# Request to have somebody get the Membership stats around New Year's **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [December 29, 2000, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-have-somebody-get-the-membership-stats-around-new-years/47713 "2000-12-29T20:41:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Pot\_o\_Gold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Pot\_o\_Gold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pot_o_Gold)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2000, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-have-somebody-get-the-membership-stats-around-new-years/47713/1 "2000-12-29T20:41:57Z")
A lot of people have been asking on this thread for new numbers: I don’t think anyone will answer them there, so I’m putting the messages here. \*\*If it consumes too much resources, maybe it could be done just by someone at the Reader when the site is closed for maintenance anyway. \*\* What would be neat is if somebody took a snapshot of the membership list sometime near the start of the year. For the scrapbook, as it were. \*\* [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=29678](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=29678) Get your Most-Active-Posters here \*\* > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Silo \* > \*\*Maybe if we ask one of the admins or moderators nicely they’ll open up the member function just long enough to make an updated list. \*\* > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Stoidela \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Silo \* > > \*\*Maybe if we ask one of the admins or moderators nicely they’ll open up the member function just long enough to make an updated list. \*\* > > I second the motion! > > Does it carry? MODS? HELLO!! YOOOOOHOOOOOOO \*\* > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Phobos \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Stoidela \* > > \*\*I second the motion! > > \*\* > > I’ll third the motion! I must have redeemed myself from the puny 127 posts I was rated on before! (#227 post/day & #716 total posts) I demand a recount or I’ll take this to the Supreme Court! I must of left some hanging chads somewhere. \*\* > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by iampunha \* > \*\*Yeah . . . I’d like to know that I’m both the most active poster and not as low on the total post list as I used to be. \*\* . . . and so on. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2000, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-have-somebody-get-the-membership-stats-around-new-years/47713/2 "2000-12-30T00:18:02Z")
The board is rarely down for maintenance and when it is back up after such a time people literally scream at us for being down in the first place. We turned off the ability to search the member database for security considerations. Because of that, we’re not likely to turn it back on again. We apologize for any inconvenience you might have as a result of these situations. your humble TubaDiva Administrator ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2000, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-have-somebody-get-the-membership-stats-around-new-years/47713/3 "2000-12-30T00:23:44Z")
> [@](#): > > The board is rarely down for maintenance and when it is back up after such a time people literally scream at us for being down in the first place. I always use the downtime to go look at porn or something. I suggest everyone do the same. It’d make the Boards a happier place. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Alphagene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Alphagene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alphagene)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2000, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-have-somebody-get-the-membership-stats-around-new-years/47713/4 "2000-12-30T01:57:37Z")
My opinion, which does not necessarily represent that of the SDMB, is that the ability to see who posts the most per day is really irrelevant. Why don’t you guys just measure your biceps and compare those numbers amongst yourselves? ---
**Author:** ![Wanderlust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc29f/32.png) [@Wanderlust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wanderlust)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2000, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-have-somebody-get-the-membership-stats-around-new-years/47713/5 "2000-12-30T02:32:18Z")
So only the highest posters count? What about the other 11,783 of us! You’re going to make us cry ☹ If you read that thread, you’ll notice 2 things. 1. There don’t seem to be “security considerations” disclosed. 2. There were a lot of people excited to look at it, not just the highest posters. **It’s just fun data to look at, and it’s free.** The site goes down for maintenance every night. [3:30 till 3:35. Every. Single. Day.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=41022) But, more than that, you can do it “sub rosa” **without waiting for a maintenance run.** Just tell only one else the exact minute you are enabling the button. Then Bill H. or your tech guy (sorry, I can’t recall the name) can collect the stats while we’re all unaware and turn the block back on before anyone’s the wiser. This a board milestone, and even if you keep most of the data secret for some reason there’s no reason not to collect it. ---
**Author:** ![Alphagene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Alphagene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alphagene)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2000, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-have-somebody-get-the-membership-stats-around-new-years/47713/6 "2000-12-30T05:59:54Z")
You’ll get over it. This has nothing to do with the only the “highest posters” counting. I don’t even know how you came to that conclusion. If we do it once, I can only assume that people will request access on a regular basis. Every month or so someone will go on a posting spree and will want to see how much their post rate improved. And I personally don’t see the point. Is it to establish some kind of heirarchy? It’s a useless statistic. It would be maybe worth one thread. A few people would have sigs about it. “Alphagene: determined to be the 74th most prolific poster on the SDMB!” Weee. Besides, this whole allowing access for just one minute while coordinating it so that another poster (and only one poster) can access it and then close up access scenario would really be a pain to execute. And the minute we start tinkering around with the technical aspects of a website to produce data that has absoluetly no benefit to said website, then we really start to lose touch with what this website is about. You know, that whole Cecil Adams thing. Remember him? If you really must know, why dont you find the date you registered from your profile, calculate the number of days you’ve been a member, divide the number of posts by the number of days and _viola_ your post rate. See? We don’t need to tinker with tech stuff at all! Have fun! And when you figure out who posts the most per day, let me know. We’ll have a parade. With balloons! ---
**Author:** ![DRY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@DRY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DRY)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2000, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-have-somebody-get-the-membership-stats-around-new-years/47713/7 "2000-12-30T07:42:58Z")
Alphagene–“_viola_”?? Seriously, while the numbers are somewhat interesting, if it would cause problems or complications (or just not be worth the effort), I can understand and certainly accept why they shouldn’t be made available. Should the technology ever be possible to make this information available without undue stress or work on the part of the good people that make this site possible, yes, I’d be curious as to seeing the numbers, too. Though I agree that, while harmless I suppose, the “title” of “most posts”, and “most posts per day” is, at best, misleading. As I’ve said on the third page of this thread: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=29678](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=29678) (And I should know, considering where I ranked in posts per day…) ---
