# Threads views = discrete Posters or repeat viewers?

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threads-views-discrete-posters-or-repeat-viewers/492981
**Category:** About This Message Board
**Created:** [April 13, 2009, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threads-views-discrete-posters-or-repeat-viewers/492981 "2009-04-13T20:21:52Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2009, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threads-views-discrete-posters-or-repeat-viewers/492981/1 "2009-04-13T20:21:52Z")

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Sorry - I looked at the various ATMB stickies and didn’t see this particular issue; I may have missed it.

So if a thread lists 100 views - is that literally 100 distinct Dopers have looked at it, or that 100 distinct views; so if a Doper views the thread, leaves the SDMB and then gets back on the website and views the thread again - is that counted as 2 distinct views or just 1 since the same Doper was involved?

I guess I am a bit surprised that a fairly geeky thread I am involved with has over 700 views. I can see the same cast of characters viewing it several times but can’t imaging 700 distinct folks viewing it…

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### 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: [April 13, 2009, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threads-views-discrete-posters-or-repeat-viewers/492981/2 "2009-04-13T21:19:19Z")

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A view is a view is a view – the system doesn’t discriminate as to who has looked at it multiple times.

We have a tremendous number of “lurkers” – people who read and don’t post overmuch if at all – so I’m not surprised about the view number.

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### Author: ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2009, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threads-views-discrete-posters-or-repeat-viewers/492981/3 "2009-04-13T21:25:20Z")

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Cool - that answers my question. Clearly a few link-minded Dopers are viewing it a number of times over the course of a few days or so…

Thanks!