  
Half Man Half Wit Join Date: 6-14-2007

  #37             Today, 03:12 AM  
Panurge           Join Date: 7-30-2007

  #36             Yesterday, 10:58 PM  
Blank Slate       Join Date:  4-13-2008

  #43             Today, 08:25 AM  
Zyanthia          Join Date:  09/01/2009

Next step will be to attach User Numbers (which I should have done already!) which should provide some clue as to how those things have changed over time.

What else should summary data include?

[Panurge]

I would think that the number of users who joined on the particular dates and the number of users who are still active would be relevant. More relevant than the info for the users who posted here, at least.

If your sample gets large enough the figures I mentioned could help you find out a: the rate of new members to the boards over timeb, and b: what our percentage of staying (active) users are.

I still think the admins ought to pull this info directly from the database, though.

[Zeldar]

@Panurge

I would think that the number of users who joined on the particular dates and the number of users who are still active would be relevant. More relevant than the info for the users who posted here, at least.

If your sample gets large enough the figures I mentioned could help you find out a: the rate of new members to the boards over timeb, and b: what our percentage of staying (active) users are.

I still think the admins ought to pull this info directly from the database, though.

Good points, I agree. I’ll PM one of the Admins and see if one will join in here.

Thanks.

[Zeldar]

@Zeldar

Good points, I agree. I’ll PM one of the Admins and see if one will join in here.

I have PM’ed three of the participants in Calling Zeldar, or any other statisticians: how many of us are there? asking them for help here.

Meanwhile here’s the sort with the user numbers added:

UserName          Join Date                     User Number
=========================================

TubaDiva          Join Date: 03-10-1999          http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php?u=32

kunilou           Join Date: April 7, 1999       http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php?u=535

JBDivmstr         Join Date: 6/14/1999           http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php?u=1458

Joey P            Join Date: 6/15/1999           http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php?u=1478

AuntiePam         Join Date: 08-05-1999          http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php?u=2058
    
Sparky812         Join Date: 08-31-1999          http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php?u=2338 

Eureka            Join Date: 9/24/1999           http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php?u=2661

Rhythmdvl         Join Date: 10-13-1999          http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php?u=2845

Clothahump        Join Date: 05-24-2000          http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php?u=6642

Tamex             Join Date: 7/19/2000           http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php?u=8146

Gyrate            Join Date: November 13, 2000   http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php?u=10829

malkavia          Join Date: 11-17-2000          http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php?u=10931 

Cazzle            Join Date: 12-27-2000          http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php?u=11733

amarone           Join Date: 3-30-2001           http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php?u=13774

Cicero            Join Date: 2nd April 2001      http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php?u=13806

Omega Glory       Join Date: 4/20/2001           http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php?u=14145

don't ask         Join Date: 31st of May 2001    http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php?u=14776

Nametag           Join Date:  04/13/2002         http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php?u=21252

Zeldar            Join Date:  06-18-2003         http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php?u=36386

Starving Artist   Join Date:  12-27-03           http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php?u=42779

DfrntBreign       Join Date: Feb. 21, 2004       http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php?u=44274

RollOutTheBarrel  Join Date: May 1st, 2005       http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php?u=52702

steronz           Join Date: Feb 21, 2007        http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php?u=64260

Half Man Half Wit Join Date: 6-14-2007           http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php?u=67227

Panurge           Join Date: 7-30-2007           http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php?u=68877

Blank Slate       Join Date:  4-13-2008          http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php?u=75852

Zyanthia          Join Date:  09/01/2009         http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php?u=85536

[Moonlitherial]

A datapoint for a late joiner:

Total Posts: 2,115
Posts Per Day: 3.36
Last Activity: Today 01:30 PM
Join Date: 03-09-2010

User number 89087

89071 - 89099

woodsjacker - 2 posts, last activity 11/9/11
HaystackCaldoon - 0 posts, last activity 3/9/10
pprakashjhaa - 0 posts, last activity 3/9/10, BANNED
famliotz - 0 posts, last activity 3/14/10
Fiexia - 0 posts, last activity 3/9/10, BANNED
Axovetix - 0 posts, last activity 3/9/10, BANNED
incuff - 0 posts, last activity 3/9/10, BANNED
kendall.luther - 0 posts, last activity 4/9/10, BANNED
Vopcoifs - 0 posts, BANNED
Darth Panda - 2017 posts, last activity today
Amy_in_TX - 0 posts
Zek46 - 2 posts, last activity 3/10/10
Johnny Feelgood - 1 post, last activity 3/9/10
random6X7 - 75 posts, last activity today
anschoo - 1 post, BANNED
Travelgirl2010 - 0 posts
ME!
villas - 0 posts, last activity 3/9/10
octoquad - 0 posts, last activity 3/9/10
trish29 - 1 post, last activity 3/9/10, BANNED
dohebert - 2 posts, last activity 3/9/10
Peaches - 0 posts, last activity 3/9/10
CookieMomster - 3 posts, last activity 3/10/10
Antemientep - 0 posts, last activity 3/9/10, BANNED
poissinkime - 0 posts, last activity 2/9/11, BANNED
vincentius - 2 posts, last activity 3/10/10
itarseflatt - 0 posts, last activity 8/29/10, BANNED
michaelpaul - 2 posts, last activity 2/11/10
DeeX - 1 post, last activity 3/10/10
I found a couple of interesting ones - what can a user with no posts at all with a months after creation last activity date do to get banned?

