# Can we have the ' # viewing' feature on the main forum page?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-the-viewing-feature-on-the-main-forum-page/295747>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [March 22, 2005, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-the-viewing-feature-on-the-main-forum-page/295747 "2005-03-22T18:34:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 16\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-the-viewing-feature-on-the-main-forum-page/295747/1 "2005-03-22T18:34:45Z")

</div>

On other vbulletin boards you get a number viewing statistic next to the names of each forum on the main forum page. Would that be a bandwidth hit here, or is it possible?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-the-viewing-feature-on-the-main-forum-page/295747/2 "2005-03-22T18:41:07Z")

</div>

Why would we need that?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-the-viewing-feature-on-the-main-forum-page/295747/3 "2005-03-22T18:52:03Z")

</div>

> [@Ice Wolf](#):
>
> Why would we need that?

My guess: If the forum page went back to showing the # of viewers, people could navigate away from the site if they saw \<90 people - knowing that the server is already overtaxed & probably crashing anyway.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-the-viewing-feature-on-the-main-forum-page/295747/4 "2005-03-22T18:54:42Z")

</div>

> [@JohnBckWLD](#):
>
> My guess: If the forum page went back to showing the # of viewers, people could navigate away from the site if they saw \<90 people - knowing that the server is already overtaxed & probably crashing anyway.

But if you’ve reached the forum page haven’t you already got a good idea how responsive the server is?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-the-viewing-feature-on-the-main-forum-page/295747/5 "2005-03-22T18:56:34Z")

</div>

So, this would be kinda like an indicator of use/overuse? Sorry to ask thick questions like this, and I’m neither for nor against the idea - but I still don’t see its use. Aside from bein’ another statistic for those who like 'em.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-the-viewing-feature-on-the-main-forum-page/295747/6 "2005-03-22T18:59:16Z")

</div>

I think Heisenberg had something to say about this, but I’m uncertain…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-the-viewing-feature-on-the-main-forum-page/295747/7 "2005-03-22T19:40:15Z")

</div>

> [@aldiboronti](#):
>
> But if you’ve reached the forum page haven’t you already got a good idea how responsive the server is?

The forum page is generally a lot more responsive/reliable than the other pages.

The reason for wanting the feature is partly the one already mentioned, and partly to know whether it’s worth bothering to check the forum for new posts.

If no-one is viewing then no-one is posting and you save a hamster a few turns of his wheel by not going in there. It might do the server some good.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![fortytwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f9ae1b/32.png) [@fortytwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fortytwo)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-the-viewing-feature-on-the-main-forum-page/295747/8 "2005-03-22T21:42:03Z")

</div>

> [@Ethilrist](#):
>
> I think Heisenberg had something to say about this, but I’m uncertain…

Are you sure you’re uncertain?  
Was Heisenberg sure?  
Have I asked too many questions?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-the-viewing-feature-on-the-main-forum-page/295747/9 "2005-03-23T05:29:12Z")

</div>

> [@Vetch](#):
>
> Are you sure you’re uncertain?  
> Was Heisenberg sure?  
> Have I asked too many questions?

Who’s Heisenberg? 😕

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Thunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a8b319/32.png) [@Thunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thunder)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-the-viewing-feature-on-the-main-forum-page/295747/10 "2005-03-23T07:03:10Z")

</div>

His blimp exploded back in 1937.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-the-viewing-feature-on-the-main-forum-page/295747/11 "2005-03-23T10:56:21Z")

</div>

To **Thunder** : loud raspberries, mate. 😛

Okay. I get the humour now. Uncertainty principles. There’s _my_ bit o’ ignorance fought … 🙂

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2005, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-the-viewing-feature-on-the-main-forum-page/295747/12 "2005-03-24T02:02:48Z")

</div>

‘Ignorance fought’? Is that a fortified place where ignorance is defended from knowledge?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2005, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-the-viewing-feature-on-the-main-forum-page/295747/13 "2005-03-24T03:19:21Z")

</div>

Only in Boston.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2005, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-the-viewing-feature-on-the-main-forum-page/295747/14 "2005-03-24T22:45:47Z")

</div>

> [@Ice Wolf](#):
>
> Who’s Heisenberg? 😕

Author of Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle, which said that you can’t observe a process without participating in it; \<i\>i.e.,\</i\> all server stat monitoring impacts the performance of the server. Maybe not much, but some.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2005, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-the-viewing-feature-on-the-main-forum-page/295747/15 "2005-03-24T23:22:09Z")

</div>

Cheers, **Ethilrist**. After **Thunder’s** reply, I gathered folks wouldn’t clue me in, probably thinking I was having them on and pretending ignorance or something, so I looked it up. Thanks for the explanation, mate.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\
**Post date:** [March 27, 2005, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-the-viewing-feature-on-the-main-forum-page/295747/16 "2005-03-27T23:49:53Z")

</div>

So, any mod or admin types care to comment?