**Author:** ![Ad\_Noctum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b19c9b/32.png) [@Ad\_Noctum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ad_Noctum)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2000, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-have-somebody-get-the-membership-stats-around-new-years/47713/8 "2000-12-30T08:59:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Alphagene \* > \*\*Why don’t you guys just measure your biceps and compare those numbers amongst yourselves? \*\* umm… 23.5 inch Biceps here, do I hear 24? do I hear 25? ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2000, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-have-somebody-get-the-membership-stats-around-new-years/47713/9 "2000-12-30T09:04:49Z")
> [@](#): > > There don’t seem to be “security considerations” disclosed. Generally, we DON’T disclose security considerations, unless we must. And I, for one, am reluctant to put one iota more of strain on the server unless it’s absolutely necessary. This isn’t necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Homer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Homer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homer)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2000, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-have-somebody-get-the-membership-stats-around-new-years/47713/10 "2000-12-30T09:06:37Z")
::taps hat, nods head:: –Tim ---
**Author:** ![Ad\_Noctum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b19c9b/32.png) [@Ad\_Noctum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ad_Noctum)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2000, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-have-somebody-get-the-membership-stats-around-new-years/47713/11 "2000-12-30T09:09:01Z")
::grabs ear lobe, flips nose:: ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2000, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-have-somebody-get-the-membership-stats-around-new-years/47713/12 "2000-12-30T14:33:48Z")
Oh, so it’s _biceps_ they’ve been measuring? I thought it was something else. ---
**Author:** ![Knowledge\_Brings\_Fear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5daacb/32.png) [@Knowledge\_Brings\_Fear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowledge_Brings_Fear)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2000, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-have-somebody-get-the-membership-stats-around-new-years/47713/13 "2000-12-30T18:46:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lynn Bodoni \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > There don’t seem to be “security considerations” disclosed. > > Generally, we DON’T disclose security considerations, unless we must. \*\* What? Are you saying there ARE security considerations here? There are no “security considerations” at all, are there? If so, why didn’t you erase the thread they were posted on? There’s more data just from clicking on peoples’ Profile buttons, so the data isn’t sensitive at all. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2000, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-have-somebody-get-the-membership-stats-around-new-years/47713/14 "2000-12-30T19:54:10Z")
The Member List function provides more data than just names and post counts. That is where the security concerns are. To get it to provide only data useful for determining post totals would require rewriting a whole buch of vBulletin’s software. Not really worth the difficulty. ---
**Author:** ![Knowledge\_Brings\_Fear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5daacb/32.png) [@Knowledge\_Brings\_Fear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowledge_Brings_Fear)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2000, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-have-somebody-get-the-membership-stats-around-new-years/47713/15 "2000-12-30T20:11:16Z")
No it doesn’t, not really. It gives the “Bio” info, but only a few people use that, and it’s available by the buttons anyway. Most vB boards have a member function, and it’s not a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2000, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-have-somebody-get-the-membership-stats-around-new-years/47713/16 "2000-12-30T23:31:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SPOOFE Bo Diddly \* > **I always use the downtime to go look at porn or something.** ::Makes note not to shake hands with SPOOFE after a board outage…:: ---
**Author:** ![Alphagene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Alphagene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alphagene)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2000, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-have-somebody-get-the-membership-stats-around-new-years/47713/17 "2000-12-31T01:27:07Z")
The bottom line is that the negatives vastly outweight the positives. There are security concerns and the coordination involved in allowing a non-Administrator into this section for a brief period of time is just too clumsy. What are the positives? “It’s fun”? :rolleyes: You think there are no security concerns. Fine. But we do. And we hold the key. Not so sound like a prick about it, but its our call to make and our call is that it’s just not worth it. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2000, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-have-somebody-get-the-membership-stats-around-new-years/47713/18 "2000-12-31T11:04:09Z")
> [@](#): > > . And I, for one, am reluctant to put one iota more of strain on the server unless it’s absolutely necessary. Hey, if all the 'Dopers got together and raised the 15 grand (or however much it was said to be) for a new server, THEN will you allow us access to the Membership stats? (Hey, if it’ll get us a new server…) > [@](#): > > ::Makes note not to shake hands with SPOOFE after a board outage…:: Hey… I wash my hands!!! Sometimes… ---
**Author:** ![Alphagene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Alphagene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alphagene)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2000, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-have-somebody-get-the-membership-stats-around-new-years/47713/19 "2000-12-31T15:35:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SPOOFE Bo Diddly \* > **Hey, if all the 'Dopers got together and raised the 15 grand (or however much it was said to be) for a new server, THEN will you allow us access to the Membership stats?** We’ve been through this, too. The Reader can’t really accept donations, collecting the donations would be a pain and there’s more that needs to be upgraded besides the server. See Ed’s response [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=47771&pagenumber=4). Honestly though, you guys are way to giddy over this Member button thing. Why do you kids need a completely arbitrary and ultimately pointless ranking system? ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2000, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-have-somebody-get-the-membership-stats-around-new-years/47713/20 "2000-12-31T18:37:25Z")
Hey, it’s important to many species of lesser primates to be able to send a stream of urine farther than anybody else in the troop. Don’t you watch the Discovery Channel, **Alphagene?** [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-have-somebody-get-the-membership-stats-around-new-years/47713.md?page=2)