Other than that only Darth Panda and myself are fairly active. Two others, woodsjacker with 2 posts and random6X7 with 75 posts have logged in this month.

[Zeldar]

@Moonlitherial

I found a couple of interesting ones - what can a user with no posts at all with a months after creation last activity date do to get banned?

Most likely the mods spotted a sock by way of IP address and just zapped the intruder before he/she could fire the first shot. If not that, then something along those lines, perhaps.

Thanks for all the data!

[GrandWino]

Join date: 1/2/2006

19 other users signed up on that date. User #'s 56811 - 56829.

Only one poster besides myself had any activity much past the sign-up date: Proghead - last activity was 8/17/2007.

[Crotalus]

My join date - 6/30/2005, user number 53607, total posts 3,248. Nineteen others joined that day. Eight never posted at all, five posted once. The most prolific was Amaranta, who posted 626 times ending in October 2006. The most recently active is kingbighair, with 316 posts and last activity 8/9/2011. The user number range on my join date was 53599 to 53618.

[BlankSlate]

Some of the data might be skewed around the time I joined in the pay to post days, with 30 day guest privileges.

[ZipperJJ]

These are all my friends from 8-15-2001.

The ones in blue are still “active” as it were but they’re pretty much lurkers.

The ones in red are the other current active users who signed up the same day. Hip hip, hooray!

Icabod: 2 posts, last activity 8-28-02
nichie: 2 posts, last activity 8-15-01
WortMeWorry: 158 posts, last activity 05-01-2005 (also from Ohio!)
bookbabe: 26 posts, last activity 06-08-2011
Ins&Outs&What-have-yous: 718 posts, last activity 06-10-2009
January: 26 posts, last activity 12-08-2006
gfloyd: 985 posts, last activity 04-18-2008
Heaving Mass: 16 posts, last activity 10-23-2001
ZipperJJ: 14,057 posts, last activity NOW
postcards: 2,625 posts, last activity Today 03:00 PM
darkgarden: 11 posts, last activity 08-30-2001
Gorgon Heap: 3,566 posts, last activity 05-30-2010
Arwen: 302 posts, last activity 10-27-2004
born2run: 9 posts, last activity 11-13-2002
fantastic jack: 0 posts, last activity 05-12-2008
duffman: 25 posts, last activity 08-02-2002
CookingWithGas: 7,893 posts, last activity 11-26-2011
Beagle: 3,775 posts, last activity 01-24-2005
lieu: 21,175 posts, last activity Today 04:12 PM
RAVasquez: 0 posts, last activity 08-15-2001
Trey: 0 posts, last activity 01-01-2005
megasad: 1 posts, last activity 08-15-2001
jstultz: 1 posts, last activity 08-15-2001
Anni: 16 posts, last activity Yesterday 09:25 AM
chiaria2000: 0 posts, last activity 06-18-2007
Deej: 149 posts, last activity 03-25-2009
Lorien: 0 posts, last activity 10-21-2001
Catlyn: 4 posts, last activity 09-19-2001
Thunder: 225 posts, last activity 10-23-2011
JCavalieri70: 1 posts, last activity 08-16-2001

[Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker]

I was one of 17 people who signed up on my date.
Of those, 13 have a “last activity” of 4-28-2002
One posted 9-28-2002
The only ones that are still active are Duke, whose name I am familiar with, and Xgemina (353 posts), whom I have never seen.

[Zeldar]

@Moonlitherial

Join Date: 03-09-2010

@Bob Ducca

Join date: 1/2/2006

@Crotalus

My join date - 6/30/2005

@BlankSlate

Some of the data might be skewed around the time I joined in the pay to post days, with 30 day guest privileges.

That’s good to know. Thanks

@ZipperJJ

8-15-2001.

@Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker

I was one of 17 people who signed up on my date.

I see that that was Join Date 07-29-1999

======================

Thanks all for the data!

I’m merging the new arrivals’ data into the sort which I will repost later, hopefully after we have passed 100.

=========================

Here’s an idea that I’m thinking of doing: using Julian Day conversions for the Join Dates, we can get a days-between-two-dates difference to compare with the User Numbers differences. Something ought to emerge from that sort of comparison.

How’s that sound?

[Chronos]

Quoth Zeldar:
It would be a cute piece of trivia if we could locate the DAY when most people joined up.

I don’t feel like doing all of the digging right now, but I’d be willing to bet that it’s within a few days after January 7, 2003. That was the date that the epic “If LotR Had Been Written By Someone Else!?” thread was linked from Slashdot, leading to a huge flurry of activity here. I’m not sure how many of those new joins would have remained active, though.

[Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew]

44 users joined on 3-29-02. Most of them posted only once or not at all. Most of the remainder disappeared within a year or two.

Six of the 44 have 2011 activity, although half of these have made only about a couple of dozen posts in the nine and a half years. That leaves three truly active posters.

Witch
haardvark
HPL
doublehelix (18 posts, last activity in July)
Trathena (23 posts, last activity in July)
kivrin (32 posts, but active today)